Images from the 2017
Mopani Copper Mines COSAFA Under-20 Championship final between South Africa and
Lesotho. South Africa won 2-1:
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Lioli and Bantu face-off in game of the year
 |
| Top rivals: Lioli and Bantu clash again with first place on the line... |
On Sunday, Lioli host Bantu in the biggest
match of the 2017/18 Econet Premier League season so far. The game will be
played at Ratjomose and there is plenty at stake for two teams that have won Lesotho’s
last five league titles between
them.
Although there is still five months to
go until ends of the season, this match could already go a long in deciding in
which team will lift the Econet Premier League. Already Tse Nala and A Matšo Matebele
are neck and neck at the top of the league and lead the next best team –
LDF – by five points.
Bantu are top with 26 points from 11
games. Lioli are second with 24 points from 10 games. LDF are third with 19
points from 11 games.
It is unlikely any team will disturb
Lioli and Bantu’s title quarrel. This race is between them and them alone.
The stats support this likelihood.
The current dominance of Lioli and Bantu
is quite remarkable. In 2017 they have played 59 league matches combined. They
have won 48 of them and lost just three times, and one of those three losses is
Bantu beating Lioli 2-1 in March.
Lioli’s
league form in 2017
15/01/17
|
Lioli
|
2 - 0
|
LDF
|
W
|
21/01/17
|
Linare
|
0 - 1
|
Lioli
|
W
|
28/01/17
|
LMPS
|
0 - 2
|
Lioli
|
W
|
01/03/17
|
Liphakoe
|
0 - 1
|
Lioli
|
W
|
05/03/17
|
Lioli
|
1 - 0
|
Kick4Life
|
W
|
12/03/17
|
Bantu
|
2 - 1
|
Lioli
|
L
|
19/03/17
|
Sundawana
|
0 - 1
|
Lioli
|
W
|
02/04/17
|
Lioli
|
5 - 0
|
Butha-Buthe
Warriors
|
W
|
14/04/17
|
Lioli
|
5 - 1
|
Rovers
|
W
|
16/04/17
|
Lioli
|
0 - 0
|
LCS
|
D
|
22/04/17
|
Matlama
|
0 - 2
|
Lioli
|
W
|
29/04/17
|
Likhopo
|
0 - 1
|
Lioli
|
W
|
06/05/17
|
Lioli
|
2 - 0
|
Sky Battalion
|
W
|
03/09/17 *
|
Lioli
|
2 - 0
|
Sundawana
|
W
|
09/09/17
|
LDF
|
0 - 2
|
Lioli
|
W
|
17/09/17
|
Lioli
|
3 - 1
|
Kick4Life
|
W
|
23/09/17
|
Lioli
|
0 - 0
|
Majantja
|
D
|
14/10/17
|
Lioli
|
3 - 1
|
Liphakoe
|
W
|
22/10/17
|
Linare
|
1 - 2
|
Lioli
|
W
|
28/10/17
|
Lioli
|
3 - 1
|
Sky
Battalion
|
W
|
04/11/17
|
Likhopo
|
0 - 2
|
Lioli
|
W
|
19/11/17
|
Lioli
|
1 - 1
|
LCS
|
D
|
25/11/17
|
Sefotha-fotha
|
1 - 1
|
Lioli
|
D
|
02/12/17
|
Lioli
|
2 - 1
|
LMPS
|
W
|
24
matches: 19 wins, 4 draw, 1 loss
*
Result nullified
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
|
30/04/17
|
Sundawana
|
1 - 3
|
Bantu
|
W
|
06/05/17
|
Bantu
|
3 - 0
|
Kick4Life
|
W
|
02/09/17
|
Bantu
|
4 - 0
|
Sefotha-fotha
|
W
|
10/09/17
|
Liphakoe
|
0 - 2
|
Bantu
|
W
|
16/09/17
|
Bantu
|
1 - 0
|
LMPS
|
W
|
24/09/17
|
Linare
|
0 - 3
|
Bantu
|
W
|
15/10/17
|
Sky
Battalion
|
0 - 1
|
Bantu
|
W
|
21/10/17
|
Bantu
|
1 - 1
|
LDF
|
D
|
29/10/17
|
Likhopo
|
0 - 2
|
Bantu
|
W
|
04/11/17
|
Bantu
|
0 - 1
|
Kick4Life
|
L
|
18/11/17
|
Bantu
|
3 - 1
|
Majantja
|
W
|
26/11/17
|
LCS
|
0 - 0
|
Bantu
|
D
|
03/12/17
|
Bantu
|
4 - 2
|
Matlama
|
W
|
25
matches: 19 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses
This
dominance makes Sunday’s clash at Ratjomose take the shape of a mini-final.
And,
as is always the case in games of this magnitude, the result will be decided by
the finest margins. Here is a look at the key areas that could decide Lioli
versus Bantu:
 |
| Litšepe Marabe (right) will be a key player again for Bantu against Lioli... |
The
Coaches:
James Madidilane has done a brilliant
job since taking over as Bantu coach last June and has become a cult figure in
Mafeteng. The former Bloemfontein Celtic and South Africa defender has not only
re-energised Bantu’s squad but the team’s entire fan base.
Together, Madidilane and his Mafeteng
army dethroned Lioli from the league crown they had had held for two years and
in October added the Independence Cup. Madidilane has grown into his role as A Matšo Matebele’s leader and now has
the full trust of the players and fans.
His counterpart, for the most part, is the
complete opposite.
