Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Alliance Insurance has set conditions for the M80 000 incentive it has promised to any of its three sponsored teams that wins the 2009/10 Premiership title.
At a press conference on March 11, Alliance announced one of three of their partners namely Lioli, Matlama and LCS stand to win the windfall if they are crowned Vodacom Premier League champions in May.
However, it has since emerged this money will only be given to the teams if they are registered in the Confederation of African Football Champions League next year by the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa).
Lesotho champions in the past two seasons, LCS and Lioli, have been denied a spot in the continental showpiece by Lefa for reasons including financial constraints, and lack of an international-standard stadium.
Alliance’s Life Insurance Division manager, Thabiso Madiba, who also oversees sponsorships, the M80 000 funding will only go to a team which takes part in the Champions League.
“Last year, Lioli won the league but they did not take part (in the Champions League). The sponsorship will only be awarded if the winning side participates in the Champions League.
We know the heavy costs that a team will incur when they play in continental competition. That is why Alliance is pledging this money,” Madiba said.
The insurance company which began partnership deals with Premiership giants Matlama and Lioli in June last year, added LCS to its roaster as well on March 1.
The side most likely to benefit from the incentive are Matlama, who lead second-placed defending league champions Lioli by seven points.
LCS are in sixth position, a further five points back with 37 points.
It has remained unclear whether or not Lesotho will be represented in next year’s edition of the Champions League because Lefa has failed to come forward with a clear stance on the matter.
Quizzed on the issue last week, Lefa acting chief executive officer Mokhosi Mohapi was reluctant to comment but did hint at Lesotho’s possible participation in continental club football competitions next year.
“I’m not going to comment on that because the (Lefa) national executive (committee) has not discussed it,” Mohapi said on Monday.
“The teams that are most likely to win the league (Matlama and Lioli) are mostly made up of youngsters, and that would be in line with our strategy to promote young players. Looking at it, it’s encouraging; there is reason to send a team (to the Champions League).”
Winners of the league championship are set to receive M100 000 from the official sponsor, Vodacom Lesotho.
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