. . . away match against LCS first port of call
Mikia Kalati
The 2014/15 Premier League season gets underway on August 23, with defending champions Bantu kicking off their campaign with a tough away match against the indomitable Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS).
Another potentially explosive clash on the first day of the season pits nine-time league champions Matlama against police outfit LMPS, while the Qoaling Highlanders-versus-Linare clash is another mouth-watering clash set for 23 August.
Premiership newcomers Kick4Life also face Mpharane Celtic on the opening day of the season, while the following day, Lioli battle Qalo, Nyenye Rovers entertain LDF and FC Likhopo clash with Mphatlalatsane.
Premier League spokesperson, Mosito Lekholoa, this week confirmed the release of the fixtures, adding the teams would also play two major competitions, namely the Top 8 and Top 4 Independence tournament.
“It is true the fixtures for the new season have been released and will get underway on 23 August.
“However, there would be some changes along the way because both the national team (Likuena) and under-20s (Makoanyane XI) are involved in continental competitions.
“This will force us to reschedule some of the games to accommodate these two national sides,” Lekholoa said.
Vodacom Lesotho, which has been the Premiership’s main sponsor since 2009, will continue bankrolling the league this season, Lekholoa added. The telecommunications giant sponsored the league to the tune of M1million last season.
“We have signed a new one-year contract with Vodacom and everything remains as it was last season.
“This means there will be no changes to the prize monies that the teams received last season,” he said.
Lekholoa also revealed that LNIG would remain the sponsor of the Top 8 competition, while Metropolitan and Standard Lesotho Bank are also going to continue bankrolling the Independence Top 4 competition.
Both competitions were sponsored to the tune of M300 000 each.
“The good news is that all the three companies which were sponsoring these cup competitions will be with us in the upcoming season and they could also be increasing their sponsorship.
“However, we will have to wait until they confirm it.
“What I can also reveal is that we are negotiating with other companies to try and improve the sponsorship for the league as Vodacom is open to other investors coming on board, for as long as those organisations are not their direct competitors,” said Lekholoa.
