Bantu Football Club is a Lesotho football club based in Mafeteng.The team currently plays in the Lesotho Premier League.[1] It last won the Premier League in the 2022/2023 season with 68 points.[2]
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.
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.
- CAF Champions League: 4 appearances
- 2015– preliminary round
- 2017 – preliminary round
- 2018 – first round
- 2020 – preliminary round
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances
- 1994 – first round
- 1998 – preliminary round
- CAF Confederation Cup: 1 appearance
- 2018 – play-off round
Honours
League
Cup competitions
- Independence Cup
- Winners (8): 1963, 1993, 1997, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017
- Top 8 Cup
- Winners (1): 2016
- People's Cup
- Winners (2): 2023, 2025[4]
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Technical team
- 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
- James Madidilane - Coach*
Former coaches
- Lesotho Bob Atang Mafoso
- South Africa Moeketsi Abram Mongoya
- South Africa Thabo Tsutsulupa
- Lesotho Bob Atang Mafoso
- South Africa James Madidilane
- Lesotho Katiso Mojakhomo
- Lesotho Motlatsi Shale
- Lesotho Caswell Moru
- Lesotho Ntebele 'Tata Mcholene' Taole
- Lesotho Mokhele Mokhele
- Lesotho Lehlohonolo Thotanyane
Best players
Hlompho Kalake * Lesotho
Lehlohonolo Fothoane * Lesotho
Thabo Lesaoana * Lesotho
Ntsane Lichaba * Lesotho
Foreign players
Lindokuhle Phungulwa * South Africa
Sboniso Mahlangu * South Africa
Doctor James Mahlangu * South Africa
Sabata Letlatsa * South Africa
Bantu FC supporters
As of March 2025, the club has over 63,000 followers on Facebook.[5]
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
- Pro Lesenyeho 1980s
References
- ^ "lesotho premier". soccerway. 2014. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
- ^ "Premier League 2022/2023 Standings & Team Forms | Soccer24.com". www.soccer24.com. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ "Lesotho — List of Champions".
- ^ Raophala, Mauwane (2025-03-17). "Lehlohonolo Seema lifts trophy with Lesotho side". FARPost. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/bantufcofficialpage/
External links
- Official website
- Team profile at Soccerway
- Bantu FC on Twitter
- Bantu FC on Facebook
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| 2024–25 teams |
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| International | |
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| National | |
