MASERU — The Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) this week said they are investigating crowd trouble that erupted during a match between Bantu and Matlama in Mafeteng on Sunday.
PLMC communications and marketing manager, Lehlohonolo Matlosa, said they would write to Lesotho Referees Committee this week to ascertain what transpired.
“We’ve heard rumours that there was violence during a league match between Bantu and Matlama in Mafeteng but the referee’s report does not mention it,” Matlosa said.
“That is why we’ve decided to write to the referees committee to find out what really transpired.”
Bantu won 2-1 during the match that was officiated by referee Makhetha Phatśoane.
According to reports from Mafeteng, the match was brought to a standstill after Bantu scored the winner in the first half.
Sources said the referee was forced to stop the match after a Matlama official started the commotion.
The sources said the tie was resumed after about five minutes after some pep talk between officials from the two teams and the referee.
Bantu communications and marketing manager, Bokang Phasumane, confirmed in an interview with the Lesotho Times there was crowd trouble at their league match on Sunday.
“What happened is that one Matlama supporter, who is also an official, started the whole thing when he exchanged some words with an assistant referee,” Phasumane said yesterday.
“The official seemed unhappy with assistant referee Sekhonyana Seeiso and there was some commotion when the two exchanged words.”
Phasumane said the stoppage negatively affected the game as it had picked up momentum.
“The incident occurred when Matlama were beginning to come back into the game and were threatening to overpower us.
“It however helped us to regain our power and soon we were back into the game,” Phasumane said.
Attempts to get comment from Matlama communications and marketing manager Lesolle Phalatsi failed yesterday as his phone was not available.
Meanwhile, the PLMC this week received M10 000 from Stanlib to set up an office.
Matlosa confirmed this development with the Lesotho Times yesterday.
“We received the confirmation that our proposal has been approved and Stanlib will give us M10 000,” Matlosa said.
Stanlib is an asset management company based in Johannesburg which was formed in 2002 when Standard Bank and Life Liberty’s asset management and wealth businesses merged.
Matlosa said they would use the funds from Stanlib to establish an office that is independent of Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) structures.
He said having their own office space would help them hire an administrator.
“Our main aim is to have our own office and administrator because currently we have a pile of work which we can’t do all at once when we meet once a week.”
Matlosa however said it is currently not easy to break away from Lefa because they were financially dependent on the association.
“We have plans to be independent but as things stand currently, it is a big challenge because we are still financially dependent on Lefa,” he said.
He added that they were working hard sourcing funding to ensure that the committee becomes an independent entity.
