Leemisa Thuseho
THE 2025/26 Maseru Golf Club (MGC) Corporate League teed off yesterday with the first tournament at the Maseru Golf Course.
The league, which will run until July 2026, will be played through monthly tournaments sponsored by various corporate partners.
Each leg of the league produces individual winners. While golfers fight for individual glory on a monthly basis, they also accumulate points for their respective teams. The accumulated points are tallied at the end of the season to determine the overall team champions.
Last season’s overall winners were the Standard Lesotho Bank (SLB) team, which amassed 88 points throughout the campaign.
Yesterday’s tournament, which marked the official start of the season, was sponsored by Alliance Insurance, while the next event, scheduled for next month, will be sponsored by Specialized Insurance.
The opening leg saw Tikoe Matsoso begin his season on a high, topping the score charts with 38 points while playing off a handicap of 31.
Top female golfer Vivian Mo settled for second position with 36 points from a handicap of 15. She was also recognised as the Best Female Player of the Tournament, in celebration of African Women’s Month.
Meanwhile, the event further honoured the top six honest players: Tsebo Lerotholi, Peter Bernad, Mathaleha Molapo, Suhail Peerbahai, Tieho Mochebelele, and Montoetsa Nchai.
Maseru Golf Club captain Rasheed Osman described the first tournament as a success, with a turnout of 44 golfers.
He noted that the league continues to attract more corporate teams but said the club could only accommodate 10 participants.
“The interest is growing with more corporates showing interest, but we can only take 10 based on the number of months our league runs,” Osman told the Lesotho Times yesterday.
He further explained that league tournaments will be played every third Wednesday of the month.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsor, Sepinare Lenkoe, Executive Head at Alliance General Insurance, said as a proudly Basotho-owned company, Alliance found it meaningful to invest in several areas, including sport.
“Sports like golf and soccer form part of the areas we found meaningful to invest in as a Basotho-owned company,” Lenkoe told the Lesotho Times.
“We believe where Basotho benefit, the company will also benefit in return.
“The investments we make in football and golf we consider as our contribution towards fighting poverty and unemployment. We believe sport can create jobs for our people locally and even outside the country.”
Lenkoe credited MGC for initiating the corporate league, saying it would attract more players to the sport as well as more corporates to join the programme.
Meanwhile, speaking at the last tournament of last season, which concluded last month, MGC President, Tšepo Ntaopane, said the league was not just about building friendships.
“It was also about encouraging corporates to trade amongst each other for the betterment of Lesotho,” he said.
He emphasised the need for private-sector-driven solutions amid the country’s growing challenges.
“Lesotho is facing serious issues, and the situation may worsen. Government cannot do everything; we must play our part. The corporate league has shown that golf can be a powerful tool for driving change,” Ntaopane said.
