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7 clubs in chase for fourth place

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Maseru – With just a month until the end of the 2017/18 Econet Premier League season, the top three spots are taken with Bantu, Lioli and Matlama only left to decide the order in which they will finish. That the big three have separated themselves from the pack is no surprise. Stacked with Lesotho internationals, the trio has been dominant this season with Bantu winning the Independence Cup in October and Matlama grabbing the Lesotho National Insurance Group Top 8 earlier this month.

So, with the big three running away at the top, where else is the drama in the Econet Premiership? Thankfully, there is no need to look far. Just below the top three there is a brewing battle royal between seven teams for a position that can define the success of a club’s season – fourth place. Not only is there a M25 000 prize difference between finishing fourth and fifth this year, finishing in the top four means an opportunity to contest the Independence Cup next season which remains the grandest event on Lesotho’s football calendar.

As things stand it is anyone’s guess which team will claim that coveted spot with fourth-placed Kick4Life and tenth-placed Liphakoe separated by just seven points. With at least 12 points on offer for each top four hopeful, there remains plenty to play for. Here is a look at the sides in with a top four shout.

Kick4Life (4th)

Leslie Notši’s charges currently occupy the sought-after fourth position with 30 points from 20 games. But, while the 2017/18 season has been another solid campaign for the rising club, the points haul does represent a dip for a Kick4Life side that had collected 39 points and secured their first-ever top four finish at the same stage last season. The difference this year has been their slow start to the campaign. Whereas last season Kick4Life were a point off the league’s lead at the halfway mark, this term Kick4Life lost two of their opening four games and, after 10 matches, Notši’s side sat seventh in the Econet Premier League having collected just 15 points.

Kick4Life have regrouped admirably since then but that shaky start has not afforded them any breathing space. Injuries have also not helped with several key players frequenting the treatment room all season, most notably Lesotho captain Bokang Mothoana who was sidelined for three months with a knee injury to start the season. As a result, Kick4Life’s hold on fourth place is precarious with last Saturday’s 1-0 loss to top four rivals Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) particularly damaging as it erased any margin of error for Notši’s charges. The Old Europa outfit have played two more games than fifth-placed LDF and one more than sixth-placed Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) and both are within three points of Kick4Life.

Kick4Life’s remaining games:
Majantja (home)
Matlama (away)
Liphakoe (home)
Linare (away)

Kick4Life’s remaining slate of games is manageable, however. Two of their final four games are at home to Majantja and Liphakoe, two teams they have never lost to in the top-flight. Kick4Life also have a match against a Matlama side whose fire may be dimmed by their LNIG Top 8 celebrations and the knowledge the league title is out of reach. Key for Kick4Life in the run-in will be the form of Nkoto Masoabi. The Econet Premier League’s top scorer with 12 goals, Masoabi has been on fire in 2018 scoring seven times this year. If the Likuena striker keeps firing and Kick4Life are able to keep things tight at the back, a second successive top four finish remains plausible.

Lesotho Defence Force (5th)

‘Sohle-Sohle’ haven’t finished in the top four since coming third in the 2012/13 season which represents the longest drought in the history of the eight-time league champions. For the record, only Matlama with ten titles have won more league championships than LDF and going four seasons without a top four finish is uncharted territory for the army club. Over the past four seasons LDF have finished sixth (2017), eighth (2016), fifth (2015) and fifth (2014) with the main reason being a decline in squad quality as stars such as Lire Phiri, Mojela Letsie and Molefe Lekoekoe have either aged or retired.

Perhaps cognisant of this fact, ‘Sohle-Sohle’ moved to infuse new talent at the start of the season and none has been more important than newly-capped Lesotho international Tšepo Toloane who was poached from Liphakoe. Toloane has been an outstanding signing scoring seven league goals, the most by a midfielder this season. His form has been so impressive he earned his first start for Likuena in last month’s friendly international against Namibia.

More importantly, Toloane’s midfield mastery has helped Motheo Mohapi’s side hold all the cards in the top four race. The latest evidence was last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Kick4Life which lifted ‘Sohle-Sohle’ just two points behind Kick4Life with two games in hand. Without doubt, this season is LDF’s best chance to end their historic top four drought.

LDF’s remaining games:
Majantja (away)
Matlama (home)
Liphakoe (away)
Linare (home)
Sky Battalion (away)
Bantu (home)

Lesotho Correctional Service (6th)

Historically, LCS have also always been among the teams pushing for the title and other major silverware. This year hasn’t played out that way, however. ‘Masheshena’ have struggled to score goals – only LDF with 21 goals have scored fewer times than LCS amongst the top six clubs – and they have been unable to protect leads.

LCS’s remaining games:
Likhopo (away)
Lioli (home)
Bantu (away)
Sefotha-fotha (away)

The good news for ‘Masheshena’ is they may be catching fire at the right time. In their last two league games Mpitsa Marai’s side thumped Linare 4-0 and Sky Battalion 4-1.

