The 2016/17 Vodacom Premier League season is reaching
its climax. Here is a look at this weekend’s round of games…
 |
| Saturday is another big day for Mafa Moremoholo (left) and his Lioli teammates... |
Match of the
weekend:
Likhopo v Lioli
Saturday’s meeting between Likhopo and
Lioli at the LCS Stadium is the most important game of the weekend because the
result could potentially mark the end of an era or the end of Lioli’s two-year
run as champions.
With two games left in the season, the equations
are simple: if Likhopo lose and Rovers secure a win this weekend then the Red Army will be relegated; on the other
hand, if Lioli drop points and Bantu get a win in their game, the Mafeteng side
will be crowned champions.
Those are serious stakes.
Likhopo are, of course, Lesotho’s
greatest conveyor belt of talent with so many players having been discovered or
gone through the ranks at the club.
Bokang Mothoana, Thapelo Tale, Lehlomela
Ramabele, Lieta Lehloka, Tefo Maipato, Ralekoti Mokhahlane, Tumelo Khutlang – the
list of players that spent their formative years at Likhopo is endless.
The club has basically been a supplier
of talent for the country with Lesotho’s Under-20 teams that qualified for the
African Youth Championships in 2005 and 2011, for example, having been packed
with Likhopo gems.
However, since the untimely passing of
founder Bishop Molatoli in 2015, the club has slowly lost direction.
Another founding member in Qamako Mahao has
also since departed from the club and the uncertainty led to an exodus of
players before this season.
After Likhopo finishing sixth last year,
Mothoana, Maipato, Sefoli Ntoi, Nyakhane Nyakhane and Tšeliso Sejake all left
the team in the off-season and when top scorer Ramabele followed suit in
January, the writing was on the wall.
Likhopo haven’t won a game since beating
relegated Butha-Buthe Warriors on February 12 and now their top-flight survival
is out of their hands.
Likhopo are two points adrift of safety
and their final two games are tough – a date against title-chasing Lioli this
weekend and away to Liphakoe on the final day of the season.
Just as there’s a lot at stake for
Likhopo there is plenty riding on the game for Lioli as well. Tse Nala have been Lesotho’s top team
for the past three seasons (Lioli only lost one game in each of their 2014/15
and 2015/16 title winning campaigns).
You can argue Lioli have again been the
best team in the land again this season but the decisive fact is Tse Nala have dropped points at
inopportune times. Lioli started the season with an opening day defeat to LMPS.
The champions then lost to lowly Rovers a week after winning the Independence
Cup last October and then, two weeks ago, the costliest result of them all – a
goalless draw with LCS days after winning the LNIG Top 8.
Because of those slips Lioli are now
relying on favours to defend their title. They have to win their remaining two
games and hope in-form Bantu somehow drop points.
With the permutations as they are, this
Saturday’s game spells trouble for Likhopo. Lioli will not be in charitable
mood and they have players in top form such as Lekhanya Lekhanya, who scored
last weekend against Matlama, and Tumelo Khutlang who is a leading contender
for the player of the season.
Prediction:
Likhopo 0-2 Lioli
The weekend’s
other games:
 |
| Captain Fantastic... Thapelo Mokhehle has helped Bantu to the league’s second best defensive record |
Sundawana v
Bantu
Sunday is set to be a festival at the
Maputsoe DiFA Stadium where three of Lesotho’s best supported clubs will be in
action.
League leaders Bantu, Linare and Liphakoe
will all descend on Maputsoe with Bantu facing Sundawana at 13:00 and Linare
versus Liphakoe following at 15:00.
For Bantu it could be a day of celebration
or, at the very least, a big step towards securing the title. A Matšo Matebele face Sundawana knowing
all they need is another win to add to their league leading nine victories in
2017.
Bantu’s
league form in 2017
07/01/17
|
Matlama 1-0 Bantu
|
L
|
15/01/17
|
Bantu 3-1 Likhopo
|
W
|
21/01/17
|
Butha-Buthe Warriors 1-6 Bantu
|
W
|
28/01/17
|
Rovers 0-1 Bantu
|
W
|
12/02/17
|
Bantu 2-2 Matlama
|
D
|
19/02/17
|
Linare 0-2 Bantu
|
W
|
04/03/17
|
Bantu 1-0 LDF
|
W
|
12/03/17
|
Bantu 2-1 Lioli
|
W
|
18/03/17
|
LMPS 1-2 Bantu
|
W
|
02/04/17
|
LCS 0-0 Bantu
|
D
|
17/04/17
|
Bantu 2-0 Liphakoe
|
W
|
23/04/17
|
Bantu 3-1 Sky Battalion
|
W
|
Sundawana also have ambitions of their
own as they look to salvage their season with a top eight finish. Tse Bo Yellow,
who finished fourth last season and will be buoyed by their first win under
Antonio Flores last weekend, are currently ninth, outside the top eight on goal
difference.
The game itself is likely to be an
attractive one. Both teams strive to play a passing game. But, Bantu have much
more at stake. That along with their superior quality should see A Matšo Matebele get the win they need.
Prediction:
Sundawana 1-3 Bantu
Linare
v Liphakoe
Teele Ntšonyana would be a coach of the
season candidate if he had been at Linare a little bit longer. Tse Tala are reborn under him and are
yet to taste defeat in the six games under the former Lesotho hit-man and
Liphakoe coach. The only other unbeaten team in the last six games is Bantu.
In contrast, Ntšonyana’s former team,
Liphakoe, seem to be headed in the opposite direction. The Quthing side replaced
Ntšonyana with Motebang Makhetha in January and immediately went unbeaten in
their first three games under the new coach, winning two. Since then they have
won just once in eight games losing four times.
