 |
| Bantu's Hlompho Kalake (left) and Matlama's Kefuoe Mahula will meet again |
The Vodacom Premier League returns on
Saturday with a potentially explosive clash between Matlama and Bantu. The game
will be played at Setsoto Stadium and it is crucial to both teams for varying reasons.
Bantu are in the title race and could go
four points clear at the top with a win while Matlama are desperate to
kick-start a season that has plunged to a dull seventh place.
Matlama have managed just one win from
their last five games. They are seven points behind fourth placed Sky Battalion
and 10 points off first place.
A
Matšo Matebele,
on the other hand, lead the premiership with 27 points from 12 games. Lioli and
Kick4Life follow behind them with 26 points but both have played a game more
than Bantu. Saturday’s game will also see the much-anticipated debut of
Seephephe “Mochini” Matete as Matlama coach following his appointment in
December and he will be desperate to get his reign off to a good start.
Staying with football and Liphakoe have
parted ways with coach Teele Ntšonyana.
In a statement released on Wednesday
morning, the Vodacom Premier League outfit thanked Ntšonyana for “his immense
contribution since taking over as head-coach” in 2014.
The Quthing based club said Ntšonyana’s
A-Division championship triumph in 2015 which secured Liphakoe’s promotion to
the Vodacom Premier League makes “him one of the best coaches and an icon to the
people of Quthing”.
However, a string of poor results have
led to the two parties parting ways.
After a good start to the season which
saw the side as high as third in September, Liphakoe have been dragged into the
relegation dogfight. Liphakoe have not won a game since beating Butha-Buthe
Warriors 2-1 on October 9. They are now only seven points ahead of Likhopo who
occupy the final relegation spot.
Liphakoe said they wished to make it clear
Ntšonyana leaves “on good terms and will always remain a much loved, respected
and significant figure” at the club.
“His legacy at Liphakoe FC and in
Lesotho has long been guaranteed and he will always be warmly welcomed back to
Mose-ho-seaka,” the club said.
Finally, to basketball and the Lesotho
Basketball Association has confirmed that the National Basketball League will
resume next weekend on January 14.
Vodacom Premier League Standings
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts.
|
||
1
|
Bantu
|
12
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
20
|
4
|
16
|
27
|
2
|
Lioli
|
13
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
25
|
8
|
17
|
26
|
3
|
Kick4Life
|
13
|
8
|
2
|
3
|
24
|
14
|
10
|
26
|
4
|
Sky Battalion
|
13
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
17
|
10
|
7
|
24
|
5
|
LMPS
|
13
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
12
|
7
|
5
|
23
|
6
|
LCS
|
13
|
6
|
4
|
3
|
15
|
13
|
2
|
22
|
7
|
Matlama
|
12
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
16
|
7
|
9
|
17
|
8
|
LDF
|
13
|
5
|
5
|
3
|
12
|
9
|
3
|
17
|
9
|
Sundawana
|
13
|
3
|
7
|
3
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
16
|
10
|
Linare
|
13
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
21
|
19
|
2
|
14
|
11
|
Liphakoe
|
13
|
3
|
3
|
7
|
10
|
17
|
-7
|
12
|
12
|
Rovers
|
13
|
2
|
2
|
9
|
8
|
23
|
-15
|
8
|
13
|
Likhopo
|
13
|
1
|
2
|
10
|
6
|
22
|
-16
|
5
|
14
|
Butha-Buthe Warriors
|
13
|
0
|
2
|
11
|
8
|
38
|
-30
|
2
|
·
Matlama docked 3 points
·
LDF docked 3 points and 3 goals
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