MASERU — Lioli players probably wish they could play arch-rivals Matlama every week.
After dismissing Matlama 2-0 — and in the process denying them the chance to wrap up the Vodacom Premier League title — last Saturday, Lioli players have been handsomely rewarded.
They will share a whopping M154 000 thanks to local hotelier Tšeliso Nthane who runs Blue Mountain Inn in Teyateyaneng, Lioli’s hometown.
Tse Nala’s technical team will also get a share of the bounty.
“We are thanking the players for the good work that they have done,” Lioli president Lebohang Thotanyana told the Lesotho Times yesterday.
“And they have indeed done well. They have done us proud.”
Thotanyana applauded Nthane for his efforts in helping the defending Premier league champions get by.
Most local clubs do not have sponsors and they only survive on shoe-string budgets.
The winner of the Vodacom Premier League will get M100 000, far less than Nthane has given to Lioli for their win against Matlama.
“Blue Mountain Inn has put up M154 000 as a reward,” Thotanyana said.
“Ntate Nthane is one of the important supporters of Lioli. (He is one of) the people who have always helped us before, for example with transport.”
The presentation of the cheque will be done at Blue Mountain Inn today.
Meanwhile, Thotanyana said the windfall would not distract Lioli players from focusing on their must-win match against Bantu on Saturday.
Lioli are still mathematically in with a chance to pip Matlama and retain the championship.
But that’s only if Tse Putsoa lose their remaining two games while Tse Nala win theirs.
“Lioli players are used to money,” Thotanyana said. “The money will be shared by the squad and the technical staff. Roughly everyone will get M5 000.”
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