The bad news? LCS still have to play title chasers Lioli and Bantu before the end of the season. The other contenders Mathematically, Linare, Majantja, Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) and even Liphakoe still have a chance of making the top four but, for each of them, doing so is a long shot.

Common sense says the fourth-place race is between Kick4Life and LDF with LCS as the outsiders. Nonetheless, stranger things have happened in football.

Luciah Phahla

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LMPS storm into People’s Cup

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Vodacom Premier League outfit Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) are lauding their supporters for voting the club into the coveted People’s Cup where the winner will walk away R650,000 richer.

Four top-flight teams – Bantu, Linare, Matlama and LMPS – will compete at the Bochebeletsane Stadium in Mantšonyane on Saturday to capture the second edition of Lesotho’s richest cup competition.

The competitors were voted into the People’s Cup via a month-long SMS voting competition that closed last Friday and LMPS finished fourth with 231 001 to give them a surprise shot at the jackpot alongside traditional powerhouses Linare, Matlama and Bantu.

Their fans’ efforts mean LMPS will be making their debut in the tournament sponsored by Econet Telecom Lesotho and the Sam Matekane Foundation (SMF) in partnership with Molefi Global Agencies (MGA).

It is a life-changing opportunity for ‘Simunye’ and LMPS’s supporters’ chairperson, Tlali Monyaka, applauded the team’s fans and revealed the club have organised transport to carry the fans on the roughly 121 kilometres trip to Mantšonyane.

Each fan will pay M50 to LMPS’s communication and marketing manager (CMM), Mosiuoa Lekhooana, and club official Itumeleng Phasumane via eco-cash and their payment will book a spot on the ‘Simunye’ supporters’ bus leaving on Saturday morning at 6am.

Monyaka said the fans’ efforts should not end with just voting the team into the People’s Cup.
He encouraged LMPS supporters to “finish what they started” by accompanying the team to Bochebeletsane and “boosting the strength of the players and their spirit to win the cup.”

“Early bird catches the worm,” Monyaka added.

“It is wise for the supporters to start paying for that transport now. There will be no cash that the CMM and Phasumane will receive on (Saturday) at the door (of the bus), so for them not to stay behind, they should pay now so that we can all go and give support to our team that we trust in.”

“We are not strict with the attire,” Monyaka continued.

“Everyone can wear anything that has the LMPS colours: yellow, white or blue, or (they can wear) old shirts that have the LMPS logo, we will not mind.”

Last year the competitors in the inaugural People’s Cup were Linare, Lioli, Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and eventual champions, Bantu.
LMPS legend Mofammere Molefe said the fact that LMPS are making their debut and have a chance at the coveted cash bonanza is evidence that the team is growing.

“This is a first for the team,” Molefe said. “We are very thankful that the team is growing. The club should know that we are behind them and supporting them in whatever they do.”

For his part, LMPS vice-president Ezekiel Senti said the LMPS family is excited and ready to fight on Saturday.

‘Simunye’ play in the day’s second semi-final against defending champions Bantu at 11am with the winner advancing to face Linare or Matlama in the final later in the day.
Even if LMPS don’t win the grand prize, at worst they will pocket M200,000 for one day’s work in Matšonyane.

2024 People’s Cup Prize money:
Winners: R650,000
Runners up: R300,000
Third place: R200,000
Fourth place: R200,000

Premier League Prizes:
1. M 650,000
2. M 330,000
3. M 210,000
4. M 155,000
5. M 145,000
6. M 115,000
7. M 100,000
8. M 95,000
9. M 90,000
10. M 85,000
11. M 80,000
12. M 75,000
13. M 70,000
14. M 65,000
15. M 60,000
16. M 55,000

For context, a team would have to finish third over the course of the Premier League season to pocket a similar amount. LMPS are fifth in the league and are on course to receive M145,000 at the end of the campaign for their efforts.

“The prize money in the (People’s Cup) competition is very motivating,” Senti said.
“We highly appreciate the supporters for finding it really important for us to compete for these prizes within the premier league season. We are not going to disappoint our supporters.”

People’s Cup fixtures:
Saturday, 16 March
Linare v Matlama at 9:00am
LMPS v Bantu at 11:00am
Final at 3:00pm

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Notši oils ‘war machine’

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Lesotho interim coach Leslie Notši has announced a 23-man squad to face Ethiopia in a pair of international friendly games next week.
The matches will be played next week Thursday and Sunday in Ethiopia and they will serve as Lesotho’s preparation for June’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

Likuena started their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign last year with a 1-1 draw against Nigeria and a goalless stalemate against Benin in Group C.
Lesotho are fourth in the six-team group where only the top team will qualify for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In total, there are nine qualifying groups and the winner of each will qualify for the World Cup while the four best group runners-up will go to a play-off round to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Likuena started preparing for June’s crucial qualifiers on February 5 with weekly sessions involving locally based players until Notši announced a 23-man squad this week.
The selection will assemble on Sunday at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and leave for Ethiopia next week Tuesday.

