Africa-Press – Lesotho. Bantu FC continued their winning streak in the Vodacom Premier League (VPL) through whipping Likhopo FC 3-0 on Saturday at Setsoto stadium. Bantu appeared to be the
only team on premier league that is constantly winning all its matches with high margin of goals. At the first minutes of the match the tempo of the match
was low as both teams were not attacking or creating any chances. Bantu central defenders, Tšoanelo Koetle the former Lioli midfielder and Likuena key player
together with Motlomelo Mkwanazi; a regular player at Likuena, started up the play from the back and distributing the ball to their left and right backs Bokang Sello and Itumeleng Falane.
This allowed Bantu to open spaces that they used when launching an attack. In the first 15th minutes Likhopo was dominating the ball position from the back.
Likhopo central defenders, Theko Khosimotse and Sehloho Lisema passed most of the balls to Likhopo defensive midfielder Morapeli Lekhotso even when he was marked tight
and that urged Lekhotso to be more defensive as he was not given enough space to play forward passes. Bantu was using the left side when launching an attack because of the Left back that had a good pace.
The pace of Bokang Sello enabled him to cover a very long distance therefore he was able to make quality cross balls, moreover the combination of Sello and Hlompho Kalake who was playing as left winger was
so perfect. In the 20th minutes Bantu’s natural winger, Litšepe Marabe was on his best chasing Likhopo’s defender Lerotholi Lerotholi and making hard deep cross
which lead to own goal by Mafa Mokhoele and the score was 1 nil in favor of Bantu. Likhopo tried to get back into the game but lacked composure in the final third.
Both teams created chances in the first half and Likhopo striker, Mari Ntabiso took a close shot but Bantu goal keeper Selisa Thabo made a wonderful safe.
Bantu’s patience paid off in the 38th minute of the second half when Bantu winger Litšepe Marabe made a cut back cross on the final third of Likhopo and Lehlohonolo Fothoane, box to
box midfielder scored the second goal for A-matšo-Matebele. In the dying minute of the first half, Likhopo senior midfielder got injured and was replaced by Moetsuoa Mokhejane who influenced the midfield of Likhopo to
be more stable by making accurate forward passes and killer passes which seemed to be more difficult for Bantu defenders to deal with. The game intercity was
high in the second half. Likhopo launched more attacks using a counter attack system, but Bantu defenders did not give them enough space to play the ball on
the danger zone. Likhopo’s right winger Sootho Liphooto was more aggressive in the second half as he was collecting the ball from the midfield and from the
their right back, this allowed him to make wonderful crosses but good height of Bantu defender allowed them to defeat them through headers. In the 80th minute
Litšepe scored the third goal of Bantu through a wonderful cross from Kalake and the final score was 3-0 in favor of Bantu. In an interview with Bantu
head coach, Bob Atang Mafoso stated that he was expecting a straight win from this game. Mafoso stated that the game plan was to keep the ball by dominating
in ball possession in other to create spaces that Bantu will use when launching an attack. Mafoso stated that he is very glad to collect yet another three points.
