Econet Premier League - What We Learned From Week 2

…as we head into Week 3

What have we learned from the Econet Premier League so far this season?
Sefotha-fotha are a tough nut to crack... 

The second week of the 2018/19 Econet Premier League season was a goal fest with a total of 14 goals scored in last weekend’s seven games. It continued a promising attacking trend after two weeks of play.

Here are a few other things we learned from Week 2 of the season as we head into Week 3.

Sefotha-fotha are a hard nut to crack…

On paper Sefotha-fotha had the toughest start to the campaign facing league champions Bantu and LNIG Top 8 winners Matlama in their opening two games.

On face value it looked like a season that would begin with two losses.

Sefotha-fotha have defied the odds, however.

The Berea side held Bantu to a 1-1 draw in their opening game and then doubled down on that result last Saturday when they also played Matlama to a 1-1 stalemate.

Sefotha-fotha might have even squeezed a win from their season opener against champions Bantu were it not for a late equaliser by Neo Mokhachane for A Matšo Matebele.

This is nothing new. Last season, in their debut Premiership season, Sefotha-fotha fought out draws against Lioli, Bantu, Matlama, Kick4Life, LDF and LMPS – basically a who’s who of the league – and they are clearly not a team to be underestimated.

New boys Swallows might have what it takes to survive…

Newly-promoted Swallows registered their first win of the season by beating Liphakoe at Ratjomose last Saturday. The win came after their spirited opening day draw with LCS and, with four points from two games, it is as good a start the Mazenod side could have hoped for.

Next up Swallows travel to Maputsoe to face Linare, a very winnable game given Tse Tala’s inconsistencies.

It is possible Swallows may end the first three weeks of the Econet Premier League season with seven points, which would put Maswai-swai nicely on the road to survival.

On the other hand, Likhopo may struggle again…

Last season Likhopo escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth, only surviving the chop by winning a promotion-relegation playoff against first division sides Ketane and Lithabaneng Golden.

The Red Army have started this season badly, losing to Liphakoe and Linare, which continues a bad run that stretches back into 2017.

The 2005 and 2006 champions have lost 11 of their last 15 league games, only winning two. Given the lack of experience in their remodelled squad, this could be a long season again for Likhopo.

Likhopo’s last 15 #EconetPrem games:
17-12-17	LCS	4-1	Likhopo	L
28-01-18	LDF	1-1	Likhopo	D
04-02-18	Kick4Life	1-0	Likhopo	L
10-02-18	Likhopo	0-2	Majantja	L
18-02-18	Matlama	0-1	Likhopo	W
18-03-18	Linare	1-0	Likhopo	L
02-04-18	Bantu	1-0	Likhopo	L
15-04-18	Lioli	1-0	Likhopo	L
21-04-18	Likhopo	1-1	Liphakoe	D
29-04-18	Likhopo	0-2	LCS	L
06-05-18	Sefotha-fotha	2-1	Likhopo	L
10-05-18	Likhopo	4-0	Sky Battalion	W
12-05-18	Likhopo	1-2	LMPS	L
16-09-18	Liphakoe	2-1	Likhopo	L
22-09-18	Likhopo	2-3	Linare	L
P15 W2 D2 L11 Goals scored: 13 Goals conceded: 23

Seakhoa’s return gives LCS more firepower         …

LCS beat newly-promoted Galaxy 3-1 last weekend to get their first win of the 2018/19 campaign.

Masheshena looked quite exciting going forward during the win and one of the reasons was the return of Lesotho international winger Thabo Seakhoa.

Seakhoa missed the whole 2017/18 campaign with a broken leg and Masheshena’s attack looked stale without him at certain periods of last season. Mpitsa Marai’s side are clearly a different team with Seakhoa and that bodes well for their season prospects.

There were also goals against Galaxy for new signing Setho Moshoeshoe and veteran goal-poacher Leboneng Moqecho as Masheshena showed off a potentially deeper and varied attack for this season.

Week 2 Results:

Sefotha-fotha 1-1 Matlama

Swallows 1-0 Liphakoe

Likhopo 2-3 Linare

Galaxy 1-3 LCS

Majantja 0-1 LMPS

Kick4Life 0-0 LDF

Bantu 1-0 Lioli