2017 LNIG Top 8 Finals – The Contenders

The LNIG Top 8 reaches its climax this weekend and by Sunday afternoon a new champion will be crowned. Here is a look at the four remaining contenders for the M100,000 grand prize. Coincidentally, the four sides are also the top four in the league so, clearly, they are the country’s best teams right now and the perfect contestants for LNIG Top 8 glory.

Winning has become a habit for Lioli...

The Champions – Lioli

Form: WWL

Lioli’s only domestic loss of 2017 was four weeks ago against their opponents on Saturday, Bantu. Tse Nala came within 45 minutes of beating CAPS United in the CAF Champions League and they brushed aside Likhopo 4-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to reach the LNIG Top 8 last four.

Coach: Halemakale Mahlaha

Key players: Tšepo Seturumane, Tšoanelo Koetle, Bushy Moletsane

Best LNIG Top 8 result: Winners 2014, 2016

Mood: The spirit in the Lioli camp is suddenly high again thanks to last weekend’s results in the league. Tse Nala’s 5-0 mauling of Butha-Buthe Warriors coupled with Bantu’s goalless draw with LCS means the destiny of the title is in Lioli’s hands again. Thanks to their slightly superior goal difference, Lioli stand a good chance of winning the league for a third successive time if they win their five remaining league games.

Thanks to that development, the mood is much better than it was four weeks ago after a 2-1 loss to Bantu that looked set to end their reign as league kings. Lioli will take that new-found buoyancy into this weekend’s LNIG Top 8 finals.

Can they win the trophy?

Yes. Lioli have been the most dominant team domestically for the past four seasons and currently hold all of Lesotho’s top-flight trophies – the league, Independence Cup and LNIG Top 8 – in their trophy cabinet.

At their best they are composed, calculated and pick apart opponents in way that is almost unplayable.

The foundation is a defence that has only conceded 11 goals in 23 games in domestic competitions this season. Lioli also still possess the best midfield in the country with the combination of Tšoanelo Koetle, Motlalepula Mofolo and Bushy Moletsane the engine room of their numerous successes. Lioli are so strong they have often been able to leave last year’s player of the season Jerry Kamela on the bench.

Nevertheless, this season has not been seamless under new coach Halemakale Mahlaha. At times Lioli have looked brilliant as they did in beating Kick4Life 4-1 last November or outclassing LDF in January but there have been head-scratching losses to LMPS and Rovers as well.

The biggest question, however, is whether Lioli can finally get a win over Bantu. Lioli have not beaten A Matšo Matebele since February 2012, a run of 13 matches in all competitions.

A positive is Koetle will be back after missing last month’s league defeat to Bantu. He was sorely missed in that game as A Matšo Matebele completely had their way in midfield.

Should Lioli unlock their Bantu mystery they would be favoured to win it all on Sunday against Kick4Life or LCS.

That is because since the start of the 2012/13 season there have 12 domestic competitions and Lioli have won seven of them and finished in the top two on three occasions. It is an incredible run of domination and consistency.

Lioli’s dominant run:

Season	Vodacom Premier League	Independence Cup	LNIG Top 8
2012/13	Champions	Did not qualify	Tournament not played
2013/14	Second	Finalists	Winners
2014/15	Champions	Winners	Quarterfinalists
2015/16	Champions	Finalists	Winners
2016/17	-	Winners	-

The Favourites - Bantu

Bantu are on the cusp of a first ever league and cup double...

Form: DWW

Bantu will be kicking themselves after last weekend’s league draw with LCS but they remain the form team in the country having won four in row before that speed-bump against Masheshena. Their passage to the semi-finals was secured with a hard-fought 3-2 aggregate win over Matlama in the quarters.

Coach: James Madidilane

Key players: Hlompho Kalake, Thapelo Mokhehle, Litšepe Marabe

Best LNIG Top 8 result: Winners 2015

Mood: Bantu sit on the verge of winning the first league and cup double in club history and in the year of their 90th birthday celebrations to boot. The whole club has been galvanised by this prospect and spirits are high amongst players and fans.

Can they win the trophy?

Those in Mafeteng would say definitely yes. And they may be right. Bantu have an incredible record against Lioli who would appear to be their biggest obstacle this weekend. A Matšo Matebele are also the leaders in the Vodacom Premier League as they enjoy a renaissance under James Madidilane.

When it comes to Lioli, things are sweet these days. Bantu have not lost to Tse Nala in over five years and this includes two wins in the final of the Independence Cup.

