MASERU — Matlama’s home match against Majantja on Saturday will go ahead despite Tse Putsoa having five players on duty with Lesotho’s Under-20 side.
Likhopo, who also have five players in the youth squad, have requested that their Saturday match against Lerotholi be postponed.
Matlama spokesman Lesolle Phalatsi said the Vodacom Premier League leaders didn’t want to break their momentum.
Matlama have won eight of their last 10 matches to shoot to 52 points, seven ahead of second-placed Lioli.
“We sat down as the committee and technical team of Matlama and we agreed to play,” Phalatsi told the Lesotho Times yesterday.
“We have a quality squad and we can put out two teams if need be.”
Matlama’s players on national duty at the four-nation tournament in South Africa include attacker Mohau Khali, defender Tšoanelo Koetle and the side’s top scorer Litšepe Marabe.
Phalatsi didn’t believe this would affect Tse Putsoa when they seek to take another step towards claiming a record-breaking ninth league title.
Phalatsi’s sentiments were echoed by Tse Putsoa striker Dlomo Monapathi who has weighed in with six goals this season.
“Every game we play we are taking it as a cup final,” Monapathi said.
“We are favourites (but) we know that we cannot afford to drop points because we will cause problems for ourselves.
“There is pressure. The fans are always asking us to win the league for them and we are confident.”
Matlama’s opponents on Saturday, Majantja, who won the league in 1995, have 17 points, 11 away from safety.
Running out of games to maintain their status as a top-flight team, the Mohale’s Hoek side will be desperate to halt a five-match losing streak with a win at Pitso Ground.
On Sunday defending champions Lioli will look to capitalise on any slip-ups when they host Bantu, while in-form LCS host relegation-threatened Nyenye Rovers.
Weekend fixtures
Saturday:
Mphatlalatsane vs Rovers (St Monica’s), Linare vs LMPS (Hlotse), Matlama vs Majantja (Pitso Ground).
Sunday:
Lioli vs Bantu (Teyateyaneng), Joy vs Swallows (Hlotse), LCS vs Nyenye Rovers (Central Prisons), Botha-Bothe Roses vs LDF (Butha-Buthe).
