Tough start for Matlama

MASERU – Defending Vodacom Premier League champions Matlama will start their title defence with a difficult away game against traditional rivals Linare on Sunday.

The champions are beginning their camping a week later than their rivals because they were engaged in CAF Champions League duties last weekend where ‘Tse Putsoa’ fell at the hands of Cameroon’s Coton Sport de Garoua.

After their continental disappointment, the champions return home hoping to start their league campaign on a better note.

Although match fitness will not be a problem for the champions because they have already played two competitive games, head coach Molebatsi Mothobi said he is not pleased with having to play catch-up already.

Facing Linare at the Maputsoe DIFA Stadium makes Matlama’s task more difficult.

The last time the two sides met at the venue was in May and Linare ran out 2-0 winners over ‘Tse Putsoa’.

Like Matlama, Linare go into Sunday’s clash wounded after they bottled a 2-0 lead against Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) to draw 2-2 in their season opener last weekend.

After the result, Linare head coach Tebogo Moloi suggested ‘Tse Tala’ are still not at the required level of fitness which contributed to them crumbling in the second half against LDF and relinquishing a healthy halftime lead.

With both sides apparently desperate for a win, Sunday’s battle between the blues from Maseru and the greens from Leribe should be an entertaining one.

The two rivals are always highly motivated and evenly-matched when they clash and their recent head-to-head meetings bear that out. In their past 11 meetings, Linare have won three times while Matlama have won four. Four of the off matches have ended in a draw.

This weekend’s game will also mark the anticipated Matlama debut of striker Lazola Jokojokwane who joined from Bantu.

Another game that jumps off the weekend’s fixtures list is the tie between Bantu and Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday.

Bantu new coach Moeketsi Mongoya will be searching for his first victory after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Lifofane in the side’s season opener last weekend.

A victory over a potential title rival such as LCS could kick-start Bantu’s season but there are concerns over their attacking depth after they decided to go into the season with only three strikers – Tšeliso Botsane, Thabiso Mahola and Sentle Masale.

While the Lesotho youth international Botsane is a great talent, there are question marks over whether he can handle the pressure of leading ‘A Matšo Matebele’ to the title. Bantu’s other two options meanwhile are still unproven at the highest level although Mahola did score against Lifofane last weekend.

LCS, on the other hand, will go into the game with their tails up after they demolished CCX 3-0 last Saturday which has ‘Masheshena’ sitting pretty at the top of the Vodacom Premier League heading into the second match day.

Elsewhere this weekend, Lioli will also be looking to build momentum by adding another three points when they take on LDF on Saturday.

‘Tse Nala’ beat Swallows 1-0 in their opening game and new Lioli head coach Bob Mafoso said he expects an open game against LDF when the sides meet at Ha Ratjomose.

Weekend fixtures:
Saturday (15:00)
Machokha vs. Galaxy (LCS Ground)
Swallows vs. Naughty Boys (Morija)
LDF vs. Lioli (Ha Ratjomose)
Sunday (15:00)
Linare vs. Matlama (DIFA Ground, Maputsoe)
Lijabatho vs. Lifofane (Morija)
Bantu vs. LCS (DIFA Mohale’s Hoek)
Liphakoe vs. Manonyane (LCS Ground)
LMPS vs. CCX (Ha Ratjomose)

Tlalane Phahla