 |
| LCS coach Sello "Ribbo" Ramakau is lifted high by LCS players and staff after Masheshena's league win in 2011 |
Matlama and Lioli meet in a possible title
decider on Saturday at Setsoto Stadium. The two teams are level at the top of the
Vodacom Premier League on 52 points and are only separated by goal difference.
Five seasons ago there was a similar situation.
In fact, that year the two contenders, LCS and LDF, met on the final day of the
season in a winner-takes-all match. The game was played at LDF’s Ratjomose home
ground on May 29, 2011.
LCS held the advantage on goal
difference meaning LDF had to win to capture the title. Masheshena only needed a draw.
Both teams went into the game in scintillating
form. LCS had won 13 of their previous 16 games, scoring 35 goals and conceding
just nine. Sohle-Sohle, on the other
hand, had won eight of nine matches heading into the finale, scoring 20 goals.
LCS coach Sello “Ribbo” Ramakau was a confident
man ahead of the game.
“We are not going to play those long
balls; that is their style. We are going to play it on the ground. They are
very defensive so we are going to pin them in their half.” Ramakau said. “(Their
counter-attacks) will only happen if we all go forward; we have to make sure
three players stay behind to cover. But we will make them defend because of our
approach.”
As expected, with the stakes so high,
the match was a tense affair with few clear-cut chances.
The sides couldn’t be separated for over
an hour and with LDF starting to try and force the game, they were caught with
a sucker punch by Thulo Ranchobe in the 78th minute.
Now LDF needed two goals to win the
title and they duly pushed forward. Tšepo Keketsi gave Sohle-Sohle hope with an 85th minute goal.
However, Masheshena held on to win their first title since 2008. They would
go on to defend the title the following season under current Lioli coach
Mosholi Mokhothu after Ramakau stepped down following this success.
It was an enjoyable afternoon as a large
crowed came out to watch the game creating an entertaining atmosphere. When it
was all over Ramakau was paraded in victory by his LCS team. #TBT
May 29, 2011
Vodacom Premier League
LDF 1-1 LCS
Goals: Thulo
Ranchobe (LCS, 78th minute), Tšepo Keketsi (LDF, 85th minute)
Final
Table 2010/11
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts.
|
||
C
|
LCS
|
26
|
15
|
10
|
1
|
43
|
17
|
26
|
55
|
2
|
LDF
|
26
|
16
|
7
|
3
|
39
|
19
|
20
|
55
|
3
|
Bantu
|
26
|
14
|
6
|
6
|
36
|
23
|
13
|
48
|
4
|
Linare
|
26
|
12
|
8
|
6
|
37
|
24
|
13
|
44
|
5
|
Matlama
|
26
|
10
|
10
|
6
|
27
|
18
|
9
|
41
|
6
|
LMPS
|
26
|
10
|
8
|
8
|
34
|
28
|
6
|
38
|
7
|
Likhopo
|
26
|
10
|
7
|
9
|
26
|
27
|
-1
|
37
|
8
|
Lioli
|
26
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
26
|
22
|
4
|
36
|
9
|
Maduma
|
26
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
31
|
33
|
-2
|
36
|
10
|
Joy
|
26
|
8
|
9
|
9
|
24
|
24
|
0
|
33
|
11
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
26
|
4
|
11
|
11
|
29
|
37
|
-8
|
23
|
12
|
Lerotholi
|
26
|
6
|
5
|
15
|
17
|
34
|
-17
|
23
|
13
|
Swallows
|
26
|
2
|
7
|
17
|
15
|
42
|
-27
|
13
|
14
|
Mabeoana
|
26
|
1
|
6
|
19
|
13
|
49
|
-36
|
9
|
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