There are only three Vodacom Premier
League games this weekend because this week has been designated as a catch-up
weekend by the league. All three matches will be played on Sunday.
 |
| Team on form: LCS (left) |
Lioli
v LCS (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)
Last
five matches (most recent first)
|
Lioli: DDWWD
LCS: WWWWW
|
The pick of the games
is a top of the table clash between champions Lioli and LCS at Setsoto Stadium.
Lioli are second in the Vodacom Premier League
with 42 points while LCS are third, a further point behind.
Both teams trail Matlama who are top
with 43 points, but Tse Nala and Masheshena have both played a game less.
With just six matches to go after this weekend’s action, Sunday’s game takes
even more importance. Although it won’t decide anything yet, a loss could see the
loser lose ground in the title race; momentum is important at this stage of
the season.
Momentum is what LCS have right now.
Masheshena
are
in this position because of a splendid seven-game winning streak that began
with a 1-0 win over Bantu in December. In those seven games, Mpitsa Marai’s charges
have only conceded two goals and they haven’t conceded in their last four
outings.
LCS
winning streak
2-0 Mphatlalatsane
2-0 Likila United
1-0 LDF
2-0 Kick4Life
2-1 LMPS
2-1 Linare
1-0 Bantu
Lioli, on the other hand, go into Sunday’s
encounter under pressure after goalless draws with Likila United and Bantu last
week saw them relinquish top spot. The champions held a five-point lead at the
top at the start of last month but have endured a disappointing period which has
also seen them knocked out of the CAF Champions League at the first hurdle.
Linare
v Sandawana (15:00, Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)
 |
| Team off form: Linare |
Form: Last
five matches
|
Linare: LDDDL
Sandawana: WLLWL
|
In Maputsoe,
Linare face a critical game when they host Sandawana at the Maputsoe DiFA Stadium.
The Leribe club is only above the relegation places on goal difference.
They meet a Sandawana that is also struggling.
Sandawana were tied with Lioli at the
top of the league in early December but have only won two of their following
six games. However, thanks to the poor form of the sides behind them, Sandawana
are still clinging on to fourth place which still represents a major achievement
for the Butha-Buthe side.
Linare’s form is worse; they haven’t won
a league game since beating Likila 1-0 on December 6.
Linare flirted with relegation last season
and finished just four points clear of the drop in the end. Tse Tala, two-time league champions, are
in a relegation battle again and they desperately need all three points on
Sunday.
Likila
United v Likhopo (15:00, Butha-Buthe)
 |
| Man of form? Likhopo's Lehlomela Ramabele (right) |
Form: Last
five matches
|
Likila: LDLWD
Likhopo: LLDDW
|
There is another
meeting between a team running away from demotion and one going for the top
four on Sunday when Likila United host Likhopo. Both teams go into the games on
winless runs.
Likhopo haven’t won in their last four
games but still have hopes of a top four place as they are only two points behind
Sandawana. The Red Army’s hopes of claiming a
top four likely rest on the form of striker Lehlomela Ramabele. Ramabele is the
league’s second top scorer with 10 goals but he hasn’t found the net in Likhopo’s
three outings.
Likila, who finished sixth last season
in their first-ever top-flight campaign, are the league’s joint lowest scorers
with just13 goals from 19 games. They have only won one league game since beating
Rovers 1-0 on October 18.
However, Likila showed grit in a
goalless draw with Lioli last Friday. Likila will need more such performances
if they are to climb away from relegation.
Vodacom
Premier League Fixtures
Sunday 20th March
Likila United v Likhopo (15:00,
Butha-Buthe)
Lioli v LCS (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)
Linare v Sandawana (15:00, Maputsoe)
Vodacom Premier
League Table
|
|
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts.
|
|
1
|
Matlama
|
20
|
13
|
4
|
3
|
34
|
19
|
15
|
43
|
|
2
|
Lioli
|
19
|
12
|
6
|
1
|
30
|
8
|
22
|
42
|
|
3
|
LCS
|
19
|
12
|
5
|
2
|
22
|
7
|
15
|
41
|
|
4
|
Sandawana
|
19
|
9
|
3
|
7
|
18
|
18
|
+0
|
30
|
|
5
|
Bantu
|
20
|
8
|
5
|
7
|
18
|
11
|
7
|
29
|
|
6
|
Likhopo
|
19
|
7
|
7
|
5
|
22
|
14
|
8
|
28
|
|
7
|
Kick4Life
|
20
|
6
|
9
|
5
|
16
|
17
|
-1
|
27
|
|
8
|
LDF
|
20
|
6
|
8
|
6
|
20
|
18
|
2
|
26
|
|
9
|
Liphakoe
|
20
|
4
|
9
|
7
|
14
|
19
|
-5
|
21
|
|
10
|
LMPS
|
20
|
3
|
9
|
8
|
17
|
25
|
-8
|
18
|
|
11
|
Linare
|
19
|
4
|
5
|
10
|
18
|
24
|
-6
|
17
|
|
12
|
Rovers
|
20
|
4
|
5
|
11
|
13
|
25
|
-12
|
17
|
|
13
|
Likila
United
|
19
|
4
|
5
|
10
|
13
|
26
|
-13
|
17
|
|
14
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
20
|
2
|
6
|
12
|
16
|
40
|
-24
|
12
|
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