Bantu to host star-studded gala dinner

Vodacom Premier League giants Bantu will host a star-studded gala dinner at Avani Maseru Hotel on Saturday. After a forgettable season in which they finished seventh in the league, A Matšo Matebele are pulling out all the stops to host a memorable gala celebration.

The Bantu gala dinner is set to feature several guests but the headline acts are actors from prominent South African soapie Muvhango. The special guests will be Sindi Dlathu who plays Thandaza, Dingaan Mokebe who plays James Motsamai and Palo Mokoailane who is Pheko Mokoena in the popular show. Admission for Saturday’s festivity will be M400 per person or M5000 for a table for 10. The Bantu Gala Dinner will start at 19:00.

Bantu Gala Dinner

Staying with football and Lesotho’s Under-20 side is recovering after a disappointing 2-0 loss to South Africa on Sunday at Setsoto Stadium in the sides’ 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifier first leg. The Makoanyane XI didn’t have a good afternoon.

South Africa took the lead as early as the sixth minute when striker Liam Jordan headed in the opener. And although the Makoanyane XI tried to force an equaliser, Amajita substitute Kamohelo Sithole sealed the win in the 74th minute.

The result leaves Lesotho with a mountain to climb in the return leg.

The two sides will meet again in the second leg in South Africa in two weeks’ time. The match will decide who will go to the U-20 AFCON championship in Zambia next year.

Cosafa Cup kicks off with a bang, KTA crowned NBL champions

The COSAFA Castle Cup kicked off with a bang

The 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup kicked off with a bang on Saturday with a total of five goals in the tournament’s opening two games.

In the first match, Group A favourites Zimbabwe were held to a 2-2 draws by Swaziland. Zimbabwe, who secured qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations last weekend, fell behind in the 16th minute after Felix Badenhorst’s goal.

The second half was a ping-pong affair. Obadiah Tarumbwa made it 1-1 ten minutes into the second half then Swaziland retook the lead again in the 65th minute through a Badenhorst penalty before Elisha Muroiwa made it 2-2 with a superb bicycle kick 11 minutes from time.

In the day’s second game, Claudel Fanomenza’s winner gave Madagascar a 1-0 win over Seychelles. So, after day one, Madagascar is the leader of Group A. Only one team will advance to face Zambia in the quarterfinals.

Group B, which features Lesotho, kicks off today. Malawi faces Angola while Likuena start their campaign against Mauritius.

In the A-Division Top 8, Galaxy were crowned 2016 champions after a 3-1 win over Van Rooyen United in Saturday’s final at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena. Sky Battalion, who will be in the Vodacom Premier League next season, claimed third place with a 5-0 win over Manonyane in the third and fourth playoff.

To basketball and KTA All Stars are Lesotho’s champions for the second time in three years after beating Bokamoso South in Game 3 of the National Basketball League at Lehakoe Centre. KTA’s win gave them a convincing 3-0 series win in the best-of-five finals.

KTA made up for the heartbreak of last year when they lost the finals in five games to rivals Bashana Ba Heso. Bokamoso, on the other hand, exceeded expectations by just reaching the NBL finals. Bokamoso caused an upset by beating Lichocha Shooting Rifles in the semi-finals but ultimately they were overmatched by a bigger and more experienced KTA side.

In the end, all the NBL finals ended in three games with Bokamoso South claiming the development league and Lichocha Shooting Rifles winning the ladies league 3-0.

2015/16 NBL Playoffs

Champions:

A-League: KTA All Stars

B-League: Bokamoso South

Ladies: Lichocha Shooting Rifles

Runners up:

A-League: Bokamoso South

B-League: Buffalos

Ladies: Bashana Ba Heso

MSC Shorts: Van Rooyen United and Galaxy meet for Top 8 glory, Bantu release nine

Ready for glory... Van Rooyen United

First division sides Van Rooyen United and Galaxy meet in the final of the A-Division Top 8 this afternoon. The match will be played at the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and will feature two surprise finalists.

Neither Van Rooyen United nor Galaxy gained promotion to the Vodacom Premier League this past season with that honour going to Butha-Buthe Warriors and Sky Battalion.

Van Rooyen and Galaxy, nevertheless, have the chance to pick up the consolation bonus of ending the campaign with a trophy and the A-Division Top 8’s M8000 first prize. The game kicks off at 14:00. Before the final, premiership bound Sky Battalion will face Manonyane in the third-place playoff at 12:00. Entrance will be M10 for adults and M5 for children.

Elsewhere, Lesotho’s Under-20 side finalise preparations today ahead of their 2017 CAF African Under-20 Championship second leg qualifier against Mozambique on Sunday. The Makoanyane XI go into the game standing a good chance of progressing after a valuable 1-1 draw in the first leg in Maputo two weeks ago.

