Teele Ntšonyana takes over as Linare coach

Can Teele Ntšonyana turn things around at struggling Linare?

Former Lesotho striker and Liphakoe coach Teele Ntšonyana has taken over as coach of struggling Vodacom Premier League outfit Linare.

The former giants, who won two league titles in 1979 and 1980, are 11th in the 14-team Vodacom Premier League with only 14 points from 18 games.

Linare have never been relegated from Lesotho’s top-flight but they have flirted with the axe for the past two campaigns finishing six points above the drop zone last season and surviving by just four points in 2015.

They are in danger again this season.

Tse Tala have lost their last five matches in a row and haven’t won a league game since beating Liphakoe 2-1 on November 19.

Linare’s bad run:

19/02/17:  Linare 0-2 Bantu 12/02/17:  Linare 1-2 Sundawana 29/01/17:  Sky Battalion 3-2 Linare 21/01/17:  Linare 0-1 Lioli 14/01/17:  LCS 3-0 Linare 03/12/16:  Likhopo 1-1 Linare 26/11/16:  Linare 2-2 LDF 19/11/16:  Liphakoe 1-2 Linare

L L L L L D D W

Ntšonyana becomes Linare’s second coach this season after Motlatsi Shale resigned in October. The Leribe side had been under the caretaker charge of Teboho Shopeng and None Mohapi after Shale’s departure.

Tse Nala have had a season to forget and the only bright spark has been the form of on-loan Bantu striker Nzenze Nkulu who has scored 12 goals to led the league’s goal-scoring charts.

Linare hope Ntšonyana’s appointment will steer their ship clear of danger. 12th placed Rovers are only three points behind Linare while Likhopo, who are in the final relegation spot, are five points adrift of Tse Tala. Both Rovers and Likhopo have played a game less than Linare.

Linare’s next game is next Sunday against Sundawana.