Bantu’s dominance over Lioli:

Date	Season	Competition	Result
Mar-2017	2016/2017	League	Bantu 2-1 Lioli
Oct-2016	2016/2017	League	Lioli 0-0 Bantu
Mar-2016	2015/2016	League	Lioli 0-0 Bantu
Nov-2015	2015/2016	League	Bantu 3-1 Lioli
Oct-2015	2015/2016	Independence Cup final	Bantu 1-1 Lioli (Bantu won 15-14 on penalties)
Apr-2015	2014/2015	League	Bantu 1-1 Lioli
Sep-2014	2014/2015	League	Lioli 0-0 Bantu
Mar-2014	2013/2014	League	Lioli 0-1 Bantu
Nov-2013	2013/2014	League	Bantu 2-1 Lioli
Oct-2013	2013/2014	Independence Cup final	Bantu 1-1 Lioli (Bantu won 4-3 on penalties)
Apr-2013	2012/2013	League	Bantu 0-0 Lioli
Oct-2012	2012/2013	League	Lioli 1-2 Bantu
Apr-2012	2011/2012	League	Lioli 0-0 Bantu
Feb-2012	2011/2012	League	Bantu 0-1 Lioli

Bantu’s star-studded side will favour their chances of continuing that run considering they beat Lioli just last month in impressive fashion and the fact Tse Nala coach Halemakale Mahlaha admitted afterwards that his players may have a mental block when it comes to Bantu.

That’s not all. Bantu tend to finish the job when they get this far in a cup competition. The Mafeteng side won the Independence Cup in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 and captured the LNIG Top 8 in 2014. Another triumph this weekend would not be a surprise.

The Upstarts - Kick4Life

Will Kick4Life cap a fairytale rise with LNIG Top 8 glory?

Form: DDL

Kicvk4Life’s form has dipped of late causing them to drop out of the league title race after hanging with Lioli and Bantu at the top until February. Kick4Life haven’t won a game since beating Sky Battalion 2-0 on February 12. They have lost twice and drawn twice in the four matches since. Kick4Life beat Sundawana 7-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.

Coach: Leslie Notši

Key players: Bokang Mothoana, Thabiso Brown, Thabo Masualle

Best Top 8 result: Semi-finalists 2017

Mood: Despite their recent slump, Kick4Life remain on a high as they prepare for the first cup semi-final in club history.

Can they win the trophy?

Kick4Life have had a brilliant season but they remain outsiders this weekend. First of all, their record against LCS is not good. Kick4Life have met Masheshena six times since they were promoted to the top-flight in 2014 and have only won once, losing three. That lone win came in 2015.

Kick4Life v LCS head-to-head

Kick4Life 1-1 LCS (2017) LCS 2-2 Kick4Life (2016) Kick4Life 0-3 LCS (2016) LCS 0-1 Kick4Life (2015) LCS 1-0 Kick4Life (2015) Kick4Life 0-1 LCS (2014)

It is not a stat that will inspire confidence for the first time semi-finalists. What will, though, is a squad that all of a sudden is filled with international experience. The likes of Bokang Mothoana, Thabo Masualle, Thapelo Tale and Likano Teele are used to big occasions and winning trophies.

They also have the most experienced and tactically astute coach amongst the remaining teams in the competition in former Lesotho boss Leslie Notši. This is Kick4Life’s calling card: their organisation, discipline and know-how.

They are tough to beat and will be so again this weekend. Winning it at all is a long-shot but not out of the question for a team that has enjoyed a spectacular rise over the past 12 months. The key for Kick4Life is to be clinical in all phases of the game.

The Outsiders - LCS

The outsiders - LCS

Form: DDD

LCS have been solid if unspectacular all season long. They have only lost once in their last six games but have only won twice. Masheshena beat LDF 1-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals in typically workmanlike fashion to reach the semi-finals.

Coach: Mpitsa Marai

Key players: Makara Ntaitsane, Lieta Lehloka, Daniel Twumasi

Best LNIG Top 8 result: Finalists 2016

Mood: LCS are flying under the radar. Their form of late has certainly not inspired fanfare and they appear a step behind the current top three of Lioli, Bantu and Kick4Life when it comes to performance and personality.

Can they win the trophy?

LCS are the most successful club amongst the four LNIG Top 8 semi-finalists – only Matlama and LDF have won more trophies than Masheshena – but they are the least talked about.  Masheshena, of course, are not the force of old and are trophyless since winning the league in 2012. But, this is the cup and experience matters as LCS showed last year when they were a Jerry Kamela free-kick away from winning the LNIG Top 8.

Masheshena will be looking to go one step further this year, and they can. Their defence, marshalled by Daniel Jousse and Poloko Mohale, doesn’t concede many goals. Their midfield, still ably run by Lieta Lehloka, can disrupt opponents’ game-plans and, upfront, Ghanaian striker Daniel Twumasi has proven himself deadly when given a sniff of goal.

This is a good formula to win big and tight games. In addition, coach Mpitsa Marai knows all about what it takes to win trophies having done so on countless occasions as a player for LCS. Masheshena are the outsiders this weekend but they could easily end it as LNIG Top 8 champions for the first time.