By Neo Kolane
Alliance Insurance Group is once again sponsoring the Alliance High School Soccer Tournament this year with a whooping M25 000.
This was disclosed by Alliance Insurance’s head of group marketing and corporate communication, ‘Makeabetsoe Mabaleha at the unveiling of the 2023 edition of the competition in Maseru this week.
Mabaleha disclosed that the tournament is now on its second year.
She revealed that in the football fraternity Alliance Insurance has been the main sponsor of the major some of the premier league teams for over a decade, namely, Matlama FC, Lioli FC, LCS FC as well as Linare FC which is the youngest beneficiary with just over two years.
“With this tournament, Alliance aims to reignite the love of sport amongst our schools and a sense of oneness. School is known to teach kids skills such as teamwork, perseverance and decision making, which they can be able to apply aspects of their lives.
“It is through this tournament that we want to show Basotho that we are serious about the development of Lesotho and Basotho.
“We continue to promote and be involved with the hope that premier league teams will be able to scout new talent through this tournament, and give young pupils, a ray of hope in this field,” she said.
A representative of the Lesotho Institutions Sports Association (LISA), Thabiso Phetoka said the first leg of the tournament will be played on Saturday May 13, 2023 in different districts.
Phetoka said the winner will not only walk away with the title of being the Alliance High School Tournament champs and prize money, but they will also have an opportunity to be curtain raisers at the Alliance Winter Challenge where they will lock horns with last year’s winners – St Rose High School.
Alliance Winter Challenge is a soccer tournament that is meant to assist the teams that are affiliated with Alliance.
At the same occasion, a representative of the Lesotho Sports Recreation Commission (LSRC) Litṧitso Motṧeremeli indicated that all sports in the country fall under LSRC.
Motṧeremeli said as LSRC it was easy to choose football because it is a sport which every Mosotho knows.
“I would like to see the relationship formed by Alliance Insurance with LISA growing, so that every child who is eager to play sport can benefit from Alliance Insurance.
“LISA is giving an opportunity to all talented Basotho to be part of the premier league; and that it beautiful.
“As LSRC, we would like more under 17’s, 18, 19 and 20 to be part of the premier league, next year,” he said.