Sports

A race to the finish

Published

5 years ago

April 26, 2019

…..Will Matlama hold on to lift title?…..

MASERU – The 2018/19 Econet Premier League marathon is in its final stretch with all 14 contenders squeezing their last bits of energy to get over the finish.
There are just four games to play before the curtain closes on the season but there is still plenty to be decided around the league.
At the top, two teams are going neck-and-neck for the title with Matlama holding a five-point edge over defending champions Bantu.
Things are similarly interesting in the sprint for the top four where Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lioli and Kick4Life are battling for one spot while the relegation dogfight may also go down to the last kick on the final day.

TITLE CONTENDERS

Matlama

The last time the log leaders came this close to winning the championship was in 2015/16 under Moses Maliehe.
In that season Matlama suffered heartbreak at the hands of Lioli; ‘Tse Putsoa’ lost the title by one point in a thrilling race that went down to the final game.
After a disappointing couple of years following that close shave, Matlama have been revitalised this season under Thabile Secker as they seek a first league title since the 2009/10 campaign.
Matlama still have several players from that 2015/16 squad such as Motebang Sera, Phafa Tšosane and Mabuti Potloane and they have grown together since.
Displaying greater maturity and consistency, ‘Tse Putsoa’ have led the log for large parts of the season and have now been on top for the past two months.
Matlama are five points clear of second-placed Bantu and on Monday they clocked their biggest victory of the season as they walloped Majantja 5-0 at Setsoto Stadium to keep their title ambitions on track.
Sera – who is the league’s top scorer – was a star performer again scoring twice to take his season’s tally to 15 goals, five shy of his stated goal of 20 strikes.
On paper the only tricky fixture left on Matlama’s plate is next weekend’s humdinger against Bantu where a win would effectively seal the title for ‘Tse Putsoa’.
Matlama’s other three games are against sides in the bottom half of the table and they are matches Secker would be confident of winning.
After failing to defend their Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG) Top 8 trophy three weeks ago, the league crown is the only silverware left for Matlama to claim this season.
‘Tse Putsoa’ may also never get a better chance to end their league title drought.
The stakes are high.

Remaining games:

28/04 Matlama vs Galaxy (A)

04/05 Matlama vs Bantu (A)

12/05 Matlama vs Sefotha-fotha (H)

18/05 Matlama vs Linare (H)

Bantu

After a shaky start to the season Bantu have recovered and fought as champions do to get themselves back in the title conversation.
The Mafeteng giants have won seven of their last nine league games and have lost just once in 13 league games since the turn of the year.
However, despite all their hard work, Bantu coach James Madidilane has admitted the title is out of their hands and that ‘A Matšo Matebele’ have to hope Matlama drop points.
Bantu are in this unfamiliar situation because of a hectic season that saw them compete valiantly in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup during an exciting but gruelling period from November to January.
Ultimately, their African adventures caused Bantu to lag behind in the Econet Premier League as they looked to capture the title for a history-making third time in a row.
Now it will take a minor miracle for Madidilane’s charges to join LDF as the only sides to win three successive league titles.
Compared to Matlama, Bantu’s remaining slate of games is daunting.
Aside from facing a must-win tie against Matlama next Saturday, ‘A Matšo Matebele’ will also have to get the better of Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS), Lioli and a fearless Sefotha-fotha if they are to retain their crown.

Remaining games:

27/04 Bantu vs LCS (H)

04/05 Bantu vs Matlama (H)

11/05 Bantu vs Lioli (A)

18/05 Bantu vs Sefotha-fotha (A)

TOP 4

Matlama and Bantu have sealed the league’s top two spots and will qualify for next season’s Independence Cup. LCS, in third position, are no longer in the title race but are nailed in the top four frame as well.
That leaves LDF, Lioli and Kick4Life to fight it out for the remaining top four spot currently occupied by ‘Sohle-Sohle’.

LDF

It has been a good season for Motheo Mohapi’s side who were crowned LNIG Top 8 champions earlier this month.
That triumph marked their first piece of silverware since 2008 and if LDF can also secure a top four spot, it would turn a good season into a super one.
LDF are fourth, one point ahead of Lioli, and looking at their remaining run of games, ‘Sohle-Sohle’ are clear favourites to finish fourth.

