Four Premier League giants—Matlama, Lioli, Linare and Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS)—are gearing up for the Alliance Winter Challenge later this month at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena. This year, Alliance Insurance has increased the sponsorship to M400 000, which means increased prize money for the winners.
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The champions of the seventh edition will walk away with M60 000, a M10 000 increase from last year’s winner’s purse of M50 000. The runners-up will receive M20 000, while the remaining two teams will each get M10 000.
The Alliance Winter Challenge was launched eight years ago by the insurance giants to help clubs under the company’s sponsorship umbrella raise money before the start of a new season.
The inaugural tournament in 2015 – which was won by Matlama – was contested by the Alliance’s original crew of ‘Tse Putsoa’, Lioli and LCS with a fourth club invited as a guest.
Linare joined the Alliance family three years ago and have filled the fourth spot since.
Not only do the clubs receive prize money but they also share the gate takings equally.
Speaking during the Tuesday’s draw, Alliance’s Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager, Limakatso Mokobocho, said Alliance is happy with how their clubs are performing in the Premier League with Lioli winning the title last season, followed by Matlama.
She said the upcoming season will be no different—the championship will go to one of them.
“Gate takings are shared equally by the teams. This is to make sure that they have something in the pocket before hosting and collecting their own gate takings in the Premier League. Also, (the tournament is) to build the bond with each other and boost one another,” Mokobocho said. “The prize money is our way of helping our teams and ensure that have something before the season starts. We are really improving and every team will benefit from this tournament.”
Mokobocho urged supporters to come out in their numbers and support the teams so that they raise more money from gate-takings.
She said football brings people together, which is why they are investing in it, she insisted that no other company in the country is doing what Alliance do when it comes to investing in sports.
Speaking on behalf of the teams, Lioli president Lebohang Thotanyana said they appreciate the support they have been receiving from Alliance over the years. He noted that Alliance teams won all the trophies contested in the Premier League last season.
“Matlama won (the People’s Cup) and Lioli won (the league). The top four in the Premier League from last season has three teams from Alliance and we are very grateful. Our football just needs investments from companies for it to grow, and I wish others could see the good work done by Alliance,” Thotanyana said.
The draw saw two arch-rivals Lioli and Linare pitted against each other in the first semi-final with Matlama and LCS to follow afterwards. The final will be played in the afternoon of the same day.
Relebohile Tšepe
