Maseru, March 17 — The Sea-point based soccer outfit Matlama lifted the second edition of the People’s Cup after beating the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), the match was played at the Sam Matekane Stadium at Bocheletsane in Mantsonyane on Saturday.
Matlama beat LMPS 3-2 in penalties after the match ended 1-1 all at regulation time.
Tsietsi Khooa scored for Matlama at the dying minutes of the game and their defence went to sleep, thinking that they had already won the game.
However , there was drama as LMPS capitalised on the Matlama’s loss of concentration bg equlising immediately with Koloti Roboame scoring the much important goal which meant that the game would be decided on penalties.
It was during the penalty shootouts where Matlama triumphant for the second time on the day, eliminating Linare on penalties following another one all draw in the first semi-final that was played in the morning of the doubleheader.
Matlama for their efforts pocketed M650 000 as first prize money plus the trophy and gold medals which were presented by Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Sam Matekane.
Besides the prize money Matlama will also receive 40 percent of the money they spend on voting as well as the share of the gatetakings.
Matlama Head Coach Mr. Halemakale Mahlaha was so emotional after the final whistle as he cried as they celebrated the victory with the players and the officials.
He told the media that he was so emotional because he believed that the mercy of God had helped him and the players to win the cup.
He said LMPS made things difficult for his players by sitting back and parking the bus at the back.
He also believed that Matlama benefited from facing LMPS which was still tired after having played the second semi-final a few hours earlier and had not fully recovered.
Mr. Mahlaha also believed that the prize money they won would become handy for the players as well as for the team in their pursued to clinch the league title at the end of the season.
LMPS counterpart Mr. Tiisetso Molete said they lost to Matlama which was well rested and that LMPS was struggling financially unlike their opponents which have more than one sponsors.
However, he still believed that they did enough to win the tournament ut eventually it was not to be.
The tournament coincided with the Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Sam Matekane’s 65th birthday and as one of the sponsors of the tournament through his Sam Matekane Foundation commented the teams.
He said it was his wish to see all sporting codes improve as it is through sports that the nation could be united.
Bantu FC was the inaugural winners of this tournament last year after beating Lioli at the final.
The top 4 teams were voted by their followers through Econet Telcom Lesotho network.
Linare FC which lost to Matlama earlier had the entire money they spent on voting returned to them after beeing the first team to reach the 200 000 votes mark as per the arrangement of the organisers.
The People’s Cup is an annual event co sponsored by Sam Matekane Foundation, Econet Telcom Lesotho as well as Molefi Global Agencies.
