The Big Questions ahead of weekend’s Vodacom Premier League action

There are only three weeks left in the 2016/17 Vodacom Premier League season. Now more than ever, every minute and every point counts. Here are the big questions heading into this weekend’s round of matches…

Will Bantu be celebrating come Sunday afternoon?

Can Bantu go a step closer to winning the title?

Bantu are celebrating their 90th birthday anniversary this season and what better way to celebrate than by winning the league title?

So far, it’s so good for Bantu but Sunday is a crucial day for the club as they host fourth-placed Sky Battalion at Setsoto Stadium.

A Matšo Matebele lead the Vodacom Premiership standings with 53 points from their 23 matches, two points ahead of champions Lioli. All Bantu need to do is win their remaining games and they will win the title.

Bantu’s remaining league games: 23rd April - Bantu v Sky Battalion (Setsoto Stadium) 30th April - Sundawana v Bantu (Maputsoe DiFA Stadium) 6th May - Bantu v Kick4Life (TBC)

On paper three successive wins is certainly doable and a match against Sky Battalion is one a title-chasing team would be expected to win.

However, it could be a banana skin for Bantu. Surprise package Sky Battalion will go into the clash buoyed by their impressive run of form and the fact they held A Matšo Matebele to a goalless draw in the first round.

In fact, with SK in line to clinch a fairy-tale fourth place finish in their top-flight debut, this might be Bantu’s toughest remaining test.

It means if Bantu do win on Sunday then James Madidilane’s charges will have taken a giant step towards winning the championship. Can they do it?

Which Matlama will show up against Lioli?

Will good or bad Matlama show up against Lioli?

Matlama’s biggest game of the season is always when they face Lioli. Indeed, in the sides’ meeting last October Tse Putsoa’s fans went so crazy they invaded the pitch causing the match to be abandoned (giving Lioli a 3-0 win). The fact a fan was shot and killed in ensuing clashes means there has to be tight security for Saturday’s return meeting, so this game is also a test of how serious Lesotho football is about safety at grounds.

Matlama’s league form in 2017

07/01/17	Matlama 1-0 Bantu	W
15/01/17	LMPS 1-1 Matlama	D
22/01/17	Matlama 0-1 Liphakoe	L
29/01/17	Matlama 8-0 Butha-Buthe Warriors	W
12/02/17	Bantu 2-2 Matlama	D
18/02/17	Matlama 0-2 LCS	L
04/03/17	Sundawana 2-4 Matlama	W
11/03/17	Matlama 1-1 Likhopo	D
19/03/17	Linare 1-1 Matlama	D
02/04/17	Kick4Life 1-1 Matlama	D
17/04/17	Matlama 0-1 Sky Battalion	L

On the field the big question is which Matlama will turn up this weekend.

Tse Putsoa have been wildly unpredictable since Seephephe Matete took the reins in January. Matlama are the only team to beat Bantu this year and they set this season’s scoring high when they demolished Butha-Buthe Warriors 8-0. But, they have only won three times in 11 league games in 2017 and were thoroughly outplayed by Sky Battalion in last weekend’s 1-0 loss to SK.

However, Matlama always seem to reserve their best performances for the biggest occasions. And, Tse Putsoa would love nothing more than to inflict the defeat that ends Lioli’s two-year title reign.

Will Sundawana finally get win under Flores?

Will Sundawana finally get three points under their new coach?

Sundawana are still looking for their first win under Antonio Flores who took charge of his first game on March 4. In their six matches under the Spaniard, Tse Bo Yellow have drawn three and lost three.

Sunday would appear Sundawana’s best chance to finally get a win under their new coach as they face Butha-Buthe Warriors in the Butha-Buthe derby. Warriors have been dreadful this season. They have lost 19 of their 23 matches. They have only scored 17 goals and conceded a mid-boggling 78.

But, Sundawana have not been good themselves of late. In fact, Tse Bo Yellow have the league’s worst record in the last six games. Sunday’s game is, therefore, both an opportunity for Sundawana and a risk for more disappointment against a Warriors side that will be relegated if they don’t win.

