More Than A Game - Matlama and Lioli

On Friday afternoon Lesotho’s two biggest club sides, Matlama and Lioli, clash in Teyateyaneng. Those with creative minds have dubbed the match the “Battle of Lesotho”… sounds a little corny to be honest... that said, there is nothing clichéd about the rivalry between Matlama and Lioli, a rivalry that has lifted Lesotho’s football from the ashes. Although it is not the top of the table clash many would have expected (Matlama are 6th, and Lioli are 10th), fireworks are still expected.

Warning: This piece is quite long, please eat and get comfortable before reading. Enjoy.

More Than A Game – Matlama and Lioli

Its two o’clock in the afternoon, the date – May 8, 2010.

As usual the African sun beams above as if at any moment it will fall from the sky while those clear blue skies that are unique to the Mountain Kingdom are in glorious view.

But apart from regular everyday happenings like dogs peeing on poles or birds chirping in the autumn leaves this somehow doesn’t feel like any ordinary Saturday. In the increasingly nippy air as winter knocks people seem to be attracted like pins to magnet to Maseru’s old polo ground now christened the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.

Tall, small, young and old are streaming to this tiny almost secluded corner of Maseru overlooking the Mohokare River anticipating what many say is the biggest match Lesotho has seen in a decade.

Cars outside the ground mash together like shacks in a shanty town while walking has also become a hazard, don’t drop a coin – or your hand might be trampled on.

Saturday’s here aren’t normally like this.

Maseru, Lesotho’s capital inhabited by just over 200 000 people, is still a relatively sane place and even at the best of times life can be described as slow.

But today all gloves are off.

It’s Lioli against Matlama, second and against first in the Vodacom Premier League, and the clash of Lesotho football’s VIP’s – a match now dubbed the Battle of Lesotho.

The sound of the home made plastic hooters Lioli fans religiously blow already fills the air as if bees were honing in on a honey pot while the unmistakable sound of the vuvuzela is also intermittently heard.

The streets of Maseru meanwhile have already witnessed something unprecedented with Matlama supporters parading through Kingsway in anticipation of a win that will bring them a record ninth league title.

Sitting proudly atop the Vodacom Premier League Matlama are seven points clear of Lioli, the defending champions from Teyateyaneng who have been the talk of Lesotho for a year. Now Tse Putsoa, having been forced to bear this unbearable torture, need just a point to wrap up a title few disagree they deserve.

“We are going to win,” a Matlama fan enthusiastically grins in the snaking line for tickets. Another Tse Putsoa fan simply has a banner reading “Lioli is our daily bread”.

With only two games left after today’s encounter Lioli for their part have to win to keep the race alive. Tse Nala fans needless to say vehemently disagree with Matlama’s prophecies of victory. Over our dead bodies they say. “Even if Matlama win the title, they won’t win it by beating us,” they insist. To spice things up even more in what has already been an unusually spunky build-up to a league fixture in Lesotho Matlama’s charismatic coach Ntebele Taole has claimed he will quit football if his side loses to Lioli. “I will leave coaching if I’m beaten by Lioli,” he says. “This match, whether it is hot or it is cold, I’m telling you we are going to win,” Taole insists three days before kickoff sparking ire in every corner of Teyateyaneng.

Memories of the last time the two sides met meanwhile are still baby-fresh.

When Matlama and Lioli last collided the match only lasted 77 minutes.

At a packed Pitso Ground in January Matlama had just grabbed a match winning 3-0 lead when all hell broke loose. Rival fans clashed, hurling all sorts of missiles at each other in a violent melee. In the ensuing mayhem one person was shot, seven more were injured and cars were smashed as Pitso Ground resembled some sort of warzone.

It is in that backdrop these mortal foes meet again four months down the line to decide the championship.

But still, even with this now intense rivalry, in the context of the history of football Matlama and Lioli is very much a young conflict. Unlike South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, Liverpool and Manchester United in England or Spanish enemies Real Madrid and Barcelona, this rivalry has only come to the fore in recent times, a rivalry borne perhaps more out of circumstance rather than tradition.

Matlama, the team of the capital Maseru and Lesotho’s most successful club, have indeed had several foes in their illustrious past.

In the 1970s to early eighties Matlama’s unquestioned rivals were Linare, the green mercenaries from Lesotho’s second district Leribe who dared to challenge the self-proclaimed Glamour Boys. In what by all accounts were heady days for Lesotho football, vast migrations of passion-fuelled fans would transverse Maseru and Leribe for clashes between two teams that would share five titles in six years between 1977 and 1982.

