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| The final showdown... |
It all comes down to today, a day of
reckoning in the Vodacom Premier League with the championship and relegation to
be decided on the final afternoon of the season.
After going head-to-head for the whole
of 2016, Lioli and Matlama will finally be separated.
Reigning champions Lioli are in the
pound seats. Mosholi Mokhothu’s side are a point ahead of Matlama and a win
over Linare in their final game would secure a third title in four years.
Lioli can go into the game at Setsoto
Stadium with confidence; Tse Nala
have a dazzling record in the league over the past two years. Prime example: Lioli
have only lost twice in their last 55 Vodacom Premier League matches. Since
losing to Linare on April 13, 2014, they have only lost to Matlama (October 19,
2014) and Bantu (November 1, 2015).
Two: Lioli haven’t lost to a team in the
bottom half of the league since 2013 (a 1-0 loss away to Nyenye Rovers on
December 1, 2013). Linare, having only survived relegation last weekend, are in
the bottom half.
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| Will Lioli be celebrating again? |
Lioli also go into today’s finale
unbeaten in the league since November 1 when they lost 3-1 to Bantu. It is a
run of 18 matches and their prospects are further boosted by the fact Linare
safe and, in theory, have little to play for.
Matlama’s task is similar in the sense
that Kick4Life have already secured a top eight spot and cannot break into the
top four. That doesn’t mean Kick4Life wouldn’t mind playing spoil-sport,
though. Leslie Notši’s charges have been outstanding in 2016 and a positive
result would seal fifth spot.
The stakes for Tse Putsoa are much higher, however, and they have the tools to get
the job done.
Moses Maliehe’s side has the league’s
best offence having scored 42 goals in 25 matches. They have only failed to score
in five games this season and a title win would give Matlama an unprecedented
tenth league crown, but, ultimately it may be an unexpected 2-0 loss at home to
relegated Mphatlalatsane in December that may cost Tse Putsoa the title.
Relegation
Dogfight
With the top four and top eight places
locked up, the other focus this weekend is the relegation battle. Mphatlalatsane
have already gone down and only two teams are left in danger of joining them,
Likila United and Rovers.
Likila host Mphatlalatsane in
Butha-Buthe while Rovers meet fellow promoted side Liphakoe in Quthing. Currently,
it is Likila who are in the final relegation place. They are two points adrift
of Rovers and Likila will be relegated if they fail to beat Mphatlalatsane on
Saturday. It is that simple for them.
Other
games
Apart from the title race and the final
relegation spot everything else in the league is settled. Sandawana have
claimed a top four place and the line-up for the top eight is also decided.
Sandawana, however, have the chance to cap a wonderful campaign with a win over
LCS at the LCS Stadium which would secure a remarkable top three spot for the
Butha-Buthe putfit.
It’s possible. Masheshena haven’t won in six games, losing four. Plus, Sandawana’s
Roboama Koloti is going for the golden boot.
Vodacom Premier
League Top Scorers
Motebang Sera (Matlama) 13
Roboama Koloti (Sandawana)
13
Jane Thaba-Ntšo (Matlama)
12
Lehlomela Ramabele
(Likhopo) 10
Lazola Tjokotjokwana
(Bantu) 8
Mojela Letsie (LDF) 7
Lehloka Lieta (LCS) 7
Masoabi Nkoto (Lioli) 7
Tšepo Toloane (Liphakoe) 7
|
All eyes however will be on Maseru where
the league title will be decided and Quthing and Butha-Buthe, where the pain of
relegation will be felt.
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| Or will it be Matlama? |
Final
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday
Matlama v Kick4Life (15:00, Maseru)
Lioli v Linare (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)
LDF v Bantu (15:00, Ratjomose)
LMPS v Likhopo (15:00, PTC)
Liphakoe v Rovers (15:00, Quthing)
Likila United v Mphatlalatsane (15:00,
Butha-Buthe)
LCS v Sandawana (15:00, LCS)
Vodacom Premier League Table
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts.
|
||
1
|
Lioli
|
25
|
16
|
8
|
1
|
38
|
10
|
28
|
56
|
2
|
Matlama
|
25
|
17
|
4
|
4
|
42
|
22
|
20
|
55
|
3
|
LCS
|
25
|
12
|
7
|
6
|
24
|
14
|
10
|
43
|
4
|
Sandawana
|
25
|
12
|
5
|
8
|
27
|
25
|
2
|
41
|
5
|
Kick4Life
|
25
|
9
|
10
|
6
|
23
|
22
|
1
|
37
|
6
|
Likhopo
|
25
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
28
|
21
|
7
|
36
|
7
|
LDF
|
25
|
8
|
10
|
7
|
23
|
20
|
3
|
34
|
8
|
Bantu
|
25
|
9
|
6
|
10
|
26
|
21
|
5
|
33
|
9
|
LMPS
|
25
|
6
|
11
|
8
|
25
|
28
|
-3
|
29
|
10
|
Linare
|
25
|
6
|
8
|
11
|
26
|
30
|
-4
|
26
|
11
|
Liphakoe
|
25
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
19
|
29
|
-10
|
25
|
12
|
Rovers
|
25
|
5
|
7
|
13
|
14
|
28
|
-14
|
22
|
13
|
Likila United
|
25
|
5
|
5
|
15
|
17
|
35
|
-18
|
20
|
R
|
Mphatlalatsane
|
25
|
3
|
6
|
16
|
19
|
46
|
-27
|
15
|
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