MSC Shorts: Van Rooyen United and Galaxy meet for Top 8 glory, Bantu release nine

Ready for glory... Van Rooyen United

First division sides Van Rooyen United and Galaxy meet in the final of the A-Division Top 8 this afternoon. The match will be played at the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and will feature two surprise finalists.

Neither Van Rooyen United nor Galaxy gained promotion to the Vodacom Premier League this past season with that honour going to Butha-Buthe Warriors and Sky Battalion.

Van Rooyen and Galaxy, nevertheless, have the chance to pick up the consolation bonus of ending the campaign with a trophy and the A-Division Top 8’s M8000 first prize. The game kicks off at 14:00. Before the final, premiership bound Sky Battalion will face Manonyane in the third-place playoff at 12:00. Entrance will be M10 for adults and M5 for children.

Elsewhere, Lesotho’s Under-20 side finalise preparations today ahead of their 2017 CAF African Under-20 Championship second leg qualifier against Mozambique on Sunday. The Makoanyane XI go into the game standing a good chance of progressing after a valuable 1-1 draw in the first leg in Maputo two weeks ago.

If Motlalepula Mofolo’s charges are victorious on Sunday at Setsoto Stadium, they will meet either South Africa or Namibia to decide who qualifies for the African Under-20 Championship in Zambia next year.

The Makoanyane XI will be looking to advance tomorrow

Meanwhile, in the Under-17 side, former Likuena internationals Shalane Lehohla and Lekunutu Tšoeunyane have joined the coaching staff. Lehohla will assist head coach Halemakale Mahlaha while Tšoeunyane has been appointed as the new goalkeepers coach.

To women’s football, and this afternoon sees a potential humdinger between Lesotho’s top two women’s sides – LDF and Kick4Life. The much-anticipated Lesotho Women Super League clash will take place at Ratjomose at 15:00. There will be some bad blood. Reigning champions LDF beat Kick4Life on goal difference on the final day of last season to win the title. And, the two rivals are leading the pack once again this season.

To the men’s premiership and Vodacom Premier League giants Bantu have confirmed they have transfer-listed nine players as they continue their end of season overhaul after a disappointing 2015/16 campaign. Last week the Mafeteng side fired coach Bafokeng Mohapi. This week A Matšo Matebele have sent Katleho Moleko, Thabiso Mohapi, Isaiah Mosala, Thato Mabitle, Ossala Sorrel, Dulang Nthotsela, Keketso Lichaba, Tšoloane Mosakeng, and Tšoeu Mosollo packing.

Finally, in the National Basketball League, the champions in the A, development and ladies leagues could all be decided today. Today is Game 3 of the leagues’ respective NBL Finals and all ties see one side a win away from clinching the best-of-three series.

In the development league, Bokamoso South leads their series 2-0 against Buffalos while Lichocha Shooting Rifles leads Bashana Ba Heso by the same margin in the ladies league.

And, in the A-League, favourites KTA All Stars will be crowned Lesotho’s basketball kings for the second time in three years if they beat surprise finalists Bokamoso South. KTA hold a 2-0 series lead and dominated the first two games, 80-71 and 82-52.