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| It's big one: Bantu v Matlama. The Econet Premiership crown is on the line... |
Bantu and Matlama faceoff on Sunday at
Setsoto Stadium in a match that could decide the destination of this season’s
Econet Premier League trophy.
Although it is a huge game for both
teams, the pressure is squarely on champions Matlama whose title defence is virtually
on life support.
Tse
Putsoa
find themselves 12 points behind Bantu after 15 games and a loss on Sunday
would give their Mafeteng rivals an almost insurmountable lead of 15 points at
the top.
It is a tough ask for Matlama. Not only
are Bantu unbeaten this season, they have rarely looked like losing a game.
Bantu’s only defeats this season came over
the span of two days in December’s Independence Cup where the Mafeteng side
finished fourth in the four-team showpiece.
That uncharacteristic weekend aside, A Matšo Matebele have been flawless, save
for a 1-1 league draw with Matlama when the sides met for the first time this
season in November.
As opposed to Matlama, Bantu enter
Sunday’s game without much pressure. Their confidence is sky-high and they are
playing with house money.
Will
Bantu’s defence continue its dominance?
Incredibly, Bantu have only conceded
four goals in their 15 league matches this season.
Bantu’s defence was already league’s
best unit and then they added Motlomelo Mkhwanazi during the
January transfer window.
The Lesotho international defender re-joined
Bob Mafoso’s team from South African side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) and
he only strengthens a rock-solid defence filled with in-form players such Tsietsi
Khooa.
This is the biggest challenge Matlama will
face on Sunday – trying to get past a Bantu defence that has only conceded once
in the past eight games.
Matlama also haven’t found a consistent goalscorer
since Lesotho international striker Motebang Sera left for Bloemfontein Celtic
in South Africa before the start of the season. Tse Putsoa are hoping new signing
Thapelo Tale will be the man to offer their goal threat especially in big
games such as this, but he only made his debut for Matlama last weekend against
LCS.
Whether Matlama can actually break through
Bantu’s defence in the first place, is Sunday’s biggest question.
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| The midfield battle is likely to decide the outcome... |
Can
Matlama’s midfield dominate the game?
Tse Putsoa have been frustratingly inconsistent
this season under Charles Manda and they haven’t dominated matches as they did
during last season’s title-winning campaign.
However, their midfield probably still
remains the best in the Econet Premier League with the inspirational Phafa
Tšosane leading the way.
Sunday’s clash, of course, will depend on
which side will control the game’s engine room.
With Bantu in such rampant form it is important
for Matlama to try and dictate the tempo of the game and they have players
capable of doing so in Tšosane, Mabuti Potloane and Kefuoe Mahula.
All three are vastly experienced on the
big stage as they showed when Matlama won the Independence Cup in December, and
their creativity paves the way for the likes of Jane Thaba-Ntšo further
forward.
The performance of Matlama’s midfield
playmakers is likely to set the tempo for proceedings at Setsoto.
Can Matlama find a way to stop Litšepe Marabe?
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| Leading by example... Litšepe Marabe (left) has been on fire for Bantu |
Marabe has thrived since as captain of
Bantu.
Marabe has scored 11 goals this season
and has led the way as Bantu have scored goals for fun of late.
A Matšo
Matebele
have scored 18 goals in their last five league games and, if you include their
4-1 win over Kick4Life in the LNIG Top 8 quarterfinal first legs, that tally increases
to a crazy 22 goals in six games.
Marabe, Lazola Jokojokwane, Lehlohonolo Fothoane and Hlompho Kalake have
been the tormentors in chief in recent weeks.
However, the key dangerman Matlama will have to watch is Marabe who is
always extra-motivated against his former club – Matlama.
Bantu
v Matlama head-to-head matches:
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03/11/19
|
Matlama
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1-1
|
Bantu
|
04/05/19
|
Bantu
|
2-1
|
Matlama
|
16/02/19
|
Matlama
|
0-1
|
Bantu
|
19/05/18
|
Matlama
|
1-2
|
Bantu
|
03/12/17
|
Bantu
|
4-2
|
Matlama
|
12/02/17
|
Bantu
|
2-2
|
Matlama
|
07/01/17
|
Matlama
|
1-0
|
Bantu
|
17/04/16
|
Matlama
|
2-0
|
Bantu
|
12/12/15
|
Bantu
|
0-1
|
Matlama
|
06/04/15
|
Bantu
|
1-0
|
Matlama
|
08/11/14
|
Matlama
|
0-0
|
Bantu
|
30/03/14
|
Matlama
|
0-1
|
Bantu
|
20/10/13
|
Bantu
|
2-0
|
Matlama
|
12/05/13
|
Matlama
|
1-1
|
Bantu
|
15/09/12
|
Bantu
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3-0
|
Matlama
|
11/03/12
|
Bantu
|
2-1
|
Matlama
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18/09/11
|
Matlama
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0-2
|
Bantu
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14/05/11
|
Bantu
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1-2
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Matlama
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15/01/11
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Matlama
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1-0
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Bantu
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Head-to-head record:
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Bantu
|
Matlama
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Matches played
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19
|
19
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Wins
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10
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5
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Draws
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4
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4
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Losses
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5
|
10
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Goals for
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25
|
16
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Goals against
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16
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25
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