Linare, who still have an outside chance
of finishing eighth, should have the momentum and motivation to overcome
Liphakoe.
Prediction:
Linare 1-0 Liphakoe
Butha-Buthe
Warriors v LCS
Butha-Buthe Warriors are relegated and
have little to play for. LCS are looking to seal a top four finish which would be
their ninth in ten seasons. This has another Warriors defeat written all over
it. The Butha-Buthe side have lost 20 of their 24 league games this season.
Prediction:
Butha-Buthe Warriors 0-3 LCS
Rovers
v Matlama
 |
| Matlama need Jane Thaba-Ntšo to be at his best again… |
Rovers have given themselves a shout of
surviving. Their two draws over the past two weeks (2-2 v Sundawana, 0-0 v
Kick4Life) have them two points clear of Likhopo in the relegation zone. The Red Army also face an easier task this
weekend than Likhopo who face Lioli. Rovers face a Matlama side that looks
ready for the season to end and hasn’t won in five games.
Prediction:
Rovers 1-1 Matlama
LDF
v Kick4Life
Kick4Life’s main mission (finishing in
the top four) is complete while LDF are still looking to ensure they finish in
the top eight. That could be the deciding factor in this game.
Form table – last six games:
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
Pts.
|
||
1
|
Bantu
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
11
|
3
|
16
|
2
|
Lioli
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
14
|
3
|
13
|
3
|
LDF
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
8
|
1
|
13
|
4
|
Linare
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
9
|
5
|
12
|
5
|
Sky Battalion
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
11
|
5
|
11
|
6
|
LCS
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
8
|
3
|
10
|
7
|
Sundawana
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
6
|
5
|
6
|
8
|
Likhopo
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
7
|
6
|
9
|
Matlama
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
8
|
6
|
10
|
Kick4Life
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
6
|
11
|
Liphakoe
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
6
|
12
|
LMPS
|
6
|
0
|
5
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
13
|
Rovers
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
6
|
13
|
5
|
14
|
Butha-Buthe Warriors
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
7
|
19
|
4
|
LDF have also picked up their form over
the last two weeks winning both their outings. Kick4Life in contrast are
struggling to get wins of late. They only have one win in their last six games.
This game, by the way, will be a
showdown between two of this season’s best strikers. LDF’s Mojela Letsie leads
the league scoring charts with 18 goals while Kick4Life’s Thabiso Brown has 17
and an exciting chase for the golden boot.
Prediction: LDF
1-1 Kick4Life
Sky Battalion v LMPS
 |
| Nkau Lerotholi (left) and LMPS haven't won a game since March..; |
Sky Battalion have had an incredible
season. Thabile Secker has instilled a fearless attitude in the premiership newcomers
which has served them well against the big boys. However, not only have SK surprised with their attitude, but
also with their organisation and gameplay. Only Bantu, Lioli and Kick4Life have
more wins than Sky Battalion’s 11 this season.
LMPS, on the other hand, are already on
holiday. In fact, Semonye have been
on holiday for a month now.
LMPS’s recent league form:
12/03/17
|
LCS 1-1 LMPS
|
D
|
18/03/17
|
LMPS 1-2 Bantu
|
L
|
01/04/17
|
LMPS 0-0 Sundawana
|
D
|
17/04/17
|
LMPS 0-1 Kick4Life
|
L
|
23/04/17
|
LMPS 0-0 Linare
|
D
|
Prediction: Sky
Battalion 2-1 LMPS
Weekend
Fixtures:
Saturday
Likhopo
v Lioli (15:00, LCS Stadium)
Butha-Buthe
Warriors v LCS (15:00, Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)
Rovers
v Matlama (15:00, Roma)
Sunday
Sky
Battalion v LMPS (15:00, LCS Stadium)
Sundawana
v Bantu (13:00, Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)
Linare
v Liphakoe (15:00, Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)
LDF
v Kick4Life (15:00, Ratjomose)
Vodacom Premier League Standings:
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
GD
|
Pts.
|
||
1
|
Bantu
|
24
|
17
|
5
|
2
|
44
|
12
|
+32
|
56
|
2
|
Lioli
|
24
|
17
|
3
|
4
|
46
|
11
|
+35
|
54
|
3
|
Kick4Life
|
24
|
13
|
6
|
5
|
42
|
24
|
+18
|
45
|
4
|
LCS
|
24
|
11
|
8
|
5
|
32
|
21
|
+11
|
41
|
5
|
Sky Battalion
|
24
|
11
|
5
|
8
|
32
|
25
|
+7
|
38
|
6
|
LMPS
|
24
|
7
|
12
|
5
|
21
|
18
|
+3
|
33
|
7
|
LDF
|
24
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
27
|
21
|
+6
|
32
|
8
|
Matlama
|
24
|
8
|
10
|
6
|
35
|
24
|
+11
|
31
|
9
|
Sundawana
|
24
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
24
|
24
|
0
|
31
|
10
|
Linare
|
24
|
6
|
8
|
10
|
33
|
35
|
-2
|
26
|
11
|
Liphakoe
|
24
|
6
|
7
|
11
|
20
|
30
|
-10
|
25
|
12
|
Rovers
|
24
|
3
|
7
|
14
|
20
|
47
|
-27
|
16
|
13
|
Likhopo
|
24
|
2
|
8
|
14
|
18
|
37
|
-19
|
14
|
R
|
Butha-Buthe Warriors
|
24
|
1
|
3
|
20
|
17
|
82
|
-65
|
6
|
·
Matlama docked 3 points
·
LDF docked 3 points and 3 goals