On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, Alliance officially unveiled the much-anticipated Alliance Challenge, commonly known as the Alliance Winter Challenge. Set to kick off on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at the Bambatha Tšita Stadium, this tournament will showcase the talents of premier league teams sponsored by Alliance: Matlama FC, Lioli FC, LCS FC, and Linare FC.
The day’s action will begin with the first match at 09:00 AM, where Linare FC will face off against Lioli FC. The second match, scheduled for 11:00 AM, will see Matlama FC taking on LCS FC. The excitement will culminate in the finals, set to take place at 3:00 PM. Entry tickets are priced at M30, allowing fans to experience top-tier football action at an affordable rate.
Limakatso Mokobocho, Manager of PR and Corporate Communications at Alliance, highlighted the company’s long-standing commitment to Lesotho football. For the past 16 years, Alliance has invested in the sport, recognizing that football has a unique power to unite the Basotho community. The Alliance Challenge was initially formed as a pre-season training opportunity for these sponsored premier league teams, providing them with a platform to test their mettle ahead of the new season. Beyond preparation, the tournament serves as a crucial fundraising event, with all gate takings split among the participating teams.
Mokobocho emphasized that the tournament not only prepares teams for the challenges of the upcoming season but also helps to financially support the clubs before the season kicks off. The tournament is designed to foster a beneficial and collaborative relationship between Alliance and the teams they sponsor, ensuring mutual growth and success.
This year’s tournament comes with even higher stakes. Last year, the winner took home M50,000 in a winner-takes-all format. In 2024, the prize pool has increased, with the champion set to receive M60,000. The runners-up will be awarded M20,000, while the third and fourth-place teams will each receive M10,000. In addition to the monetary prizes, the winning team will be awarded a trophy, with gold medals for its players. The second-place team will receive silver medals, while the third and fourth-place teams will take home bronze medals.
Individual excellence will also be recognized, with awards for Player of the Tournament, Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and Top Goal Scorer, each accompanied by a M2,500 cash prize.
Lioli FC’s Club President, Lebohang Thotanyane, underscored the impact of Alliance’s sponsorship on Lesotho football. Over the past 20 years, teams sponsored by Alliance have won the Premier League 12 times. Moreover, last year, Alliance-sponsored teams (Matlama FC, Lioli FC, LCS FC, and Linare FC) dominated all tournaments played by premier league teams in Lesotho, a testament to the success that comes with strong corporate support.
Thotanyane called upon other companies to follow Alliance’s example and invest in Lesotho football, noting that such sponsorships not only enhance the performance of the teams but also contribute to the overall development of the sport in the country.
As the Alliance Challenge approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament, with Lesotho’s top football teams vying for M60,000 and the chance to kick off the new season on a high note.
