Bantu back in driving seat

MASERU – The topsy-turvy Vodacom Premier League title race offered another dramatic twist yesterday as Bantu defeated Linare 2-0 to open a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Just a week ago Bantu were in crisis.

They had just suffered a crushing loss to Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and their South African coach Abram Mongoya quit his post to return home.

A week later Bantu are once again title favourites after a commanding performance against a Linare side that had title dreams of their own.

The much-awaited fixture was a catch-up game that was put back due to Likuena’s tie against Zambia in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers late last month.

And, with both teams contesting for the league title, it was always going to be about who would take their chances.

Bantu did and now they are smiling again.

Bantu caretaker coach, Bob Mafoso, who was roped in last week to save their sinking ship praised his players for beating a dangerous foe in the title race.

He added that there was no time to change anything.

There was also no need to.

The victory has given ‘A Matšo Matebele’ some precious breathing room and Mafoso, who has authored two wins in two games in the space of three days, is proving to be the messiah the people of

Mafeteng hoped he would be.

On the other hand, LDF are suddenly falling apart.

They suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) in another of yesterday’s games. This was LDF’s second loss in a row after beating Bantu.

What a difference a week makes.

“It would be unfair for me to say that after seven days it is my work, it’s the teams. I am inheriting a team that has not been doing badly, it’s just that we have not been getting results,” Mafoso said.

“Every team goes through a rough patch which is what I think we went through. Luckily, we won three points today and, more importantly, against a team that comes behind us,” he said.

Both of Bantu’s goals came in the second half through their pair of Likuena stars, Litšepe Marabe and Lehlohonolo Fothoane. From there the Mafeteng side showed their championship mettle to see out the tie.

A fourth league title in the past five years now appears to be loading.

Bantu are first with 58 points. Linare are in second place with 54 points. LDF and Matlama are third and fourth, tied on 53 points. All four clubs have played 26 games and just four more matches remain in the season.

“There is no time to change at this time, it’s just to make the players believe they are doing the right thing,” Mafoso said.

“We have an important game on Sunday (away against Lijabatho), we want to forget about this one. Maybe we are lucky because the teams coming behind us didn’t do well,” he said.

Mafoso said Bantu are expecting a difficult game against Lijabatho. He said it would be a different game altogether to the one against Linare.

“It’s a tricky game, they beat us in the first round,” Mafoso said.

“It’s not going to be an easy game. In the league it is important not to lose. It is a different game. They are aggressive and they believe they can beat us because they did it in the first round.”

Yesterday’s Results:
LCS 0-2 Lioli
Bantu 2-0 Linare
LMPS 1-0 LDF
Weekend Fixtures:
Saturday (15:00)
Lifofane vs. LDF (Butha-Buthe)
Galaxy vs. Lioli (DIFA Leribe)
CCX vs. Liphakoe (LCA)
Sunday
Naughty Boys vs. Matlama (Leshoboro stadium)
Lijabatho vs. Bantu (Morija)
LMPS vs. Machokha (PTC Ground)
LCS vs. Swallows (LCS Ground)
Manonyane vs. Linare (Nyakosoba)

Tlalane Phahla