Form table – last six games:

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Bantu	6	5	1	0	9	2	+7	16
2	Lioli	6	4	1	1	13	3	+10	13
3	Sky Battalion	6	3	2	1	10	3	+7	11
4	Linare	6	3	2	1	11	8	+3	11
5	LDF	6	3	1	2	7	2	+5	10
6	Likhopo	6	1	4	1	7	4	+3	7
7	LCS	6	1	4	1	5	4	+1	7
8	Matlama	6	1	3	2	7	8	-1	6
9	Kick4Life	6	1	3	2	6	7	-1	6
10	Liphakoe	6	1	3	2	5	7	-2	6
11	LMPS	6	0	4	2	5	7	-2	4
12	Rovers	6	1	1	4	6	17	-11	4
13	Butha-Buthe Warriors	6	1	1	4	6	18	-12	4
14	Sundawana	6	0	3	3	4	8	-4	3

Can Kick4Life wrap up top four spot?

Will Kick4Life seal a top four place?

Kick4Life have enjoyed the best season in the history of the young club. But, to really make it a success, especially after flirting with the title race until March, Leslie Notši’s side have to secure a top four finish.

After their brilliant start to the season they have fallen off, though. Kick4Life have only won one of their last six games. Even so, finishing in the top four would appear to be a formality for a Kick4Life side that has improved each year in the top-flight. They are third, six points ahead of fifth-placed LCS.

Kick4Life’s league finishes since their promotion:

Season	Position	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
2014/15	11	26	7	4	15	28	31	-3	25
2015/16	6	26	9	10	7	24	26	-2	37
2016/17	3	23	13	5	5	42	24	+18	44

Kick4Life face a Rovers side that is in the relegation zone on Saturday and a win would seal a top four spot, three years after their promotion to the Vodacom Premier League.

Will Linare make unlikely push for top eight?

Can Linare sneak into the top eight?

Like fellow sleeping giants Matlama, this season has been a disappointment for Linare. But, there could be a silver lining for Tse Tala because they could still make it into the top eight. The Leribe giants are in tenth spot in the Vodacom Premier League, four points behind eighth-placed LDF.

Linare have a chance because they have been revived since Teele Ntšonyana took over as coach in March going undefeated in the five games under the former Lesotho striker.

In fact, in those five matches, only Bantu (13 points) have collected more points than Linare’s 11.

Form teams – last five matches:

Bantu	W	D	W	W	W
Linare	D	W	D	W	W
Lioli	D	W	W	W	L

That run of form is a stark contrast to the struggles of the teams around them.

LDF have only won once in their last three matches and that was against Butha-Buthe Warriors. Liphakoe haven’t won in five games. Sundawana are winless in seven outings. Better yet for Linare, LDF and Liphakoe run into each other this weekend.

Linare, on the other hand, meet an LMPS side that haven’t won in their four games (losing twice and drawing twice). After that Tse Tala face Liphakoe and then end the season against relegation-threatened Rovers. It is, by all measures, a winnable run of fixtures. And, if they can somehow squeeze into the top eight, this season will end up being a success for Linare. It would certainly be a fine achievement by Ntšonyana.

Weekend Fixtures:

Saturday

Kick4Life v Rovers (15:00, LCS Stadium)

Liphakoe v LDF (15:00, Liphakoe FC Ground, Quthing)

Matlama v Lioli (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)

Sunday

LMPS v Linare (15:00, PTC)

LCS v Likhopo (15:00, LCS Stadium)

Bantu v Sky Battalion (15:00, Setsoto Stadium)

Sundawana v Butha-Buthe Warriors (15:00, Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)

Vodacom Premier League Standings

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Bantu	23	16	5	2	41	11	+30	53
2	Lioli	23	16	3	4	44	11	+33	51
3	Kick4Life	23	13	5	5	42	24	+18	44
4	Sky Battalion	23	11	5	7	31	22	+9	38
5	LCS	23	10	8	5	28	20	+8	38
6	LMPS	23	7	11	5	21	18	+3	32
7	Matlama	23	8	10	5	35	22	+13	31
8	LDF	23	8	8	7	26	21	+5	29
9	Sundawana	23	6	10	7	20	23	-3	28
10	Linare	23	6	7	10	33	35	-2	25
11	Liphakoe	23	6	7	10	20	29	-9	25
12	Rovers	23	3	6	14	20	47	-27	15
13	Likhopo	23	2	8	13	17	33	-16	14
14	Butha-Buthe Warriors	23	1	3	19	16	78	-62	6

·         Matlama docked 3 points

·         LDF docked 3 points and 3 goals