Mikia Kalati
Vodacom Premier League log-leaders, LDF, will be hoping to maintain their impressive start to the 2014/15 season when they face inconsistent Sundawana FC in Butha-Buthe on Saturday.
Sohle-Sohle, as LDF are affectionately known, have won five of their opening six matches of the campaign and drawn the other, and sit at the top of the 14-team Premiership table with 16 points.
LDF coach, Malefetsane Pheko, has attributed his team’s impressive performance to “team work”.
“Saturday’s match against Sundawana is as important as our previous ties and it is very key that we maintain our good form,” Pheko said.
Pheko praised his charges for their commitment and determination to end the long trophy drought, dating back to the 2004/5 season.
“Credit should go to my players who have been very outstanding so far this season,” said Pheko, adding he had not made many changes to the team since he was made head-coach on a permanent basis at the beginning of this season.
“If you look at the team, it’s our old squad of players. All I had to do was to bring togetherness into the team. The players are all happy to fight for their team, hence we have been getting these good results.”
Sundawana, on the other hand, have been struggling for form, and have only won once from their opening six matches of the season.
The Butha-Buthe side has also drawn three times and lost twice and could be in more in trouble with head-coach, Moses Maliehe, intending to quit the club over personal issues.
Meanwhile, another potentially explosive match scheduled for Saturday would see third-placed LCS taking on ninth-placed Qoaling Highlanders.
LCS coach, Katiso Mojakhomo, said he was confident his side would get all the three points against Highlanders.
“It’s another important match for us and it is important that we get the three points as we want to do well this campaign,” Mojakhomo said.
The country’s biggest football fixture between Lioli and Matlama, and the Bantu versus Likila United tie, are unlikely to take place as the clubs have requested their postponement due to the involvement of their players in the Likuena squad, which played Angola last night in Luanda.
Vodacom Premier League weekend fixtures
Saturday: Qoaling Highlanders v LCS –LCS Ground; LMPS v Mphatlalatsane-PTC Ground; Mpharane v LDF-Butha-Buthe
Sunday: Likhopo v Nyenye-LCS Ground; Kick4Life v Linare-Setsoto Stadium.
