—as premier league giants clash
Leemisa Thuseho
ALL roads lead to Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena for today’s Maluti Mountain Cement Charity (MMCC) Cup, where the country’s top league teams will battle it out for the M125,000 first prize.
According to fixtures released on Thursday, Matlama FC will face Bantu FC in the first semifinal at 09:00 hours.
After a slow start to their Vodacom Premier League (VPL) campaign — in which they drew two matches and won one — Matlama will be looking to use the tournament as a morale booster.
Bantu, who reached last year’s final but lost 1–0 to Lioli FC, will be keen to turn that silver medal into gold this time around.
Meanwhile, the second semifinal will see defending champions Lioli locking horns with LDF FC.
Lioli have just emerged from a tough back-to-back CAF Champions League tie against South Africa’s giants, Orlando Pirates, last weekend. Their coach, Bongani Maseko, will be eyeing his third title since joining the team during the off-season period.
He has already led Lioli to victory in the TJ Nthane Tournament in June and the Alliance Challenge in August.
“It is true we are just fresh from CAF, but we are ready to play,” Maseko told the Sunday Express.
“If we want to be professional and compete at the same level as top clubs on the continent, we must get used to this pressure and tight schedule.”
The winners of the semifinals will advance to the final later today at 15:30hrs.
For LDF, coach Malefetsane Pheko will be aiming for his first-ever title since taking the reins two seasons ago.
The 2025 MMCC winner will pocket M125,000, while the runners-up will take home M75,000. Each semi-finalist will receive M50,000, with additional individual prizes also on offer.
The MMCC seeks to use football as a vehicle for community upliftment and economic revitalisation, with all proceeds directed towards supporting small businesses.
This year’s competition features last season’s top four teams. However, the Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) vice-chairperson, Moruti Sekokotoana, said there were ongoing discussions about adopting a more inclusive approach to allow all premier league teams to participate.
“We appreciate the sponsorship as it gives our teams an opportunity to compete,” Sekokotoana said.
“However, we are still hoping to have a more inclusive and competitive tournament that features all premier league teams.”