LCS, Kick4Life to meet in LNIG Top 8 semi-finals

Man on form... Thapelo Tale was the scoresheet again for Kick4Life

LCS and Kick4Life will face-off in the LNIG Top 8 semi-finals after the sides won their respective quarterfinal second legs on Saturday at the LCS Stadium.

The semi-final tie will be played in April at Setsoto Stadium. The date will be confirmed at a later date.

Masheshena were the first side to book their place in the last four as they and LDF kicked off Saturday’s entertaining double header.

LCS were made to fight hard by LDF, however, and they only secured a slim 1-0 win with a late second half strike from Hopolang Mohlalefi.  The result gave Mpitsa Marai’s side a 1-0 passage on aggregate after the sides had played to a similarly tense goalless draw in the first leg three weeks ago.

The game wasn’t without controversy, though, as LDF were denied a goal that would have seen them advance on the away goals rule. However, Masheshena, beaten finalists by Lioli in last year’s competition, live to fight another day.

LCS will face a Kick4Life side that is on a roll in 2017.

Leslie Notši’s charges put in another clinical display against a gallant Sundawana side that was under new Spanish coach Antonio Flores for the first time.

Kick4Life’s 2-0 win was secured by goals from Bokang Mothoana and Thapelo Tale who were both called up to the Lesotho squad earlier in the week thanks to their fine form. Tale’s goal was his fifth in three games since signing for Kick4Life in January.

Sundawana looked impressive for spells under their new coach but they simply ran into a team that appears be to clicking at the right time.

The 2-0 win secured a comprehensive 7-3 aggregate win for Kick4Life who have now won all their six games in 2017 scoring 18 goals in the process.

Kick4Life’s form in 2017

14-01-2017:  Butha-Buthe Warriors 1-4 Kick4Life	League	W
21-01-2017:  Kick4Life 2-0 Sundawana	League	W
28-01-2017:  Likhopo 1-2 Kick4Life	League	W
05-02-2017:  Sundawana 3-5 Kick4Life	LNIG Top 8	W
12-02-2017:  Kick4Life 3-0 Sky Battalion	League	W
25-02-2017:  Kick4Life 2-0 Sundawana	LNIG Top 8	W

The second half of the semi-final line-up will be decided on Sunday as Bantu welcome Matlama to the Leshoboro Sports Complex in Mafeteng and Lioli host Likhopo at the LCS Stadium.

Bantu lead 2-1 while Lioli have a 3-0 cushion.

LNIG Top 8 quarterfinal second leg results:

Saturday, 25 February

LCS 1-0 LDF (LCS won 1-0 on aggregate)

Kick4Life 2-0 Sundawana (Kick4Life won 7-3 on aggregate)

Sefotha-fotha looking to take another step towards promotion

Sefotha-fotha can take a step closer to the Vodacom Premier League
with a win over Likila United...

Weather-permitting it will be a busy weekend in the A-Division as the league reaches its climax.

In the North Stream, log leaders Sefotha-fotha can take a giant step towards the Vodacom Premier League with a win over Likila United on Saturday. Sefotha-fotha are nine points clear of second placed Galaxy.

Mathematically, Sefotha-fotha (with 32 points) only need 11 more points to guarantee promotion to the top-flight because the highest points total another team can reach is 42 by third-placed Lerotholi Polytechnic who currently have 21 points but have played two games less.

Sefotha-fotha will be hopeful of collecting three more of those points they require when they face second from bottom Likila in St. Monicas.

With things as they are, the game of the game of the weekend in the North is, therefore, the tertiary derby between Limkokwing University and Lerotholi at Ratjomose on Sunday. Lerotholi simply have to win keep alive any hopes of winning promotion, especially if Sefotha-fotha secure a win against Likila.

The third side in the North Stream race is Galaxy. However, with a nine-point gap deficit to Sefotha-fotha and no games in hand, promotion is now out of their hands. Nevertheless, a win looks on the cards this weekend for Galaxy as they host bottom side Roaring Lions on Sunday.

Things are much tighter in the South Stream with Van Rooyen, Majantja, Swallows and Roma Boys all in the hunt for promotion to the Vodacom premiership. Even sixth-placed Manonyane are not completely out of the race.

Van Rooyen lead the way with 24 points from 12 games, followed by Majantja (21 points) and Swallows (20). All three teams are left with six matches. Roma Boys are fourth with 18 points but have played a game less.

The game of the weekend in the South is the clash between leaders Van Rooyen and Roma Boys at St Theresa in Roma. Roma Boys need all three points to give themselves control of their promotion destiny. A loss would seriously dent the Roma side’s promotion hopes and maintain Van Rooyen’s good run of form. The Mafeteng side has won three games on the spin.

Another crucial game will take place at Kick4Life on Saturday as fifth-placed Qoaling Highlanders host Majantja in second. A win for either team would maintain their dreams of the top-flight, a loss potentially fatal.

Elsewhere, third-placed Swallows have a long trip to Qacha’s Nek to face Melele on Sunday. The Mazenod side know they have to win to keep themselves in the hunt for promotion to the Vodacom Premier League.

A-Division Standings:

South Stream

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Van Rooyen United	12	7	3	2	19	13	6	24
2	Majantja	12	5	6	1	16	10	6	21
3	Swallows	12	5	5	2	19	12	7	20
4	Roma Boys	11	5	3	3	14	12	2	18
5	Qoaling Highlanders	12	6	0	6	17	16	1	18
6	Manonyane	11	3	6	2	8	7	1	15
7	Mangau	11	2	4	5	7	14	-7	10
8	Fisters	11	2	3	6	12	17	-5	9
9	Quthing LMPS	12	2	3	7	9	18	-9	9
10	Melele	12	2	5	5	11	13	-2	8

North Stream

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Sefotha-fotha	13	10	2	1	27	9	18	32
2	Galaxy	13	6	5	2	22	12	10	23
3	Lerotholi Polytechnic	11	6	3	2	22	13	9	21
4	Limkokwing University	12	5	3	4	15	15	0	18
5	Mphatlalatsane	12	3	7	2	14	12	2	16
6	Lithabaneng Golden	13	3	5	5	18	23	-5	14
7	Naughty Boys	12	2	5	6	12	17	-5	11
8	CCX	12	2	5	5	12	24	-11	11
9	Likila United	13	3	4	6	11	16	-5	7
10	Roaring Lions	11	0	3	8	6	21	-11	0

Weekend Fixtures

(All kick offs at 15:30)

South Stream

Saturday

Roma Boys v Van Rooyen United (St. Theresa, Roma)

Qoaling Highlanders v Majantja (Kick4Life)

Sunday

Mangau v Quthing LMPS (Nyakosoba)

Melele v Swallows (Melele Stadium, Qacha’s Nek)

Manonyane v Fisters (St. Theresa, Roma)

North Stream:

Saturday

Likila United v Sefotha-fotha (St. Monicas)

Lithabaneng Golden v Mphatlalatsane (Lithabaneng)

Sunday

Naughty Boys v CCX (Kick4Life)

Galaxy v Roaring Lions (DiFA Stadium, Maputsoe)

Limkokwing University v Lerotholi Polytechnic (Ratjomose)