Mikia Kalati
Maluti Mountain Brewery (MMB) and the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) have entered into a partnership that would see the brewing company sponsor the national team, Likuena, with energy drinks and water throughout their remaining 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
Speaking at the unveiling of the partnership in Maseru this week, MMB Marketing Director, Mosuoe Mapetla, said the sponsorship was part of the company’s way of giving back to the community and also motivating the players. Likuena are set to play Angola, Burkina Faso and Gabon in a tough Group C of the 2015 Afcon campaign, with the winner and runners-up automatically qualifying for the final tournament scheduled for Morocco early next year. The first of the qualifiers takes place against Angola tomorrow night at Setsoto stadium, with the second set for Luanda against the same foes next Wednesday. Likuena then face Burkina Faso at home on the weekend 14-15 November and wind-up their campaign away versus Gabon on 19 November.
According to Mapetla, the partnership with Lefa seeks to ensure Likuena are motivated as they take on some of the best football teams on the continent.
“We entered into this partnership with Lefa to motivate the players during the qualifiers and also give back to our community,” Mapetla said.
“Our teams have been doing very well internationally and we also had to do our part to make sure we motivate the players to maintain the good standards.
“As MMB, we are proud of the performance of the teams in recent times and believe they can get better with more support.”
Mapetla noted Likuena would be receiving 30 and 50 cases of water and energy drinks, respectively ahead of tomorrow’s qualifier against the Palancas Negras and the return leg match five days later.
“This is just the beginning of the partnership and we will sit down with Lefa officials to chart the way forward and also have a contract that would make things simpler and better,” said Mapetla.
“We are confident that the sponsorship will play a part in boosting the confidence of the players ahead of their clash against Angola.”
Mapetla also explained the company would be sponsoring Lefa VIPs with some of the company’s alcoholic beverages during Likuena’s home matches.
The national under-20 side, Makoanyane XI, will also get a similar sponsorship, he added.
In his vote-of-thanks, Lefa first vice-president, Khiba Mohoanyane, hailed MMB for extending a helping hand to domestic football once again.
“We all know that this is not the first time they have sponsored football activities and we are very grateful for the sponsorship,” Mohoanyane said.
“The partnership came at the right time when the association is facing some financial difficulties and would really be a big boost to our players ahead of these very important qualifiers.
“We also like to plead with other local companies to follow in the MMB footsteps and help us fund the various national teams as financing has become a real problem for us.”