Game of the weekend? LMPS and Lioli lock horns

Lekhanya Lekhanya (right) and Lioli face must-win game against LMPS on Sunday...

LMPS v Lioli (Sunday, 15:00 at PTC)

In this wide open 2018/19 Econet Premier League season it feels like every game is a big game. Certainly, this is the case with LMPS’s clash against Lioli at PTC on Sunday.

It is a crucial fixture for both teams and for different reasons.

For Lioli it is back to square one after Thursday’s shock 2-0 defeat to Majantja in Mohale’s Hoek. Prior to that Independence Day loss, Tse Nala were riding high on a two-match winning streak which included a 1-0 victory over eternal rivals Bantu two weeks ago.

But, now the questions are back again.

Is this Lioli team really good enough to compete for the title? More seriously: is this the end of the dominant Lioli we have come know over the past five years?

The loss to Majantja was worrying because once again Lioli had no creative response to falling behind. Once a trademark of Lioli, Tse Nala’s creativity has underwhelmed this season and they have struggled to create enough clear goalscoring chances.

The offseason departure of Bushy Moletsane to Matlama is hurting Lioli more than expected and the continued absence of Jeremia Kamela robs the Teyateyaneng giants of a reliable source of goals from midfield.

Now Lioli face an LMPS side that is yet to concede a goal this season.

At least Lioli no longer have an LMPS bogey to fear.

There was a time when LMPS were a bogey team for Lioli, when a defeat was almost guaranteed when Tse Nala met Simunye.

But since the turn of the decade things have changed with Lioli having the better of the teams’ head-to-head. In fact, it has been utter domination for Lioli. Since 2011 Tse Nala have won 11 of the 16 meetings between the sides, losing only three times.

LMPS v Lioli, last 8 games:
19-05-18	LMPS	1-1	Lioli
02-12-17	Lioli	2-1	LMPS
28-01-17	LMPS	0-2	Lioli
27-08-16	Lioli	0-1	LMPS
17-01-16	Lioli	3-0	LMPS
12-09-15	LMPS	0-1	Lioli
11-03-15	Lioli	7-0	LMPS
17-09-14	LMPS	0-1	Lioli

Last 16 meetings:
	LMPS	Lioli
Wins	3	11
Draws	2	2
Losses	11	3
Goals for	8	26
Goals against	26	8
Points	11	35

Lioli simply can’t afford to lose to LMPS on Sunday or the alarm bells will really start ringing for the dream technical team of Lehlohonolo Thotanyana and assistant coach Mosholi Mokhothu.

Are Marcus Makhoana and LMPS the real deal?

Sunday’s match is a big game for LMPS as well. Simunye have 10 points from a possible 12 to start the Econet Premier League season and are only behind LCS (first) and Matlama (second) on goal difference.

Are they finally real title contenders?

It is a question LMPS can answer on Sunday.

Despite the bags of talent they have, LMPS finished seventh last season, well below their potential.

How does a team with Pule Agente in goals, Nkau Lerotholi and Basia Makepe in defence and the offensive talents of Marcus Tefa Makhoana and Tšepo Seturumane finish seventh? It doesn’t really make sense.

To be fair, last season LMPS had to deal with the midseason death of revered coach Ntebele ‘Tata’ Taole who had begun to instil more belief around the club.

But LMPS have a lot to prove. They haven’t finished in the top four since 2009, the year of their last trophy success – the 2009 MGC Supa 8.

That is not a record of a team that can be taken seriously in the title race, unless of course Nthako Nalana’s side show they are the real deal on Sunday against Lioli.

Player to watch: Tšepo Seturumane (LMPS)

Seturumane is one of Lesotho’s finest talents, a Mercedes Benz attacker with a smooth style and distinctive dynamism. He showed his quality on Thursday when he put Swallows to the sword with a brilliant brace to give LMPS a 2-0 win.

On Sunday, Seturumane faces his former side, a side he helped win back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. There is no doubt Tse Nala miss him. Unfortunately Seturumane may be the one who puts Lioli’s season in a tailspin.

Fun fact: There has only been one draw in the last 15 meetings between LMPS and Lioli, so there is likely to be a winner on Sunday at PTC.