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Monday, April 30, 2018

Lioli have slipped, Bantu within title and club record | Takeaways from Econet Premier League weekend action

Bantu showed their class in Sunday's 4-1 win over Lioli while
Tse Nala showed they have plenty of catching up to do 

In every season there always comes a defining point and the past weekend felt like one in the Econet Premier League. It was especially so in the title race where Bantu outclassed rivals Lioli 4-1 at Setsoto Stadium leaving Tse Nala needing a miracle to stop A Matšo Matebele from winning the championship again.

At the bottom, Sefotha-fotha all but secured another season of Econet Premier League football with a 4-0 beat-down of relegated Sky Battalion while the top four race took another twist with LDF’s 2-1 win Matlama.

Here are the takeaways from the weekend’s dramatic action.

Lioli are further behind Bantu than the league suggests
Lioli’s fall over the past year has been incredible and, as usual with successful clubs, most of it has been self-inflicted. Things have been so bad that this feels like a lost season for the five-time champions who have cycled through three coaches this term.

It all started with a 2-0 loss to LDF in their first game of the season – a chilling precursor to their campaign. There was a grumpy vibe in the Lioli squad and Tse Nala duly bombed at last October’s Independence Cup finishing last. Halemakale Mahlaha resigned as coach immediately afterwards.

Lioli recovered after appointing Motebang Makhetha as caretaker coach and, in fact, returned to the top of the league table in November. However, a 2-1 loss to Bantu in December (which was later overturned) convinced Lioli’s management the club needed a big name coach and South African Morena Ramorebodi was hired at the start of 2018.

The former Maluti FET College boss and Bloemfontein Celtic assistant coach immediately rang the changes in Teyateyaneng. Out went seven players and in came six new faces. Amongst the players released were key figures in Tse Nala’s recent title successes – goalkeeper Mohau Kuenane, striker Maba Junior and midfielder Motlalepula Mofolo. The changes unsettled Lioli.

Lioli under Ramorebodi
14-01-18
League
Matlama
0-0
Lioli
D
04-02-18
League
Lioli
0-1
LDF
L
10-02-18
League
Kick4Life
1-1
Lioli
D
18-02-18
League
Majantja
0-1
Lioli
W
24-02-18
LNIG Top 8
Lioli
0-1
LMPS
L
03-03-18
League
Lioli
1-4
Matlama
L
11-08-18
LNIG Top 8
LMPS
0-2
Lioli
W
18-03-18
League
Liphakoe
0-2
Lioli
W
02-04-18
League
Sky Battalion
0-4
Lioli
W
07-04-18
LNIG Top 8
Lioli
0-1
Matlama
L
08-04-18
LNIG Top 8
Lioli
3-2
LCS
W
15-04-18
League
Lioli
1-0
Likhopo
W
29-04-18
League
Bantu
4-1
Lioli
L

The Teyateyaneng giants lost three of their first six games under Ramorebodi with the nadir being a shambolic 4-1 league loss to rivals Matlama at the beginning of March.

Lioli recovered to win three league games in a row but Sunday’s loss to Bantu showed just how far behind their Mafeteng rivals Tse Nala have fallen in the space of a year. In their biggest game of the year, Lioli were no match for Bantu as A Matšo Matebele ultimately did as they pleased. Lioli may be seven points adrift of Bantu on the Econet Premiership log standings, but in reality they have drifted much further behind their Mafeteng foes.

Ramorebodi was only hired on a six-month contract. If he stays in Teyateyaneng for another season he has plenty of work to do to revive Lioli.

Bantu need six points to win the league
The most points Lioli can reach at the end of the season is 53 meaning getting to 54 points will guarantee a second successive league title for Bantu. The Mafeteng giants have been incredible in 2018.

Since a goalless draw with Sefotha-fotha at the end of January, Bantu have won seven league matches in a row; the second best Premiership run of wins in club history.

Bantu’s longest league winning streaks
9 games in 2016/17 (from 17-04-2017 to 15-10-2017)
7 games in 2012/13 (from 27-10-2012 to 17-02-2013)
7 games in 2017/18 (03-02-2018 -)

Two more wins would equal the club record set last season and seal the Econet Premier League title. Bantu’s remaining games, of course, are not a foregone conclusion. Majantja are their only remaining opponent outside the top five, but such is Bantu’s form, it is difficult to bet against James Madidilane’s side.

Bantu’s remaining games:
Majantja (away)
LCS (home)
Matlama (away)
LDF (away)

Bantu’s run of form
28-01-18
Sefotha-fotha
0-0
Bantu
D
03-02-18
Bantu
3-1
Liphakoe
W
17-02-18
Bantu
4-2
Linare
W
17-03-18
Bantu
4-0
Sky Battalion
W
02-04-18
Bantu
1-0
Likhopo
W
15-04-18
Kick4Life
1-2
Bantu
W
21-04-18
LMPS
0-1
Bantu
W
29-04-18
Bantu
4-1
Lioli
W

LDF caught Matlama cold...
Matlama have to solve LNIG Top 8 hangover or risk top four spot
Matlama won the LNIG Top 8 title three weeks ago and a quirk of the league schedule – Tse Putsoa having a bye one week then last weekend being set aside as a catch-up round – saw Matlama not play a game since.

