MAFETENG — With the top fives sides separated by just six points, even a sangoma would have trouble predicting the destination of the M100 000 jackpot that will come with winning the Vodacom Premier League championship.
Indeed, if things keep going this way, the top-flight league will have a logistics dilemma come the final day of the season.
With 10 matches to go, the crown could still go to Sea Point, Teyateyaneng, Mafeteng, an army barracks or a police training college.
None of the leading pack has managed to assert authority in the title race.
Last weekend only provided more twists to the campaign.
Pacesetters Lioli were shocked 0-1 by Swallows in Mazenod to cede the reins to Matlama, who were inactive last weekend but were boosted by a boardroom decision.
Matlama were awarded the maximum points for their abandoned match against Rovers.
With the defeat, Lioli slipped to second on the latest standings and the defending champions now have the same number of points, 39, as the third and fourth-placed teams.
LDF, now third, swapped positions with Bantu after the army side edged the Mafeteng title hopefuls 1-0 on Sunday.
But if the top teams’ form is anything to go by, more turns are sure to follow.
LDF were at the beginning of the month two points clear at the top but then suffered a tame 1-0 defeat to LMPS before consecutive draws with Joy and lowly Rovers saw them slip down the ladder.
Matlama’s two-all draw with struggling Linare on February 7 came when Tse Putsoa had an opportunity to grab first place from LDF, while champions Lioli have been held to disappointing home draws by Joy and Nyenye Rovers in recent weeks.
Another team smiling after the weekend’s results are LMPS, who dragged themselves back into the title picture with a 1-0 win over Likhopo.
With 36 points and having played a game less than Bantu and LDF, LMPS are in the mix.
At the bottom of the table things are looking just as unclear.
Nyenye Rovers’ upturn in fortunes has dragged them away from Majantja, Rovers and Botha-Bothe Roses in the relegation quicksand.
On Sunday Nyenye beat Mphatlalatsane 1-0 thanks to Moli Lesesa’s first-half penalty to move within three points of the safety of 12th place.
Expectedly, the Maputsoe-based side’s form has reeled in poorly performing sides above them so much so that Linare, in eighth place on 26 points, are still in danger of the dreaded chop.
The Vodacom Premier League is getting serious, but for this weekend at least attention turns to the Top Four tournament.
Weekend results
Saturday: Swallows 1-0 Lioli, LCS 3-1 Linare, LMPS 1-0 Likhopo.
Sunday: Lerotholi Polytechnic 1-0 Majantja, Joy 1-0 Botha-Bothe Roses, Nyenye Rovers 1-0 Mphatlalatsane,
Bantu 0-1 LDF.
