Lioli seek to get campaign back on track

MASERU – Econet Premier League giants, Lioli, will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s embarrassing defeat to Likhopo when they face Swallows on Sunday.
As early as it is, Sunday’s clash at Ratjomose has the feel of a season-defining game for ‘Tse Nala’.
Lioli need to get their campaign back on track after the shock 1-0 loss to relegation-threatened Likhopo not only plunged ‘Tse Nala’ outside the top eight, but made their title aspirations increasingly grim.

In truth, Lehlohonolo Thotanyana’s side have been poor since winning the Top 4 Independence Cup in October and already find themselves 11 points adrift of league leaders Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) before Christmas.

For Lioli to have any chance at the league title this season they might need a miracle. Not only do the Teyateyaneng side need to start winning games, they have to pray LCS and the sides above them slip up and drop points.

Fortunately for ‘Tse Nala’, struggling Swallows appear the perfect tonic for Lioli to pick themselves up and get back to winning ways.
The newly-promoted Mazenod side are bottom of the Econet Premier League and come from a 2-0 beating by Bantu last Saturday.
Their woeful early season form has Swallows tipped as favourites for relegation. They have the league’s second worst defence having conceded 17 goals and, at the other end, ‘Maswai-swai’ have only managed five goals.

In other games this weekend, Matlama will finally return to action after three weeks of seeing their games postponed and having to watch from the stands. Because of the unexpected holiday, ‘Tse Putsoa’ have dropped to fourth position in the Econet premiership with 17 points from eight games.

Matlama will hope to start collecting points when they host Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) on Saturday in order to keep up with LCS who have opened a seven-point gap at the top of the league. LCS, for their part, travel to Maputsoe on Sunday to face Linare.

Luciah Phahla