It was a
shortened Vodacom Premier League weekend, but there were still some talking
points.
 |
| Tough times... LDF captain Molefe Lekoekoe |
For many people this weekend saw
something they have never seen in their lifetimes; LDF in the relegation zone. There
was a time when LDF was the most feared team in Lesotho. Sohle-Sohle won three
consecutive league titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and added further titles in
2001 and 2004. They were the standard everyone sought to follow. Lebajoa
Mphongoa, Malefetsane Pheko, Motheo Mohapi and Masupha Majara, amongst others,
were part of that all-conquering LDF side. In 2001, the army side beat Botswana’s
Mogoditshane Fighters in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. In
the next round LDF held TP Mazembe 1-1 at home but lost the tie 3-1. That remains
the last time a Lesotho team has progressed past the preliminary round of
Africa’s premier club competition.
Things have changed drastically,
however. LDF are no longer the same force and they are struggling. Saturday’s 1-0
defeat away to Sandawana has dropped Sohle-Sohle to second from bottom in the
league. They remain winless after seven games and have scored just two goals.
The chief reason for their demise is
clear; it is a fall in quality. At one time the Lesotho squad was built around
LDF players. Today only Molefe Lekoekoe and Mojela Letsie are Likuena
internationals in the LDF squad and neither has featured for the national side
for over a year.
Sohle-Sohle, eight-time league champions,
haven’t won a trophy since 2008 and this weekend marked their nadir. They won’t
be relegated but LDF have tumbled badly and there has to be serious
introspection at Ratjomose as to the purpose of the club.
Rovers
take advantage of shortened fixture list
The shortened weekend fixtures due to
Likuena’s World Cup qualifiers against Comoros gave a chance for the sides in
action to steal a march on the competition. Rovers did just that with a 2-1 win
over Mphatlalatsane on Sunday. The victory cemented their top four spot at this
early stage of the season. The Dynamites have been brilliant in their return to
the top-flight. They have lost only once in their seven games – a tough 1-0
reverse at home against Linare – and are already ten points clear of the bottom
places. So far, so great.
Kick4Life
using same formula
 |
| Kick4Life, steady as she goes |
In their second season in the top-flight, Motlalepula Majoro’s side is
leaning on the same methods again. Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Likila United lifted
them to sixth with nine points from a possible 21. It is not an overly
impressive haul but it is steady enough. That’s symbolic of their season.
Kick4Life haven’t
hit any heights but they are steadily collecting points.
Week 7 Results
Saturday
Linare
2-2 LMPS
Sandawana
1-0 LDF
Sunday
Kick4Life
1-1 Likila United
Mphatlalatsane
1-2 Rovers
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
|
7
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
14
|
4
|
Matlama
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
11
|
6
|
5
|
13
|
5
|
LCS
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
10
|
6
|
Kick4life
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
-1
|
9
|
7
|
Bantu
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
0
|
8
|
8
|
Likila
United
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
7
|
9
|
-2
|
8
|
9
|
Liphakoe
|
6
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
7
|
10
|
Linare
|
7
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
8
|
11
|
-3
|
7
|
11
|
Sandawana
|
7
|
1
|
3
|
3
|
5
|
10
|
-5
|
6
|
12
|
LMPS
|
7
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
9
|
-2
|
5
|
13
|
LDF
|
7
|
0
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
6
|
-4
|
4
|
14
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
13
|
-10
|
2
|
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