MASERU– Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) claimed top spot on the Vodacom Premier League table for the first time this season by beating Bantu 1-0 in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday.

The victory put LDF in the drivers’ seat in the title race with six matches to go, but it has been overshadowed by controversy and the violent behaviour directed at match officials by Bantu players after the match.

The match official in question is international assistant referee Siza Dlangamandla who onlookers say was on the receiving end of Bantu goalkeeper Ntsane ‘Feso’ Lichaba’s filthy insults after he awarded a 72nd minute penalty for handball against the home side.

Lichaba has since been elevated to hero status on social media. He is being framed as the victim not an aggressor

The narrative is much to the annoyance of LDF head coach Motheo Mohapi, who says he personally removed Lichaba’s hands from Dlangamandla’s neck.

Mohapi says he also ordered LDF players who were not involved in the game to provide security after the game to Dlangamandla and other officials as well and escort them from harm’s way.

Bantu have since written a letter of complaint to the Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) claiming their goalkeeper was slapped by an LDF player.

thepost has not been able to verify Bantu’s claim, however, three people have confirmed Mohapi’s account. Mohapi who was still reeling from Sunday’s events sat down with thepost on Tuesday to recount the scenes and discuss LDF’s season.

Mohapi also talked about a lack of transparency within the PLMC among many other things. The wide-ranging interview lasted an hour and this is just a part of the conversation.

On the league title and discipline

For a long time, LDF has played second fiddle as bigger teams in the league exerted their dominance in local football. This is proven by the fact that no team besides Matlama, Bantu and Liol, has won the league in the last decade. The last time none of the trio won the league it was back in 2011 when Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) were crowned champions.

LDF, meanwhile, haven’t tasted any league success since 2004.

This season, however, LDF have poked the hornet’s nest by fiercely contesting for the league title and posing a serious threat to the big boys.

They have done that despite many challenges. Not only have they been dealing with multiple suspensions of their players, LDF say they are credited with all the bad behaviour that happens at the grounds where they are involved in matches.

Mohapi said sitting on the side-lines watching teams win trophies did not sit well with LDF and they have dedicated themselves to changing the situation. Although the log leaders started the season slowly, they have grown into the campaign and appear ripe for the final push.

“When you are in a race with people who do better than you, if you are someone who likes nice things, it will not sit well with you,” Mohapi said.

“It’s something that has not made us happy as LDF that we are in a race with people, we were fighting for this cup and they won it we didn’t, that on its own is painful. All the time it was always about changing the situation so that when we are in a race with people, we can also win the race,” he said.

Mohapi said character and discipline are what separate LDF from the rest of the league and that goes all the way from administration to the pitch.

Mohapi vowed there is no team in the league that is more disciplined than his team. He referred to an incident during a 2-1 win over Swallows in January when LDF’s Bonang Mohapi was sent off following a commotion.

“Everywhere these unfortunate incidents happened, you will realise we didn’t start them, from Morija, the person who started it was a Swallows player, but that has now turned to be about LDF.

From administration to the pitch, there is no team in the league that is more disciplined than LDF,” he said.

“In terms of administration, if you go looking for match reports, we have all match reports. After playing we submit match reports, others don’t. When referees want LDF players 45 minutes before kick-off they will find LDF there,” he said.

Mohapi said many people think LDF do not know how to play football and only rely on physicality. He said if that was the case, the army side would not be on top of the log and would be struggling at the bottom.

LDF have used this criticism to fuel them even further this season and with six games to go, ‘Sohle-Sohle’ hope to clinch their first league title in two decades.

On Mohale’s Hoek’s events

It all started with assistant referee Dlangamandla flagging a handball inside Bantu’s penalty box.

Referee Moeketsi Ntoa is said to have initially missed the handball but gave a penalty against the home side. The penalty made Bantu write a letter to the Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) to complain about the assistant referee while, on the field, Dlangamandla spent the rest of the game being insulted by the Bantu goalkeeper.

After the final whistle, Lichaba went straight for the official and put his hands on his neck as if he wanted to choke him. Mohapi rushed to diffuse the situation and protect the official. Mohapi said although LDF do not start all the incidents, at times , his players end up accepting provocation.