Then in the late eighties and early nineties a new even more daring foe emerged in the shape of Arsenal, an elitist club formed from the squalors of Maseru. Matches between Matlama and Arsenal were as much a battle for bragging rights as they were a clash of ideologies. In an eight-year period from 1986 to 1994 many say was the golden age for Lesotho’s league football Matlama, Arsenal and LDF formed a formidable threesome fighting for national supremacy.

Matlama won the league in 1986, 1988 and 1992, Arsenal in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and LDF in 1987, 1990 and 1994.

But almost like a Drakensberg avalanche Lesotho’s football crashed, suffering a terminal decline particularly in the standards and appreciation of the top-flight. These dark years, from 1998 to 2008, in the main saw the dominance of Lesotho’s so-called government teams, LDF, LCS and LMPS.

With the tribal rivalry that fuels any sport dead, Lesotho’s premier league became that just in name.

According to premier league chairman Tlholo Letete, as recently as four years ago it was normal to see completely empty grounds at premiership matches. “Players would be playing and the only spectators would be the people on the bench,” Letete says.

Poor administration and childish infighting further ruined Lesotho’s football and in 2001 a toxic situation climaxed when a rival governing body to the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) was formed. Lefa had for several years seen serious clashes within its senior ranks but the establishment of the Football Association of Lesotho (FA), headed by Mohau Thakaso, in January 2001 was an unprecedented act of rebellion.

Thakaso formed the FA after he was suspended by Lefa from his position as its public relations officer. Lefa claimed Thakaso had brought the association into disrepute after he accused members of Lefa’s executive committee of financial irregularities.

Upon the inauguration of his renegade association Thakaso then declared that not only had all 16 premiership clubs affirmed interest in joining his FA but they would be joined by all 20 first division teams as well.

Lesotho’s football then reached a crushing low in February 2001 when Lefa’s main sponsor Maluti Mountain Brewery withdrew its sponsorship because of the fiasco.

It meant that despite the national team Likuena reaching the final of the Cosafa Cup in August 2000 for the first and last time, local league football – with little sponsorship, poor coverage and dwindling attendances – was all but dead.

“It was very bad, and it almost destroyed football in the country,” Lesotho football analyst Seeiso Nkuebe says. “There were some people who just left football saying they were fed up with what was going on. And of course the standards of the game in the country subsequently declined,” Nkuebe adds.

But today as Matlama and Lioli clash a different mood fills the air.

Instead of depression there is excitement and expectation – a match some have said is the confirmation of Lesotho football’s rebirth.

The 2009/10 season in the year of Africa’s first ever World Cup has doubtless seen a resuscitation of sort to local football. Lesotho has welcomed its first ever million maloti sponsorship of football with Vodacom Lesotho signing a deal with Lefa at the start of the season that will see them pump M1 million yearly into Lesotho’s four divisions, M550 000 of which will go to the premier league, until 2012.

It is something almost unthinkable even a year ago when Lesotho’s league winners Lioli were rewarded with M30 000 for their efforts. This year the champions will walk home with M100 000.

In fact Vodacom, which has replaced its telecommunications rival Econet-Telecom Lesotho as football’s backers, has gone positively crazy not only sponsoring league football but also introducing the country’s first-ever national knockout competition – the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular – also worth M1 million yearly over three seasons.

It is these shots in the arm that have given today’s title decider between Matlama and Lioli a profile it otherwise would not have had.

“It is a big game because it is a chance for us to put pressure on Matlama. So it is a big game,” Lioli coach Mosholi Mokhothu says in the build up to the game.

For Teyateyaneng, the capital of Berea district – Maseru’s northern neighbouring province, it’s indeed “a big game”. In fact to some it transcends football; it is a chance to stick it to Matlama and Maseru on the biggest stage after years of being an after-thought. Beating Matlama not only means three points but is a way to show they too exist after decades of neglect.

This is how it has always been for Teyateyaneng.

In the years following Lesotho’s independence from Britain in 1966 it soon became clear Teyateyaneng was destined for the periphery. When the Basotho National Party (BNP) government took over in 1970 this sentiment was entrenched, not only in a sporting sense, but in everyday life.

In 1970 the government, led by right-leaning nationalist Jonathan Leabua, introduced the Lesotho Sports Council Order which with its management committees dominated by officials from Maseru focused perhaps inevitably on the capital.

But even in terms of everyday development Teyateyaneng was shunned.

With Maseru enjoying a financial boom, the government’s secondary focus landed on Berea’s northern neighbour Leribe which would become Lesotho’s capital of agriculture. Teyateyaneng sandwiched in between booming Maseru and prosperous Leribe gradually became the poor relation, struggling to grow economically and burdened with rising unemployment. The people of Teyateyaneng weren’t helped by the fact they were viewed by Leabua as supporters of the then outlawed opposition Basutoland Congress Party (BCP).

