One of Lesotho’s oldest and most successful football clubs, Matlama FC, remains locked in a protracted dispute with the Maseru City Council (MCC) over the ownership and future of the historic Pitso Ground.
The club, which has occupied the site since shortly after Lesotho’s independence in 1966, argues that the MCC’s 1994 lease was obtained unlawfully and that it is the rightful owner. The MCC currently controls the lease.
Founded in 1932, Matlama previously played at Aston Flats, an area now transformed into a commercial hub with shopping complexes. Club officials say authorities relocated them to Pitso Ground after independence without a formal written agreement, leaving the legal status of the arrangement unclear.
Matlama president Moeketsi Khojane said resolving the matter became a priority when he took office. “We have held several meetings with the municipality to try and resolve the matter, but little progress has been made,” Khojane said.
The club is now seeking compensation in the form of alternative land where it can build its own permanent home and modern football facilities that meet FIFA and CAF standards.
Matlama points to the precedent set with rivals Lioli FC, which received a larger piece of land after vacating its former ground in Teya-Teyaneng for a bus terminus. Government has already completed earthworks at Lioli’s new site.
“We understand this is a monument; we are just asking to be compensated like other teams,” Khojane said.
Disruption to club operations
The ongoing dispute has affected Matlama’s day-to-day activities. Municipal operations at the ground frequently interrupt training sessions, with club officials reporting incidents of soil being dumped on the playing surface while players were training.
“There was an agreement that we would use the facility on a 50/50 basis, but recently we have seen that our team is suffering, and at some stages we even struggle to train,” Khojane added.
The club says it would accept either full ownership of Pitso Ground or suitable alternative land.
Legal and historical arguments
Matlama secretary-general Thabang Letsie maintains that the club’s claim is backed by historical occupation and legal principles. He argues that the process used to grant the lease to the MCC requires scrutiny, citing provisions of the 1966 Constitution (on long-term occupation) and the 1979 Land Act.
“When we were ordered to leave our ground we could not say no; it was an imposed swap deal. We have been at the ground for more than 35 years,” Letsie said.
While litigation remains a last resort, the club has warned it may approach the courts if negotiations continue to stall.
Political support
The dispute has drawn political attention. Stadium Area MP ’Mampho Tjabane has backed the club and tabled a parliamentary question on the matter. The response was deferred to allow further consultations involving all stakeholders, including the Town Clerk and the Minister of Sports, Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Tjabane described it as unfortunate that a club of Matlama’s stature still lacks its own home ground. She noted that the heritage value of Pitso Ground, which hosted independence celebrations on 4 October 1966, will be considered in ongoing talks.
MCC response
MCC Public Relations Officer Lintle Bless confirmed that discussions with Matlama are continuing.
“We are still in talks with the club regarding the issues surrounding the ground,” Bless said. “Everyone is giving their version of how they understand the issues… so we are talking to them to find a solution.”
Bless emphasised the site’s national importance: “The history of that ground is significant. It is a historical monument, and that automatically makes it a national asset which must be preserved.”
Summary
- One of Lesotho’s oldest and most successful football clubs, Matlama FC, remains locked in a protracted dispute with the Maseru City Council (MCC) over the ownership and future of the historic Pitso Ground.
- “There was an agreement that we would use the facility on a 50/50 basis, but recently we have seen that our team is suffering, and at some stages we even struggle to train,” Khojane added.
- He argues that the process used to grant the lease to the MCC requires scrutiny, citing provisions of the 1966 Constitution (on long-term occupation) and the 1979 Land Act.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
