A-Division returns with a bang

The A-Division returns with heat...

With only four match-days until the end of the first round, the A-Division returns to action this weekend with plenty at stake.

The pick of the weekend’s games takes place in the north stream where log leaders Galaxy host fourth-placed Mphatlalatsane on Saturday. Galaxy have 11 points to hold pole position in the race to the Vodacom Premier League while Mphatlalatsane, who were relegated from the top-flight last season, have nine points.

Their meeting will be a pointer as to the promotion credentials of both teams.

Second-placed Lerotholi Polytechnic, who play on Sunday, will have a keen interest in the game. Lihale also have 11 points and are only behind Galaxy on goal difference. They are in line to go top of the north stream if they beat their weekend opponents Roaring Lions and Galaxy fail to win against Mphatlalatsane.

Elsewhere in the north stream, Limkokwing University will be looking to keep their promotion hopes alive when they host CCX.

LU FC have fallen five points behind the leaders after successive defeats and can’t afford to lose further ground.

In the south stream, there is an interesting regional derby when Mohale’s Hoek Majantja travel to Qacha’s Nek to face Melele on Sunday. Majantja have been on fire to start the season and have collected 13 points from a possible 15 to lead the standings. Melele, on the other hand, are bottom. Nonetheless, the form book usually goes out of the window in these district clashes.

Before Majantja take the field second-placed Van Rooyen will have the chance to put pressure on the leaders. Van Rooyen are three points behind Majantja and they are away to sixth-placed Qoaling Highlanders on Saturday. A win for Van Rooyen would move them level with Majantja at the top of the south stream, at least for 24 hours.

Weekend Fixtures

North Stream

Saturday

Lithabaneng Golden v Sefothafotha

Naughty Boys v Likila United

Sunday

Galaxy v Mphatlalatsane

Limkokwing University v CCX

Lerotholi Polytechnic v Roaring Lions

South Stream

Saturday

Qoaling Highlanders v Van Rooyen

Sunday

Mangau v Roma Boys

Melele v Majantja

Manonyane v Quthing LMPS

A-Division Log Standings

North Stream

		Played	GD	Points
1	Galaxy	5	8	11
2	Lerotholi Polytechnic	5	7	11
3	Sefothafotha	5	5	10
4	Mphatlalatsane	5	3	9
5	Lithabaneng Golden	5	2	6
6	Limkokwing University	5	-3	5
7	Naughty Boys	5	-3	5
8	CCX	5	-4	5
9	Roaring Lions	5	-9	-2
10	Likila United	5	-8	-3

South Stream

		Played	GD	Points
1	Majantja	5	5	13
2	Van Rooyen	5	2	10
3	Roma Boys	5	2	9
4	Manonyane	5	1	7
5	Quthing LMPS	5	-2	7
6	Qoaling Highlanders	5	1	6
7	Swallows	5	0	5
8	Mangau	4	-5	3
9	Fisters	5	-2	3
10	Melele	4	-2	-1

Bokamoso South out to return to NBL summit

Bokamoso South (left) out to return to the top

Bokamoso South can return to the top of the National Basketball League when they face Lerotholi Polytechnic this evening at the Lehakoe Recreation Centre. Bokamoso are the only remaining unbeaten team in the A-Division having won all five of their NBL games this season but are in third place, one point behind Lichocha Shooting Rifles and Bashana Baheso who both have 11 points.

Bokamoso, however, have played a game less and victory over second from bottom Lerotholi would lift them to 12 points.

Bokamoso are favourites for the clash against Lerotholi thanks to their unstoppable form to start the 2016/17 basketball season.

In addition to being unbeaten in the NBL A-Division, Bokamoso swept the table at the 2016 Sprite Memorial Independence Tournament earlier this month to claim this season’s first piece of silverware.

Bokamoso South have already beaten reigning NBL champions KTA All-Stars along with fellow giants Bashana Baheso and Lichocha this season.

To football and the national first division returns after a week off with an intriguing set of fixtures.

The pick of the weekend games is in the north stream where log leaders Galaxy host fourth-placed Mphatlalatsane who were relegated from the Vodacom Premier League last season. Only two points separate the teams and Saturday’s match could go a long way in deciding which of the pair has the goods to gain promotion to the elite league.

In the south stream, log leaders Majantja travel to Qacha’s Nek to face Melele in a regional derby while second placed Van Rooyen are away to Qoaling Highlanders.

A-Division Weekend Fixtures

North Stream Saturday Lithabaneng Golden v Sefothafotha Naughty Boys v Likila United Sunday Galaxy v Mphatlalatsane Limkokwing University v CCX Lerotholi Polytechnic v Roaring Lions South Stream Saturday Qoaling Highlanders v Van Rooyen Sunday Mangau v Roma Boys Melele v Majantja Manonyane v Quthing LMPS Fisters v Swallows

Banned marathon queen, 'Mamoroallo Tjoka

Finally, the Lesotho National Olympic Committee has stepped up efforts to fight doping in local sport. Last week the LNOC held a one-day anti-doping training workshop for medical and paramedical personnel.

That workshop followed one held for players and coaches and it is all part of a drive by the LNOC to address a rising challenge of athletes using drugs to enhance their performance.

Last year, Lesotho’s marathon queen ‘Mamoroallo Tjoka was banned for two years after testing positive for a banned substance. The five-time Soweto Marathon winner was found guilty of using a testosterone enhancer.

Fellow distance runner Ramolefi Motsieloa was also suspended for two years for a similar offence.

The LNOC says its new anti-doping programme aims to bring together all stakeholders in the sports fraternity in the fight against doping.

NBL logs

A-Division:

		P	Points	W	L	PF	PA	DIFF	L10	Streak
1	Lichocha	6	11	5	1	578	278	300	5-1	W2
2	Bashana Baheso	6	11	5	1	324	217	107	5-1	W4
3	Bokamoso South	5	10	5	0	317	186	131	5-0	W5
4	Bokamoso North	7	9	2	5	225	306	-81	2-5	W1
5	KTA All-Stars	5	8	3	2	254	213	41	3-2	L1
6	Leseli Tigers	5	8	3	2	247	216	31	3-2	W2
7	LCE	7	8	1	6	230	450	-220	1-6	W1
8	NUL Rovers	4	7	3	1	190	149	41	3-1	L1
9	Khubestate	5	5	1	4	122	207	-85	1-4	L3
10	Lerotholi	4	5	1	3	141	245	-104	1-3	L1
11	Limkokwing	5	5	0	5	141	314	-173	0-5	L5

Ladies:

		P	Points	W	L	PF	PA	DIFF	L10	Streak
1	Lichocha	4	8	4	0	170	71	99	4-0	W4
2	KTA All-Stars	5	8	3	2	204	179	25	3-2	W1
3	NUL Rovers	3	6	3	0	144	59	85	3-0	W3
4	Bokamoso North	3	6	3	0	88	26	62	3-0	W3
5	Leseli Tigers	5	6	2	3	162	139	23	2-3	L2
6	LCE	5	5	0	5	72	178	-106	0-5	L5
7	Bashana Baheso	4	4	1	3	74	106	-32	1-3	W1
8	Limkokwing	2	3	1	1	22	76	-54	1-1	L1
9	South Warriors	2	2	0	2	25	101	-76	0-2	L2
10	Bokamoso South	2	1	0	2	21	78	-57	0-2	L2