As part of the 60th birthday celebrations of Bishop David Ramela, the Ramela Foundation, in collaboration with, has launched the Ramela Football Spectacular, an eight-team tournament that will feature clubs from Lesotho’s premier league and A-Division League.
The much-anticipated two-day event is set for August 30 and 31 at the DIFA Ground in Maputsoe, with the Foundation investing M500,000 to ensure its successful staging.
According to organisers, the competition will feature two pools, namely Pool A, consisting of four A-Division teams, and Pool B, consisting of four Premier League teams.
Both groups will compete in a round-robin format. However, only Pool B will conclude with a final to determine the tournament winner, while Pool A teams will not contest a final match.
Of the eight participating teams, five are sponsored by Ramela and Associates: Linare, Litšilo, Butha-Buthe Warriors, CCX, and Members FC. Premier League powerhouses Matlama, Lioli, and Bantu join the competition as special invitees.
“This is to quench the football thirst during the off-season and to rekindle the football fever. It’s also a way to continue improving players’ lives,” said Ramela Foundation’s spokesperson Sello Hatang.
Hatang noted this will be the second sporting event held in honour of Bishop Ramela’s birthday. The first, a horse racing competition held in March, has already been designated an annual event. However, no decision has yet been made on whether the football tournament will also become a permanent fixture.
The Foundation has pledged significant financial support to benefit both players and the broader community.
Each A-Division team will receive M10,000 in participation fees and an additional M10,000 from gate takings, amounting to M20,000 per team. Premier League clubs will compete for higher prizes, M150,000for winners, M75,000 for Runners-up, and M40,000 each for Semi-finalists.
“A portion of the gate takings will go to the participating teams, and another percentage will be given back to the community. This is not a profit-making initiative,” Hatang emphasised.
On his part, Bishop Ramela described the tournament as part of a broader mission to elevate Lesotho’s image through impactful initiatives.
“Our goal is to restore this country and uplift it. Sport is one of the ways to unite and inspire. I urge Basotho to come out in numbers and support this event,” he said.
With a mix of top-tier football and community-driven objectives, the Ramela Football Spectacular promises to be a standout event in Lesotho’s off-season calendar, celebrating the unifying and transformative power of sport.
Match Schedule: Ramela Football Spectacular
Saturday, August 30 – DIFA Ground, Maputsoe
10:00 – Litšilo vs Butha-Buthe Warriors
12:00 – Linare vs Lioli
14:00 – Bantu vs Matlama
Sunday, August 31
12:00 – CCX vs Members
14:00 – Pool B (Premier League) Final
Summary
- As part of the 60th birthday celebrations of Bishop David Ramela, the Ramela Foundation, in collaboration with, has launched the Ramela Football Spectacular, an eight-team tournament that will feature clubs from Lesotho’s premier league and A-Division League.
- Only Pool B will conclude with a final to determine the tournament winner, while Pool A teams will not contest a final match.
- With a mix of top-tier football and community-driven objectives, the Ramela Football Spectacular promises to be a standout event in Lesotho’s off-season calendar, celebrating the unifying and transformative power of sport.
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.
