Mikia Kalati
Matlama on Sunday handed Lioli their first defeat of the 2014/15 season, humbling their bitter rivals 2-0 in an entertaining Premier League match played at Setsoto Stadium.
Goals from Phafa Tšosane and Lisema Lebokollane saw Ndebele ‘Tata Mocholene’ Taole’s charges collect all three points against the star-studded Tse Nala, with the win moving the team to fourth position on the 14-team Vodacom Premiership standings on 12 points from seven matches.
Prior to Sunday’s blood-and-thunder clash, Lioli had won all their four league matches, but could not deal with Matlama’s attacking flair orchestrated by inspirational captain, Tšosane.
After the loss, Lioli are now in sixth position with 10 points from five matches, although they have less games than the rest of the teams in the league, the majority of which have played seven matches since the season kicked off two months ago.
Lioli have a backlog of matches due to their players’ involvement with the national team, Likuena, in which they have seven players taking part in the on-going 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group C qualifiers.
In another league match played at the weekend, Kick4Life edged Linare 1-0 to bring new coach, Freese Ntene’s juggernaut, to a screeching halt. Ntene had won all his two matches since returning to Linare early this month, but could only watch as his side fell to the Premiership rookies in the precursor of the Matlama/Lioli tie at Setsoto.
The Motlalepula Majoro-coached Kick4Lifeare are now 9th on the Premiership table and the win against Linare was their second of the campaign in eight matches.
On the other hand, Likhopo’s woeful start to the season continued on Sunday as they suffered a 0-2 loss to Nyenye Rovers.
The Red Army now anchor the Premier League table, while the win moved Nyenye from bottom to 13th on the log.
In Butha-Buthe, defending league champions Bantu, were held to a one-all draw by Likila United, also on Sunday.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, armyside LDF, maintained their good form and top spot with a 1-0 win over Sundawana FC.
Veteran striker, Lire Phiri, came off the bench to hand LDF coach Malefetsane Pheko his sixth win in a row, which saw the team open a five-point lead over second-placed Bantu. Both teams have played seven matches since the season started on 23 August 2014.
Also on Saturday, LCS beat Qoaling Highlanders 1-0, with Thabo Seakhoa scoring the only goal, which made the difference.
After the weekend result, Wright Mofoka’s Highlanders are now 10th, while are LCS third on the standings. Both teams have played six matches so far this season.
The match between LMPS and Mphatlalatsane failed to produce any goals on Saturday at the Police Training College.
| LDF | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 19 | |
| Bantu | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 14 | |
| LCS | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 13 | |
| Matlama | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 12 | |
| Mphatlalatsane | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 11 | |
|
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | |
| Likila United | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 9 | |
| Linare | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 9 | |
| Kick4life | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 8 | |
| Q-Highlanders | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 6 | |
| LMPS | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 6 | |
| Sundawana | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 6 | |
| Nyenye Rovers | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 4 | |
| Likhopo | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 |