Remaining games:

27/04 LDF vs Sefotha-fotha (A)

11/05 LDF vs Kick4Life (H)

18/05 LDF vs Majantja (A)

Lioli

For Lioli this has been a rebuilding season after they parted ways with Morena Ramorebodi at the end of an underwhelming 2017/18 campaign.
‘Tse Nala’ brought in former Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) technical director Lehlohonolo Thotanyana and Mosholi Mokhothu as head coach and assistant coach respectively to form a dream team in the dressing room.
However, it hasn’t all gone according to plan.
Yes, Lioli did win the Independence Cup in October to ensure they would at least end the season with silverware.
But ‘Tse Nala’ have struggled since that triumph and their nine defeats this season are already Lioli’s most in a league campaign since they lost nine through the 2007/08 season.
As things stand, Lioli are in danger of missing out on a top four place for the first time since 2012 which would end the longest current top four streak in the league.

Remaining games:

28/04 Lioli vs LMPS (H)

11/05 Lioli vs Bantu (H)

18/05 Lioli vs Kick4Life (A)

Kick4Life

Sixth-placed Kick4Life are the outsiders to make it into the top four party but they do control their destiny as they still have to play both LDF and Lioli.
Win both matches and Kick4Life could find themselves sitting at the VIP top four table when the season ends.
If Kick4Life can somehow beat LDF and Lioli to get in that cool party it will be some achievement.
Like Lioli, they also made managerial changes entering this season as Leslie Notši, who nurtured Kick4Life from league babies to top four heroes in 2017, left to take up a senior role at LEFA.
Former Bantu assistant Bob Mafoso was brought in to replace Notši and he has navigated a debut season filled with highs and lows that has already guaranteed a top eight place but could still end with a top four prize.

Remaining games:

27/04 Kick4Life vs Liphakoe (H)

11/05 Kick4Life vs LDF (A)

18/05 Kick4Life vs Lioli (H)

RELEGATION

The bottom of the league looks familiar; it has been the same teams down there since January.
Lijabatho and Lifofane have already sealed their promotion from the A-Division to the Econet Premier League and they are happily waiting to see which two teams they will replace in the top-flight next season.

Swallows

As things stand, Swallows, who were promoted to the Econet Premiership at the start of the 2018/19 campaign, will be on the first bus back to the A-Division when the season ends.
In fact, their fate may be sealed well before then.
With only two wins from 23 games this season, the Mazenod side are seven points from safety with three matches to play.
The maths, as a result, is quite simple: if Swallows fail to beat Likhopo on Sunday they will be relegated from the Econet Premier League.

Remaining games:

28/04 Swallows vs Likhopo (H)

12/05 Swallows vs Liphakoe (A)

18/05 Swallows vs LCS (H)

Majantja

After consecutive drubbings at the hands of Bantu (6-1) and Matlama (5-0) over an unhappy Easter weekend, Majantja’s hopes of staying in the Econet Premier League are hanging by thread.
Their chances took a further knock when relegation rivals Galaxy beat Liphakoe 1-0 last Saturday.
Things are not looking good in Mohale’s Hoek.
Majantja are now four points adrift of safety and their prospects are not helped by their abysmal goal difference of minus-31.
Realistically, Majantja will have to win at least two of their remaining three games to have any chance of negotiating their stay in the top-flight status on judgement day.
However, those remaining matches are tough and their best chance of a win is probably this Saturday at home to Linare.
After that Majantja face Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), who are looking to seal a top eight place, before they finish the season against an LDF side hungry for the top four.
If Majantja are to survive it won’t come easy, and they have to count on Galaxy dropping points.

Remaining games:

27/04 Majantja vs Linare (H)

11/05 Majantja vs LMPS (A)

18/05 Majantja vs LDF (H)

Galaxy

The Econet Premier League new boys can breathe a huge sigh of relief after their gutsy 1-0 win over Liphakoe last weekend.
The win may have bought the Maputsoe outfit another season in the elite league with the big boys.
Galaxy can’t afford to relax though, and they have a tough run-in which features Matlama, LMPS and LCS on the playlist.
Still, Galaxy have done well to get this far in the marathon.
At the turn of the year Galaxy were cramping in the relegation zone and they appeared set for a swift return to the first division.
Now it looks as though Galaxy will make it safely across the finish line and live to fight another day.

