Rovers undaunted by relegation threat

MASERU — Roma Rovers are not pressing the panic button yet despite languishing in the relegation zone with just three wins from their 15 matches this season.
The 1996 champions, 12th on the latest log standings, on Saturday face an acid test in their bid to stay in the Vodacom Premier League when they face fellow strugglers Lerotholi at Fokothi.
“We beat them in the first round and we want to maintain our form with a win on Saturday,” Rovers communications and marketing officer Thabo Ntepe said.
“The problem we had is that we changed the whole team at the start of the season, but I can see that they are only starting to gel now.”
Ntepe said despite their poor campaign Rovers would survive relegation.
“Rovers are a big team. They are not a team that can face relegation,” he said.
Elsewhere, pacesetters Lioli will hope a victory against Joy on Saturday at their Teyateyaneng fortress will go some way to erase the memories of last Sunday’s clash against Matlama.
Lioli were trailing 3-0, with less than 15 minutes left on the clock, when crowd trouble forced the abandonment of the game.
In Butha-Buthe, Bantu will look to keep their top-four finish hopes alive when they face bottom side Butha-Buthe Roses on Saturday.
Bantu are third in the Vodacom Premier League, two points off the top.
However, Roses will be buoyed by their first win in seven games — a shock 1-0 win over Likhopo last Sunday.
At the Central Prison, Likhopo play host to LCS in a must-win game for both teams.
LCS in particular need to win the game to keep their fading hopes of reclaiming the championship alive.
On Sunday there is a Leribe derby when ninth-placed Mphatlalatsane host Linare, who are winless in their last four matches, at St Monica’s.

Weekend fixtures:
Saturday
Lioli vs Joy (Teyateyaneng)
Lerotholi Polytechnic vs Roma Rovers (Fokothi)
Butha-Buthe Roses vs Bantu (Butha-Buthe)
Likhopo vs LCS (Central Prison)

Sunday
Mphatlalatsane vs Linare (St Monicas)
Matlama vs Nyenye Rovers (Pitso Ground)
Majantja vs LMPS (Mohale’s Hoek)
LDF vs Swallows (Ratjomose).