 |
| "Weapons"... Matlama |
Matlama say they
have “too many weapons” for LDF ahead of the teams’ LNIG Top 8 clash on
Saturday. Tse Putsoa and Sohle-Sohle meet at the LCS Stadium in
the first leg of their anticipated quarterfinal tie.
The two are Lesotho’s
most successful clubs; Matlama have won ten league titles while LDF have eight.
However, both clubs have
fallen on hard times. Matlama haven’t won a trophy since 2010 while Sohle-Sohle’s drought goes back to 2008.
Matlama are enjoying a
promising season, though. After several years on the periphery, Tse Putsoa are performing
well under new coach Moses Maliehe. They are second in the league, four points
behind Lioli, and are one of the favourites for this year’s LNIG Top 8.
And, speaking ahead of the
LDF tie, Matlama’s communications and marketing manager, Tankiso Moletsane,
guaranteed Tse Putsoa will continue
their good form when they meet the army side.
“We will win simply
because we have a stronger squad. We have too many weapons for them,” Moletsane
said.
The LDF-Matlama match-up
is a repeat of last year’s quarterfinal which Tse Putsoa won. The first leg this time will be played at the LCS Stadium
as the second match of a double header.
In the first game of
the day, LCS and Likhopo will kick off the tournament at 14:00.
On Sunday, defending
champions Bantu begin the defence of their title away to Likila United. The
match will be played at the Maputsoe DiFA Stadium.
The two teams met in
the league two weeks ago with Bantu 4-1 running out victors. A Matšo Matebele will be hoping to
continue their upturn I form since Lepenya Borotho took charge at the beginning
of the year.
 |
| Bantu, the defending LNIG Top 8 champions |
In Sunday’s other
quarterfinal, league champions Lioli host Sandawana at Setsoto Stadium. Both
teams are in good form. Lioli are top of the league while Sandawana have won
seven of their last eight games.
Meanwhile, the Premier
League has announced the full schedule for the LNIG Top 8 cup. Despite speculation
to the contrary, the format for the semi-finals and final will remain the same.
It was thought the
semi-finals would be played outside Maseru for the first time since the LNIG
Top 8 was launched in 2014. However, the semis will be played at the national
stadium, Setsoto, on April 9 with the final the following at the same venue.
2016 LNIG Top 8 Schedule
|
JANUARY
|
|||
|
Saturday 30th January 2016 (First Leg)
|
|||
|
Match
|
Fixture
|
Kick-off time
|
Venue
|
|
QF 1
|
LCS v Likhopo
|
14:00
|
LCS
|
|
QF 2
|
LDF v Matlama
|
16:00
|
LCS
|
|
Sunday 31st January 2016 (First Leg)
|
|||
|
QF 3
|
Lioli v
Sandawana
|
15:00
|
Setsoto
Stadium
|
|
QF 4
|
Likila United v
Bantu
|
15:00
|
Maputsoe DiFA
Stadium
|
|
FEBRUARY
|
|||
|
Saturday 20th February 2016 (Second Leg)
|
|||
|
QF 3
|
Sandawana v
Lioli
|
15:00
|
Maputsoe DiFA
Stadium
|
|
QF 4
|
Bantu v Likila
United
|
15:00
|
Mafeteng
|
|
Sunday 21st
February 2016 (Second Leg)
|
|||
|
QF 1
|
Likhopo v LCS
|
14:00
|
LCS
|
|
QF 2
|
Matlama v LDF
|
16:00
|
LCS
|
|
APRIL
|
|||
|
Saturday 9th April 2016 (Semi-finals)
|
|||
|
SF 1
|
Winner QF 3 v
Winner QF 2
|
TBC
|
Setsoto
Stadium
|
|
SF 2
|
Winner QF 4 v Winner
QF 1
|
TBC
|
Setsoto
Stadium
|
|
Sunday 10th April 2016 (Finals)
|
|||
|
3rd/4th
|
SF 2 Loser v
SF 1 Loser
|
TBC
|
Setsoto
Stadium
|
|
Final
|
SF 1 Winner v
SF 2 Winner
|
TBC
|
Setsoto
Stadium
|