The squad includes nine players based in South Africa, two in Botswana and twelve locally based players.
Notši said the players have been selected on the merit of their performances at club level.

The Likuena squad has one new face in Majara Relebetsoe who plays for Tubatse FC in South Africa’s ABC Motsepe league.
Three players – Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Neo Mokhachane and Katleho Makateng – will join up with the team in South Africa next Tuesday before the squad jets off to Ethiopia.
Notši said training has gone well and Likuena had been assembling twice a week, on Monday and Tuesday, until he made this week’s selection.

“I am very grateful to the (Vodacom Premier League) teams for allowing the players to be in the preparations,” he said.

Notši said playing Ethiopia away from home would benefit Likuena.
Ethiopia are ranked 42nd in Africa and 145th in the world while Likuena are 44th continentally and 148th globally. The two teams have recent history and last met in 2022.

“It is true that our local players may have a desire to play their friendly games in their country but the conditions of our grounds do not allow us,” Notši said.

“I can say for now, that playing away from home has helped my players with their mental strength and they are gaining international exposure, so we are growing,” he said.

Notši said next week’s double ties against Ethiopia will also give Likuena an opportunity to gauge their standards for the COSAFA Cup which should be held in July.

Likuena squad for Ethiopia:
Goalkeepers:
Sekhoane Moerane – Orbit FC (SA)
Teboho Ratibisi – LDF FC
Mosoeu Seahlolo – LCS FC

Defenders:
Motlomelo Mkwanazi – BDF Fc (Botswana)
Rethabile Rasethuntša – Linare FC
Fusi Matlabe – Mpheni Defenders (SA)
Thato Sefoli – Upington City (SA)
Majara Relebetsoe – Tubatse FC (SA)
Thabo Matšoele – Bantu FC
Ntsane Mojalefa – Celtics (SA)

Midfielders:
Lisema Lebokollane – Linare FC
Lehlohonolo Matsau – LDF FC
Thabo Lesaoana – Bantu FC
Tlotliso Phatsisi – Black Leopards (SA)
Tšoarelo Bereng – Orbit FC (SA)
Tšepo Toloane – LDF FC
Lehlohonolo Fothoane – Bantu FC
Neo Mokhachane – VTM (Botswana)
Tumelo Khutlang – Lioli FC
Tsepang Sefali – Linare FC

Strikers:
Jane Thabantšo – Matlama FC
Sera Motebang – Royal AM (SA)
Katleho Makateng – Richards Bay (SA)

Relebohile Tšepe

 

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Naughty Boys player stabbed to death

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Vodacom Premier League outfit Naughty Boys are dealing with the agonizing pain of the death on Sunday of key player Tšepo Mosaeeea.
Mosaeeea was stabbed to death in Ha-Ramohapi where he stayed in a rented house after he reportedly tried to break up an altercation between groups of men who were fighting over women.

His death came just hours after bottom side Naughty Boys beat Machokha 3-0 in the Vodacom Premiership in a potentially season-saving victory.
The win was a crucial boost to their survival hopes but just hours later tragedy engulfed the club.

Mosaeea was recognised as one of Naughty Boys’ most talented players by his teammates and coaches.
The club said his death has caused a deep wound in their hearts that will never heal.

“The space Tšepo left is something we are not sure will ever be filled because he grew up in this team from when he started playing football,” said Naughty Boys’ communications and marketing manager Moeketsi Sefatja.

“He took Naughty boys from the B-Division to the A-Division, and then from the A-Division to the premier league. The goal that helped the team to make it to the premier league was scored by him in 2022 when we beat Limkokwing University 1-0. He was very good at scoring and most of our goals were scored by him,” he said.

Mosaeea’s death is even more painful because of the numerous tragedies that Naughty Boys have dealt with over the past year.
Earlier this year another player, Fusi Mochai, also lost his life at a young age while club president Khotsofalang Possa died last year.
Sefatja said Mosaeea played “very well” in Sunday’s win over Machokha and had been one of the club’s best performers this season.

“Mosaeea started the game on a very high note and did very well. Everyone could see that he is back with the good things he is known for and people could not stop embracing him,” Sefatja said.

“I knew about his death at around 5am,” he added.

“I received a phone call from one of the people living in Ha-Ramohapi asking if I had heard of what had happened. I immediately left home to go to his place but met his family on their way to the hospital and went back with them (to the hospital). We got to the hospital and his death was confirmed,” he said.

Sefatja said Mosaeea’s death is a very big loss to the team, his friends, family and everyone who knew him.

“It hurts even more because he was not even fighting with anyone but was only trying to stop people who were having an argument and instead they chose to kill him,” Sefatja said.

“The situation has really become a problem because both our player’s deaths happened in their village (Ha-Ramohapi) and all these acts are done by people from the same village. These people have turned Ha-Ramohapi into an unfriendly environment for the villagers,” he said.

Moipone Makholinyane

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