Lesotho Premier League reaches halfway mark

The Vodacom Premier League has reached its halfway stage. We scan through the contenders and pretenders, and throw in some predictions for good measure.

The Contenders

Bantu

Bantu have exploded in recent weeks. Since winning the Independence Cup in early October A Matšo Matebele have gelled and shot to the top of the league. Bantu started off sluggish losing two of their first three games. But since their Independence Cup triumph Bantu have won six of seven matches. A Matšo Matebele have also been helped by a 3-0 win over Matlama awarded to them by the league (Matlama failed to produce player cards ahead of a game between the two in September, causing its abandonment). The 3-0 win has boosted Bantu goal difference and is the reason the Mafeteng side are ahead of Lioli on the table. On the field, Litšepe Marabe has been in marvellous form recently scoring six goals in as many games. This added to a defence led by the experienced Tlali Maile and impressive squad depth makes Bantu a formidable foe.

Prediction: 1st

Will Lioli claim silverware this season?

Lioli

Lioli are firmly in the championship race and this is down to their amazing defensive record. Lioli have kept clean-sheets in eight of their 10 games this season. Tse Nala have conceded in only two games, unfortunately those are the only games in which Lioli have suffered defeat. Aside form those two blips (against LCS and Bantu) Tse Nala have shown genuine quality. The midfield axis of Bushy Moletsane, Tšoanelo Koetle and Motlalepula Mofolo has been the finest in the country this season. Lioli have also shared goals through the team with Mofolo, Tšepo Seturumane, Bafokeng Mosala all scoring twice or more. All these factors make a first title since 2009 a real possibility for Lioli.

Prediction: 2nd

LCS

LCS possess a quality squad and for this reason they remain a realistic bet for the title. In truth though, the defending champions have been well below par in the first half of the season. Still, the fact Masheshena is only three points behind the top two is testament to their ability to hang in and challenge. Nevertheless, there have been worrying signs that LCS’s squad may be ageing, a losing 3-0 thumping by LDF being a prime example. Masheshena have also been outplayed in defeats to title rivals Bantu and Linare. The Caf Champions League in January, where they have been drawn against Zimbabwe’s Dynamos, also presents a distraction LCS can ill-afford as they seek to keep up with pacesetters Bantu and Lioli.

Prediction: 3rd

The Outside Bets

LDF

Inconsistency is LDF’s biggest hindrance at the moment something very unusual for the army side, usually the model of consistency. This season Sohle-Sohle have produced the brilliant, such as a 3-0 win over LCS. However, too often LDF have followed brilliance up with a disappointing result, being held at home by new-boys Qoaling Highlanders for example. That form has seen Sohle-Sohle drop to six points behind the leading duo of Bantu and Lioli.

Prediction: 4th

LMPS

LMPS’s story is similar to that of LDF; inconsistency. But an even bigger setback for Simunye so far has been their slow start to the season. LMPS lost three and drew one of their opening four games which left them at the bottom. Simunye have embarked on an impressive run of form since, including a 4-0 thumping of Mpharane Celtic in their last match of the year. Nonetheless, LMPS have probably already left themselves too much to make up on the leaders.

Prediction: 5th

Linare

Linare have shown glimpses of what they can do, notably when beating champions LCS in Hlotse early last month. But their recent inconsistency and the form of the top two teams has seen Tse Tala’s title hopes begin to fade. A home loss to Qoaling Highlanders at the end of November was a real blow and dropped Linare back into the pack. Linare added the quality of Pali Tšalong to the creative qualities of Mabuti Potloane, but lingering questions over their support cast mean Tse Tala will have a tough time claiming the top prize.

Prediction: 6th

LDF and LMPS, stumbling in the title race

The Also-Rans

Matlama

Matlama have had a tumultuous time of it this season resulting in the departure of Halemakale Mahlaha, the first coaching casualty of the season. Tse Putsoa have since called on club legend Mahao “Bomba” Matete to try and steady the ship. He has a big job on his hands. Tse Putsoa are clearly still suffering from losing the spine of their team – Thapelo Mokhehle and Dlhomo Monapathi to Bantu, Koetle to Lioli and Tšalong to Linare. Still, Matlama have only played nine games and the end of year break could do them a world of good.

