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| The Econet Premier League is back and Bantu will be looking to continue their march towards the title... |
The Econet Premier League is back in
action this weekend after a week’s break for the LNIG Top 8 quarterfinals.
It is the start of an important period
of the campaign with clubs vying for position as the season nears its
championship rounds.
Bantu
could take a step closer to the league title…
Bantu have been in thrilling form this
season and A Matšo Matebele could
take another step towards reclaiming the Econet Premier League title when they
face Kick4Life on Saturday at Setsoto Stadium.
After 14 games, the Mafeteng giants have
already amassed 40 points and are 12 points ahead of second-placed Matlama – it
is starting to become a matter of maths and not ifs when it comes to Bantu’s
championship chase.
With 28 points from 14 games, the
highest point total Bantu’s rivals Matlama can reach is 64 points.
It means, as things stand, A Matšo Matebele need 25 more points to
win the league.
Bob Mafoso and his charges will be confident
they can cut that target down to 22 points by the end of the weekend because
they face a Kic4Life side they have dominated in recent times.
Bantu haven’t lost to Kick4Life in the
league since 2017.
Last month Bantu walloped Kick4Life 5-0
in the league and last weekend thrashed the Old Europa side 4-1 in the LNIG quarterfinal
first legs.
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Bantu v Kick4Life head to head:
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12/01/20
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Kick4Life
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0-5
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Bantu
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27/02/19
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Bantu
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2-0
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Kick4Life
|
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04/10/18
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Kick4Life
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0-0
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Bantu
|
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15/04/18
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Kick4Life
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1-2
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Bantu
|
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04/11/17
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Bantu
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0-1
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Kick4Life
|
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06/05/17
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Bantu
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3-0
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Kick4Life
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24/09/16
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Kick4Life
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1-0
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Bantu
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In addition to their vice-grip hold over
Kick4Life, Bantu have players playing at a high level all over the field.
Last weekend striker Lazola Jokojokwana was
the star of the show with a hattrick in their LNIG Top 8 win over Kick4Life.
But, he isn’t the only star.
Bantu’s defence has conceded just three
goals all season while Lesotho international Litšepe Marabe has arguably been
this season’s player of the year. Not only has Marabe scored an impressive 11
league goals, he has also added eight assists.
It is all part of the reasons why Bantu
are unbeaten in the league this season. In fact, A Matšo Matebele haven’t lost in the league for almost a year.
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Bantu’s run of form:
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30/03/19
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LMPS
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2-1
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Bantu
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L
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14/04/19
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Bantu
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2-0
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LDF
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W
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19/04/19
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Majantja
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1-6
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Bantu
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W
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22/04/19
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Liphakoe
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1-3
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Bantu
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W
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27/04/19
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Bantu
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1-0
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LCS
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W
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04/05/19
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Bantu
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2-1
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Matlama
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W
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11/05/19
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Lioli
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0-1
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Bantu
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W
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18/05/19
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Sefotha-fotha
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1-2
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Bantu
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W
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14/09/19
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Bantu
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2-0
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Sefotha-fotha
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W
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28/09/19
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Bantu
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3-1
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Liphakoe
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W
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06/10/19
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Lioli
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0-2
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Bantu
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W
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23/10/19
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Bantu
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4-0
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Lifofane
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W
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26/10/19
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Linare
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0-1
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Bantu
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W
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29/10/19
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Bantu
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2-1
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Likhopo
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W
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03/11/19
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Matlama
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1-1
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Bantu
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D
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23/11/19
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Lijabatho
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0-1
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Bantu
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W
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27/11/19
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Bantu
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3-0
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LMPS
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W
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08/12/19
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Bantu
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2-0
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LCS
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W
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21/12/19
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Bantu
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6-0
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Swallows
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W
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12/01/20
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Kick4Life
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0-5
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Bantu
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W
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18/01/20
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LDF
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0-1
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Bantu
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W
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25/01/20
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Swallows
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0-3
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Bantu
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W
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Yes, Bantu are undefeated in any of
their last 21 league games, and they have won 20 of them.
