Lesotho Premier League

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Lesotho Premier League
LesothoPL.png
Founded1970
CountryLesotho
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation to
Domestic cup(s)Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4)
MGC Supa 8
International cup(s)Champions League
Current championsBantu FC
(2019–20)
Most championshipsMatlama FC (10)
Current:

The Lesotho Premier League also known as Econet Premier League is the top football division in Lesotho and was created in 1970. Econet Telecom Lesotho are the current league sponsor, since 2017/2018 season.[1] Vodacom Lesotho were the previous league sponsor and were also the sponsor of the now cancelled Vodacom Soccer Spectacular knockout competition, which was the Lesotho's annual national cup tournament.

Format[]

The Lesotho Premier League is currently contested by 14 clubs. The league uses a double round robin format meaning one team plays the other twice. Therefore, a team will play a total of 26 games per season. The team with the most points wins the league title.

The Lesotho Premier League is still played on an amateur status.

Sponsorship[]

Since 2002, Lesotho's Premier League has been sponsored by telecommunications companies. Econet Telecom Lesotho, through its prepaid product Buddie, sponsored the Premier League and Lesotho's lower leagues (the A-Division, B-Division and C-Division) from 2002 until 2009. In 2009, the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) ended its seven-year association with Econet Telecom Lesotho and signed a three-year partnership with Vodacom Lesotho. As part of the deal, Vodacom Lesotho agreed to sponsor the Premier League and all lower leagues for a combined M1 million per season for three years. However, in 2017, LeFA ended its sponsorship with Vodacom Lesotho to pen a new three-year multi-million maloti sponsorship with the previous sponsor Econet Telecom Lesotho in which the champions will pocket M500 000; a 150% increase from the previous M200 000 received by 2016–2017 champions Bantu.[2]

The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they have called the Lesotho Premier League:

  • 2002–09: Econet Telecom Lesotho (Buddie Premier League)
  • 2009–2017: Vodacom Lesotho (Vodacom Premier League)
  • 2017–2020: Econet Telecom Lesotho (Econet Premier League)
  • 2021–present: Vodacom Lesotho (Vodacom Premier League)

Premier League domestic cups[]

2020–21 season[]

Main article:

Champions[]

Season Winner Runner-up Relegated
1996–97 Roma Rovers
1997–98 Royal Lesotho Defence Force
1997–98 Royal Lesotho Defence Force
1998–99 Royal Lesotho Defence Force
1999–00 Lesotho Prisons Service
2001–02 Lesotho Defence Force
2001–02 Lesotho Prisons Service
2002–03 Matlama FC
2003–04 Lesotho Defence Force
2004–05 Likhopo FC Lesotho Correctional Services Bantu FC (Mafeteng), (Butha-Buthe)
2005–06 Likhopo FC Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru), (Maseru)
2006–07 Lesotho Correctional Services Matlama FC (Mafeteng), Butha-Buthe Warriors (Butha-Buthe)
2007–08 Lesotho Correctional Services Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru), (Butha-Buthe)
2008–09 Lioli Lesotho Defence Force , (Berea)
2009–10 Matlama FC Lioli Majantja (Mohale's Hoek), Nyenye Rovers (Leribe),
Roma Rovers (Maseru), (Butha-Buthe)
2010–11 Lesotho Correctional Services Lesotho Defence Force Mphatlalatsane FC (Leribe), Lerotholi Polytechnic (Maseru),
Swallows FC (Mazenod, Maseru), (Matsieng)
2011–12 Lesotho Correctional Services Lesotho Defence Force (Butha-Buthe), Majantja (Quthing)
2012–13 Lioli Bantu FC
2013–14 Bantu FC Lioli Melele FC (Qacha's Nek), Joy FC (Leribe)
2014–15 Lioli Bantu FC Nyenye Rovers (Leribe), Qoaling Highlanders (Maseru)
2015–16 Lioli Matlama FC (Butha-Buthe), Mphatlalatsane FC (Leribe)
2016–17 Bantu FC
2017–18 Bantu FC
2018–19 Matlama FC
2019–20[3] Bantu FC Matlama FC None

Performance by club[]

Club City Titles Last Title
Matlama FC Maseru 10 2019
Lesotho Defence Force (includes Royal Lesotho Defence Force) Maseru 8 2004
Lesotho Correctional Services (includes Lesotho Prisons Service) Maseru 6 2012
Lioli Teyateyaneng 5 2016
Bantu FC Mafeteng 4 2020
Arsenal Maseru 3 1993
Linare FC Leribe 3 1980
Maseru Brothers (includes Maseru United) Maseru 3 1981
Lesotho Paramilitary Forces Maseru 2 1984
Likhopo FC Maseru 2 2006
Majantja FC Mohale's Hoek 2 1995
Maseru 1 1975
Police Maseru 1 1972
Roma Rovers FC Roma 1 1996

Topscorers[]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
2000–01 Lesotho Lire Phiri Lesotho Defence Force 30
2005–06 Lesotho Lesotho Defence Force 9
2014–15 Lesotho Litsepe Marabe Bantu FC 22
2018–19 Lesotho Sera Motebang Matlama FC 18

References[]

  1. ^ "Econet new premier league sponsors". 2 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Econet new premier league sponsors". 2 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Lesotho 2019/20". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2020-11-27.

External links[]

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