Lesotho Premier League

Lesotho Premier League
Country Lesotho
Confederation CAF
Founded 1970
Number of teams 12
Level on pyramid 1
Domestic cup(s) Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4)
Vodacom Soccer Spectacular
MGC Supa 8
International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions Bantu FC
(2014)
Most championships Matlama FC (9)

The Lesotho Premier League also known as Vodacom Premier League is the top football division in Lesotho and was created in 1970. Vodacom Lesotho are the current league sponsor and will back the Premier League for three seasons (2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12). Vodacom Lesotho are also the sponsor of the annual Vodacom Soccer Spectacular knockout competition, Lesotho's national cup tournament.

Format

Until the end of the 2009/10 season there were are sixteen clubs in the Premier League. However this has changed for the 2010/11 season after four teams were relegated at the end of the 2009/10 season following the instruction of the Mohale Declaration, a roadmap introduced by FIFA in 2008 which intends to create a professional league in Lesotho with 12 teams by 2014. The 2010/11 Premier League is currently being contested by 14 clubs. During the course of the 2010/11 season (which lasts from August to May) each club plays the other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 26 games for each club. Four teams will be relegated at the end of the season. Next season the Lesotho Premier League will be contested by 12 teams.

Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat.

The champion of the Premier League qualifies to represent Lesotho in the ORANGE CAF Champions League. In the past the second placed team in the Premier League used to advance to the CAF Confederation Cup, which is the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League however this was stopped at the turn of the century because of a lack of funds.

The Lesotho Premier League is still played on an amateur status.

Sponsorship

Since 2002, Lesotho's Premier League has been sponsored by Telecommunications companies. Econet Telecom Lesotho through its Prepaid product Buddie, sponsored the Premier League and Lesotho's lower leagues (the A-Division, B-Division and C-Division) from 2002 until 2009. In 2009 Lesotho's football governing the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) ended its seven-year association with Econet Telecom Lesotho and signed a three-year partnership with Vodacom Lesotho. As part of the deal Vodacom Lesotho agreed to sponsor the Premier League and all lower leagues for a combined M1 million per season for three years.

The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they have called the Lesotho Premier League:

2014-15 season

Previous Winners, Runner-ups and Relegations

Season Winner Runner-up Relegated
2004–05 Likhopo Lesotho Correctional Services Bantu United (Mafeteng); Qalo FC (Butha-Buthe)
2005–06 Likhopo Lesotho Defence Force FC Lifefo (Maseru); School Boys (Maseru)
2006–07 Lesotho Correctional Services Matlama FC Mafeteng LMPS (Mafeteng); Butha-Buthe Warriors (Butha-Buthe)
2007–08 Lesotho Correctional Services Lesotho Defence Force FC Arsenal (Maseru); Qalo FC (Butha-Buthe)
2008–09 Lioli FC Lesotho Defence Force FC Maseru Naughty Boys FC; Sekamaneng Young Stars FC (Berea)
2009–10 Matlama FC Lioli FC Rovers (Maseru); Botha Bothe Roses (Butha-Buthe); Majantja (Mohale's Hoek); Nyenye Rovers (Leribe)
2010–11 Lesotho Correctional Services Lesotho Defence Force FC Swallows FC (Mazenod, Maseru); Mabeoana FC (Matsieng)
2011–12 Lesotho Correctional Services Lesotho Defence Force FC Maduma FC (Butha-Buthe); Majantja (Quthing)
2012–13 Lioli FC Bantu
2013–14 Bantu Lioli FC Melele FC (Qacha's Nek), Joy FC (Leribe)

Previous winners
  • 1985 : Lioli FC (Teyateyaneng)
  • 1986 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
  • 1987 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
  • 1988 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
  • 1989 : Arsenal (Maseru)
  • 1990 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
  • 1991 : Arsenal (Maseru)
  • 1992 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
  • 1993 : Arsenal (Maseru)
  • 1994 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
  • 1995 : Majantja FC (Mohale's Hoek)
  • 1996 : Roma Rovers (Maseru)
  • 1997 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
  • 1998 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
  • 1999 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)

2015 Lioli FC Berea

Performance By Club

Club City Titles Last Title
Matlama FC Maseru 9 2010
Lesotho Defence Force FC (includes Royal Lesotho Defence Force) Maseru 8 2004
Lesotho Correctional Services (includes Lesotho Prisons Service) Maseru 6 2012
Arsenal Maseru 3 1993
Linare FC Leribe 3 1980
Lioli FC Teyateyaneng 3 2013
Lesotho Paramilitary Forces Maseru 2 1984
Likhopo Maseru 2 2006
Majantja FC Mohale's Hoek 2 1995
Maseru United Maseru 2 1976
Bantu FC Mafeteng 1 2014
Maseru Brothers Maseru 1 1981
Maseru FC Maseru 1 1975
Police Maseru 1 1972
Roma Rovers Maseru 1 1996

Topscorers

Year Best scorers Team Goals
2000/01 Lesotho Lire Phiri Lesotho Defence Force FC 30
2005/06 Lesotho Masupha Majara Lesotho Defence Force FC 9

Premier League domestic cups

External links