Quote of the week

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Vodacom Premier League: Weekend preview

The journey continues...
The Vodacom Premier League continues this weekend with the chasing pack looking to keep up the chase on Lioli who are streaking away at the top.

After nine rounds, the champions are already four points clear a gap that may increase depending on the clash between their closest rivals Bantu and LDF on Sunday.

The match, which will be played at LDF’s Ratjomose ground, already has the feel of an early season title eliminator. Neither side can afford to drop any points such has been Lioli’s blistering start.

There is little to separate the two so, naturally, it should be a close affair.  Second-placed Bantu have yet to concede away from home this season while LDF, in third, are the only side yet to drop a point at home. Sohle-Sohle will be looking to bounce back from a shock 3-1 loss to Nyenye Rovers last time out while Bantu will be looking to get back to winning ways after a draw with LCS last weekend.

Lioli themselves are in action on Sunday as well facing LCS in Maseru. Masheshena, winners of four league titles since 2007, have made their worst start to a season and find themselves languishing in eighth place with only nine points from eight games, a massive 16 points behind Lioli.

Weekend shorts:

- LDF v Bantu: Bantu have yet to concede away from home this season. LDF are the only side yet to drop a point at home, scoring eight goals and only conceding once in four games.

- LCS v Lioli: Lioli have the best away record in the league. Tse Nala have won four of four on the road and have scored nine goals, the most in the league. LCS, on the other hand, have only won once in four home games this season, scoring a solitary goal.

- Linare v Nyenye Rovers: Linare are a side in form. Tse Tala are undefeated in their last five matches, winning three and drawing two. Nyenye Rovers claimed their first win in six matches with a surprise 3-1 win over LDF last weekend.

- Melele v Likhopo: Likhopo are one of the league’s form sides having picked up 11 points from a possible 15. Only Lioli and Bantu have picked up more points in the same period. The last time they played at home Melele claimed their first win of the season beating Mpharane Celtic 3-0. But, the Qacha side’s home record isn’t impressive – four matches, three losses, one win.

- Matlama v Qoaling Highlanders: After a fine start to the season Matlama have wobbled and are without a win in four matches, losing two, drawing two. Resultantly, they have dropped from first place to fifth, eight points off the top. They face a Qoaling Highlanders side that has the fifth best away record so far and, along with Lioli and Bantu, are the only undefeated side away from home.

Nowhere to turn...
LMPS are struggling
- LMPS v Mpharane Celtic: The season has been a struggle for LMPS. Simunye only have five points from nine games and are only above the relegation zone on goal difference. They’ve scored only four goals all season, the second lowest in the league after bottom side Joy. This weekend is a golden chance for them to kick-start their campaign, though. Visitors Mpharane Celtic are bad travellers, losing all four games away, scoring once, conceding 13.

- Mphatlalatsane v Joy: After a strong start to the season Mphatlalatsane are on the joint worst run of form in the league, losing four and only drawing once in their last five games. The team sharing their poor recent record? This weekend’s opponents, Joy. Joy are rock bottom and their stats are depressing: one point from nine games, three goals scored and 23 conceded. Rough.

Fixtures
Saturday, 9 November
Melele v Likhopo (15:00, Qacha’s Nek)
Matlama v Qoaling Highlanders (15:00, Pitso Ground)
LMPS v Mpharane Celtic (15:00, Police Training College)

Sunday, 10 November
Mphatlalatsane v Joy (15:00, St. Monica’s)
Linare v Nyenye Rovers (15:00, Hlotse)
LCS v Lioli (15:00, Lesotho Correctional Services)
LDF v Bantu (15:00, Ratjomose)

Vodacom Premier League


P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
Lioli
9
8
1
0
25
6
+19
25
2
Bantu
9
6
3
0
16
1
+15
21
3
LDF
9
5
3
1
10
4
+6
18
4
Linare
9
5
2
2
13
8
+5
17
5
Matlama
9
5
2
2
11
7
+4
17
6
Likhopo
9
4
3
2
11
8
+3
15
7
Qoaling Highlanders
9
3
3
3
8
9
-1
12
8
LCS
8
2
3
3
6
5
+1
9
9
Nyenye Rovers
8
2
3
3
8
8
+0
9
10
Mphatlalatsane
9
2
2
5
9
14
-5
8
11
Mpharane Celtic
9
2
2
5
12
22
-10
8
12
LMPS
9
1
2
6
4
12
-8
5
13
Melele
9
1
2
6
7
16
-9
5
14
Joy
9
0
1
8
3
23
-20
1

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