2018 Alliance Winter Challenge dates set for August

LCS will be looking to make it three Alliance Winter Challenge titles
in a row when the competition roars into life on August 4...

The Alliance Winter Challenge will take centre stage on the weekend of August 4 and 5 tournament organisers have confirmed.

This year will be the fourth edition of the off-season showpiece and organisers have promised the best event yet.

The four-team competition was introduced in 2015 and is contested by the three Econet Premier League clubs sponsored by Alliance Insurance – namely Matlama, Lioli and Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) – as well as a fourth invitee.

This year the lucky guest team is newly-promoted Swallows.

The four sides will battle it out for the Alliance Winter Challenge crown early next at month at Setsoto Stadium.

The semi-finals will see defending champions LCS face Matlama in a repeat of last year’s final while Lioli will be heavy favourites in the second semi against Swallows.

The two semi-final winners will then face-off in the final the following day while the losers will battle it out in a third-place playoff.

LCS and Matlama will face off in the semis in a repeat of last year's final...

LCS will enter the 2018 Alliance Winter Challenge as two-time defending champions after winning the trophy last year and in 2016. Last year LCS beat Matlama 1-0 in the final and the club’s secretary general, Lehlohonolo Matlosa, said Masheshena are out to defend a title they hold dear.

“LCS has benefitted a lot from the (Alliance Winter Challenge) because of the gate takings that are collected during the tournament and shared among participating teams,” Matlosa said. “The money helps us a lot during our preparations ahead of the new season.”

Swallows are the fourth guest team to play in the Alliance Winter Challenge.

The first invited team was Liphakoe in 2015; in 2016 it was Sundawana; last year it was Bantu.

“The tournament will come very handy to our side because we are facing the huge challenge of making our debut in the Premier League,” said Swallows vice-president of administration, Maama Seeiso. “We will use the tournament to weigh where we stand going into the new league season.”

Swallows to make debut in pre-season Alliance Winter Challenge

Newly-promoted Swallows are on the up and up...

Newly-promoted Swallows will get an early chance to showcase their skills on the national stage when they take part in this year’s Alliance Winter Challenge.

In April the Mazenod side won promotion to next season’s Econet Premier League after winning the A-Division South Stream and a month later Maswai-swai completed a first division double by claiming the A-Division Top 8 title.

Their success has earned Swallows their first invite to the pre-season Winter Challenge tournament in July which is sponsored by insurance company, Alliance Insurance.

The competition was launched in 2015 is contested by the three Premiership clubs sponsored by Alliance – namely Matlama, Lioli and Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) – as well as a fourth invitee.

In 2015’s debut competition it was Liphakoe the guest team; in 2016 it was Sundawana while last year it was eventual league winners Bantu who completed the tournament’s quartet.

Maswai-swai public relations officer Lekoala Ralekoala said Swallows are excited to be part of the showpiece for the first time and are determined to prove themselves against their stellar opponents.

“As a new team in the (Econet) Premier League we are honoured to be invited for such a big tournament and even though we are going to face big teams, we are not only going there to participate but to compete,” Ralekoala said.

Since its introduction the Alliance Winter Challenge has grown into the country’s flagship pre-season football tournament. Ralekoala said Swallows hope the competition will give them the exposure to attract sponsors to help the club in what will be their first time in the Premier League since 2011.

“We know it will not be easy to win the cup but if we can play good football then we can increase our chances of attracting sponsors into the team,” Ralekoala said.

LCS will enter the 2018 Alliance Winter Challenge as two-time defending champions after winning the title last year and in 2016. Last year Masheshena beat Matlama 1-0 in the final.