Prison guards face soldiers

MASERU — Defending champions LCS will square off against army side LDF when the Vodacom Premier League season roars into life next month, according to the fixtures list released this week.
The mouth-watering tie which has been set for August 27 at Ratjomose is a clash between last season’s first and second finishers.
The match will give the army side an early chance to avenge their last day heartbreak at the hands of Masheshena.
LDF lost the league championship on goal difference to LCS last season.
Also on the opening day, Likhopo will host 2009 champions Lioli while LMPS will entertain Matlama as Lesotho’s two glamour sides, Tse Nala and Tse Putsoa, look to put last season’s disappointing league campaigns behind them.
The two newly-promoted sides, Mpharane Celtics and Majantja, have a difficult opening day to the new season.
Mpharane Celtics have the unenviable task of playing host to title-chasing Bantu while Majantja are away to last top four finishers Linare.
The following weekend of action will see Bantu host Linare in Mafeteng in another mammoth tie while the third week of action will see Linare entertain Lioli in Hlotse in the Great-North derby.
Defending champions LCS also have a tough looking start to the season.
After facing LDF on the first day Masheshena face Likhopo, Majantja away, Lioli and LMPS to open the season.
The Vodacom Soccer Spectacular is provisionally pencilled in for November while the Top Four Cup, Lesotho’s oldest cup competition, is also expected to be played in October.
The full list of fixtures is still to be finalised.
In all 264 matches will be played over the course of nine months with the league winners walking away with
M100 000 and two teams facing relegation.