Motebang Makhetha has been with Lioli
for the better part of this decade and has been a member of the team’s
technical staff through what has been the club’s most successful period ever
(league titles in 2013, 2015 and 2016). However, that entire time was spent in
the background as an assistant coach. Makhetha only stepped into the hot-seat
as caretaker boss in October when Halemakale Mahlaha resigned.
This is the first time he will be leading
a team into an occasion like this. It will be interesting to see how Makhetha
sets his team out and the instructions he gives to his players. Mistakes are
easier to make as a first-timer and while Madidilane has seen it all in the Bantu
hot-seat over the past year, it remains to be seen how Makhetha will react in
the cauldron he will encounter in Sunday’s clash.
With Lioli trailing Bantu in the league standings
going into the game, Makhetha could feel pressure to win the game. But that would
open Lioli up to Bantu attacks. The tactical battle, therefore, will be
interesting to see. Ultimately though, Madidilane has earned his stripes on
this stage while Makhetha is making his debut.
Edge:
Bantu
Big
Match Temperament:
Both sets of players are used to the big
stage.
Both teams are full of Lesotho internationals
with vast experience at all levels. Such a game will be something they are used
to. For Lioli there is Bushy Moletsane, Motlalepula Mofolo and Tšoanelo Koetle
just to name a few. Bantu have Thapelo Mokhehle, Litšepe Marabe and Hlompho
Kalake.
All the players mentioned are examples
of players that have played for Lesotho from junior levels to the biggest games
with the senior team, and all have played in the CAF Champions League. But, when
push comes to shove, the slight edge has to go with Lioli. Tse Nala’s players are so experienced they sometimes seem to be
auto-pilot when the lights are brightest.
Lioli also thrive in such situations.
How many big games have Lioli lost over
the past two years? It is only the loss to Bantu in March and that is it.
Tse
Nala
lost to Kick4Life in the Independence Cup but the squad was fractured by that
point and it was (only) a semi-final.
Lioli have been in the CAF Champions League three times in the past four years.
They simply are not fazed by any situation and no team in Lesotho is as battle-tested
as the Teyateyaneng giants.
Edge:
Lioli
The
Defence:
Both teams have boasted incredible
defences during this current five-year spell of dominance – Lioli remarkably
only conceded seven goals in 26 games when they won the league in 2015. This
season the two clubs again have the league’s best defences. Bantu have conceded
the fewest (5) while Lioli have let in seven goals.
The slight edge, however, lies with
Bantu’s defence which with the likes of Mokhehle and Itumeleng Falene is more
athletic than a Lioli defence that relies mostly on the experience and
game-reading skills of Shetsane Ramoseeka and Kopano Tseka.
Bantu’s defensive strength is best
illustrated by the fact A Matšo Matebele
have kept eight clean-sheets in their 11 games this season. Lioli, on the other
hand, have only kept three clean-sheets in 10 games.
Edge:
Bantu
 |
| Much again will depend on Tšoanelo Koetle in Lioli's midfield... |
The
Midfield:
Midfield is where games are normally won
and it is no surprise Lioli and Bantu have the two best midfield units in the
country. Both midfields combine steel with silky skills and they habitually set
the platform for both teams’ success.
For Bantu the rise Lindokuhle Phungulwa
this season has added yet another dimension to an already stacked midfield.
Phungulwa, who is enjoying a breakthrough season with A Matšo Matebele, won the September player of the month and hasn’t
stopped shining since.
But, as has been the case over the past
five seasons, Lioli still boast an unmatched midfield engine that only got
stronger with the addition of Thabiso Mohapi who was poached from Bantu at the
beginning of the season. Mohapi has added even more quality to an engine-room
that was already powered by Lesotho’s best central midfielder – Koetle – and
two of the finest playmakers the country has ever produced – Mofolo and
Moletsane.
Edge:
Lioli
Scoring
Goals:
Both teams possess fearsome attacks.
Bantu have the Marabe brothers – Litšepe
and Mokone – Lazola Tjokotjokwana, Ramasimong Maloisane and new signing Tsietsi
Motšeare. It is quite simply an incredible offensive unit that the Mafeteng
giants have.
Lioli, arguably have Lesotho’s best
attacking talent in Tumelo Khutlang. On his day Khutlang is simply unplayable
and can destroy any defence, local or international. Lioli have also been
boosted by Maba Junior and Montoeli Sonopo who are rediscovering their best
from this season. However, at the end of the day, no team boasts the attacking
potential of Bantu, an offence that is boosted by Lesotho’s best goalscoring
midfielder – Hlompho Kalake.
Edge:
Bantu
The
Wildcard:
The wildcard is the Ratjomose pitch that
will be used for the game. Ratjomose is being used because Setsoto Stadium is
not available. Ratjomose’s pitch, however, is not the enjoyable playing surface
both teams are used to playing on.
This might favour Bantu who remain a
more physical and athletic side that is less reliant on beautiful, passing
football than
Lioli.
It is that carpet football philosophy that
pushed Lioli to invest heavily in upgrading their home ground in Teyateyaneng in
2015 and pay heavily to use Setsoto while the upgrades were being completed.
Work on Tse Nala’s Lioli Stadium in Teyateyaneng was completed at the start
of this season but unfortunately for them the ground has not been approved to
host this mega clash. So here we are, with all roads on Sunday leading to
Ratjomose.
Edge:
Bantu
Score
Prediction: Lioli 0-0 Bantu
Weekend
Econet Premier League fixtures:
Lioli v Bantu (Ratjomose, 15:00)
Sefotha-fotha v Sky Battalion (PTC
Ground, 13:00)
LMPS v Linare (PTC Ground, 15:00)