Moorosi Tsiane
MASERU — The Lesotho Times newspaper on Thursday won M3 000 prize and a certificate for its coverage of the Independence Top4 tournament.
The award was for the best media house in print media reporting on the tournament.
Lesotho Times
Senior Sports reporter, Mikia Kalati, walked away M1 500 richer after being recognised as the best print reporter.
Kalati also got another special award for quality reporting.
Lioli players, Mohau Kuenane and Tšoanelo Koetle were also the big winners at the Independence Top4 awards held at Lehakoe Club.
Kuenane walked away with the goalkeeper of the tournament award while his teammate Koetle was named player of the tournament with each player winning M1 500.
Standard Lesotho Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mpho Vumbukani, thanked the football fraternity for a successful and peaceful tournament.
“I would like to pass my thanks to all the teams that participated in the tournament and their supporters for also gracing the competition in big numbers,” Vumbukani said.
He said they want to see the competition growing even bigger in the coming years.
Metropolitan Lesotho head of retail, Makhakhe Maliehe, was also full of praises for all the parties that were involved in making this year’s edition of the competition a success.
“We may not be in the region of other countries as far as sponsorship money is concerned, but I feel we are on the right track and we can only hope for the best going forward,” Maliehe said.
“I think the two companies deserve to be given credit for partnering to sponsor this competition,” he said.
Maliehe said all the stakeholders should continue to work together to improve the standards of the game in the country.
Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) President, Salemane Phafane, expressed gratitude to the two companies for once again sponsoring the Independence tournament.
“We should be very proud and also support the two companies because they continue to play a critical role in the growth of football,” Phafane said.
He also praised the fourth estate, the referees, teams and supporters for making the tournament a success.
Bantu duo of Tšoloane Mosakeng and Tlali Maile alongside Lioli’s goalkeeper Kuenane, and midfielder Koetle each received M1 000 for having won the man of the match awards during the four matches of the two-day tournament played on October 5 and 6 at Setsoto Stadium.
Independence Top4 awards
Man of the match awards
Mohau Koenane Lioli vs LCS match, M1000
Tšoloane Mosakeng Bantu vs LDF match, M1000
Sobhuza Chabalala LCS vs LDF game, M1000
Tlali Maile Bantu vs Lioli match, M1000
Player of the Tournament
Tšoanelo Koetle, M1500
Goalkeeper of the tournament
Mohau Koenane, M1500
Top goal scores
Tšoanelo Koetle, Tlali Maile, Dlomo Monaphathi, Sobhuza Chabalala, Tsebang Lebata and Mojela Letsie
Referee and Assistant referee of the tournament
Lebalang Mokete, M1 500, Puleng Mahomo, M1 500
Best reporter and quality reporting in Print media
Mikia Kalati, M1 000, M500
Best reporter in electronic media
Mpho Mosala, M1 000
Best media house in print and electronic
Lesotho Times and Radio Lesotho, M3 000 each
