The Final Stretch - Lesotho Premier League

The top four’s final games….

LCS (8 games left)

Bantu (away), Mphatlalatsane (home), Linare (a), Matlama (h), Joy (h), Swallows (h), LMPS (h), LDF (a)

LCS have a tough championship run-in in which they face all their title rivals – Bantu, Linare and LDF – away from home. But Masheshena do also have three highly winnable matches against struggling Mphatlalatsane, Joy and Swallows, all of which will be at their Central Prison fortress. LCS’s other game in the sprint to the finish line is a tricky tie against rivals LMPS. Masheshena’s trump card is their all-round experience when it comes to winning league titles. Coach Mafa Ribbo Ramakau is Lesotho’s most successful tactician with eight championships – all with LDF – while his assistant Mosholi Shoes Mokhothu led Lioli to the 2008/09 league crown. Furthermore, Masheshena’s key men Tšeliso Khali, Lieta Lehloka and Thabane Rankara have all hit form at the right time.

Linare (7 games left)

Likhopo (a), Bantu (h), LCS (h), Matlama (a), Lioli (h), LDF (h), Mabeoana (h)

The green army from Leribe are searching for a first championship since 1980 when their starting XI included current coach Pitso Mosothoane. Those were Tse Tala’s glory days with league titles coming in 1973, 1979 and 1980 inspired by the skills of Valdez Leleka, Mokhethi Molapo and Sele Leboela amongst others. In recent years though Linare have had a tendency to wobble and collapse when the premiership reached its business end. This year however, thanks partly to the infused experience of Refiloe Potse and Moses Ramafole, Tse Tala have shown steel about them and stand a wonderful chance of ending their painful drought. With Bantu, LCS and LDF all still to travel to Hlotse, Tse Tala in many ways have the destiny of the championship in their own hands.

LDF (8 games left)

Lioli (a), Swallows (a), Maduma (h), Likhopo (a), Mabeoana (a), LMPS (h), Linare (a), LCS (h)

LDF’s run-in starts with a game against Lioli this afternoon, a side the soldiers normally struggle against. When Sohle-Sohle beat Lioli in the first round last September it was their first win over Tse Nala since February 2008. However after today’s Lioli test LDF on paper have the easiest run-in of the top four title contenders. Sohle-Sohle face doomed Swallows and Mabeoana and also have a winnable match at Ratjomose against Maduma, with unpredictable Likhopo sandwiched in between. LDF then end off the season with two mammoth games against Linare and LCS.

After spending the off-season being labelled as old and lacking flair, it may be a surprise to some that LDF are even in the title picture. But Sohle-Sohle are not eight time champions for nothing and their pragmatic style is designed exclusively to win games and titles. What’s more, this season LDF’s legendary nous has been fused with exciting new players such as striker Thabo Mphethe.

Bantu (7 games to go)

LCS (h), Linare (a), Lioli (a), Swallows (a), Maduma (a), Matlama (h), Likhopo (a)

On the face of it Bantu seem to have the toughest run-in of all the top four sides, a run-in that includes a demanding four game road trip encompassing Leribe, Teyateyaneng, Mazenod and Butha-Buthe. A Matšo Matebele then end the season with a tough test against Matlama in Mafeteng before a final day showdown away to Likhopo – a Likhopo side Bantu haven’t beaten since their return to the top flight at the beginning of last season. Before then Bantu’s title hopes could hinge on their next three games in which they host leaders LCS tomorrow before trips to traditional rivals Linare and Lioli.

• Its difficult to say which of LCS, Linare, LDF or Bantu has the best run-in, each have several challenging roadblocks on the road to Lesotho football’s ultimate crown. This weekend’s action could go a long way to shaping the title picture.

This Weekend

Today: Likhopo vs Linare (PTC Grounds), Lioli vs LDF (Teyateyaneng), Lerotholi Polytechnic vs Maduma (Central Prison), Swallows vs Mabeoana (Mazenod)

Tomorrow: Bantu vs LCS (Mafeteng), LMPS vs Joy (New Europa), Matlama vs Mphatlalatsane (Central Prison)

Vodacom Premier League

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	LCS	18	10	7	1	32	13	19	37
2	Linare	19	10	6	3	24	14	10	36
3	LDF	18	10	6	2	23	13	10	36
4	Bantu	19	10	5	4	24	16	8	35
5	LMPS	18	8	5	5	22	15	7	29
6	Maduma	19	8	5	6	26	26	0	29
7	Matlama	18	6	8	4	14	11	3	26
8	Likhopo	17	7	5	5	20	18	2	26
9	Lioli	19	6	7	6	19	16	3	25
10	Joy	19	5	6	8	15	17	-2	21
11	Lerotholi	18	4	4	10	14	27	-13	16
12	Mphatlalatsane	19	1	10	8	20	30	-10	13
13	Swallows	19	2	6	11	12	25	-13	12
14	Mabeoana	19	1	4	14	8	32	-24	7