Bantu FC

Bantu FC
Full nameBantu Football Club
Nickname(s)A Mats'o Matebele
Founded1927
GroundLeshoboro Seeiso Sports Complex Mafeteng, Lesotho
Capacity7,000[citation needed]
ChairmanLeuta John Leuta
CoachJames Madidilane
LeagueLesotho Premier League
Current season

Bantu Football Club is a Lesotho football club based in Mafeteng.

The team currently plays in Lesotho Premier League.[1]

History

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Bantu F.C. was formed in 1927 as Flying Sweeps of Mafeteng and later renamed Bantu F.C. The founders were the then district Commissioner Button in Consultation with the four Principal Chiefs of Mafeteng.

The team was given the name Bantu after it was alleged that the first tribes to arrive in the district were Matebele hence the chiefs had to rule different tribes and clans which were all the Bantu speaking people. Thus, the rationale behind the name was meant to unite all the tribes in Mafeteng.

The team has always been regarded as a district number one priority in Mafeteng district. Over the years it has strived to be one of the top football brands in Lesotho and some other parts of Southern Africa as evident from both local and international accolades conferred. The traditional colours of Bantu are black and gold which are the celebrated colours of Mafeteng district. The team is nicknamed A Mats’o Matebele and its supporters Makaota. Home stadium is Leshoboro Seeiso Sports Complex in Mafeteng, alternative stadiums are Setsoto and Maputsoe DiFA in Maseru and Leribe respectively.

SEFUBENG SAKA HO NGOTSOE A MATS'O MATEBELE!!!

Club Management

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President : Mr. Leuta John Leuta
1st Vice President : Mrs. Mamoji Letsapo
2nd Vice president : Mr. Moitheri Kulehile
3rd Vice President : Mr. Leoesha Mahase
Secretary General and Head of Legal: Adv. Tefo Rabolinyane (Mr.)
Vice Secretary General: Mr. Monaheng Matlali
Head of Marketing: Mr. Khotso Mosito
Member Admin: Ms. Tankiso Moteletsane
Member Technical: Ms Nkhathatso Majoro
Communication and Marketing Manager: Mr. Pule Mosoatsi
General Manager: Mr. Poosela Pule
Chief Finance Officer: Mr. Pitso T'sasanyane
Team Manager: Ms. Majulia Kulehile






.

Sponsors

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Metropolitan Lesotho
Naledi Funeral Planners


Through the hard work of the Bantu executive board, A Matšo Matebele is willing to source multiple sponsorships and partnerships for the benefit of the club. Bantu is very serious about lifting the shadow of amateur football.

Performance in CAF competitions

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Bantu represented Lesotho for the first time in CAF Competitions by appearing at the CAF Cup Winners Cup (Confederations Cup) in 1993. Bantu was drawn against Black Africa of Namibia and for the first leg of the preliminary round; it had to travel for a long distance by bus from Mafeteng to Windhoek, Namibia only to find that their opponents won’t play because of Political instability in the country. Then, Bantu progressed to the second round where they played against Witbank Black Aces of South Africa.

2015– preliminary round
2017 – preliminary round
2018 – first round
2020 – preliminary round
1994 – first round
1998 – preliminary round
2018 – play-off round

Achievements

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2013/2014 Champions 🏆
2016/2017 Champions 🏆
2017/2018 Champions 🏆
2019/2020 Champions 🏆
2022/2023 Champions 🏆
1963 Champions 🏆
1993 Champions 🏆
1997 Champions 🏆
2011 Champions 🏆
2012 Champions 🏆
2013 Champions 🏆
2015 Champions 🏆
2017 Champions 🏆
2016 - Champions 🏆
2023 – Champions 🏆

Current squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
13 GK Lesotho LES Jessy Matsie
30 GK Lesotho LES Thabiso Ntsane Lichaba
1 GK Lesotho LES Motlatsi Sebapala
24 DF Lesotho LES Itumeleng Falene
19 DF Lesotho LES Johannes Molapo
DF Lesotho LES Motiki Mohale
16 DF Lesotho LES Ts'oanelo Koetle
DF Lesotho LES Andile Sekonyela
DF Lesotho LES Liteboho Mohloki
DF Lesotho LES Meller Lebetsa
7 MF Lesotho LES Hlompho Kalake
DF Lesotho LES Moteloa Khemisi
20 MF South Africa RSA Lindokuhle Phungulwa
10 MF Lesotho LES Lehlohonolo Fothoane
MF South Africa RSA Sboniso Mahlangu
MF Lesotho LES Moriana Moriana
23 MF Lesotho LES Tumelo Khabele
12 MF Lesotho LES Thabo Lesaoana
MF Lesotho LES Katiso Selili
21 MF Lesotho LES Thabo Mafatle
MF South Africa RSA Doctor James Mahlangu
18 MF Lesotho LES Katleho Sefuthi
9 FW Lesotho LES Tseliso Botsane
FW Lesotho LES Morapeli Lesoetsa
FW South Africa RSA Sabata Letlatsa
8 FW Lesotho LES Lits'epe Marabe

Technical team

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James Madidilane - Coach* South Africa
Kabelo Malapane - Assistant Coach* South Africa
Esaiah Mosala - Goalkeeper Coach* Lesotho
Dr. Mpho Seleke - Team Doctor* Lesotho
Tichaona Tokwe - Orthopaedic Segion* Lesotho
Rapulungoana Pita - Physiotherapist* Lesotho
Mokhethi Rampopo - Physiotherapist* Lesotho
Paseka Lebenya - Care Taker* Lesotho
Amohelang Lelimo - Assistant Care Taker* Lesotho

Former coaches

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Best players

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Hlompho Kalake *  Lesotho

Lehlohonolo Fothoane *  Lesotho

Thabo Lesaoana *  Lesotho

Ntsane Lichaba *  Lesotho

Foreign players

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Lindokuhle Phungulwa *  South Africa

Sboniso Mahlangu *  South Africa

Doctor James Mahlangu *  South Africa

Sabata Letlatsa *  South Africa

Bantu FC Supporters

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Bantu has the craziest and most vibrant fans in Lesotho football. It is also one of the most progressive clubs. The club now has over 40,000 followers on Facebook which is the highest recorded number of football club followers in the country. In short, Bantu has laid down a marker for all clubs in the country to follow.

Some of the notable outstanding players over the years

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  • Scara Meikente 1940s/50s
  • City Mats’oara 1960s
  • Dessert Mohapi 1960s
  • Chippa Mathibeli 1960s
  • Naughty Rabolinyane 1960s
  • Zero Sehapi 1960s
  • Success Mosoeu 1980s
  • Valdez Lesenyeho 1980/90s
  • Popo ‘Pretty boy’ Mats’oara 1980s/1990s
  • Lehlohonolo Seema 1990s
  • Sekeleme Lephole 1990s
  • Morapeli ‘Sprinter’ Tlali 1990s
  • Holo Mafantiri 1990s
  • Tsepo ‘Motion’ Jobo 1990s
  • Lebohang ‘Tona’ Sekatle 1990s
  • Thabiso ‘Cellular Phone’ Mokhoele 1990s
  • Thato ‘Chocco’ Ralethoko 1990s
  • Tlali ‘Cabazela’ Maile 2000s-2016
  • Thapelo "Tenda" Mokhehle 2000-2021
  • Pro Lesenyeho 1980s

References

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  1. ^ "lesotho premier". soccerway. 2014. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  2. ^ "Lesotho — List of Champions".
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