Mikia Kalati
LDF ended a long drought for a major trophy on Sunday after defeating LCS 2-1 in the final of the LNIG Top8.
While Sohle Sohle, as the army side is affectionately known, enjoyed a lot of success in the 1990s and before that, they have been a shadow of their former self lately. And winning the cup on Sunday after over a decade was surely a relief for coach Motheo Mohapi and his technical team.
There is no doubt that LDF were the best team over the two days having beaten Matlama in the semi-final on penalties on Saturday.
No one really gave the army side a chance as the likes of Bantu, Matlama and LCS have been superior in recent years in both cup competitions and in the league.
But the Motheo Mohapi’s side were up to the challenge and walked away with the M100 000 prize money.
It has proved difficult for Mohapi and his assistant Malefetsane Pheko to assemble a strong squad like the one they fielded at the weekend for several years but it looks like the glory day are back for the army side.
They assembled a good team that I also expected to be in the race for the Econet Premier League title this season but has however, struggled to maintain consistency to compete with Matlama, Bantu and LCS.
However, winning the LNIG Top8 will surely be a huge motivation for the club to bring glory for LDF.
The fact that the team won this trophy without injured first choice goalkeeper Likano Mphuthi shows that there is a lot of quality in their squad.
Teboho Ratibisi, who was in goals throughout the tournament, grabbed the opportunity with both hands and even won the goalkeeper of the tournament award.
Football being a team sport, it may seem unfair to single-out Tšepo Toloane as the best player for LDF but what a player he was in this tournament. He indeed deserved the Player of the Tournament accolade and I think there is still a lot that will come out of the former Liphakoe captain and not just for his club level but also on national level.
I also feel sorry for LCS coach Mpitsa Marai and his charges because they also worked hard to get to the final. This is a team that has reached three cup finals in the last three seasons.
This is surely heart-breaking for a young coach like Marai, who has done so well bringing in a lot of youngsters within the Masheshena set-up to form this formidable team.
I really feel sorry for him because he has also helped to revive the careers of the likes of Sepiriti Malefane and Mosiuoa Boseka, who had lost the trust of a lot of coaches due to their off the field lifestyles.
Both players have made good use of the lifeline handed to them by the club, so much that Malefane is also back in the national team set-up and enjoying his football more than before.
But surely, this is not the end of the world because Marai is still in his early days as a coach and has age on his side. All he needs is for the LCS hierarchy to continue supporting him and hopefully, he will soon break his duck for trophies.
I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the winners from Saturday’s Lesotho Annual Sports Awards (LASA).
The awards are without doubt a good initiative to reward the efforts of the athletes.
