Lesotho Premier League: Bantu take advantage, move joint top

Bantu... Back in the title hunt...

Bantu took advantage of Lioli and LCS’s inaction this weekend by beating LDF 2-0 to move to 13 points, level with the two Vodacom Premier League leading teams. In fact, thanks to goal difference, Bantu are second, ahead of LCS and just behind Lioli.

Both Lioli and LCS had their weekend games postponed because they had four or more players in the Likuena squad which played to a goalless away to Swaziland in a friendly on Sunday.

This opened the way for the chasing pack to ratchet up the pressure.

                                         

Bantu have been banned from playing at their Mafeteng home ground for the remainder of the first round following ugly scenes during their 3-3 draw with Mpharane Celtic last month.

As a result A Matšo Matebele will play their home matches at LCS’s correctional stadium. The change didn’t matter on Saturday as they swept aside LDF’s challenge thanks to a brace from Litšepe Marabe. Marabe has been in sensational form of late and his two strikes mean he’s scored four goals in his last three outings.

The win has firmly reinvigorated Bantu’s title challenge after a poor start. The turning point seems to have been the Mafeteng side’s Independence Cup triumph at the beginning of last month. Since then Bantu have collected 10 points from a possible 12, including wins in their last three games, making them the form team in the league.

... And Bantu's fans are happy... 

Also on Saturday, Linare failed to take advantage of their opportunity. Tse Tala had the chance to go top (if Bantu could beat LDF and they in-turn beat Nyenye Rovers) but Linare were held 1-1 by their Leribe neighbours in Maputsoe.

On Sunday, Matlama got their first win after three consecutive losses, beating LMPS 1-0, to move off the bottom of the table.

In Mpharane, high-flying Joy were halted in their tracks by Mpharane Celtic who ran out 3-2 winner in a thrilling encounter. Joy, remarkably also had the opportunity to go top, but as it is Celtic dragged themselves up from the lower reaches of the table to just two points behind Joy.

The weekend results mean that, incredibly, the top seven sides in the league (Lioli, Bantu, LCS, LDF, Linare, Likhopo and Joy) are separated by a single point. Added to that, the gap from leaders Lioli to eighth-placed Mpharane Celtic is only three points. This means a run of form for any side can seriously alter the league picture.

Even Matlama, dreadful so far and second bottom, could see themselves back in the title picture with a couple of wins.

It’s one heck of a close season.

Weekend Results

Saturday, 10 November

Bantu 2-0 LDF, Nyenye Rovers 1-1 Linare

Sunday, 11 November

LMPS 0-1 Matlama, Mpharane Celtic 3-2 Joy

Vodacom Premier League

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Lioli	7	4	1	2	9	4	5	13
2	Bantu	7	4	1	2	15	11	4	13
3	LCS	7	4	1	2	10	8	2	13
4	LDF	8	3	3	2	10	6	4	12
5	Linare	8	3	3	2	10	6	4	12
6	Likhopo	7	4	0	3	8	6	2	12
7	Joy	8	3	3	2	15	16	-1	12
8	Mpharane Celtic	8	3	1	4	14	19	-5	10
9	Nyenye Rovers	8	1	4	3	6	11	-5	7
10	LMPS	8	2	1	5	3	8	-5	7
11	Matlama *	7	3	0	4	9	10	-1	6
12	Qoaling Highlanders	7	1	2	4	6	11	-5	5

* Matlama docked three points