Lesotho Premier League
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.
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| Founded | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Country | Lesotho |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Lesotho A Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4) MGC Supa 8 |
| International cup(s) | Champions League |
| Current champions | Matlama FC (2018–19) |
| Most championships | Matlama FC (10) |
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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. A total of 26 games are played per team in one 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 Lesotho's football governing 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, 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–: Econet Telecom Lesotho (Econet Premier League)
Premier League domestic cups
- Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4)
- Lesotho National Insurance Group Cup (Top 8)
- MGC Soccer Spectacular
2018–19 season
- Bantu FC (Mafeteng)
- Galaxy FC (Leribe)
- Kick4Life FC (Maseru)
- Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- Likhopo FC (Maseru)
- Linare FC (Leribe)
- Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- Liphakoe FC (Quthing)
- LMPS (Maseru)
- Matlama FC (Maseru)
- Sefotha-fotha FC (Ha Mabote, Berea)
- Mazenod Swallows FC (Maseru, Mazenod)
- Majantja FC (Mohale's Hoek)
Recent Winners, Runners-up and Relegations
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Relegated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Likhopo FC | Lesotho Correctional Services | Bantu FC (Mafeteng), Qalo FC (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2005–06 | Likhopo FC | Lesotho Defence Force | Lifefo (Maseru), School Boys (Maseru) |
| 2006–07 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Matlama FC | Mafeteng LMPS (Mafeteng), Butha-Buthe Warriors (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2007–08 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Lesotho Defence Force | Arsenal Maseru (Maseru), Qalo FC (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2008–09 | Lioli | Lesotho Defence Force | Maseru Naughty Boys FC, Sekamaneng Young Stars FC (Berea) |
| 2009–10 | Matlama FC | Lioli | Majantja (Mohale's Hoek), Nyenye Rovers (Leribe), Rovers (Maseru), Butha-Bothe Roses (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2010–11 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Lesotho Defence Force | Mphatlalatsane FC (Leribe), Lerotholi Polytechnic (Maseru), Swallows FC (Mazenod, Maseru), Mabeoana FC (Matsieng) |
| 2011–12 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Lesotho Defence Force | Maduma FC (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 | Likila United (Butha-Buthe), Mphatlalatsane FC (Leribe) |
| 2016–17 | Bantu FC | ||
| 2017–18 | Bantu FC | ||
| 2018–19 | Matlama FC |
Previous winners
- 1969 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1970 : Maseru United
- 1971 : Majantja FC (Mohale's Hoek)
- 1972 : Police (Maseru)
- 1973 : Linare FC (Leribe)
- 1974 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1975 : Maseru FC
- 1976 : Maseru United
- 1977 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1978 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1979 : Linare FC (Leribe)
- 1980 : Linare FC (Leribe)
- 1981 : Maseru Brothers
- 1982 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1983 : Lesotho Paramilitary Forces (Maseru)
- 1984 : Lesotho Paramilitary Forces (Maseru)
- 1985 : Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- 1986 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1987 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1988 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1989 : Arsenal (Maseru)
- 1990 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1991 : Arsenal (Maseru)
- 1992 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1993 : Arsenal (Maseru)
- 1994 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1995 : Majantja FC (Mohale's Hoek)
- 1996 : Roma Rovers FC (Roma)
- 1997 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1998 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1999 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 2000 : Lesotho Prisons Service (Maseru)
- 2001 : Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 2002 : Lesotho Prisons Service (Maseru)
- 2003 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 2004 : Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 2005 : Likhopo FC (Maseru)
- 2006 : Likhopo FC (Maseru)
- 2007 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2008 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2009 : Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- 2010 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 2011 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2012 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2013 : Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- 2014 : Bantu FC (Mafeteng)
- 2015 : Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- 2016 : Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- 2017 : Bantu FC (Mafeteng)
- 2018 : Bantu FC (Mafeteng)
- 2019 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
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 |
| Arsenal | Maseru | 3 | 1993 |
| Bantu FC | Mafeteng | 3 | 2018 |
| 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 FC | Maseru | 1 | 1975 |
| Police | Maseru | 1 | 1972 |
| Roma Rovers FC | Roma | 1 | 1996 |
Topscorers
| Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals |
| 2000–01 |  | Lesotho Defence Force | 30 |
| 2005–06 | | Lesotho Defence Force | 9 |
| 2014–15 | | Bantu FC | 22 |
| 2018–19 | Motebang Sera | Matlama FC | 18 |
References
External links
- RSSSF competition history
- Official Lioli Football Club Website
- (supersport)Website
- Confederation of African Football (CAF) Official Website
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