MASERU — Three years ago LCS were the most feared team in Lesotho.
Mention the name Masheshena and people trembled.
The Central Prisons side won the league title in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons making the national championship their baby.
In the 2008 season, to go with their league triumph, Masheshena also won the MGC Supa 8 and the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular and only missed out on the Imperial Top 8.
It was a period of dominance that hadn’t been seen since the days of LDF’s all conquering teams of the late 1990s.
But out of nowhere LCS fell from their position of power, dropping down the ranks of mere mortals.
In the 2008/09 season, LCS meekly surrendered their crown to Lioli, finishing 11 points behind Tse Nala.
Then last season LCS suffered the ignominy of finishing outside the top four.
It was the end of an era said many, with Likuena internationals Mpitsa Marai, Moitheri Ntobo and Khoto Sesinyi said to be over the hill.
Then at the start of the season influential midfielder Refiloe Potse jumped ship, joining Linare while LCS could only muster draws in their first three games.
But since the arrival of Mosholi Mokhothu as assistant coach to Mafa Ramakau in October LCS have soared like a phoenix.
On Sunday LCS beat Lerotholi 3-1 thanks to a brace from striker Thabane Rankara and one from old war horse Sesinyi.
The win was Masheshena’s sixth in a row and propelled them three points clear at the top of the Vodacom Premier League log ahead of LDF.
More impressive though has been their goal-scoring feats.
Masheshena have now scored a stunning 13 goals in their last three matches after handing 5-1 beatings to Mabeoana and Maduma previously.
Masheshena’s tally of 28 goals is some way the best in the league.
LCS also now have a goal difference of 17 and are the only side whose goal difference is in double digits.
Their form is ominous especially with the apparent inconsistencies of their rivals.
No team in the league has more than two wins in their last five matches while Masheshena seem to be catching fire at the right time.
One such rival is Bantu who could only bag three of the six points that were available to them this past weekend.
A Matšo Matebele were humbled 2-1 at home by Likhopo on Friday in what was Bantu’s first loss at home in the league all season.
Bantu eased the pain with a 1-0 win over Mabeoana on Sunday but they are now five points behind LCS, with no games in the bag, after promising to mount a serious bid for what would be their first title.
The Mafeteng side has lost two, drawn two and only won one of their last five games.
Champions Matlama also dropped points on Moshoeshoe’s Day, although their point came in the Battle of Lesotho against Lioli.
Tse Putsoa are fifth with 22 points, 11 behind LCS though they do have two games in hand.
The other title contender in action on the weekend was Linare who battled to a 2-1 win over Swallows in difficult conditions on Saturday.
Linare, on a mission to claim their first title in 31 years, are four points behind Masheshena.
Second-placed LDF had their feet up all weekend, but they like the rest of the league will be worried by LCS’s sudden explosion of form.
Masheshena are looking scary again.
Weekend results
Friday: Lioli 0-0 Matlama, Bantu 1-2 Likhopo
Saturday: Swallows 1-2 Linare
Sunday: Bantu 1-0 Mabeoana, Lioli 1-0 Joy, Lerotholi 0-3 LCS, Mphatlalatsane 0-0 Maduma
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