Remaining games:

28/04 Galaxy vs Matlama (H)

12/05 Galaxy vs LCS (A)

18/05 Galaxy vs LMPS (H)

Econet Premier League standings:

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Matlama	22	17	2	3	45	11	+34	53
2	Bantu	22	14	6	2	46	9	+37	48
3	LCS	23	13	7	3	31	12	+19	46
4	LDF	23	10	7	6	18	17	+1	37
5	Lioli	23	11	3	9	27	17	+10	36
6	Kick4Life	23	10	5	8	24	25	-1	35
7	Liphakoe	24	7	9	8	21	20	+1	30
8	LMPS	23	8	6	9	18	17	+1	30
9	Sefotha-fotha	23	6	11	6	20	22	-2	29
10	Likhopo	22	9	2	11	20	35	-15	29
11	Linare	23	5	7	11	17	27	-10	22
12	Galaxy	23	5	4	14	15	27	-12	19
13	Majantja	23	4	3	16	19	50	-31	15
14	Swallows	23	2	6	15	12	44	-32	12

Sports

Rabale eyes Champions League glory

Published

3 weeks ago

November 21, 2023

The Post

Lesotho women’s team captain Boitumelo Rabale has her eyes on winning her second CAF Women’s Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns as the tournament gets underway this weekend.
The third edition of the prestigious women’s club football is scheduled for Ivory Coast from November 5-19, where eight clubs will battle it out to be crowned Queens of the continent.

“Queen”, as the Lesotho star is commonly known, was part of the Sundowns squad that was crowned champions of the inaugural edition of the tournament held in Egypt two years ago, becoming the first player from the Mountain Kingdom to taste Champions League success.
She has become one of the key players in Jerry Tshabalala’s squad having walked away with the Hollywoodbets Player of the Season in the previous campaign and currently leads the goal-scoring charts with 21 goals.

“It was exciting to win the CAF Women’s Champions League with Sundowns two years ago and in the process becoming the first player from Lesotho to do so,” Rabale said.

“I felt very lucky and honoured to make history. It gave me confidence to continue working hard and strive for more success with the club”
Sundowns head to the tournament as regional champions after clinching the COSAFA qualifiers to qualify for the continental showpiece, where they will kickstart their campaign against Tanzania’s JKT Queens on Sunday.

Rabale admitted that memories of losing the last final to AS FAR still haunts them, but they head to Ivory Coast a better team than in the last tournament.

“We learnt the hard way when we lost in the final to AS FAR and we come back a better team having rectified our mistakes.

“It’s our dream to conquer the continent again and I have no doubt that we have what it takes to get our second star in Ivory Coast.

“It will be very good to add the second CAF Champions League medal to my trophy cabinet,” she said.

The 27-year-old has been prolific for Sundowns this campaign having scored nine goals in her last five matches to take her tally for this campaign to 21 goals.
Sundowns are in Group A alongside tournament hosts, Athletico Abidjan, Sporting Casablanca of Morocco, as well as Tanzania’s JKT Queen.

Since joining Sundowns in 2021, Rabale has won the Hollywoodbets Super League twice, the COSAFA Zonal qualifiers twice as well as the CAF Women’s Champions League and is the reigning Hollywoodbets Player of the season.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Red Skins fail to raise funds for championship

Published

3 weeks ago

November 21, 2023

The Post

Lesotho volleyball giants Red Skins have failed to raise funds for the 2023 Zone 6 Senior Indoor Volleyball Club Championship they are set to host in December.

Red Skins will host the competition together with four other local volleyball clubs – Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Lesotho Mounted Police Station (LMPS) and Rivers – and the tournament is expected to start on December 7 and end 10 days later.

Without any funds or sponsors coming in, Red Skins will have to foot the bill from their pockets for the tournament which will see teams from 10 countries converge on Maseru.

