Africa-Press – Lesotho. Defending Premier League champions Bantu were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Liphakoe in a premier league tie at Setsoto Stadium yesterday. It is just the second time the champions have failed to pick up maximum points this season.
Bantu head coach Bob Mafoso said his team’s performance showed they had not been playing for a long time. The match was the Mafeteng side’s first league outing since a 1-0 win over CCX on June 27. It was also Bantu’s first game of the second round because they were not in action last week.
‘A Matšo Matebele’ were supposed to have played against Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) but the game could not continue because LMPS were missing several players who were on duty with the national team at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa. Bantu dominated possession in the first half and created half chances that really did not bother the goalkeeper.
It was skipper Litšepe Marabe’s free header that gave the champions the lead and looked as though they would be able to maintain their lead through to halftime but, with the last kick of the first half, Thapelo Tale equalised for the visitors setting up an interesting second half.
Mafoso said Liphakoe did well defensively. He said Bantu were knocked back by the goal they conceded in the last minutes of the first half and after that they never kicked on.
“The signs that we have not played for some time were visible today. It is just like in a knockout game, when you concede when you think you are winning, when you go to the penalties you are down,” Mafoso said.
Although Bantu failed to win the game, the title is still in their control. The champions still have two games in hand on second-placed Matlama who failed to capitalise on Bantu dropping points as they played a 1-1 draw with Lijabatho yesterday in Morija.
Mafoso said in the context of their game and Matlama’s draw, the point Bantu got against Liphakoe doesn’t look too bad but they are not focused on what other teams are doing.
Liphakoe assistant coach Tšepo Hlojeng said the plan was to always sit back and catch Bantu on counterattacks which worked for them and got the visitors a point. Hlojeng said Liphakoe’s games are not easy as they now turn their attention to Lioli this weekend.
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