Prediction: 7th

Likhopo

Likhopo’s recent poor run of form has probably cost them their shot at the league title. Likhopo have lost four in a row, more similar to relegation form than to championship standards. However, considering the players at their disposal Likhopo will be looking to turn the ship around in the second round.

Prediction: 8th

Qoaling Highlanders

Newly-promoted Qoaling Highlanders have competed well this season and find themselves in the relative safety of ninth position in the league. Their Qoaling home ground has been fundamental. Highlanders have vociferous home support and it could be key to their survival efforts.

Prediction: 9th

Joy

Joy always get off to a good start and they did so again this season. Joy were near the top of the log after five rounds. But successive defeats have seen them plummet to eighth place in the table. Still, Joy have collected points well enough and relegation would be a surprise.

Prediction: 10th

Mpharane Celtic

Mpharane Celtic performed wonders by surviving their first campaign in the top-flight last season. In their second campaign Celtic are once again giving it a good go but a lack of quality has been brutally exposed on several occasions this season. For example, Celtic have the league’s worst defensive record having conceding a whopping 25 goals in only 10 games.

Prediction: 11th

Matlama are missing striker Dlhomo Monapathi

Nyenye Rovers

Things aren’t looking good for Nyenye Rovers. Only one win in their 11 games this season sees the newly-promoted Leribe side languishing at the foot of the table. It will be difficult task for Rovers to escape the clutches of relegation.

Prediction: 12th

Vodacom Premier League

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Bantu	10	7	1	2	21	11	10	22
2	Lioli	10	7	1	2	14	4	10	22
3	LCS	10	6	1	3	12	9	3	19
4	LDF	10	4	4	2	14	8	6	16
5	LMPS	11	5	1	5	9	8	1	16
6	Linare	9	3	3	3	10	7	3	12
7	Likhopo	11	4	0	7	8	11	-3	12
8	Joy	10	3	3	4	15	19	-4	12
9	Qoaling Highlanders	11	3	2	6	8	14	-6	11
10	Mpharane Celtic	10	3	2	5	16	25	-9	11
11	Matlama	9	3	1	5	11	15	-4	10
12	Nyenye Rovers	11	1	5	6	8	16	-8	8

For all the results of the first round:
http://molaposportscentre.blogspot.com/p/lesotho-premier-league.html

Champions League last 16 draw

Be cool...
Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford

Manchester United have been drawn against Real Madrid in the stand-out tie of the Uefa Champions League last 16 round. It means Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford for the first time since his 2009 move to Madrid in a meeting that also pits old foes Sir Alex Ferguson against Jose Mourinho against each other.

Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances during his six years at United. his last match for the club was in the 2009 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona, after which he moved to Madrid for a world record £80 million transfer fee.

In other mouth-watering ties, Barcelona will come up against AC Milan while Arsenal will face last season’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich.

The other ties see Borussia Dortmund face Shakhtar Donetsk, Valencia play Paris Saint-Germain, Porto meet Malaga, Juventus take on Celtic and Galatasaray come up against Schalke. Funnily enough, the draw was an exact repeat of Wednesday’s rehearsal.

Speaking after the draw United’s club secretary John Alexander said he hoped there was a lucky omen for them.

“It’s the tie that everyone wanted to see – but that nobody wanted to see, they wanted to save it for later in the competition,” he said. “If history has anything in our favour our one (aggregate) victory over Real Madrid in this competition was in the year we won the final at Wembley (in 1968).”

The 2013 final also takes place at Wembley, on Saturday, May 25.

United have a slight advantage over Madrid in that as group winners they will get to play the second leg at home.

Barcelona and AC Milan meet again

Bayern will have the same advantage in their tie against Arsenal and their chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, was optimistic about his side’s chances.

“I think we enter this match as the slight favourites, but we can be making the mistake of underestimating them,” he said.

“Arsenal have struggled at times in the league over the last few months, but by no means will this be an easy game for us. I wouldn’t call this a lucky draw, but one that we can overcome. I look forward to seeing my old friend Arsene Wenger and I hope that we can reach the next round,” Rummenigge said.

Uefa Champions League Last 16 draw

Real Madrid v Manchester United

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Celtic v Juventus

AC Milan v Barcelona

Shakhtar Donetsk v Borussia Dortmund

Valencia v Paris Saint-Germain

Galatasaray v Schalke

Porto v Malaga

First legs to be played February 12/13/19/20, 2013

Second legs to be played March 5/6/12/13, 2013