Among the participating nations, Botswana is expected to bring the biggest contingent with 12 teams, with Zambia following closely behind with nine teams while Zimbabwe is set to be represented by six teams.

Two weeks ago, Red Skins participated in the Elite Cup in Gauteng, South Africa, which was hosted by Aqua Darshan Volleyball.
Red Skins hoped to win the tournament and return home with a hefty jackpot but they only collected M5 000 which was won by the men’s team.

A gala dinner that Red Skins hosted last weekend also failed to generate income due to low attendance and speaking to thepost on Tuesday, the club’s vice-captain, Moleboheng Mofolo, said they will have to push on with what they have to host the tournament.
Mofolo said they no longer have time to come up with other means to raise funds.

“Tournaments will require us to find sponsorships and we do not have time now, we have to focus and train well,” Mofolo said.

“Our coach already told us to camp from this week but rain is our biggest challenge because we cannot continue with the training,” she added.

Mofolo said Red Skins are fortunate that participating teams are going to take care of their accommodation and catering. She said if Red Skins had to provide those services, they would not have been able to manage.

She pleaded with individuals, organisations and companies to help the team, whether it is by offering accommodation, food, or whatever little they may have.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Giants avoid each other in Top 4 clash

Published

3 weeks ago

November 21, 2023

The Post

Women Super League (WSL) giants Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Ladies and Kick4Life Ladies have avoided each other in the WSL Top 4 knockout competition.
The two-day showpiece takes centre stage this weekend at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and it will see last season’s top four finishers in the league – LDF, Kick4Life, Lijabatho and Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) Ladies – go head-to-head for bragging rights.

The draw for the competition took place last Friday and the semi-finals will see LDF go up against Lijabatho while Kick4Life will take on LMPS Ladies.
Both semi-finals will be played on Saturday with the tournament culminating the following day.

Sunday’s proceedings will kick-off with a third-place playoff game to determine who walks away with the bronze medals before the final later in the day.
All four games over the two days will be streamed on the FIFA+ website and the WSL Top 4 will usher in a new sponsor this year.

In the past, the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) fully bankrolled the competition, however, Computer Business Solutions (CBS) has come on board with a sponsorship for the first time.

The competition’s prize monies have not been revealed because they are still being finalised, but, speaking at last Friday’s draw, LEFA’s associations secretary general, Mokhosi Mohapi, said the relationship with CBS is one that sport should engage in.
Mohapi added his hopes that the relationship will be a long-term one.

“While others are busy at their thing, we should really grow ours so that when their distraction finally ends, they find us as united as we can be as the football community,” Mohapi said.
“(We should be) united by the efforts and inputs that emanate from the business community, especially when it is a truly Lesotho business entity because other (foreign entities) are here to take money,” he said.

Addressing CBS as the tournament’s sponsor, Mohapi said: “We are thankful as LEFA for your initiative; (we) hope you will be in this marriage quite long. We know we are just testing the waters but we have a lot that can entice you to stay longer, not only my command but the instruments that we have.”

Mohapi said LEFA’s dream is that in two years’ time all league matches will be streaming on the FIFA+ platform which was launched last April by football’s world governing body to increase exposure of men and women’s football around the globe.

Currently, only three grounds in the country have the structures for broadcasting; Bambatha as well as the grounds at LDF and Lesotho Correctional Service grounds, and all are in Maseru.
LEFA plans to add more grounds to the list with the DIFA facilities in Maputsoe and Mohale’s Hoek set to be the first to follow suit.

“All our women’s competitions, cup competitions and (Vodacom) Premier League matches that will be played in those stadia that have our infrastructure – we will be able to stream those games internationally,” Mohapi said.

“We have extended our footprint,” he added.

“We are now doing LDF – we have already put up the structure – then we are moving to Maputsoe and, hopefully, Mohale’s Hoek. It is our desire that in two years’ time we will hopefully cover all the matches and put them on the FIFA+ streaming platform.”

WSL Top 4 fixtures:
Semi-finals:
Saturday (Bambatha)
Lijabatho Ladies vs. LDF Ladies
LMPS Ladies vs. Kick4Life Ladies

Tlalane Phahla