Mikia Kalati
The 2014/15 Vodacom Premier League season gets underway this coming Saturday, with four potentially explosive clashes opening the floodgates to what should be nine months of mouth-watering football.
Probably the pick of the afternoon’s matches is last season’s runners-up Lioli hosting Sandawana FC, while LCS also face LMPS, LDF are at home to Nyenye Rovers and Mphatlalatsane entertain Matlama on the opening day of the 2014/15 campaign.
Sandawana FC coach Moses Maliehe told the Lesotho Times his charges were ready for Tse Nala, as Lioli are proudly known, and hoping to begin the season with a bang by upsetting one of the giants of domestic football.
Sandawana FC were previously known as Mpharane Celtic, but assumed a new identity after being purchased by traditional healer Thato ‘Sandawana’ Nkone a few weeks ago. Nkone has since made his ambitions to build a formidable club known, and is ready to spend big to bring Lesotho’s best players to Sandawana FC.
“I am quite happy with our preparations and I believe we are ready for the opening match of the new season, although we are struggling to finalise deals to bring in new players,” Maliehe said.
“Lioli are a very strong team, but we also have a very good crop of young players capable of holding their own against any team in the league.”
Maliehe, who is also national under-20 team coach, further said he was hoping to sign more quality players before the transfer-window closes at the end of this month and make Sandawana one of the best sides in Lesotho football.
“We very much want to be a force to reckon with in the Premier League, and that must start by signing the best players around and getting results against big teams like Lioli,” said Maliehe—a former Lioli player, who was also part of Tse Nala’s coaching department last season.
Lioli coach, Mosholu ‘Shoes’ Mokhothu, on the other hand, said he was aware of the threat Sandawana pose and would field his strongest possible side in order to start the 2014/15 campaign with a resounding win.
“It is very important to start the season on a high note and this means we will have to go for the three maximum points on Saturday, as we will be at home in TY,” Mokhothu said.
“We are playing against a team that has always proved stubborn in our previous meetings (when they were still called Mpharane Celtic) and it will surely be even more difficult following some changes that have taken place at the club.
“I have had some challenges having my whole squad together, but eventually managed to see them in action over the weekend during a tournament held in Quthing. I was happy with the boys’ level of fitness and hunger to win, and this is what I hope to see on Saturday.
“Because of the changes that have taken place at Sandawana both in the technical department and among the players, I can’t really say I know much about the team. That is why we have to be very careful in our approach, when we meet on Saturday.”
Elsewhere, on Saturday, LCS host LMPS in another potentially intriguing match. Both teams had disappointing seasons in 2013/14, in which they ended the campaign in sixth and ninth place, respectively. However, LCS coach Katiso Mojakhomo believes his team would be more potent and coordinated this time around after releasing Katleho Lethabela and Kholuoe Phasumane because of disciplinary reasons. Mojakhomo also believes midfielder Ralekoti Mokhahlane is in the right frame of mind to play his best football again.
“I think we have managed to get our house in order and the team is now ready to compete,” Mojakhomo said.
The country’s most successful team, Matlama, which is now under the mentorship of veteran coach, Ndebele ‘Tata’ Taole, start their campaign with a tricky away fixture against Mphatlalatsane in St Monica’s, also on the opening day of the season.
On the other hand, defending league champions, Bantu, will only be in action on Sunday when they host Kick4Life at Leshoboro Stadium.
Full weekend fixtures
Saturday: Lioli v Sandawana; LCS v LMPS; LDF v Nyenye Rovers; Mphatlalatsane v Matlama.
Sunday: Linare v Qoaling Highlanders; Bantu v Kick4Life; Likhopo v Qalo.
