ACE Maseru, Limkokwing square off in Nedbank tie

MASERU – ACE Maseru and Limkokwing University (LUFC), this season’s respective A-Division league champions, have been drawn against each other in a mouth-watering Nedbank 8 quarter-final tie.

ACE Maseru won this season’s A-Division south stream while Limkokwing claimed the north which means both sides are headed to the Vodacom Premier League next season.

But before that, both will be looking to end their successful campaigns on a high in the Nedbank 8 which features the top four teams from this season’s two A-Division streams.

ACE Maseru and LUFC will also meet again in the Champ of Champs finale which decides the season’s overall winner of the first division.

Both tournaments will take place next month with the Nedbank 8 to be played over the first two weeks of May and the Champ of Champs to follow a week later.

This year’s Nedbank 8 is the third edition of the competition and the two previous winners of the cup are Litšilo and Machokha.

All of the games will be played at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and will all be streamed live on the FIFA+ app.

Speaking at yesterday’s draw at Bambatha, Nedbank’s Head of Marketing, Sekonyela Matamane, said the sponsors were impressed with the behaviour of supporters during last year’s edition.

He said Nedbank is committed to helping football and sports in general to grow.

“If we are here (sponsoring the tournament) again it is a sign that we did well last year,” Matamane said.

“To the fans, last year we observed good behaviour and we want to thank everyone. We are in business in Lesotho, we are getting support here and when the business grows, our responsibility grows,” he said.

“We are proud that Basotho supported us well in the last financial year and we are committed to supporting football and other sports to grow. (The public) keep asking how much more we can do, this is where I encourage other companies to come together and support football,” Matamane said.

This season is the final year of Nedbank’s sponsorship and Matamane said the company is eager to continue beyond the current three-year contract.

The interesting fact about yesterday’s Nedbank 8 draw is that the runners up from the South Stream have also drawn the runners up in the North Stream. It is the same for third and fourth placed sides.

The four teams that will be knocked out at the quarter-final stage will each receive M10 000 in prize money. The fourth placed team will get M13 000, the third placed will go home with M15 000 while the runners up will walk away with M20 000.

The champions will pocket the M25 000 grand prize and the trophy.

There will also be individual awards for the goalkeeper, top scorer and player of the tournament with each award coming with M2 000 in prize money.

Reacting to the draw, Limkokwing University head coach, Ntlaloe Ntlaloe, said LUFC are happy with it. He said they want to play against the best teams because they are preparing for life in the Vodacom Premier League.

“In order to be the best, you have to beat these teams that are the best,” Ntlaloe said.

“For us to get to the Premier League we had to play Lilemela, Sehenehene that we were fighting with. It would be nice to start with ACE Maseru and put them to the side because our intentions are clear in the Nedbank 8,” he added.

Mzamane, Likhopo (Mahlaseli) and Quthing LMPS will be competing in the tournament for the first time.

Nedbank 8 Cup draw:
Quarterfinals:
ACE Maseru vs. LU FC (Q1)
Mzamane vs. Quthing LMPS (Q2)
Majantja vs. Sehenehene (Q3)
Likhopo vs. Lilemela (Q4)

Semi-finals:
Q3 vs. Q1
Q2 vs. Q4

Tlalane Phahla