Celebration time... Lioli fans celebrate another success |
Lioli were crowned
2016 Independence Cup champions after an exciting 1-0 victory over Matlama in
the final on Sunday. Tse Nala’s triumph
at Setsoto Stadium was sealed by a late goal from midfielder Tšoanelo Koetle
and saw Lioli capture this season’s first piece of silverware.
What’s more,
the league
champions are a cool M150 000 richer this morning thanks to sponsors
Standard Lesotho Bank and Metropolitan Lesotho.
Lioli were the most enterprising team
all weekend and they began their Independence Cup mission with a stylish 4-1
win over Sundawana in Saturday’s semi-finals.
The win was highlighted by a brilliant
first half hattrick from striker Tšepo Lekhooana and first goal for the club
for new Tse Nala signing Moshoeshoe
Setho. The other semi-final on Saturday between Matlama and LCS was a much
closer affair. In an even contested game, the only difference was a Jane
Thaba-Ntšo winner for Tse Putsoa.
The results set up the mouth-watering
final between Lioli and Matlama and it did not disappoint.
Both sides
missed chances to win the game in an enterprising and well-attended affair.
However, with the final seemingly headed for penalties, Koetle stepped up to
give Lioli the breakthrough and send their loud fans into ecstasy.
The Independence
Cup triumph is Lioli’s first trophy under Halemakale Mahlaha who took over as
coach in August. Lioli also dominated the tournament’s individual awards. With
three goals, Lekhooana won the top goal-scorer award and M2000. Liteboho
Mokhehle claimed the goalkeeper of the tournament and M2000 while the player of
the tournament went to Lioli playmaker Bushy Moletsane who pocketed M3000.
Sunday was
also a noteworthy day in the National Basketball League as the league saw four
games at the Lehakoe Club.
In the game of
the weekend, Bashana Baheso beat arch-rivals and reigning NBL champions KTA
All-Stars 58-50 in an action packed encounter. The win lifted BBH, who won the NBL
title in 2015, into third place in the A-Division standings. BBH are two points
behind leaders Lichocha Shooting Rifles who won on Friday and one point adrift
of Bokamoso South.
KTA, on the
other hand, dropped down to sixth place in what has been an unconvincing start
to the season by the champions. In the other A-Division games on Sunday at
Lehakoe, LCE won by forfeit over Khubestate while Bokamoso North beat Lerotholi
Polytechnic 51-43.
In the sole
ladies league game, NUL Rovers demolished South Warriors 52-17.
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