By Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Premier League pacesetters, Lioli, will be hoping to continue with their fine start to the new campaign when they host inconsistent Linare in Teyateyaneng on Saturday.
Tse Nala, as the Berea based side is affectionately known, have outclassed their opponents convincingly winning all four of their opening matches.
They head into the Saturday’s tie as the only side alongside their rivals Matlama to have registered four back-to-back victories in their opening matches of the 2013/14 league campaign.
Lioli coach, Mosholu “Shoes” Mokhothu, told the Lesotho Times that his team is hungry and determined to continue with their winning streak and will fight for the points in their Saturday clash against Linare.
“It is important to forget our good run and fight for the points against Linare because they are also a good side,” Mokhothu said.
“We have to give the match the respect it deserves as our approach is to take each match as it comes.
Mokhothu, who has won the league title with both Lioli and his former club LCS, told this paper that he is happy with the performance of his team from their opening four matches.
“There is still a lot expected from this team, but I’m happy so far with the display the players have shown in the last matches,” said Mokhothu.
He praised new striker, Nkoto Masoabi, who has already bagged seven goals in four games. “The club spend a lot of monies on him and I’m happy for him because he is already living up to expectations,” he said.
Mokhothu said the club is yet to reach their full potential and expects them to get better with time.
“I’m confident that we have assembled a squad that can help us retain the league title, win the upcoming Independence Cup trophy and also do well in the continental Caf champions league,” Mokhothu said.
Lioli host a Linare side that has lost momentum after winning the first two matches.
The Thulo Leboela side lost their last matches to LDF and Bantu and will have to double their efforts to get a win against the ever improving Lioli side.
Another interesting encounter on Saturday sees unbeaten Bantu hosting stubborn Mphatlalatsane in Mafeteng.
The St Monica’s based side have shocked a lot of people since returning to top flight football this season. They have registered wins over LMPS and LCS and last Sunday they held LDF to a goalless draw after the Army side had won all their three opening matches.
Mphatlalatsane coach, Tšepo Hlojeng, said he is not surprised that the team has done well since bouncing back to top flight football.
“I’m not surprised at all because the good results we have so far translate to hard work that we put in during pre-season,” Hlojeng said.
He said their biggest attribute to the early success since returning to the elite league has been consistency in using the same players for the last 3 seasons.
“I believe the biggest thing to our impressive start to the campaign is because we have kept the same squad in terms of the playing personnel.
He told this paper that they will approach Saturday’s away fixture with the respect that it deserves.
“We were a bit lucky to have been relegated as well as missing out on regaining promotion as quickly as we would have liked,” said Hlojeng.
The former Likuena captain said they have a bunch of hard working and disciplined players who are always willing to learn.
He also attributed the good performances of the team to the solid management.
Premier league weekend fixtures:
Saturday
LDF vs Melele
Bantu vs Mphatlalatsane
Lioli vs Linare
Sunday
Nyenye Rove vs LMPS
LCS vs Matlama
Mpharane vs Joy
Qoaling Highlanders vs Likhopo
