Kick4Life extend Vodacom Premier League lead to 3 points

It was also a good weekend for Matlama hattrick hero Motebang Sera

The 2016/17 Vodacom Premier League season has so far been an inconsistent one but the one constant has been Kick4Life’s solid form. Kick4Life claimed another win to stretch their lead at the top to three points as their closest challengers heading into this weekend, LMPS and Lioli, were hit by the inconsistency bug.

Kick4Life’s latest win was not easy as they overcame a resilient Liphakoe 2-1 in a tough away match in Quthing.

Kick4Life’s winner came in the second half courtesy of defender Thabo Masualle. Once again Leslie Notši’s side displayed character after Thabo Matšoele’s 23rd minute penalty had cancelled out Nkoto Masoabi’s sixth minute strike.

Instead of wilting away from home, Kick4Life showed they have what it takes to challenge for honours by turning one point into three with a 66th minute goal from Masualle.

It wasn’t a good Sunday for LMPS and Lioli, on the other hand. LMPS were downed by a Mojela Letsie goal against LDF while champions Lioli suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Rovers in Roma, a week after winning the Independence Cup.

Today’s loss is only Lioli’s fourth in their last 64 Vodacom Premier League matches. Since losing to Linare in April 2014, Lioli have only lost to Matlama (October 19, 2014) and Bantu (November 1, 2015), LMPS (August 27, 2016) and now Rovers (October 30, 2016).

The result was also surprising because Rovers were stuck in the relegation and winless heading into the weekend.

While LMPS and Lioli will be cursing this weekend, Bantu and Matlama are on a high after registering wins that bring them right into the title picture after an unconvincing few weeks. Bantu completed outclassed a hapless Linare 3-0 at the Leshoboro Stadium on Saturday and A Matšo Matebele are now second in the standings, three points behind Kick4Life with a game in hand.

That game in hand is against Matlama who are up to third place after a spectacular 4-0 thumping of LCS at the LCS Stadium this afternoon. Tse Putsoa were rampant with last season’s top scorer Motebang Sera notching a hattrick and captain Phafa Tšosane adding another. Matlama remain the only unbeaten side in the league.

Elsewhere this weekend, newly-promoted Sky Battalion continued their brilliant start to the season with a 4-0 win over fellow new boys Butha-Buthe Warriors on Saturday. The victory means Sky Battalion end Week 8 in the comfort of fourth place.

Last season’s fourth-placed finishers Sundawana haven’t had things go their way this term but they made it two wins from two in the league with a 2-0 victory over Likhopo on Saturday. Sundawana are now tenth with nine points while Likhopo have slipped into the relegation zone.

Vodacom Premier League Weekend Results:

Saturday

Butha-Buthe 0, Sky Battalion 4 (Tsietsi x 2, Malane x 2)

Sundawana 2 (Rasethuntša, Molise), Likhopo 0

Bantu 3 (Lebajoa x 2, Lebata), Linare 0

Sunday

Rovers 2 (Jabari, Majara), Lioli 1 (Lekhanya)

LMPS 0, LDF 1 (Mojela)

LCS 0, Matlama 4 (Sera x 3, Tšosane)

Liphakoe 1 (Matšoele), Kick4Life 2 (Masoabi, Masualle)

Standings:

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Kick4Life	8	6	1	1	19	8	11	19
2	Bantu	7	5	1	1	13	3	10	16
3	Matlama	7	4	3	0	10	3	6	15
4	Sky Battalion	8	5	0	3	11	8	3	15
5	Lioli	8	4	2	2	9	4	5	14
6	LMPS	8	4	2	2	7	4	3	14
7	LDF	8	3	4	1	6	4	2	13
8	Liphakoe	8	3	2	3	9	10	-1	11
9	LCS	8	2	4	2	8	10	-2	10
10	Sundawana	8	2	3	3	6	9	-3	9
11	Linare	8	1	2	5	9	13	-4	5
12	Rovers	8	1	2	5	6	15	-9	5
13	Likhopo	8	1	1	6	3	10	-7	4
14	Butha-Buthe Warriors	8	0	1	7	4	21	-17	1