Econet Premier League Happiness Index after a busy week

Who are the happiest fans in Lesotho this morning?

This is probably the most open start to an Econet Premier League season in recent memory. After this past week’s action only three points separate the top eight teams. Things are tight.

The week’s results:

Thursday 04 October: Linare 0-1 Sefotha-fotha Galaxy 0-1 LDF Kick4Life 0-0 Bantu Matlama 1-0 Liphakoe Swallows 0-2 LMPS Likhopo 2-5 LCS Majantja 2-0 Lioli Sunday 07 October: Likhopo 0-0 Swallows LDF 1-0 Sefotha-fotha LMPS 0-1 Lioli Liphakoe 1-0 Kick4Life LCS 0-1 Bantu Linare 2-0 Majantja Matlama 0-0 Galaxy

Here is the Econet Premier League Happiness Index after a busy week of football which saw sides play on Thursday and Sunday. The Happiness Index rates how happy each team is feeling after the past week’s action as the league heads into a two-week international break…

It is LDF... Sohle-Sohle enjoyed a full bag of points last week...

1. LDF

6 points

1-0 Galaxy (W)

1-0 Sefotha-fotha (W)

LDF will obviously be the league’s happiest team after the week’s action because they are the only side that managed to collect all six points from their two matches with wins over Galaxy and Sefotha-fotha. You can only beat who is in front of you and you can’t do better than gathering maximum points. Whether this means LDF, without a title since 2004, are finally title contenders again is another story. Last Sunday they lost 3-0 to Bantu. But, for this week, Sohle-Sohle are the happiest team in Lesotho.

2. Bantu

4 points

0-0 Kick4Life (D)

1-0 LCS (W)

Bantu came out of the week with four points and, thanks to slip-ups by the leading teams, A Matšo Matebele are only three points off the top. That is enough to make Mafeteng happy given how slowly Bantu have started this season. The simple fact is that James Madidilane’s side have been far from their best this term and have even lost to rivals Lioli, but all of that is not the disaster it could have been because Bantu are just three points off the pace. All in all, that is not a bad place to be for the champions who, lest it be forgotten, come from a week of whipping LDF and outfoxing LCS – two of the league’s toughest teams.

3. Matlama

4 points

1-0 Liphakoe (W)

0-0 Galaxy (D)

Matlama are top of the Econet Premier after Sunday’s goalless draw with Galaxy and losses for LCS and LMPS. But, deep down Tse Putsoa will be disappointed with their draw with Galaxy, the first time the newly-promoted side avoided defeat this season. Matlama could have put some daylight between themselves and the rest of the league. It feels like a missed opportunity.

4. Lioli

3 points

0-2 Majantja (L)

1-0 LMPS (W)

Lioli shockingly lost 2-0 at Majantja on Thursday but, like Bantu, Tse Nala will be happy because teams above them slipped. Lioli’s 1-0 win over LMPS on Sunday is also their second signature win of the season. Two weeks ago Lioli beat Bantu and by beating LMPS, who were joint top heading into the weekend, shows Lioli still have the big match temperament which brought them much success in recent years but went missing for much of last season.

The challenge now is taking care of business on a more consistent basis. Losing to Majantja is worrying but new coach Lehlohonolo Thotanyana will be feeling good about where Lioli stand heading into the international break.

5. Liphakoe

3 points

0-1 Matlama (L)

1-0 Kick4Life (W)

Liphakoe finish the weekend in sixth place so obviously the Quthing side will be very happy. Actually, overall this has been a happy season for Liphakoe who are happily witnessing the continuing development of young gem Tšepang Makapa. The 21 year-old striker has three goals already and with him in the line-up, Liphakoe go into every game confident they have a goal in them.

6. LCS

Thapelo Tale (right) forms part of a potent LCS attack...

3 points

5-2 Likhopo (W)

0-1 Bantu (L)

LCS missed a chance to make a statement against Bantu. Again it highlighted how much Masheshena struggle to beat Bantu which is something they probably have to do soon since Bantu are the champions… and you have to beat the champions to become champions...

LCS’s recent league record against Bantu:
07-10-18	LCS	0-1	Bantu	L
12-05-18	Bantu	1-1	LCS	D
26-11-17	LCS	0-0	Bantu	D
02-04-17	LCS	0-0	Bantu	D
27-11-16	Bantu	2-1	LCS	L
02-04-16	Bantu	2-0	LCS	L
19-12-15	LCS	1-0	Bantu	W
21-02-15	LCS	1-1	Bantu	D
12-05-18	Bantu	1-1	LCS	D

Sunday defeat to Bantu was also LCS’s first real test of the season after convincing but expected wins over Galaxy, Majantja and Likhopo. Masheshena didn’t pass the test.

The positive from the opening five rounds is the newfound firepower at Mpitsa Marai’s disposal. Thapelo Tale, Setho Moshoehoe, Leboneng Moqecho, Thabo Seakhoa and Mosiuoa Boseka form one of the country’s deepest attacks as LCS’s league leading tally of 12 goals attests. But, we are still waiting to be convinced Masheshena are truly a title-contending force.

7. Sefotha-fotha

3 points

1-0 Linare (W)

0-1 LDF (L)

Sefotha-fotha have been consistently difficult to beat in all their games this season. New coach Bafokeng Mohapi has built on last season’s debut Econet Premier League campaign for the unfancied Berea side and this team is tough and determined.