It is a spectacular run which Kick4Life somehow
have to stop because it is also an important game for the Old Europa side.
Although Katiso Mojakhomo’s side are
ninth in the league, they are still in with a shout of finishing in the top
four. Kick4Life have 16 points from 14 games and are only six points behind
Linare in fourth place.
Matlama’s
season could be on the line…
 |
| The season could be on line for Matlama and their fans... |
Matlama face a potentially season-defining
match against LCS on Sunday at Setsoto Stadium in what is the game of the
weekend.
As said, Bantu are on fire which is putting
Matlama’s title defence in jeopardy.
It is important to remember this is Malawian
coach Charles Manda’s first season in charge of ‘Tse Putsoa’ after title-winning
coach Thabile Secker left last offseason.
Matlama haven’t been bad under Manda.
They are in second in the league and won the Independence Cup in December.
The problem is that Bantu have just been
so spectacular that it has put Matlama firmly in the shade.
‘Tse Putsoa’ have simply not been able
to keep up so far, as shown by the fact they haven’t won back-to-back to games
since winning their opening three games of the season.
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Matlama’s season results:
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14/09/19
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Swallows
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0-6
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Matlama
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W
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29/09/19
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Matlama
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3-0
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Sefotha-fotha
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W
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05/10/19
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Liphakoe
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0-1
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Matlama
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W
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24/10/19
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Matlama
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1-1
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Lijabatho
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D
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27/10/19
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LMPS
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1-0
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Matlama
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L
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30/10/19
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Matlama
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1-0
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Linare
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W
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03/11/19
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Matlama
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1-1
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Bantu
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D
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23/11/19
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Likhopo
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1-4
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Matlama
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W
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01/12/19
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Lifofane
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2-1
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Matlama
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L
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07/12/19
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Matlama
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2-0
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LDF
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W
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18/12/19
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Matlama
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1-1
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Kick4Life
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D
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22/12/19
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Matlama
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2-1
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Lioli
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W
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12/01/20
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LCS
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0-0
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Matlama
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D
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26/01/20
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Kick4Life
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0-2
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Matlama
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W
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If they are to defend their league
title, ‘Tse Putsoa’ will have to find a way to string together a run of wins.
Unfortunately, this weekend Matlama face
an LCS side that is eternally hard to beat.
Masheshena are third in the
Econet Premier League and are once again on track to finish in the top four. Sunday’s
game at Setsoto will be a clash of two of the league’s top teams and a lot will
be on the line.
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Econet Premier League Form Table:
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P
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W
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D
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L
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F
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A
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Pts.
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1
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Bantu
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6
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6
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0
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0
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20
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0
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18
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2
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Linare
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6
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4
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1
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1
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8
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4
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13
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3
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Matlama
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6
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3
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2
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1
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8
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4
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11
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4
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LCS
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6
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2
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3
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1
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6
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3
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9
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5
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Lioli
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6
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3
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0
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3
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10
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11
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9
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Liphakoe
and LDF need to turn their seasons around, quickly…
 |
| Will Mojela Letsie fire LDF to a crucial three points against Liphakoe? |
Liphakoe and LDF meet at the LCS Stadium
on Saturday in a match that is also big stakes but for different reasons.
Before the start of the season both
sides had ambitions of a successful campaign. However, when they meet on
Saturday they will be closer to the relegation battle that the top four, where
both teams surely thought they would be.
Liphakoe’s league campaign has been tumultuous
to say the least.
The Quthing side have won just one of
their last 10 matches and are only a point above the relegation zone. Their
poor form led to the departure of Thabo Tsutsulupa as coach last month but, maybe
even more worryingly, Liphakoe lost club captain Mohau Rammoneng last week to
Lioli.
