Bantu FC

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

Bantu FC
Full nameBantu Football Club
Nickname(s)A Mats'o Matebele
Founded1927
GroundLeshoboro Seeiso Sports Complex Mafeteng, Lesotho
Capacity7,000
ChairmanLeuta John Leuta
ManagerMoruti Sekokotoana
CoachAtang Bob Mafoso
LeagueLesotho Premier League
2022/23Champions

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

History

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.

Club Management

President : Mr. Leuta John Leuta
1st Vice President : Mrs. Mamoji Letsapo
2nd Vice president : Mr. Tseliso Ramatla
3rd Vice President : Mr. Panyane Phiri
Secretary General and Head of Legal: Adv. Tefo Rabolinyane (Mr.)
Vice Secretary General: Adv. Mokhethi Raphuthing (Mr.)
Member Admin: Ms. Tankiso Moteletsane
Member Technical: Mr. Thabang Letele
Communication and Marketing Manager: Mr. Pule Mosoatsi
General Manager: Mr. Sethabela Pule
Chief Finance Officer: Mr. Pitso T'sasanyane
Team Manager: Mr. Moruti Sekokotoana






.

Sponsors

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

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

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

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
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 Thabo Matsoele
16 DF Lesotho LES Ts'oanelo Koetle
4 DF Lesotho LES Leluma Posholi
7 MF Lesotho LES Hlompho Kalake
20 MF South Africa RSA Lindokuhle Phungulwa
10 MF Lesotho LES Lehlohonolo Fothoane
MF South Africa RSA Charlie Hlalele
MF Lesotho LES Kananelo Rapuleng
MF Lesotho LES Tumelo Makha
12 MF Lesotho LES Thabo Lesaoana
25 MF Lesotho LES Katleho Rapuleng
21 MF Lesotho LES Thabo Mafatle
22 MF Lesotho LES Thato Sello
18 MF Lesotho LES Katleho Sefuthi
MF Lesotho LES Jane Ts'otleho
9 FW Lesotho LES Tseliso Botsane
FW South Africa RSA Theko Thakho
17 FW South Africa RSA Boitumelo Malejwane
8 FW Lesotho LES Lits'epe Marabe

Technical team

Atang Bob Mafoso - Coach* Lesotho
Victor Tlholo - Assistant Coach* South Africa
TBA - Assistant Coach 2
Leuta Makhoa - Goalkeepers Coach
Sebili Pita - Physio
'Majulia Kulehile Team Manager
Kubutu Mokoenya - Kit Manager* Lesotho

Former coaches

Best players

Hlompho Kalake *  Lesotho

Lehlohonolo Fothoane *  Lesotho

Thabo Lesaoana *  Lesotho

Ntsane Lichaba *  Lesotho

Foreign players

Lindokuhle Phungulwa *  South Africa

Charlie Hlalele *  South Africa

Theko Thakho *  South Africa

Boitumelo Malejwane *  South Africa

Bantu FC Supporters

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

  • 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

References

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