 |
Top of the table clash
LCS v Bantu |
The top three sides in the Vodacom Premier League – Bantu, Lioli and LCS
– are all in action on Saturday.
Bantu have climbed to the top of the table after they
were awarded a 3-0 walkover win over Matlama on Thursday. The match had
originally been scheduled for September 15 in Mafeteng but wasn’t played
because Matlama failed to produce player registration cards having left them at
home in Maseru. The original judgement had ordered a rematch with Matlama were
docked three points.
That decision has been reversed.
It means Bantu are top, capping what has been a super
six weeks for A Matšo Matebele. Bantu
won the Independence Cup at the beginning of October, beating LCS in the final,
and have since been revitalised in the league.
The Mafeteng side are the form team in the league having
won three in a row and collecting 10 points from a possible 12. Their run of form
has been spearheaded by the form of Litšepe Marabe who has notched five goals
in his last four games.
This weekend Bantu face an LCS side that has struggled to find
consistency recently. In their four games since the Independence Cup, Masheshena have suffered 3-0 and 1-0
defeats to LDF and Linare and scraped 1-0 wins against lowly Nyenye Rovers and
Qoaling Highlanders.
With LCS and Bantu facing off this weekend, Lioli have
a chance to make moves of their own.
Until Bantu’s three-point swing Tse Nala had been top. Lioli are now second on goal difference. Tse Nala, however, face a tricky
encounter when they take on Joy at the Leribe Pitso Ground, Hlotse. Joy, the league’s
perennial surprise package, are in seventh place with 12 points, which is only
four points behind Lioli. Joy are a tough nut to crack at home having already
held champions LCS and beaten both Bantu and Likhopo in Leribe.
In Saturday’s other game, Mpharane Celtic host Leribe
rivals Nyenye Rovers. Celtic are eighth with 10 points while Rovers are three
points further back in 10th place.
On Sunday, Linare will be looking to get their title
challenge back on track when they host bottom of the table Qoaling Highlanders
in Hlotse. Tse Tala have hit an
inconsistent patch lately, winning once, drawing twice and losing the other in
their last four games. In that run Linare have scored just three goals after
finding the net eight times in their first three games.
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Likhopo's Makara Ntaitsane (left)
Likhopo host LMPS at Ratjomose on Sunday |
Sunday will also see a double header at Ratjomose. In
the first game Likhopo face LMPS before the main event, LDF against Matlama –
the clash of Lesotho’s most successful club sides.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday, 24
November
Mpharane Celtic v Nyenye Rovers (Mpharane, 15:30)
Joy v
Lioli (Leribe Pitso Ground, 15:30)
LCS v
Bantu (LCS Stadium, 15:30)
Sunday, 25
November
Linare v Qoaling
Highlanders (Hlotse, 15:30)
Likhopo v LMPS
(Ratjomose, 14:00)
LDF v Matlama
(Ratjomose, 16:00)
Vodacom Premier
League
|
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
1
|
Bantu
|
8
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
18
|
11
|
7
|
16
|
2
|
Lioli
|
8
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
10
|
4
|
6
|
16
|
3
|
LCS
|
8
|
5
|
1
|
2
|
11
|
8
|
3
|
16
|
4
|
LDF
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
5
|
Linare
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
12
|
6
|
Likhopo
|
8
|
4
|
0
|
4
|
8
|
7
|
1
|
12
|
7
|
Joy
|
8
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
15
|
16
|
-1
|
12
|
8
|
Mpharane
Celtic
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
14
|
19
|
-5
|
10
|
9
|
Matlama
|
8
|
3
|
0
|
5
|
9
|
13
|
-4
|
9
|
10
|
Nyenye
Rovers
|
8
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
11
|
-5
|
7
|
11
|
LMPS
|
8
|
2
|
1
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
-5
|
7
|
12
|
Qoaling
Highlanders
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
12
|
-6
|
5
|