“During the BNP era much development was focused on the capital and it jumped over to Leribe starting at Kolonyama, less than 10km away from the Teyateyaneng camp,” journalist Caswell Tlali says.

“Berea people were seen as associates of the then BCP party. A lot of developments were not forthcoming to them because of political reasons, they were marginalised,” he says.

In short, all of Lesotho’s resources went towards Maseru and Leribe.

Now almost half a century later, despite the BCP’s corollary the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) being in power since 1998, Tlali says the focus is on Lesotho’s southern districts, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Qacha’s Nek, which have seen concerted development over the past five years.

Teyateyaneng has seemingly missed the boat again.

“For Teyateyaneng, and Berea as a whole, things were always a bit different in many ways. The people always felt left out of the developments that happened all around the country, so it increased the sense of being an outsider,” Tlali says. “Of course you will recall that in the early 1900s Berea’s ruler Chief Gabasheane Masupha launched war against the paramount chief of Basutoland (pre-independence Lesotho) Lerotholi Letsie in the War of Khamolane. So there has always been this history of rebellion connected to Teyateyaneng,” he adds.

Lioli football club as a result became an extension of daily life, indeed anyone from Berea is known as a Seoli – a foot-soldier for the Lioli army.

Tse Nala was a tool for Teyateyaneng’s natives to show they too belonged on the stage.

It was this lust for recognition which brought about the club’s golden period in the mid-eighties when Lioli’s then president Bambatha Tšita bankrolled Lioli to their first league title in 1985, invigorating a history that had been littered with underachievement.

Formed in 1932, Lioli was named as such by Berea monarch Chief Masupha after his army regiment.

Tse Nala soon became one of the country’s strongest teams competing alongside Mafeteng’s Bantu, Mohale’s Hoek’s Majantja and Linare in the informal leagues of the colonial days. It is from these beginnings Tse Nala became the lifeblood of the Lioli nation, the pride of the region’s royalty, and the main source of happiness. The consequence was a legion of fanatic fans, infamous for violence but acknowledged for their passion – fanatics that would inspire Lioli back to the top-flight after relegation in 2000 and paint Lesotho maroon when Tse Nala won a second championship in 2009.

Formed in 1932 Matlama’s story is rather different – one that began slowly but flourished exponentially.

When Tse Putsoa were formed they were far from being the strongest team, struggling to match up other district teams.

However a combination of Maseru’s boom as Lesotho’s economic hub and the streamlining of Tse Putsoa’s management in the 1960s after the arrival of Thabo Naleli as president saw Matlama transform into a force. After independence Matlama then became the symbol for the new fervour in Lesotho, becoming the country’s glamour team and its prodigal sons.

With celebrated players such as the Matete brothers – Seephephe “Mochini” Matete and Mahao “Bomba” Matete – Edwin “Scara” Tšiu and Motlalepula “Maradona” Majoro, Tse Putsoa would go on to win a record eight league titles by 2003.

Now in 2010 as Lesotho’s modern game, which is still played on an amateur basis, attempts to reinvigorate itself Matlama and Lioli have become the two shining lights. They are the most glamorous clubs, have the largest fan bases, the best players and theirs is a Cold War for the hearts and minds of Basotho.

When Lioli won the title last May their first action was to make it clear they were Lesotho’s kings, not Matlama. Off the field, under the leadership of Lebohang Thotanyana, Tse Nala have grown as well. In 2009 Lioli became the first local club to have an official business partner, in the form of Econet, and the first to have an official sponsored kit. This year Tse Nala have become the first side to have official supporters’ branches in two districts by encroaching on Matlama’s Maseru turf.

Matlama, after a lull since their last league win in 2003, are the inaugural champions of the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular and M360 000 richer following their triumph last November. That spectacular triumph has galvanised the team’s support and management, club businesses including sports shops, airtime trading and a magazine are in the pipeline.

Above all, both teams are now heavily backed by Alliance Insurance, which has underwritten funeral schemes under the brands of the two clubs. Alliance has also upped the ante by saying it will reward winners of the league with M80 000.

It is these newfound factors that have caused Matlama and Lioli’s rivalry boil over from a district quarrel to Lesotho’s grudge match.

“In the game of football the more the passion grows the more there is rivalry. They are the two teams that have major sponsorship and they are the most talked about clubs at the moment, so they are on a collision course,” analyst Seeiso says.

Understandably then, considering the events of the sides’ last meeting, there is an increased security presence in and around the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena – an informal sports ground at Lefa’s headquarters in use because of on-going renovations to the national Setsoto Stadium and the lack of suitable alternatives in the country.

The match meanwhile is technically Lioli’s home match despite being 50 kilometres away their Teyateyaneng base.

