Maseru __ Concerned Parents Campaign (CPC) will have soccer clinics and legends matches on December 27 and 28 respectively, as part of its effort to remove youth from the streets and to find inspiration to stay away from drug and substance abuse.

Advocate Lineo Liphoto, one of the CPC Directors said on Saturday there will be drama performance by South African (SA) actors at Pitso Ground whose story line will focus on how children are lured into drugs by drug lords and their peers and there will be a boot camp with its main focus on sports psychology. She said those who are interested in other sports codes such as rugby are also welcome.

She said on Sunday, Bambatha Tsitsa Sports Arena will host Lesotho and SA soccer legends where children will get an opportunity to interact with their role models in sports, as an inspiration, and for those who are already on drugs to see that there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

Speaking of how the local soccer legends have been selected, Liphoto said they were selected through short message services (SMS) to give everyone an opportunity to have a soccer player of their choice in the game.

Mrs. ‘Malesekele Matekane, also a director explained that this initiative emanated from the realisation that youth are deep into drugs, and some of them are introduced during the festive season, hence the plan to have the activities at this time.

Matekane also noted that among the soccer legends, there are those who are ex-addicts and their story may be inspiring to children who are now battling addiction.

‘’We need real people to tell real stories of how drugs and substance abuse can ruin talent and how lives hit rock-bottom, but can also be revived through hope and effort’’, Matekane said.

In 2022, Mohlomi hospital made a call that it is jam-packed with young people who most of them were on drugs and Matekane said this is what triggered the drive to begin the campaign to come to the children’s rescue.

Expected children are those under the age of 21.