 |
| Almost there... Bantu fans in full cry |
On Sunday Bantu
were held to a 1-1 draw by LMPS – perhaps a disappointing result – but it
didn’t matter as second-placed Lioli only managed a goalless draw against
Matlama. So, Bantu still lead Lioli by a point, with a game in hand.
Saturday’s 0-0
stalemate was Lioli’s third draw in a row and they seem to be losing their
scoring boots at just the wrong time.
Indeed, it is
Lioli’s scoring form more than anything else which makes Bantu favourites in
the run-in.
Ordinarily Tse Nala would expect to win their
remaining four matches which include three ties against relegation-threatened
sides. However, a lack of goals makes their run-in more uncertain than it
should be. Lioli have now scored just once in their last four games in a season
that has yielded only 21 goals in 18 games. More worrying, Tšepo Seturumane has
scored 13 of those goals.
This reliance
on Seturumane has been apparent in recent outings and Lioli’s run-in begins
with a tough test against a resurgent Likhopo side this Sunday. From there Lioli
face three of the bottom five sides – Joy, Mpharane Celtic and Nyenye Rovers.
Bantu’s
schedule looks much more daunting. A
Matšo Matebele face LDF (away), LCS (home) and Linare (away) before ending
the season hosting Qoaling Highlanders at the Leshoboro Seeiso Stadium. Bantu will
also have a tie against Matlama, originally postponed in February due to
Matlama’s suspension, thrown somewhere in the mix.
Nevertheless,
leading by a point and with a game in hand, Bantu remain in pole position for
the championship.
Unlike rivals Lioli,
Bantu have managed to find various ways of scoring. At this stage of the season
that could be the difference.
Bantu’s remaining fixtures
20 April LDF v Bantu
(Ratjomose, 15:00)
4 May Bantu v LCS
(Mafeteng, 15:00)
11 May Linare v Bantu
(Hlotse, 15:00)
18 May Bantu v
Qoaling Highlanders (Mafeteng, 15:00)
(Matlama v Bantu still to be re-scheduled)
Lioli’s remaining fixtures
21 April Likhopo v
Lioli (Ratjomose, 15:00)
4 May Lioli v Joy
(Lioli Stadium, 15:00)
12 May Mpharane
Celtic v Lioli (St Michaels, 15:00)
18 May Lioli v Nyenye
Rovers (Lioli Stadium, 15:00)
 |
| Costly draw for Lioli, valuable point for Matlama |
Even with
their solid 2-1 triumph, Sohle-Sohle
are nine points behind leaders Bantu, eight behind Lioli, and need a minor
miracle to claim their first league title since 2004.
Things are
equally bleak for two-time defending champions LCS. Masheshena are in fifth place with 24 points and will officially surrender
their title this weekend if they fail to beat Qoaling Highlanders.
The league’s form
team, meanwhile, is Likhopo who won their third straight game (3-1 over
Mpharane Celtic on Saturday) to leapfrog Linare into sixth place. Linare are seventh
with Joy in eighth.
From Joy
downwards it looks like a relegation battle. Joy have games in hand on the rest
of the pack and should survive, but it’s not yet a certainty.
Celtic are on
a dismal run of form and have conceded an eye-watering 42 goals in 18 matches
while Highlanders’ defeat to LDF means they are just four points above the drop
zone, currently occupied by Matlama and Nyenye Rovers.
11th-placed Matlama
resumed their league campaign last weekend after their disciplinary case was
settled and have since claimed two morale-boosting draws. Tse Putsoa have 12 points from 12 games but have six games in hand
on Celtic directly above them and five on Highlanders in ninth place.
Tse Putsoa, therefore,
will still fancy themselves to get out of relegation trouble.
Things don’t
look so good for bottom of the table Nyenye Rovers, though. They look destined for
a quick return to the A-Division.
Results
Saturday, 13 April
Saturday, 13 April
LCS 0-0 Linare
Mpharane Celtic
1-3 Likhopo
Lioli 0-0
Matlama
Sunday, 14 April
Joy 0-0 Nyenye
Rovers
Qoaling
Highlanders 1-2 LDF
Bantu 1-1 LMPS
Vodacom Premier
League
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
||
1
|
Bantu
|
17
|
11
|
4
|
2
|
32
|
15
|
17
|
37
|
2
|
Lioli
|
18
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
21
|
8
|
13
|
36
|
3
|
LDF
|
16
|
7
|
7
|
2
|
21
|
11
|
10
|
28
|
4
|
LMPS
|
18
|
7
|
4
|
7
|
13
|
12
|
1
|
25
|
5
|
LCS
|
16
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
13
|
11
|
2
|
24
|
6
|
Likhopo
|
17
|
7
|
2
|
8
|
16
|
16
|
0
|
23
|
7
|
Linare
|
17
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
18
|
14
|
4
|
21
|
8
|
Joy
|
15
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
19
|
24
|
-5
|
17
|
9
|
Qoaling Highlanders
|
17
|
4
|
4
|
9
|
14
|
23
|
-8
|
16
|
10
|
Mpharane Celtic
|
18
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
24
|
42
|
-18
|
14
|
11
|
Matlama
|
12
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
12
|
16
|
-4
|
12
|
12
|
Nyenye Rovers
|
17
|
1
|
9
|
8
|
10
|
22
|
-12
|
12
|
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