Quote of the week

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali

Friday, February 16, 2018

What to watch for: Econet Premier League weekend preview

Bantu fans will be hoping their heroes bounce back against this weekend Linare...

The weekend is here and that means it is time for another round of Econet Premier League action.

We are officially entering the business end of the campaign as things get increasingly serious.

With the league down to 13 clubs this season thanks to Sundawana’s expulsion, it means by the end of this weekend every team will have less than nine games to play until the end of the campaign.

Every point counts now and here are three subplots to watch out for in this weekend’s serving of drama.

Can Bantu bounce back?
Last Sunday, Econet Premier League champions Bantu suffered a crushing 4-2 home defeat to Swaziland’s Mbabane Swallows in their CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg tie. The loss puts Bantu’s continental hopes in serious jeopardy and, given the optimism around the team, before the game, it is a major disappointment.

The second leg is next Wednesday but A Matšo Matebele will travel to Swaziland needing nothing short of a miracle to progress.

In the meantime, Bantu have to refocus on the bread and butter of the Econet Premier League with a game against Linare on Saturday at Setsoto Stadium.

Given the nature of their loss to Mbabane Swallows, the encounter against Linare is a dangerous game for the league leaders. Tse Tala are enjoying a promising run of form, unbeaten in four games winning two. In fact, if it wasn’t for a three-point deduction for registering late, Linare could be as high as sixth and maybe in sight of a top four place.

Fortunately for Bantu, however, Linare are their favourite opponents.

A Matšo Matebele have won their last three games against the Leribe side by a combined score of 8-0. In fact, Bantu are unbeaten in the last nine meetings between the teams, winning seven of them.

Bantu’s league dominance over Linare
24-09-2017
Linare
0-3
Bantu
W
19-02-2017
Linare
0-2
Bantu
W
29-10-2016
Bantu
3-0
Linare
W
24-04-2016
Bantu
2-2
Linare
D
22-11-2015
Linare
0-1
Bantu
W
25-04-2015
Linare
1-1
Bantu
D
07-12-2014
Linare
0-2
Bantu
W
01-05-2014
Bantu
2-1
Linare
W
22-09-2013
Linare
0-1
Bantu
W

It is Bantu’s best record against any team in the top-flight and Tse Tala could turn out to be the perfect tonic for the Mafeteng side’s Champions League hangover.
 
Bantu can extend their lead at the top if
they continue their dominance over Linare...
Will Sefotha-fotha maintain their unbeaten run?
Which team has the longest running unbeaten run in the league? Bantu? Matlama? Kick4Life? Nope. The correct answer is actually Sefotha-fotha. Sefotha-fotha haven’t lost in seven games since a 3-2 defeat to Linare on November 5.

The new boys recovered after a nervous start when they lost their first three games and five of their first seven. Slowly they have climbed to 15 points from 14 games. Key to the turnaround has been their defence. Sefotha-fotha have conceded just four goals in their last seven games and their tally of three clean-sheets in that period is only matched by Kick4Life.

And to their credit, that run has included games against some strong teams. In their last six matches Sefotha-fotha have held the likes of Bantu, Kick4Life, LCS and Lioli.

Sefotha-fotha last seven matches
18/11/17
Likhopo
1-1
Sefotha-fotha
D
25/11/17
Sefotha-fotha
1-1
Lioli
D
02/12/17
LCS
0-1
Sefotha-fotha
W
17/12/17
Sefotha-fotha
1-0
Sky Battalion
W
14/01/18
Sefotha-fotha
1-1
Kick4Life
D
28/01/18
Sefotha-fotha
0-0
Bantu
D
03/02/18
Sefotha-fotha
0-0
LMPS
D

Sefotha-fotha face another tough test on Saturday at the LCS Stadium when they play host to LDF. Sohle-Sohle will be going into the game on a high after beating Lioli two weeks ago and then coming from behind to draw with rivals LCS last weekend.

Another positive result for Sefotha-fotha against LDF would go a long way towards sealing their survival.

Can Lioli get their first win under Morena Ramorebodi?
Lioli will be searching for their first win of 2018 this weekend...
Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for new Lioli coach Morena Ramorebodi. Tse Nala haven’t won in three games under the South African coach, losing twice and when it comes to challenging for the league title, the pressure is mounting.

Lioli are seven points behind leaders Bantu and have dropped to third place on the log. The Teyateyaneng giants can’t afford to lose any more ground to their Mafeteng rivals.

Getting their first win under Ramorebodi this weekend won’t be easy, however with Lioli travelling to Mohale’s Hoek to face a Majantja side that is sitting in sixth place in the league.

Lioli’s incredible league record since 2012/13:
Season
Position
GP
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts.
Teams in Premier League
2012-13
1
22
13
7
2
30
10
46
12
2013-14
2
26
17
3
6
41
17
54
14
2014-15
1
26
19
6
1
49
7
63
14
2015-16
1
26
17
8
1
40
11
59
14
2016-17
2
26
19
3
4
49
11
60
14
2017-18
3
14
7
5
2
21
11
26
13

Moreover, it is a time of upheaval in Teyateyaneng.

Last month Lioli made six new signings adding defender Tšeliso Ramathe from Matlama, midfielder Nkopane Ntoi from Likhopo, goalkeeper Tshilo Tshilo from Liphakoe and three players from South Africa – striker Josef Lekata from Amazulu, Tshediso Mosikidi from Carara Kicks and Tebelo Mofokeng from Tsiame United.

Lioli also released seven players – goalkeepers Mohau Kuenane and Richard Ormbush, attackers Bafokeng Mosala, Tankiso Tabi, Teboho Lekhooa, Cameroonian striker Junior Maba and long-serving midfielder Motlalepula Mofolo.

Understandably it will take time for Lioli’s remade squad to click. But, unfortunately, time is not a luxury teams and coaches have at the top.

Weekend Fixtures:
Saturday
Liphakoe v Sky Battalion (LCS Stadium, 13:00)
Sefotha-fotha v LDF (LCS Stadium, 15:00)
Bantu v Linare (Setsoto Stadium, 15:00)
Sunday
Majantja v Lioli (Mohale’s Hoek, 15:00)
LCS v Kick4Life (LCS Stadium, 15:00)
Matlama v Likhopo (Ratjomose, 15:00)

Econet Premier League Standings:


P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts.
1
Bantu
14
10
3
1
26
7
+19
33
2
Matlama
15
8
5
2
17
9
+8
29
3
Lioli
14
7
5
2
21
11
+10
26
4
LDF
15
6
6
3
18
13
+5
24
5
Kick4Life
15
6
6
3
17
12
+5
24
6
Majantja
15
5
5
5
14
15
-1
20
7
LMPS
14
5
4
5
15
15
+0
19
8
LCS
14
4
6
4
11
9
+2
18
9
Linare
15
6
3
6
15
18
-3
18
10
Liphakoe
15
5
1
9
14
22
-8
16
11
Sefotha-fotha
14
3
6
5
9
15
-6
15
12
Likhopo
15
2
4
9
10
22
-12
10
13
Sky Battalion
15
0
2
13
4
23
-19
-4
·         Linare docked 3 points for late registration
·         Sky Battalion docked 6 points for late registration

No comments:

Post a Comment