# Bantu FC

Bantu Football Club is a Lesotho football club based in Mafeteng.The team currently plays in the Lesotho Premier League. It last won the Premier League in the 2022/2023 season with 68 points.

## 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

* Lesotho Premier League
** Winners (5): 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23

### 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

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

## 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

## 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.

## 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