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

Monday, April 16, 2018

Econet Premier League title race down to two

Bantu are in pole position to win the Econet Premier League title
but Lioli are right behind...

The Econet Premier League title race is officially a two horse race. With just five rounds to go until the end of the season, Bantu and Lioli claimed wins over the weekend that have opened a gap to Matlama in the title chase.

Lioli are second on the log standings with 41 points, five ahead of Matlama while champions Bantu are top with 42 points and have a game in hand on Tse Putsoa who were crowned LNIG Top 8 champions last weekend.

All things considered, Matlama would need a miracle to add to their LNIG Top 8 conquest.

Bantu are still well control of the title race.

Although the Mafeteng giants are just a point ahead of Lioli, they also have a game in hand. In addition, Bantu and Tse Nala are scheduled to face off at the end of this month and all Bantu really need to do is avoid defeat and they would be within reach of winning back-to-back league titles, something only Matlama, Linare, LDF, Likhopo, LCS and Lioli have achieved.

A Matšo Matebele are in this position of strength after again showing their admirable ability to bounce back on Sunday when they beat Kick4Life 2-1 at the LCS Stadium.

The win came after Bantu suffered an agonising defeat in the LNIG Top 8 final to Matlama last weekend and it came against a strong Kick4Life side that had won four of the previous five meetings between the sides.

Kick4Life had also gone into Sunday’s without a defeat in the league since losing 1-0 to LCS in February which was only their only loss in ten games.

It was a fixture that appeared tricky for Bantu and it seemed possible James Madidilane’s charges would drop points.

It didn’t turn out that way, however. Bantu started like a house on fire to take the lead in the eight minute through Tsietsi Motšeare and then doubled their lead in the 27th minute through Lazola Tjokotjokwana. Kick4Life pulled one back through Nkoto Masoabi in the 42nd minute but Bantu professionally saw the game out in the second half despite Kick4Life’s valiant efforts.

One of Bantu’s hallmarks under Madidilane has been their ability to bounce back from setbacks.

They haven’t suffered successive defeats since Madidilane took charge in June 2016. The last time A Matšo Matebele lost consecutive matches was in May 2016 when they lost 3-2 to Kick4Life on May 1 and then went down 3-2 to Sundawana the following weekend.

This season, after their painful away goals defeat to Mbabane Swallows in the CAF Champions League in February, Bantu came back to score five goals in their next two games. After they were docked three points by the Premier League for fielding ineligible players in March they beat Likhopo and also reached the LNIG Top 8 finals.

On Sunday, A Matšo Matebele overcame a Kick4Life side that is fighting for a top four place after losing in the cup final. It is this type of resiliency that has Bantu once again in control of league crown’s destiny.

Remaining games for title contenders
Bantu
Lioli
21 April - Bantu v Lioli
21 April - Bantu v Lioli
29 April - Majantja v Bantu
28 April - LCS v Lioli
5 May - Bantu v LCS
6 May - Lioli v Sefotha-fotha
12 May - Matlama v Bantu
12 May - LMPS v Lioli
To be rescheduled:
LDF v Bantu
LMPS v Bantu
To be rescheduled:
Lioli v Linare

All is not lost for Lioli however and it all starts with that game against Bantu. If Lioli win the match they would go top. And although Bantu have a game in hand, A Matšo Matebele have a difficult remaining schedule which sees them still having to face the in-form Majantja, top four chasing LCS, LDF and LMPS and then finish the season against Matlama.

Lioli haven’t been at their best but they have been doing just enough to keep touch in the title race. Tse Nala did just enough again on Sunday as they edged past Likhopo 1-0 thanks to Bokang Sello’s second half winner.

Lioli’s last five games
15/04/18
Lioli
1-0
Likhopo
W
02/04/18
Sky Battalion
0-4
Lioli
W
18/03/18
Liphakoe
0-2
Lioli
W

Lioli are staying in touch and the 2017/18 Econet Premier League title will be won by them or Bantu.

Weekend Results:
Saturday:
LCS v Sky Battalion
Sefotha-fotha v Linare
Liphakoe v LMPS
(all postponed because of rain)

Sunday:
Kick4Life 1-2 Bantu
Lioli 1-0 Likhopo
Majantja v LDF (unplayable pitch)

Econet Premier League standings:


P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts.
1
Bantu
18
13
3
2
34
13
21
42
2
Lioli
19
12
5
2
28
13
15
41
3
Matlama
19
10
6
3
25
14
11
36
4
Kick4Life
19
8
6
5
25
16
9
30
5
LDF
17
6
7
4
19
15
4
25
6
LCS
18
6
6
6
18
14
4
24
7
Majantja
18
6
6
6
18
18
0
24
8
Linare
19
8
3
8
20
26
-6
24
9
LMPS
17
6
5
6
17
18
-1
23
10
Liphakoe
18
7
1
10
17
23
-6
22
11
Sefotha-fotha
18
3
8
7
13
25
-12
17
12
Likhopo
19
3
5
11
11
27
-16
14
13
Sky Battalion
19
0
2
17
4
34
-30
-4
·         Linare docked 3 points for late registration
·         Sky Battalion docked 6 points for late registration
·         Bantu docked 3 points and 3 goals
·         Lioli awarded 3 points and 3 goals


No comments:

Post a Comment