Lioli have been banned from playing at home until the end of the season after their supporters attacked match officials after a 3-1 loss to LMPS in March.

But in any case, after the events from January, this match was never going to be held in Teyateyaneng because of fears of retribution and the lack of security at Lioli’s home ground – a common problem in Lesotho.

Here this afternoon there are fears Lioli, with their reputation for unruliness, will explode again should they lose to Matlama. As a result there is the heaviest security seen for a while at a local league game with two fully manned police vehicles and security guards manning all possible entries into the ground.

Fans are searched at entrances – also a first.

As the clock ticks towards kick-off the crowd inside Bambatha begins to swell, the atmosphere is buzzing.

Fears that Lioli fans would somehow boycott the match after their executive were banned for four years by the premier league due to a dispute over the Caf Champions League are unfounded. Tse Nala’s loud and proud faithful stack the northern bank of the ground singing, clad head to toe in their unmistakable maroon colours.

Matlama’s fans take the opposite side and also park themselves on the far touchline with numbers last seen in the ‘old days’.

Matlama meanwhile are the favourites today, the last time Lioli beat Tse Putsoa was a 3-1 triumph at Pitso Ground way back in March 2008.

After the usual pre-match pleasantries the match finally kicks off.

Lioli, playing from right to left, start off brighter. With their assistant coach Halemakale Mahlaha furiously barking instructions from the touchline the players are not about to forget this is their last chance.

Matlama for their part are surprisingly subdued. Their litany of stars are unable to get into the game despite Mohau Khali’s exciting early run and shot that whizzes just over the crossbar. Matlama’s lax approach costs them in 28th minute when normally dependable midfielder Lehlohonolo Mokhele is caught dallying on the ball in the penalty box. Mokhele’s clearance is charged down and falls to an alert Sello ‘Muso who easily rounds goalkeeper Liteboho Mokhesi sending Lioli’s maroon army into frenzy akin to hyenas feasting on a carcass in savannah drought.

The goal finally wakes Matlama. They finally begin to exert pressure.

In the 36th minute Khali goes down in the box after a robust challenge from Lioli right-back Mohapi Ntobo, who gets the ball, but also leaves some welcome mementos on the winger’s legs.

“Penalty!” Matlama supporters scream, spicing their howls at the match officials with some more colourful language. Tse Putsoa then have another, stronger, penalty shout 11 minutes later when lanky striker Dlomo Monapathi is baulked by Brown Makobe – but referee Rethusitsoe Lebaka is not buying it.

“That was a clear penalty,” Sejanamane Mapathe, the Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association’s spokesman, today with his football colours on, says during the halftime break.

Then four minutes after halftime Matlama commit another fatal error.

After a messy midfield duel for possession the ball squirts out to Lioli playmaker Malebanye Ramoabi who aimlessly punts the ball forwards. But it turns out be a killer pass. Matlama right-back Tšoanelo Koetle has lazily lagged behind his fellow defenders playing Tse Nala forwards Teboho Lekhooa and Seenyane Nthejane, who are loitering on the left flank, onside. Mokhesi desperately rushes out of goal in an attempt to clear the danger but he is well beaten to the ball by Lekhooa who lays it to Nthejane who in turn passes into an empty net.

The Lioli fans go completely nuts, some run onto the field. This is madness.

But that’s where the madness ends. From then the match turns into a stop-start affair punctuated by petty fouls and angry Matlama intermittently trying to force their way onto the field. There are also skirmishes amongst Matlama fans.

This is Lesotho.

Nevertheless despite a late barrage from Tse Putsoa Lioli hang on to claim three points and keep the title race alive for another week. But even more importantly for those who have travelled from Berea, Maseru for today and for this week, has been conquered.

Five days later Lioli players are given a whopping M154 000 as a gift by Teyateyaneng hotel Blue Mountain Inn. Just for beating Matlama in one match Tse Nala’s squad have landed more loot than they would for winning the league.

“They have made us all very proud. They have given us happiness that is hard to describe,” Berea’s acting Chief Majara Masupha says at the ceremony.

In Maseru there is a furious inquest tinted with depression.

However, soothingly for capital’s natives, the loss to Lioli is but a hump on Tse Putsoa’s way to an unprecedented ninth league title.

The following Saturday, Lioli needing another win to keep the title race alive can only muster a goalless draw with Bantu handing the title to Matlama despite Tse Putsoa’s simultaneous 1-0 loss to LCS.

So, after masterminding Matlama to their first championship since 2003 Tse Putsoa mentor Taole will surely be absolutely ecstatic with the season, won’t he?

No.

He’s not.

“I will not stop until I beat Lioli,” Taole declares.

Yes, this isn’t any normal game – it’s Matlama against Lioli.

It’s more than a game.