Africa-Press – Lesotho. Last season’s Vodacom Premier League champions Bantu and runners-up Linare will lock horns in a crunch tie on Saturday at the DIFA Leribe ground in Maputsoe.
Both teams go into the clash unbeaten after the season’s opening three games and, for Linare, this is their first real test of the campaign, and the first examination of their title credentials.
‘Tse Tala’ go into the game on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Lifofane last weekend, a match they felt they should have won, especially as a momentum builder ahead of their showdown with Bantu.
The Hlotse based side will need to be much better on Saturday to get anything from Bantu, in fact, recent history suggests they will have to be at their very best.
Linare have only beaten the champions once over the past six years and that was in April 2022. At the time, Bantu were in disarray and it was a period in which ‘A Matšo Matebele’ went through a series of changes to their coaching staff.
Bantu ended up failing to win the 2021/22 title which was won eventually by Matlama. Besides that victory in 2022, the best result Linare have recorded against this weekend’s opponents is a draw on three occasions.
Maybe the fact that the fixture has come early in the season will help the hosts because the majority of the teams have not found their rhythm yet and Bantu are not an exception.
Bantu are themselves coming from an epic battle last weekend against Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) in Mohale’s Hoek. The champions needed to come back twice from behind to rescue a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Linare and Bantu go into the Saturday’s early title battle in third and fourth place on the table respectively, with seven points each. Their runs in the league so far have been almost identical.
The defending champions boast a remarkable record against their opponents, having completed a double over Linare last season and they go into the game as favourites.
However, if both drop points, they risk falling five points behind Matlama early on, provided ‘Tse Putsoa’ win against CCX on Sunday. The fixture list has been kind to Matlama.
‘Tse Putsoa’ have not faced anyone significant so far and, by the time they do, they could find themselves in a position where they can drop points and still keep their momentum. CCX are yet register even a point this season and their struggles are likely to extend to four games this weekend.
The match-up between Linare and Bantu is an interesting one as it will see Leslie Notši go against Bob Mafoso who also happens to be Notši’s assistant coach when they are on national team duty.
Notši thinks highly of Mafoso and believes he is one of the best coaches in the country. The pair are also likely to be handed the national teams jobs on a permanent basis after doing well at the COSAFA Cup in July.
While they seem to have a good working relationship, for 90 minutes in Maputsoe, they will be on opposing sides trying to secure a win for their club sides.
In other games this weekend, LDF have started the season horribly but their spirited fight against Bantu last weekend should inspire the army team into action.
Life without Motheo Mohapi was never going to be easy and LDF are still trying to build their identity and find their feet after Mohapi’s departure to Lioli. Saturday’s game against Manonyane could be the beginning of their season.
Meanwhile, Lioli welcome ACE Maseru to Teyateyaneng and they will also be looking to build on their confidence as they try to fight for silverware this season.
Weekend fixtures: Saturday Liphakoe vs. LCS (Ratjomose 13:00) LDF vs. Manonyane (Ratjomose 15:00) Lioli vs. ACE Maseru (Lioli Ground) Linare vs. Bantu (Maputsoe) Sunday Lifofane vs. LMPS (Butha-Buthe) Limkokwing University vs. Naughty Boys (Ratjomose) Lijabatho vs. Machokha (Bambatha) CCX vs. Matlama (LAC)
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
