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| Lioli and Bantu meet on Sunday |
The Vodacom Premier League returns this weekend
and the biggest match is the clash between Lioli and Bantu on Sunday. The two sides
have won the last three league titles between them with Lioli winning in 2013
and this year and Bantu winning in 2014.
Few, then, would have expected for their
meeting to be a match between teams that are nine places apart in the league.
But, it is.
While Lioli, first and unbeaten, are
keeping true to pre-season predictions, Bantu are tenth and have already lost
twice in their six matches so far.
It is a terrible start for A Matšo
Matebele who are expected to challenge for the championship. Instead they are coach-less
after firing Katiso Mojakhomo at the start of the month.
Bantu already find themselves eight
points behind Lioli and a loss on Sunday would make a title win highly improbable.
In fact, maybe only a win will do, just so Bantu can cut the deficit and potentially
kick-start their season.
But, gaining all three points on Sunday won’t
be easy.
Lioli have lost in over a year in the league,
a streak of 24 matches. And although they haven’t yet hit the highs over last
season in terms of performance, Tse Nala remain the ultimate puzzle because
they can score and are hard to score against.
The game is also on neutral ground
despite being Bantu’s home fixture. It is being at Setsoto Stadium to cater for
demand, robbing A Matšo Matebele of their Mafeteng advantage.
Nevertheless, Bantu have to make a plan
because they need a win.
Form
table
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GD
|
GF
|
Pts
|
||
1
|
Lioli
|
5
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
2
|
13
|
2
|
Matlama
|
5
|
4
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
6
|
12
|
3
|
Likhopo
|
5
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
8
|
1
|
11
|
4
|
Linare
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
4
|
10
|
5
|
LCS
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
3
|
10
|
6
|
Sandawana FC
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
4
|
8
|
7
|
Bantu United
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
8
|
8
|
Likila United
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
7
|
9
|
Kick4Life
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
0
|
5
|
4
|
7
|
10
|
Rovers
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
5
|
7
|
11
|
Liphakoe FC
|
5
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
12
|
LDF
|
5
|
0
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
13
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
9
|
1
|
14
|
LMPS
|
5
|
0
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
10
|
1
|
 |
| Bantu need to make a plan |
The weekend’s action will kick off tomorrow
with a game between Kick4Life and LMPS at Old Europa. Something has to give.
Kick4Life are yet to win at home this season while LMPS haven’t won away from home.
There are only two Saturday fixtures.
The other is Sandawana versus Linare in Butha-Buthe.
The game will be Bob Mafoso’s first in official charge of Sandawana. He took
over provisionally when Lehlohonolo “Freeze” Ntene was sacked three weeks ago and
promptly led the Butha-Buthe side to back-to-back wins. Linare are also in promising
if untrustworthy form. Tse Tala have collected 10 points from the last 15
available.
On Sunday, high-flying Rovers welcome winless
LDF. It’s a tough one to call. Rovers lost their last game and winless LDF may
be due a win.
In Quthing, new boys Liphakoe host
second-placed Likhopo. Likhopo are the only remaining unbeaten side not named
Lioli. They have also scored the most goals (12) and have the league’s top
scorer, Lehlohonolo Ramabele. He’s notched seven goals.
Fourth-placed Matlama have a difficult
Sunday assignment. The title hopefuls travel to Butha-Buthe to face a vastly
improved Likila United side that is unbeaten in their last three games.
Finally, the league’s bottom side Mphatlalatsane
host LCS at the Maputsoe DiFA Stadium. Mphatlalatsane haven’t won in their
seven games. Linaleli have scored just three times and conceded 13. These are
the games LCS should be winning if they are to have any hopes of challenging for
the title.
All eyes on Sunday, however, will be on
Setsoto.
 |
| Will Lioli be celebrating on Sunday? |
Weekend
Fixtures
Saturday
Sandawana v Linare (15:00, Butha-Buthe)
Kick4Life v LMPS (15:00, Old Europa)
Sunday
Likila United v Matlama (15:00,
Butha-Buthe)
Liphakoe v Likhopo (15:00, Quthing)
Mphatlalatsane v LCS (15:00, Maputsoe
DiFA Stadium)
Rovers v LDF (15:00, Roma)
Bantu v Lioli (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)
Vodacom Premier League Table
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts
|
||
1
|
Lioli
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
2
|
9
|
16
|
2
|
Likhopo
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
12
|
2
|
10
|
14
|
3
|
Rovers
|
8
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
7
|
5
|
2
|
14
|
4
|
Matlama
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
11
|
6
|
5
|
13
|
5
|
Likila United
|
8
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
8
|
9
|
-1
|
11
|
6
|
Linare
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
10
|
7
|
LCS
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
10
|
8
|
Kick4Life
|
8
|
2
|
4
|
2
|
6
|
7
|
-1
|
10
|
9
|
Sandawana
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
10
|
-3
|
9
|
10
|
Bantu
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
8
|
11
|
Liphakoe
|
7
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
-3
|
7
|
12
|
LMPS
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
11
|
-4
|
5
|
13
|
LDF
|
8
|
0
|
5
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
-4
|
5
|
14
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
13
|
-10
|
2
|