If Motlalepula Mofolo’s charges are victorious on Sunday at Setsoto Stadium, they will meet either South Africa or Namibia to decide who qualifies for the African Under-20 Championship in Zambia next year.

The Makoanyane XI will be looking to advance tomorrow

Meanwhile, in the Under-17 side, former Likuena internationals Shalane Lehohla and Lekunutu Tšoeunyane have joined the coaching staff. Lehohla will assist head coach Halemakale Mahlaha while Tšoeunyane has been appointed as the new goalkeepers coach.

To women’s football, and this afternoon sees a potential humdinger between Lesotho’s top two women’s sides – LDF and Kick4Life. The much-anticipated Lesotho Women Super League clash will take place at Ratjomose at 15:00. There will be some bad blood. Reigning champions LDF beat Kick4Life on goal difference on the final day of last season to win the title. And, the two rivals are leading the pack once again this season.

To the men’s premiership and Vodacom Premier League giants Bantu have confirmed they have transfer-listed nine players as they continue their end of season overhaul after a disappointing 2015/16 campaign. Last week the Mafeteng side fired coach Bafokeng Mohapi. This week A Matšo Matebele have sent Katleho Moleko, Thabiso Mohapi, Isaiah Mosala, Thato Mabitle, Ossala Sorrel, Dulang Nthotsela, Keketso Lichaba, Tšoloane Mosakeng, and Tšoeu Mosollo packing.

Finally, in the National Basketball League, the champions in the A, development and ladies leagues could all be decided today. Today is Game 3 of the leagues’ respective NBL Finals and all ties see one side a win away from clinching the best-of-three series.

In the development league, Bokamoso South leads their series 2-0 against Buffalos while Lichocha Shooting Rifles leads Bashana Ba Heso by the same margin in the ladies league.

And, in the A-League, favourites KTA All Stars will be crowned Lesotho’s basketball kings for the second time in three years if they beat surprise finalists Bokamoso South. KTA hold a 2-0 series lead and dominated the first two games, 80-71 and 82-52.

MSC Shorts: Leslie Notši signs new Kick4Life deal

Man in charge... Leslie Notši renews with Kick4Life 

Leslie Notši has signed a new two-year contract with Kick4Life. Notši’s new deal will see him remain at the Old Europa club until 2018. The former national coach joined Kick4Life last November and masterminded a turnaround that saw the side finish sixth in the Vodacom Premier League in only their second season in the top-flight.

Talking to kick4life.org, Notši said: “It’s great to be involved in Kick4Life; they are an on-going project that looks promising because they have a clear vision so that made it easy for me to agree on continue working with the club.”

The 52 year-old Notši has also previously held the reins at Matlama, Lioli and South African first division outfit Mthatha Bucks.

Staying with football, four lucky supporters will be in Namibia for a week to support Lesotho at the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup courtesy of Castle Lager.

The fans are from the four clubs that contested last November’s Independence Cup – Bantu, Lioli, Matlama and LCS. The lucky supporters are Ramosoeu Fako (Bantu), Tanki Mabutsi (Lioli), Mputseli Mpoba (Matlama) and Motsoeli Tau (LCS).

Finally, Lesotho’s national rugby team will face Malawi in an international friendly in August. The match will be played in Malawi. Likatola will be looking to build on their showing at last month’s Africa Cup Division 2 tournament in Rwanda. Likatola finished third at the four-team championship featuring Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo after beating Burundi 6-3 in the third-place playoff. The win was Lesotho’s first on foreign soil. Victory over Malawi would strengthen Likatola’s case to be promoted from Division 2 to the first tier of rugby nations on the continent.

MSC Shorts - Liphakoe to hold players' awards

Liphkoe and its fans will be celebrating on July 2

Vodacom Premier League outfit Liphakoe have announced they will host their end of season players’ awards ceremony on July 2 in Moyeni, Quthing. The ceremony will celebrate the club’s 2015/16 campaign. Liphakoe were promoted to the premiership last year and managed to retain their top-flight status. The venue and tickets price will be confirmed at a later date.

Staying with football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Lesotho Football Association are collaborating to host a high level club licensing workshop for Premier League and A-Division clubs at the Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena. The workshop started tyesterday and will end today.

Finally, it has been confirmed that LCS coach Mpitsa Marai will join Likuena’s coaching staff at the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia as an assistant to caretaker boss Moses Maliehe. Lesotho plays its first game on Sunday against Mauritius. Likuena also face Angola next Tuesday and Malawi next Thursday. Marai led Masheshena to a third place finish in the Vodacom Premier League this past season. Likuena are set to leave for the tournament today.

Today’s quote:

“The reality of boys playing football finished a long time ago, we are working with grown men and some have families of their own.” – Lebohang Thotanyana, Lioli president