Maluti Cement sponsors soccer tourney

Seabata Mahao

Maluti Mountain Cement (MMC) has pledged M220,000 towards a football tournament to assist vulnerable community members.

Dubbed the Berea Charity Cup, the tournament is scheduled to take place in Berea on October 4 this year, which will be Lesotho’s Independence Day. 

Among others, the tournament will raise funds through gate-takings together with the undisclosed amount the sponsor will add, which will go towards a charitable cause.

The entrance fee to the stadium will be M30 per person.

Participating clubs are Vodacom Premier League (VPL) giants Lioli FC and Bantu FC, the National A Division League’s Maroala FC and Amigos FC.

A feisty tie between the reigning VPL champions, Bantu and Liolli will headline the one-day tournament, with Maroala to entertain Amigos in the other clash.    

Winners between Bantu and Lioli will receive M50,000 while the runners-up will get M20,000. The winners between Maroala and Amigos will take home M20,000 with the runners up getting M10,000.

The Managing Director of MMC, Lehlohonolo Lephema recently told journalists that the company was founded five years ago by business mogul-turned-politician, Lebona Lephema with part of its focus on uplifting the community.

“We have already begun building an orphanage at Lithabaneng, and we have built two more in Mafeteng and Semonkong and this will be the third one,” he said.

“We have decided to elevate the community where we come from and hope to make it an annual event, where we will give back to Basotho.”

He said they also plan to use the games to lure the youth away from abusing alcohol on Independence Day as has become a recent trend.

Lebohang Thotanyane, the president of Lioli commended MMC for seeing value in partnering with the clubs for a positive cause.

“We all know that football is the universal language, and we only come together when a match between Bantu and Lioli or Matlama takes place,” Thotanyane stated.

Atang Molise from Amigos said they were looking forward to the tournament and were privileged to be part of it.

“We are ready to entertain supporters at the Berea Charity Cup. We are grateful for the opportunity we have been given by MMC. Basotho are yet to see what we can offer,” Molise explained.