Vodacom Premier League: Final Weekend Talking Points

Champions again! Lioli

This past weekend saw an exciting end to a brilliant Vodacom Premier League season. For the first time since 2011 the league race went down to the final day as title favourites Lioli were pushed all the way by Matlama.

In the end, Tse Nala retained their crown to capture a third championship in four years while at the other end of the table Likila United and Mphatlalatsane suffered the pain of relegation.

In a captivating season of surprises, Sandawana grabbed an unexpected top four spot while giants Bantu, LDF and Linare floundered.

Here are the talking points from the final weekend of the 2015/16 season.

Lioli worthy champions

Lioli were pushed hard by Matlama but, ultimately, their quality won the day. Tse Nala secured the title on the final weekend thanks to Saturday’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Linare and Lioli’s hero on the day was winger Tumelo Khutlang who scored a brace.

But, such is the strength of their squad, on other days this season Lioli’s hero has been Jeremea Kamela, Montoeli Sonopo, Motlalepula Mofolo, Tšoanelo Koetle or another of their plethora of Lesotho internationals.

The champions’ star power also extends to the technical bench where coach Mosholi Mokhothu captured his sixth league title – four as a head coach and two as an assistant.

Mokhothu led Lioli to the championship in 2009 and guided LCS to the second of their back-to-back titles in 2012. Now he has the glory of back-to-back victories with Lioli in addition to wins as assistant coach to Katiso Mojakhomo during LCS’s triumphs in 2007 and 2008.

As for the club, well, Lioli are a class apart at the moment.

Just as last season, the Teyateyaneng giants lost only once during the league campaign. This was also another season in which Tse Nala went unbeaten at home. Lioli now haven’t lost a designated home fixture since a 1-0 loss to Matlama on March 22, 2014.

And, just as last season, Lioli won a double.

Last year it was the league and Independence Cup, this year it is the league and LNIG Top 8. Lioli are undisputedly Lesotho’s premier club today and are worthy champions this season.

Plenty of positives for Matlama

When the season started few expected Matlama to mount a serious challenge for the league title thanks to their frustrating years of futility since their last triumph in 2010.

However, Moses Maliehe had different ideas and he revitalised Tse Putsoa turning them into an exciting, contending team.

And, despite falling just short, Matlama compiled a wonderful campaign which they completed with a 4-1 win over Kick4Life on Saturday decorated by goals from Tšeliso Ramathe, Jane Thaba-Ntšo, Mabuti Potloane and league golden boot winner Motebang Sera.

Matlama’s 58 points are the most not to win the title since the Vodacom Premier League became a 14-team division three years ago. In fact, their 2.23 points per game average is the second highest not to capture the league since the same Matlama finished with 70 points from 30 games in 2006/07 (2.3 points per game) and finished behind LCS on goal difference.

Matlama captain Phafa Tšosane (right)
One of the many positives for Tse Putsoa

Now the challenge is to build on this. Tse Putsoa came into the season with low expectations and now they will have big ones. Midfield starlet Phafa Tšosane continued his steady rise and stepped up even more after being made captain in January following the departure of Nkau Lerotholi to LMPS.

Next season Mabuti Potloane, who missed almost two thirds of the campaign, will also be fully fit and available to provide the boost he did in the run-in. And then there is the young duo of Jane Thaba-Ntšo and Motebang Sera who spearheaded the league’s best attack. Now the onus is on the club to keep its head because if Matlama continue their upward trajectory, they could soon be atop the winner’s podium again.

Rovers survive, just

Rovers left it late to survive. In fact, they left it until extra-time after their final game of the season against Liphakoe was played yesterday instead of Saturday because of heavy rain. The match which would factor into relegation involving Likila United and Mphatlalatsane was also postponed. So, both games were played yesterday.

Rovers knew what they had to do going in: a win would secure the Dynamites’ status. They did just that, running out 2-0 winners against a Liphakoe that had little to play for. Already relegated Mphatlalatsane also had little to play for when they met Likila United but they won 2-1 to send the Butha-Buthe side down with them to the first division. Both the promoted sides, Liphakoe and Rovers, survived.

Marching on... Rovers survive

Bantu finish on a high, but have plenty to ponder

Bantu have endured a torrid season but at least they ended it with a win beating LDF 2-1 on Saturday. It has been a curious campaign. A Matšo Matebele won the Independence Cup in November and only the top four sides finished with more wins than Bantu’s 10 in the league.

It shows Bantu have the quality but never found a way to use it this season. On their day Bantu can beat anyone, as evidenced by being the only side to beat Lioli this season in league and cup play.

But, having missed out on the top four, they go into the off-season knowing they will not defend their Independence Cup trophy, a competition they have dominated, winning four of the last five editions.

The Mafeteng side also have questions over who will coach them next season and it is imperative for Bantu to re-find the clarity and direction they had if they are to return to the top table again.

Sandawana and Kick4Life have ‘coach of the season’ candidates

Lioli and Matlama were the top teams this season so their respective coaches Mosholi Mokhothu and Moses Maliehe deserve plaudits. However, the job done by Sandawana’s Bob Mafoso and Leslie Notši of Kick4Life has been equally noteworthy.

In just their second Vodacom Premier League campaign Kick4Life managed a sixth place finish, tied on points with fifth-placed Likhopo. It is a notable feat especially considering the club only had two wins and 12 points from 11 games when Notši took over on November 23.

Since Notši’s arrival only the top three sides – Lioli (41 points), Matlama (36) and LCS (27) – have collected more points than Kick4Life with the club losing just four times in 15 games under the former Likuena mentor.

Most points since Leslie Notši’s appointment

Team	Points
Lioli	41
Matlama	36
LCS	27
Kick4Life	25
Sandawana	24
LDF	23
LMPS	22
Likhopo	20

For Sandawana to achieving a top four finish is almost a miracle. Over the last nine years no teams other than Lioli, Matlama, LCS, LDF, Linare, Bantu and LMPS have made the exclusive club.

Even more remarkably, coach Bob Mafoso took over in October with Sandawana owning a record of zero wins and just three points from six games. They were second from bottom at the time.

But, under the former Likila trainer, Sandawana immediately went on a four-match winning run which carried them into the top four by November 15. They continued their streak to reach joint-top with Lioli at the start of December and spark talk of a possible title charge.

Sandawana dipped, however, and by the start of February they were out of the top four. And when they fell to sixth in early March, overtaken by fancied Likhopo and Bantu, it appeared their fairy-tale was over at last.

But, Mafoso rallied his troops and thanks also to the inconsistency of those behind them, Sandawana secured a top four spot, with a game to spare. It is an achievement for the ages for Mafoso and the Butha-Buthe club.

Vodacom Premier League Final Table

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
C	Lioli	26	17	8	1	40	11	29	59
2	Matlama	26	18	4	4	46	23	23	58
3	LCS	26	12	8	6	25	15	10	44
4	Sandawana	26	12	6	8	28	26	2	42
5	Likhopo	26	9	10	7	29	22	7	37
6	Kick4Life	26	9	10	7	24	26	-2	37
7	Bantu	26	10	6	10	28	22	6	36
8	LDF	26	8	10	8	24	22	1	34
9	LMPS	26	6	12	8	26	29	-3	30
10	Linare	26	6	8	12	27	32	-5	26
11	Liphakoe	26	5	10	11	19	31	-12	25
12	Rovers	26	6	7	13	16	30	-14	25
R	Likila United	26	5	5	16	18	37	-19	20
R	Mphatlalatsane	26	4	6	16	21	47	-26	18