Maseru, Sept. 04 — Alliance Insurance Company says it is not entirely satisfied with the supporters who showed up during the weekend’s Alliance Challenge which was won by Matlama FC after beating Linare FC 1-0 at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday.
Alliance Insurance Sales Manager, Mr. Makhozi Foko told the Agency on Monday that the company was not entirely satisfied by the manner in which the four participating teams turned up, especially on the second day of the tournament after Matlama had walloped Lioli 3-0 on Saturday.
He said Lioli FC followers who had turned up in large numbers to cheer for their team did not come back on Saturday after their team’s big loss.
Mr. Foko said he suspected that Lioli FC followers resolved to rather stay at home than watch their team play for the third place against Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) in which they lost 4-1 to finish last in the four member team tournament.
The Alliance Sales Manager said it is important for the teams’ supporters to understand the main purpose of the Alliance Challenge, saying it is to raise funds for the participating teams ahead of the start of the Premier League fixture.
Besides raising funds for the teams through gate takings, he said the tournament also allows the teams’ coaches to try new combinations in the off season as well as for them to unveil new signings before the league starts.
Speaking about the prize money, Mr. Foko said Matlama FC went home M50,000 richer plus a newly unveiled trophy and gold medals while Linare FC that lost 1-0 to the eventual winners only obtained silver medals and LCS that finished in third received the bronze medals only while Lioli returned home empty handed.
‘The tournament is a winner takes all, hence the rest of the teams did not get any prize money’ he explained.
However, he said individual players were rewarded for their outstanding efforts where Leutloileng Boikanyo received M3500 for the top goal scorer award, coach of the tournament went to Halemakale Mahlaha of Matlama who went home with M2000, goal keeper of the tournament went to Monaheng Ramalefane who obtained M2500 and Hlomelang Lebina was chosen as the player of the tournament who got M3500 for his efforts.
Mr. Foko described Matlama as was the team to beat at the tournament, saying even despite resting some of its key players with the likes of Phafa Ts’osane, the team was able to beat Linare FC which unleashed their regulars.
He was not yet aware of how much the gatetakings were raised in this year’s Alliance Challenge.
Alliance Challenge is an annual preseason soccer tournament sponsored by Alliance Insurance.