The Pitso Ground side finally returned to action on Sunday and, granted, it wasn’t the easiest opponent to came back to – LDF.

Nevertheless, Matlama looked half asleep in the first half – as if they were still partying the night before – and LDF happily took advantage to grab a 2-0 lead within 22 minutes. Tse Putsoa recovered somewhat in the second half but it wasn’t enough as the match ended 2-1.

Matlama starting line-up v LDF:
1. Ramalefane Monaheng
2. Maluleka Khotso
3. Mokokoane Rethabile
4. Nyakro Patrick
5. Ohene Michael
6. Lillane Teboho
7. Mosehlanyane Lebajoa
8. Potloane Mabuti
9. Sera Motebang
10. Tšosane Phafa
11. Thaba-Ntšo Jane
Subs:
12. Rankhasa Nkesi
13. Moleko Katleho
14. Mahula Kefuoe
15. Ramabele Lehlomela
16. Lebokollane Lisema
17. Mareka Matebele

While it is a longshot Matlama won’t finish in the top four, Sunday’s result leaves Tse Putsoa just three points above fifth-placed Kick4Life.

Clearly, finishing in the top four is not yet guaranteed.

Mosito Matela’s charges still need to face Kick4Life and Bantu and also have to travel to Mohale’s Hoek to face Majantja. After the deserved celebrations of ending an eight-year trophy drought, Matlama need to refocus or risk spoiling that worthy achievement.

LDF and LCS finally catching fire
LDF’s 2-1 win over Matlama was their third victory in the space of a week after they beat Kick4Life last Saturday and Majantja in midweek. LDF’s goals against Matlama were scored by Paul Moloi and Thabo Monaoli and they lifted Sohle-Sohle back into fourth place above Kick4Life.

LDF starting line-up v Matlama:
1. Mphuthing Likano
2. Moloi Paul
3. Mokapane Tšolo
4. Chaba Tšeliso
5. Matli Matli
6. Mofolo Lepheane
7. Monaoli Thabo
8. Letlatsa Moshoeshoe
9. Rabi Thabang
10. Toloane Tšepo
11. Mohloai Koete
Subs:
12. Ratibisi Teboho
13. Tometsi Tankiso
14. Lebesa Lebesa
15. Phera Tšeliso
16. Ngoae Lefa
17. Lebata Tšepo
18. Moabi Tsie


LDF haven’t finished in the top four since coming third in the 2012/13 season which is the longest drought in club history. Their recent winning streak has put Motheo Mohapi’s side in the driver’s seat to end that run.
LDF winning streak
21-04-18
LDF
2-1
Kick4Life
W
25-04-18
Majantja
0-2
LDF
W
29-04-18
LDF
2-1
Matlama
W

Another fallen giant is LCS and although not as high profile as LDF’s, Masheshena also claimed an important three points by beating Likhopo 2-0 on Sunday. With the win LCS are four points behind LDF and they have given themselves an outside chance of finishing in the top four.
LCS winning streak
31-03-18
Linare
0-4
LCS
W
22-04-18
LCS
4-1
Sky Battalion
W
29-04-18
Likhopo
0-2
LCS
W

Both LDF (eight-time champions) and LCS (six-time champions) have had underwhelming seasons by the clubs’ historically high standards. However, their recent winning runs have at least given them a shot of ending the 2017/18 Econet Premiership campaign on a high.

Sefotha-fotha have all but sealed survival
Sefotha-fotha have been the underdog in almost every game they have played this season with Sunday’s game against relegated Sky Battalion being the rare exception. The new boys took full advantage to win 4-0, a victory which has all but secured their place in the top-flight for another year.

One more win for 11th-placed Sefotha-fotha would confirm their Econet Premier League survival and condemn 12th-placed Likhopo to the end of season relegation-promotion playoffs against A-Division runners up Ketane and Lithabaneng Golden.

Weekend Results:
Saturday
Kick4Life 4-1 Majantja
Linare 0-2 LMPS
Sunday
Likhopo 0-2 LCS
LDF 2-1 Matlama
Bantu 4-1 Lioli
Sky Battalion 0-4 Sefotha-fotha

Econet Premier League standings:


P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts.
1
Bantu
20
15
3
2
40
13
27
48
2
Lioli
20
12
5
3
33
17
16
41
3
Matlama
20
10
6
4
26
16
10
36
4
LDF
20
9
7
4
25
17
8
34
5
Kick4Life
21
9
6
6
30
19
11
33
6
LCS
20
8
6
6
24
15
9
30
7
LMPS
20
7
6
7
20
20
0
27
8
Linare
21
8
4
9
21
29
-8
25
9
Majantja
20
6
6
8
19
23
-4
24
10
Liphakoe
20
7
3
10
19
25
-6
24
11
Sefotha-fotha
20
4
9
7
18
26
-8
21
12
Likhopo
21
3
5
13
12
30
-18
14
R
Sky Battalion
21
0
2
19
5
42
-37
-4
·         Linare docked 3 points for late registration
·         Sky Battalion docked 6 points for late registration
·         Bantu docked 3 points and 3 goals
·         Lioli awarded 3 points and 3 goals