MASERU – The Vodacom Premier League title challenge between Bantu and Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) is what everyone is talking about.
The sides are separated by five points at the top and even though LDF slipped up on Sunday, many believe the army side can still push Bantu all the way, especially because the two are yet to meet in the second round of the league.
However, while there is rightfully intrigue at the top, there is another titanic battle brewing at the bottom of the log that everyone seems to be forgetting.
At the end of the season, two teams will be relegated to the A Division and, at the moment, it is not clear cut who they will be.
At some point, it looked as if new boys CCX and Naughty Boys were obvious relegation candidates but with the bottom four sides now separated by just a point, it is anyone’s guess who will get the axe.
All four teams have 11 games to play but that has not stopped fans from already doing hypothetical mathematics of what is possible and what is not.
And that is not to say Lifofane with 20 points and Manonyane with 19 are by any means safe, but compared to the bottom four, they are better placed to survive.
Galaxy 13th (11 points)
After 19 games, Galaxy have managed to collect 11 points which is the same tally as Naughty Boys below them, but Galaxy have a superior goal difference.
In their last five games, Galaxy have lost four times and drawn once and that decline in form has plunged them right into the teeth of the relegation dogfight.
It has been a chaotic campaign from the start for Galaxy.
At the beginning of the season, there were talks about the club being up for sale because they were struggling to stay afloat. Ultimately, a sale did not happen but their struggles have been evident on the pitch and it is not surprising to see Galaxy fighting for their premiership lives.
Their next three games are not easy either.
They face title-chasing LDF, LMPS and relegation rivals Swallows.

Next three games:
February 12
Galaxy vs. LDF (H)
February 18
Galaxy vs. Swallows (A)
February 26
Galaxy vs. LMPS (A)
Naughty Boys 14th (11 points)
Promoted to the Vodacom Premier League at 11th hour last September, it was expected Naughty Boys would struggle and their season has been just that.
Like Galaxy, they have lost four of their last five games and drawn one. And, worryingly, there doesn’t seem to be any rainbow on the horizon for them.
Next up Naughty Boys face Lioli this weekend, followed by games against Linare and log leaders Bantu.
It is possible that if the new boys do not win at least one of those games, they could find themselves at the bottom of the log by the end of the month.
Naughty Boys have already changed coaches this season and it will be interesting to see how they fare in their next three games.
Next three games:
February 12
Naughty Boys vs. Lioli (H)
February 18
Naughty Boys vs. Linare (A)
February 26
Naughty Boys vs. Bantu (A)
Swallows 15th (ten points)
How Swallows survived relegation for the past three seasons remains a mystery and there is confidence within the club that they will again pull through, and that their astounding escapes have made them stronger and resilient.
In 2019, the Mazenod side survived on the last day by beating Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) 1-0 in Nyakosoba. It was a victory that left many speechless because it bookended a miraculous run that had seen Swallows beat Liphakoe and Likhopo in consecutive games before stunning LCS.
In 2020, their lucky stars were in full view again when Swallows were rescued by the Covid-19 pandemic which cut the season short.
And then last season Teele Ntšonyana performed miracles to pull them out of the gutter with a surge in form towards the finish line. True to their soap opera identity, Swallows sacked Ntšonyana three weeks ago due to poor results but nothing has really changed in terms of results – Swallows are on a five-game losing streak.
Perhaps they have a reason to be confident.
In the mix of their next three games, they play relegation rivals Galaxy. It is a game they will back themselves to win, but they have to battle Manonyane and Linare as well.
Next three games:
February 11
Swallows vs. Manonyane (A)
February 18
Swallows vs. Galaxy (H)
February 25
Swallows vs. Linare (H)
CCX 16th (ten points)
At some point, CCX looked dead and buried but their unexpected back-to-back victories over Lifofane and Naughty Boys have given them a massive lifeline. They are still at the bottom of the table but they are level on points with Swallows.
If they stay up it would be a great achievement for the club whose players are predominantly students.
Matlama, Lioli and Manonyane are next in line but although they have tough matches to come, it is possible CCX will still be within striking distance of survival if their rivals drop points in their games.
All the four clubs fighting to stay up have difficult games coming up. It will be a matter of who takes their chances better over the coming weeks.
Next three games:
February 11
CCX vs. Matlama (A)
February 19
CCX vs. Lioli (H)
February 25
CCX vs. Manonyane (A)
Tlalane Phahla