Lesotho Premier League
 |
|
| Country | Lesotho |
|---|---|
| Confederation | CAF |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Lesotho Independence Cup (Top 4) Vodacom Soccer Spectacular MGC Supa 8 |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Lioli FC (2014/15) |
| Most championships | Matlama FC (10) |
The Lesotho Premier League also known as Vodacom Premier League is the top football division in Lesotho and was created in 1970. Vodacom Lesotho are the current league sponsor and will back the Premier League for three seasons (2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12). Vodacom Lesotho are also the sponsor of the annual Vodacom Soccer Spectacular knockout competition, Lesotho's national cup tournament.
Contents
Format
Until the end of the 2009/10 season there were are sixteen clubs in the Premier League. However this has changed for the 2010/11 season after four teams were relegated at the end of the 2009/10 season following the instruction of the Mohale Declaration, a roadmap introduced by FIFA in 2008 which intends to create a professional league in Lesotho with 12 teams by 2014. The 2010/11 Premier League is currently being contested by 14 clubs. During the course of the 2010/11 season (which lasts from August to May) each club plays the other twice, once at home and once away for a total of 26 games for each club. Four teams will be relegated at the end of the season. Next season the Lesotho Premier League will be contested by 12 teams.
Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat.
The champion of the Premier League qualifies to represent Lesotho in the ORANGE CAF Champions League. In the past the second placed team in the Premier League used to advance to the CAF Confederation Cup, which is the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League however this was stopped at the turn of the century because of a lack of funds.
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 Lesotho's football governing 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.
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–: Vodacom Lesotho (Vodacom Premier League)
2014–15 season
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- Bantu (Mafeteng)
- Kick4Life FC
- Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- Lesotho Defence Force FC (Maseru)
- LMPS (Maseru)
- Likila United
- Likhopo (Maseru)
- Linare FC (Leribe)
- Lioli FC (Teyateyaneng)
- Matlama FC (Maseru)
- Mphatlalatsane FC (Leribe)
- Nyenye Rovers (Relegated) (Leribe)
- Qoaling Highlanders (Relegated)
- Sandawana (Mpharane)
Previous Winners, Runner-ups and Relegations
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Relegated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Likhopo | Lesotho Correctional Services | Bantu United (Mafeteng), Qalo FC (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2005–06 | Likhopo | Lesotho Defence Force FC | Lifefo (Maseru), School Boys (Maseru) |
| 2006–07 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Matlama FC | Mafeteng LMPS (Mafeteng), Butha-Buthe Warriors (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2007–08 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Lesotho Defence Force FC | Arsenal (Maseru), Qalo FC (Butha-Buthe) |
| 2008–09 | Lioli FC | Lesotho Defence Force FC | Maseru Naughty Boys FC, Sekamaneng Young Stars FC (Berea) |
| 2009–10 | Matlama FC | Lioli FC | Rovers (Maseru), Botha Bothe Roses (Butha-Buthe), Majantja (Mohale's Hoek), Nyenye Rovers (Leribe) |
| 2010–11 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Lesotho Defence Force FC | Swallows FC (Mazenod, Maseru), Mabeoana FC (Matsieng) |
| 2011–12 | Lesotho Correctional Services | Lesotho Defence Force FC | Maduma FC (Butha-Buthe), Majantja (Quthing) |
| 2012–13 | Lioli FC | Bantu | |
| 2013–14 | Bantu | Lioli FC | Melele FC (Qacha's Nek), Joy FC (Leribe) |
Previous winners
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- 1969 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1970 : Maseru United
- 1971 : Majantja FC (Mohale's Hoek)
- 1972 : Police (Maseru)
- 1973 : Linare FC (Leribe)
- 1974 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1975 : Maseru FC
- 1976 : Maseru United
- 1977 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1978 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1979 : Linare FC (Leribe)
- 1980 : Linare FC (Leribe)
- 1981 : Maseru Brothers
- 1982 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1983 : Lesotho Paramilitary Forces (Maseru)
- 1984 : Lesotho Paramilitary Forces (Maseru)
- 1985 : Lioli FC (Teyateyaneng)
- 1986 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1987 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1988 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1989 : Arsenal (Maseru)
- 1990 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1991 : Arsenal (Maseru)
- 1992 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 1993 : Arsenal (Maseru)
- 1994 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1995 : Majantja FC (Mohale's Hoek)
- 1996 : Roma Rovers (Roma)
- 1997 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1998 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 1999 : Royal Lesotho Defence Force (Maseru)
- 2000 : Lesotho Prisons Service (Maseru)
- 2001 : Lesotho Defence Force FC (Maseru)
- 2002 : Lesotho Prisons Service (Maseru)
- 2003 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 2004 : Lesotho Defence Force FC (Maseru)
- 2005 : Likhopo (Maseru)
- 2006 : Likhopo (Maseru)
- 2007 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2008 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2009 : Lioli FC (Teyateyaneng)
- 2010 : Matlama FC (Maseru)
- 2011 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2012 : Lesotho Correctional Services (Maseru)
- 2013 : Lioli FC (Teyateyaneng)
- 2014 : Bantu FC (Mafeteng)
- 2015 : Lioli FC (Teyateyaneng)
Performance By Club
| Club | City | Titles | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matlama FC | Maseru | 10 | 2010 |
| Lesotho Defence Force FC (includes Royal Lesotho Defence Force) | Maseru | 8 | 2004 |
| Lesotho Correctional Services (includes Lesotho Prisons Service) | Maseru | 6 | 2012 |
| Lioli FC | Teyateyaneng | 4 | 2015 |
| Arsenal | Maseru | 3 | 1993 |
| Linare FC | Leribe | 3 | 1980 |
| Maseru Brothers (includes Maseru United) | Maseru | 3 | 1981 |
| Lesotho Paramilitary Forces | Maseru | 2 | 1984 |
| Likhopo | Maseru | 2 | 2006 |
| Majantja FC | Mohale's Hoek | 2 | 1995 |
| Bantu FC | Mafeteng | 1 | 2014 |
| Maseru FC | Maseru | 1 | 1975 |
| Police | Maseru | 1 | 1972 |
| Roma Rovers | Roma | 1 | 1996 |
Topscorers
| Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals |
| 2000/01 |  Lire Phiri |
Lesotho Defence Force FC | 30 |
| 2005/06 | Masupha Majara |
Lesotho Defence Force FC | 9 |
Premier League domestic cups
External links
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