Mikia Kalati
Winless Linare have vowed to end their poor premier league run with victory over in-form Matlama in Maputsoe on Saturday.
Tse Tala have lost all three opening matches of the current Vodacom Premier League campaign, but the club’s public relations officer, Refiloe Makhobotloane, says the miserable streak would end against Matlama. Linare are bottom of the 14-team premiership table while Matlama are second after one draw and two wins.
“It’s a massive task because Matlama have been doing very well since the season started, but we sat down with our technical team to try and find answers to the poor form,” said Makhobotloane on Tuesday.
“It must be noted that we are not blaming anyone for the poor run and our coach, Ntate Lebojoa Mphongoa, has the backing of the management as he works at getting the team on track.”
Makhobotloane says the players are understandably gloomy due to lack of results.
“The poor run has come as a bit of a surprise because we did well in our pre-season matches. As for the Matlama tie, the boys are looking forward to it. We are calling on our supporters not to turn their back on the team during this difficult period because we all need each other to get things right.
“I can also assure you that our players will be working hard to get the required results because it is not good for the team and the Linare brand to be in the situation we are today,” he said.
On the other hand, Matlama coach, Moses Maliehe told the Lesotho Times his team remained “a work in progress” despite the impressive form.
“We are slowly getting there, but I’m still not happy with the overall performance of the team because I believe we can do better,” Maliehe said.
“Winning the last two matches has really boosted the players’ confidence, but we are taking each match as it comes, and not getting carried away.
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“The target is to collect maximum points as early as possible because we want to compete and challenge for honours this season.”
Maliehe also told the Lesotho Times that the good start had helped him settle into his new role he assumed at the start of this season.
Meanwhile, Bantu, who clinched their first three points of 2015/16 last weekend, host Mphatlalatsane in Mafeteng also on Saturday.
Katiso Mojakhomo is hoping his charges pick-up from where they left-off last Sunday, while Mphatlalatsane are looking at registering their first win of the new campaign.
Likhopo, under new coach Shalane Lehohla, host Likila United at LCS Ground seeking to continue their rise in the on-going season since the appointment of the former Likuena midfielder to the post at the beginning of this term.
Likila United, who surprised many last season by finishing sixth on the 14-team premier league table, have been struggling with their game and are yet to taste victory since the season got underway in mid-August.
Another beleaguered side, Sundawana, are at home to this season’s surprise package Rovers, who have drawn one and won two of their three matches of the new season.
The Dynamites sit third on the log but face unpredictable Sundawana, who remain winless and are gunning for their maiden win of the season.
Defending league champions, Lioli are only in action on Sunday when they host LDF at Setsoto stadium.
Tse Nala are the sole team with a 100-perecent record in the league and would be aiming for their fourth straight win against an army side still searching for their first victory of the new season.
Also on Sunday, LMPS and LCS go head-to-head at the Police Training College in a potential thriller, while Kick4Life and Liphakoe face-off at Old Europa to wind-up the weekend matches.
After surprising LCS in their season-opener, Kick4Life have since suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Matlama and Rovers.
On the other hand, Liphakoe have lost one and drawn two of the three league matches they have played so far this season.
Full weekend fixtures
Saturday: Linare v Matlama, Bantu v Mphatlalatsane, Likhopo v Likila United, Sundawana v Rovers.
Sunday: LMPS v LCS, Lioli v LDF, Kick4Life v Liphakoe.