The Lesotho international has been an inspirational
figure and Liphakoe’s best player for the past three years. His departure for Lioli
is a big blow and Liphakoe must now prove they are not falling apart.
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Liphakoe league form:
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05/10/19
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Liphakoe
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0-1
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Matlama
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L
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12/10/19
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Liphakoe
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0-0
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Sefotha-fotha
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D
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19/10/19
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Liphakoe
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1 -4
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Likhopo
|
L
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26/10/19
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Lioli
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0-0
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Liphakoe
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D
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03/11/19
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Liphakoe
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0-0
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LMPS
|
D
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23/11/19
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Linare
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1-1
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Liphakoe
|
D
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30/11/19
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Lijabatho
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0-0
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Liphakoe
|
D
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08/12/19
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Liphakoe
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1 -0
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Lifofane
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W
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21/12/19
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Liphakoe
|
0-0
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LCS
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D
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26/01/20
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LCS
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4-1
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Liphakoe
|
L
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The same can be said for LDF who have also
had a disappointing campaign.
LDF ended last season with a fourth-place
league finish and an LNIG Top 8 title in the bag. Sohle-Sohle would have expected to kick on and challenge for silverware
this season but that hasn’t happened.
Instead, Motheo Mohapi’s side find
themselves in 10th place in the league with just 14 points from 13 games. Sohle-Sohle have won just three of their
league games this season.
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LDF’s last 6 games:
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02/11/19
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LCS
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2-1
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LDF
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L
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07/12/19
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Matlama
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2-0
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LDF
|
L
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15/01/20
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LDF
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3-1
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Kick4Life
|
W
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18/01/20
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LDF
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0-1
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Bantu
|
L
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22/01/20
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Lioli
|
1-4
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LDF
|
W
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25/01/20
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LDF
|
1-4
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Lioli
|
L
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Saturday’s
game against Liphakoe is a big opportunity for LDF to get a much-needed three
points to kick-start their Econet Premiership season.
Weekend
Fixtures:
All kick-offs at
15:30:
Saturday:
Bantu
v Kick4Life (Setsoto Stadium)
Swallows
v Sefotha-fotha (Nyakosoba)
Linare
v Likhopo (Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)
Liphakoe
v LDF (LCS Stadium)
Sunday:
Matlama
v LCS (Setsoto Stadium)
LMPS
v Lijabatho (PTC Ground)
Lioli
v Lifofane (Maputsoe DiFA Stadium)
Econet Premier
League Standings:
|
|
|
P
|
W
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D
|
L
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GF
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GA
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GD
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Pts.
|
|
1
|
Bantu
|
14
|
13
|
1
|
0
|
36
|
3
|
+33
|
40
|
|
2
|
Matlama
|
14
|
8
|
4
|
2
|
25
|
8
|
+17
|
28
|
|
3
|
LCS
|
14
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
12
|
8
|
+4
|
23
|
|
4
|
Linare
|
14
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
15
|
12
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+3
|
22
|
|
5
|
Lifofane
|
14
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
12
|
12
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+0
|
22
|
|
6
|
Lioli
|
14
|
6
|
3
|
5
|
19
|
16
|
+3
|
21
|
|
7
|
LMPS
|
14
|
6
|
3
|
5
|
10
|
10
|
+0
|
21
|
|
8
|
Likhopo
|
13
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
17
|
16
|
+1
|
17
|
|
9
|
Kick4Life
|
14
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
11
|
19
|
-8
|
16
|
|
10
|
LDF
|
13
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
15
|
16
|
-1
|
14
|
|
11
|
Sefotha-fotha
|
13
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
5
|
13
|
-8
|
10
|
|
12
|
Liphakoe
|
13
|
1
|
7
|
5
|
6
|
15
|
-9
|
10
|
|
13
|
Lijabatho
|
14
|
1
|
6
|
7
|
10
|
16
|
-6
|
9
|
|
14
|
Swallows
|
14
|
1
|
3
|
10
|
5
|
34
|
-29
|
6
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