Lesotho Premier League
 | |
| Founded | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Country | Lesotho |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Lesotho A Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4) MGC Supa 8 |
| International cup(s) | CAF Champions League |
| Current champions | Lioli FC (6th title) |
| Most championships | Matlama FC (11) |
| Current: 2024–25 Lesotho Premier League | |
The Lesotho Premier League, also known as Vodacom Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is the top football division in Lesotho and was created in 1970. Econet Telecom Lesotho was the league sponsor, from 2017/2018 to 2019/2020 season.[1] Vodacom Lesotho are again the current league sponsor and were also the sponsor of the now cancelled Vodacom Soccer Spectacular knockout competition, which was the Lesotho's annual national cup tournament.
Format
The Lesotho Premier League is currently contested by 16 clubs. The league uses a double round robin format meaning one team plays the other twice. Therefore, a team will play a total of 30 games per season. The team with the most points wins the league title.
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, 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. However, in 2017, LeFA ended its sponsorship with Vodacom Lesotho to pen a new three-year multi-million maloti sponsorship with the previous sponsor Econet Telecom Lesotho in which the champions will pocket M500 000; a 150% increase from the previous M200 000 received by 2016–2017 champions Bantu.[2]
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:
- 2002–09: Econet Telecom Lesotho (Buddie Premier League)
- 2009–2017: Vodacom Lesotho (Vodacom Premier League)
- 2017–2020: Econet Telecom Lesotho (Econet Premier League)
- 2021–present: Vodacom Lesotho (Vodacom Premier League)
Premier League domestic cups
- Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4)
- Lesotho National Insurance Group Cup (Top 8)
- MGC Soccer Spectacular
2023-2024 season
- Ace Maseru FC (Maseru)
- Bantu FC (Mafeteng)
- CCX FC (Hlotse,Leribe)
- Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- Lesotho Mounted Police Service (Maseru)
- Lifofane FC (Butha-Buthe)
- Lijabatho FC (Morija)
- Limkwokwing University FC (Maseru)
- Linare FC (Leribe)
- Lioli (Teyateyaneng)
- Liphakoe FC (Quthing)
- Manonyane FC (Nyokosoba, Maseru) (relegated)
- Matlama FC (Maseru)
- Machokha FC (Thaba Bosiu, Maseru)
- Naughty Boys (Mohale's Hoek) (relegated)
Champions
Performance by club
| Club | City | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matlama | Maseru | 11 | 2022 |
| Lesotho Defence Force (includes Royal Lesotho Defence Force) | Maseru | 8 | 2004 |
| Lioli | Teyateyaneng | 6 | 2024 |
| Lesotho Correctional Services (includes Lesotho Prisons Service) | Maseru | 6 | 2012 |
| Bantu | Mafeteng | 5 | 2023 |
| Arsenal | Maseru | 3 | 1993 |
| Linare | Leribe | 3 | 1980 |
| Maseru Brothers (includes Maseru United) | Maseru | 3 | 1981 |
| Lesotho Paramilitary Forces | Maseru | 2 | 1984 |
| Likhopo FC | Maseru | 2 | 2006 |
| Majantja | Mohale's Hoek | 2 | 1995 |
| Maseru | Maseru | 1 | 1975 |
| Police | Maseru | 1 | 1972 |
| Roma Rovers | Roma | 1 | 1996 |
Top goalscorers
| Year | Country | Best scorers | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 |  |
Lire Phiri | Lesotho Defence Force | 30 |
| 2005–06 | |
Masupha Majara | Lesotho Defence Force | 9 |
| 2014–15 | |
Litsepe Marabe | Bantu | 22 |
| 2018–19 | |
Sera Motebang | Matlama | 18 |
| 2021-22 | |
Katleho Makateng | Lesotho Defence Force | 20 |
| 2022-23 | |
Hlomelang Lebina | Lesotho Correctional Services | 15 |
| Jane Thabantso | Matlama | |||
| 2023-24 | |
Lemohang Lintsa | Limkwokwing University FC | 19 |
References
- ^ "Econet new premier league sponsors". 2 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ "Econet new premier league sponsors". 2 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
External links
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2015) |
- RSSSF competition history
- Official Lioli Football Club Website
- Confederation of African Football (CAF) Official Website
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