Mohapi, Lekaka suspended

MASERU – The Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) has suspended Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) attacking midfielder Bonang Mohapi for four games starting this weekend.

A similar punishment has also been given to Swallows defender Katleho Lekaka who will serve a six-game ban.

The two players were said to have been responsible for a violent melee between LDF and Swallows when they faced each other in Morija two weeks ago in a Vodacom Premier League encounter.

Title-chasing LDF won the game 2-1 but the victory was overshadowed by the violent confrontation between the two teams over an incident that happened on the pitch.

The chaos extended to officials of both clubs who ended up fighting one another.

The PLMC launched an enquiry into what happened, and based on the referee’s report, it has concluded that the two players were the instigators with Lekaka receiving the heavier sentence.

PLMC spokesperson Bokang Phasumane said the two teams did not escape unscathed financially for bringing the league into disrepute. Each received a monetary fine as well.

“We looked at the referee’s reports (and the chaos) started with two players, then the officials got involved and it turned into a fist fight. We decided to punish the players and they will serve their suspensions in full starting this weekend,” he said.

LDF were slapped with a R15 000 penalty while Swallows were fined R10 000.

“LDF was fined M15 000, half of which has been suspended for the remainder of the season. Swallows, likewise, have been fined M10 000, and half of it has also been suspended for the remainder of the season,” he said.

The incident between LDF and Swallows in Morija is not the only violent incident from this season. In October, former Matlama head coach Mothobi Molebatsi was assaulted by a fan in Morija earlier in the season which led to his resignation.

Referees have also been threatened and chased around by fans after the games and this kind of behaviour from players and supporters is unacceptable and needs to be rooted out of football.

With Vodacom Premier League games set to be streamed online by FIFA from next season, the PLMC will have to tighten their sanctions to ensure there is no repeat of this season’s violence.

Meanwhile, Vodacom Premier League games are set to resume this weekend after last weekend’s slate was postponed because of heavy rainfall.

The league’s fixtures list will continue as normal and there will be no midweek catch-up games.

This weekend’s big game will see Swallows involved in an intense clash with Manonyane on Saturday in Nyakosoba.

Swallows are second from bottom with tenpoints and the Mazenod-based side are fighting to get out of the relegation zone while Manonyane are trying not to get dragged into it.

Manonyane are in 12th place with 19 points and the implications of Saturday’s game mean that the players and officials will have to be vigilant.

Weekend fixtures:

Saturday (15:00):

Manonyane vs Swallows (Nyakosoba)

LCS vs Machokha (LCS Ground)

LMPS vs Lijabatho (PTC Ground)

Matlama vs CCX (Ratjomose)

Sunday:

Bantu vs Liphakoe (DIFA Mohale’s Hoek)

Naughty Boys vs Lioli (Leshoboro stadium)

Galaxy vs LDF (DIFA Leribe)

Lifofane vs Linare (Butha-Buthe)

Tlalane Phahla