They have endured a daunting start to the season having already faced last season’s top four clubs – Bantu, Lioli, Matlama and LDF – and yet Sefotha-fotha have five points from a possible 12.

It’s not a bad return at all and if Sefotha-fotha keep this up a top eight finish is very possible.

8. Linare

3 points

0-1 Linare (W)

2-0 Majantja (W)

Linare are the most unpredictable team in the league, you never know what you are going to get when Tse Tala take the field. But, for the neutral they definitely provide value for money. Linare matches this season are averaging 3.4 goals per game (the most in the league) so when you go to a Linare fixture you are guaranteed goals – that is reason enough for happiness.

Linare, as a team, should be happy too. They are seventh with three wins from five games. And they may have Lesotho’s most potent attack. Former Lioli striker Maba Junior struck a brace against Majantja on Sunday. If he stays fit, the Cameroon striker is another weapon in a Linare arsenal that also boasts Rethabile Selonyane, Billy Pulumo and Siliko Tokeng.

Tse Tala will be fun to watch this season.

9. LMPS

3 points

2-0 Swallows (W)

0-1 Lioli (L)

LMPS missed a trick with another loss to Lioli on Sunday. This is becoming a one-sided fixture. LMPS have lost seven of the last nine games against Lioli, not good. Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Lioli also did little for Simunye’s credibility as a title contender.

LMPS struggles against Lioli, last 8 games:
07-10-18	LMPS	0-1	Lioli	L
19-05-18	LMPS	1-1	Lioli	D
02-12-17	Lioli	2-1	LMPS	L
28-01-17	LMPS	0-2	Lioli	L
27-08-16	Lioli	0-1	LMPS	W
17-01-16	Lioli	3-0	LMPS	L
12-09-15	LMPS	0-1	Lioli	L
11-03-15	Lioli	7-0	LMPS	L
17-09-14	LMPS	0-1	Lioli	L

10. Majantja

3 points

2-0 Lioli (W)

0-2 Linare (L)

Majantja probably claimed the result of the week with their 2-0 win over Lioli on Thursday. But Kabelo Ramoshweu’s side finished the week with another suspect defensive effort. This Majantja defence is getting worrying. Apart from their heroes day against Lioli, Majantja have looked sloppy in defence.

At least the Mohale’s Hoek side did finish the week off the mark in the points column and with a win. It’s clear that wins are going to be hard to come by in this Econet Premier League season. Each win should be celebrated and each win should make you happy.

11. Swallows

0-1 LMPS (L)

0-0 Likhopo (D)

Swallows have made a solid start to life in the Econet Premier League...

Swallows have quietly amassed five points from their opening five games. It’s not bad for the Econet Premier League new boys. In fact, looking at the form of the sides below them, it’s very good for Swallows’ survival prospects. Drawing with Likhopo also denied a much needed win for potential relegation rival. So far, so good in Mazenod.

12. Galaxy

1 point

0-1 LDF (L)

0-0 Matlama (D)

Galaxy have really been spirited this season. The Leribe side, promoted alongside Swallows, have given a good account of themselves and have been unlucky so far.

Firstly, they have been unlucky with the fixture list (they have already played tough opponents LCS, LMPS and LDF this season). Secondly, Galaxy have been unlucky in games. They lost by the odd goal against LMPS and LDF and suffered a last minute loss away to Liphakoe in Quthing. Their goalless draw against leaders Matlama on Sunday was again an exhibition of their fighting spirit and, finally, Galaxy got some reward for it.

13. Kick4Life

1 point

0-0  Bantu (D)

0-1 Liphakoe (L)

What a difference a week makes in football. Kick4Life went into the past week with a pretty decent haul of five points from three games. But after the week’s games, it is now four games without a win for Kick4Life and maybe time to get worried.

Kick4Life haven’t won since beating Lioli 2-1 on the opening day, a month ago.

Their lack of goals should be the real worry though. Kick4Life haven’t scored a goal since that Lioli win (that’s six hours of football) and only Galaxy have scored fewer than their feeble tally of two goals in five games.

14. Likhopo

1 point

2-5 LCS (L)

0-0 Swallows (D)

Small gains for Likhopo but not enough to place them anywhere but bottom of the Happiness Index. Despite gaining their first points of the season with Sunday’s goalless draw with Swallows, Likhopo are still bottom of the Econet Premier League after the opening sprint.

It’s still early. But this season has relegation dogfight written all over it for Likhopo.

Econet Premier League:

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Matlama	5	3	2	0	9	1	8	11
2	LCS	5	3	1	1	12	5	7	10
3	LMPS	5	3	1	1	4	1	3	10
4	LDF	5	3	1	1	3	3	0	10
5	Lioli	5	3	0	2	5	4	1	9
6	Liphakoe	5	3	0	2	4	3	1	9
7	Linare	5	3	0	2	8	9	-1	9
8	Bantu	5	2	2	1	5	2	3	8
9	Kick4Life	5	1	3	1	2	2	0	6
10	Swallows	5	1	2	2	4	6	-2	5
11	Sefotha-fotha	5	1	2	2	3	5	-2	5
12	Majantja	5	1	0	4	2	7	-5	3
13	Galaxy	5	0	1	4	1	6	-5	1
14	Likhopo	5	0	1	4	5	13	-8	1