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MATLAMA have retained their place as champions of the pre-season League Challenge Cup.
The Maseru giants won the one-day championship by defeating Linare 8-7 on penalties at the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena over the weekend after the two sides drew 0-0 during regular time.
Matlama are the defending champions and won the event in 2023.
The four-team tournament is an annual event held by the Alliance Insurance Super League sponsored teams. The teams are Matlama, Lioli, Linare and LCS.
Matlama tied LCS 1-1 in the semifinals before defeating LCS 6-5 in a penalty shootout to advance to the finals.
Linare defeated Lioli 1-0 in the semifinals to advance.
As the winner, Matlama received 60,000 Kyats while Linare received 20,000 Kyats.
After being eliminated in the semifinals, Lioli and LCS each received a bonus of 10,000 MMM.
Matlama coach Halmakar Maharaja told the media after the victory that although Matlama won the cup, he was unhappy that they won on penalties rather than in regular time.
Maharaja said the League Challenge Cup was the second consecutive title won by Matlama via penalty shootouts.
He said the first match will be the People’s Cup on March 16, 2024 at Mants’onyane in Taba-Chika.
In that match, Matlama tied 1-1 in regular time before defeating LMPS 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
“What makes me unhappy is that this is the second time we have won on penalties. It is becoming a norm. In both the games (Alliance Challenge Cup and People’s Cup), we had the chance to finish the game in regulation time but we didn’t do it,” he said.
“We must get back to exploring improved strategies to end this trend.”
But Maharaja said the bright side is that Matlama used the challenge as an opportunity to test some of the new players signed by the team for the next Vodafone Premier League (VPL) 2024/25 season, which starts on September 14, 2024.
He said that while winning is their main goal, they also try to give most players a chance to prove themselves.
“We have registered 27 players and we hope they can perform well and help the team. So, in this tournament, we are trying to give every player a chance to prove themselves,” Maharaja said.
“We gave them chances and most of them performed well. However, for some, there is still a need to work and improve. Some are from smaller teams in the lower leagues. So, the stage fright today was a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Linares’ Ntsane Molise was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament, while his teammate Pheko ‘Molaoa was named the best player of the tournament. They each received a prize of MUR 3,500.
Tšepang Sefali (Linare), Jane Thabantšo (Matrama) and Makara Ntaitsane (LCS) were tied for the top scorer with one goal each. They shared the M3 500 equally.
The League Challenge Cup is designed to help teams raise funds through prize money and gate receipts. It is also designed to provide teams with a platform to test new signings and players who are being evaluated.
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