Matlama Football Club is a professional football club based in Maseru, Lesotho. The club currently competes in the Lesotho Premier League, where they most recently finished 2nd place.[1] The club was founded in 1932, and currently play at the Pitso Ground. Historically, they are the most successful team in the division.

Matlama FC
Full nameMatlama Football Club
Nickname(s)Tse Putsoa
FoundedMay 16th, 1932
GroundPitso Ground, Maseru, Lesotho
Capacity20,000
ChairmanMoeketsi Khojane
ManagerHalemakale Mahlaha
LeagueLesotho Premier League
2023-20242nd

The club is renowned for its entertaining style of play, which many players gain from their time in the club's youth system, which produces much of the talents in Lesotho, who are affectionately called 'Bafana'. The youth system has a series of teams, ranging from the under-12's to the senior team.

History

edit

Matlama Football Club was founded on 16 May 1932, making them one of the oldest clubs in the nation. When the Lesotho Premier League was founded in 1970, Matlama was the inaugural winner of the competition. The club have since won the Lesotho Premier League a record 11 times. In addition, they have won the Lesotho Independence Cup six times, and competed in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League four times.

Players

edit

As of the 2023-24 Season[2] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   LES Ts'Eliso Lekhooa
7 FW   LES Hlomelang Lebina
9 FW   LES Thabiso 'Mari
10 FW   LES Phafa Tsosane
12 MF   LES Ts'epang Ntsenyane
15 FW   LES Jane Thabantso
16 GK   LES Monaheng Ramalefane
17 DF   LES Motete Mohai
20 DF   LES Rethabile Mokokoane
25 DF   RSA Tsietsi Khooa
GK   LES Leluma Mofoka
GK   LES Ts'episo Rapotsane
DF   LES Paballo Mafeka
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   LES Ponts'o Moabi
DF   LES Nkopane Tabi
DF   LES Lefu Theku
MF   LES Ntsimane Mashili
MF   LES Rets'elisitsoe Moepo
MF   LES Santi Nts'ohi
MF   LES Katiso Thamae
MF   LES Molefe Thathu
FW   LES Moteloa Khemisi
FW   LES Nyolohelo Mahloane
FW   LES Ts'okolo Nyamatane
FW   LES Poloko Ramarikhoane

Achievements

edit
  • Lesotho Premier League
    • Champions (12): 1969*, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2003, 2010, 2019, 2022
  • Lesotho Cup
    • Winners (6): 1976, 1979, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1994

Performance in CAF competitions

edit
2004 – Preliminary Round
2011 – Preliminary Round
2020 – Preliminary Round
2022 -- Preliminary Round

References

edit
  1. ^ "Premier League 2023/2024 Standings & Team Forms | Soccer24.com". www.soccer24.com. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  2. ^ "Matlama FC – Matlama FC". 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
edit