“In Mohale’s Hoek we defended the match officials. Feso, (the player) that everybody is talking about that he was beaten, it’s me who removed his hands from linesman’s neck – Siza Dlangamandla – but what is trending is that Feso was beaten,” he said.

“When I got to the centre I found (Bantu defender Motlomelo) Mkhwanazi framing that story of Feso being beaten and I called him a liar. I ordered LDF players who weren’t playing to protect the officials, Siza can tell the truth. Even in the court of law I can say this. I know the players that I gave to Siza so that they protect him, but today Feso has been made a hero because it’s LDF,” he continued.

One of the things that were trending on social media is Mohapi’s behaviour on the technical area.

The LDF coach said the referee indicated that 13 minutes were left to play but let the game continue until it reached 18 minutes played. Mohapi said he stood up to signal the game was over, like any other coach would do.

“I was complaining that time is over. Let the players work for themselves (without help), when they beat us, we leave. Matlama beat us at our own ground twice and we did nothing,” he said.

“Everyone that is shouting that we should get expelled will see our importance once we leave this league. Expel us, they will remember us, because all these bad things that happen at football grounds, we don’t start them. Like anyone we can make mistakes, yes,” he continued.

On club’s CMM’s

The LDF mentor did not hide his dislike for club spokespersons around the league who he said seemed to be only interested in entertaining people over the radio instead of educating their supporters. Mohapi said they are ruining football. The club communication and marketing managers (CMM) have turned themselves into comedians who are more concerned with making people laugh and competing over who is funnier.

“They are ruining football, they go on radios to make people laugh, “you did this, you did that” and people laugh. But, at the end of the day, the people you are leading are not educated enough to be able to behave on the grounds,” Mohapi said.

“Fans are fighting at the grounds; people don’t know it’s our right as LDF to lodge appeals according to the rules. We didn’t do anything, (we are accused) just because we are soldiers,” he said.

Mohapi who holds a CAF A-License and is one of the country’s highest qualified coaches, said he doesn’t coach LDF with army rankings. His behaviour on the touchline is in line with football coaching guidelines, he said. He said the CMMs are contributing nothing to the clubs but only to radio programmes.

“Basotho we are one, if things happened, there are people who are in charge who will deal with them, don’t come here and express things that will not take us anywhere, you leave a nation bitter against other people,” Mohapi said in reference to club CMMs.

“I think people have forgotten they have made mistakes, just that we are quiet and now it’s like they are angels. We will not be doing football any justice if we go on the radio and talk about football issues and then ask for companies to support us. They are not having any contribution at grounds or clubs, they have contribution on radio programmes,” he said.

On PLMC structure

Another thing that irks Mohapi is the structure of the PLMC. He said people go there to serve the interests of their own teams. Clubs nominate their own candidates to stand for elections, and then

clubs through their representatives vote. Clubs who have candidates lobby for support from others.

Mohapi said he wishes the PLMC could be led by people who simply love football and are not there to advance their own interests.

“They are not there to serve football interests. Do you think we will survive these judgements? Look at the (PLMC) secretary, he is from Bantu, Phasumane is from Linare, the chairman is from Matlama and LDF is fighting for the league with these teams. Do you think we will get anything?” he asked.

“Left and right they want LDF out, they want to find what they can use to LDF because they are fighting for LDF to drop out and leave these teams that they think are the biggest. I won’t let them.

They think they got football because of their large support base, and we are ruining it. They don’t care about LMPS (Lesotho Mounted Police Service), it could end at the bottom,” he continued.

While LDF has been fielding suspensions of Bonang Mohapi, the league went radio silent on the attack of former Matlama head coach Mothobi Molebatsi by a Matlama supporter at the beginning of the season. There has also been nothing on hooliganism Bantu fans displayed in Teyateyaneng after a goalless draw with Lioli when they threatened and chased officials.

“We were born in a very unfortunate country, a country of apartheid. I wish the Premier League could be formed by people who love football because this one is of people from clubs and they serve the interests of their own clubs,” Mohapi said.

Tlalane Phahla