Vodacom Premier League (VPL) title hopefuls Lifofane FC have turned their full attention to the start of the 2026/27 domestic campaign after wrapping up their pre-season programme with a demanding test against South African giants Kaizer Chiefs’ reserve side.
Despite suffering a 3-1 defeat in Sunday’s international friendly, the VPL outfit believes the encounter provided exactly the type of challenge needed ahead of the new season, which kicks off on 22 August.
Lifofane will begin their campaign against Limkokwing University as they look to build on last season’s impressive performances that currently see them occupying second place in the league standings.
The hosts made a dream start in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, with newly signed defender KhotsoMoleko making an immediate impact against his former club. The ex-Kaizer Chiefs senior player rose highest to head home the opening goal, handing Lifofane a deserved early advantage.
However, the South African visitors gradually found their rhythm and restored parity before the halftime break through Donay Jansen.
Kaizer Chiefs DDC returned from the interval with renewed purpose and increased intensity. KamogeloMalefo completed the turnaround by firing the visitors into the lead before Eliyahu Benjamin added a third goal to seal a convincing victory for the Glamour Boys’ youthful side.
While the final scoreline favoured the visitors, the result was secondary to Lifofane’s broader objective of evaluating the squad before competitive football resumes. The technical team rotated players throughout the contest, using the match to assess combinations, fitness levels and tactical execution against quality opposition.
The performance offered several positives, particularly in the team’s ability to retain possession and build attacks from the back. However, it also exposed areas requiring improvement, including clinical finishing, decision-making in the final third and maintaining consistency when facing high-intensity opponents.
Lifofane Public Relations and Communications Officer Teboho Ntoane said the club had achieved its primary objective despite the defeat.
“Our objective was to assess the team’s readiness and use this match as part of our preparations for the upcoming league season. We achieved that objective,” Ntoane said.
He added that the lessons learned would prove valuable as the technical team fine-tunes the squad before the season opener.
“The players and technical staff have learned important lessons from this match, and we will use those lessons to strengthen the team before the league campaign begins.”
The friendly attracted a sizeable crowd, with local football supporters eager to welcome the Kaizer Chiefs delegation to Lesotho. Fans were particularly excited by the presence of first-team midfielder MduduziShabalala, who travelled with the squad and drew significant attention throughout the visit.
Among those in attendance was long-time Kaizer Chiefs supporter Thabo Thoabala, who described the occasion as a memorable experience but admitted disappointment with Lifofane’s performance.
“It is disappointing to see a Vodacom Premier League club lose to a youth development side like Kaizer Chiefs DDC. I expected Lifofane to control the game, play with confidence and secure the victory,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Thoabala acknowledged the importance of the fixture as part of Lifofane’s preparations and expressed hope that clubs from Lesotho would continue raising their standards to compete consistently with South Africa’s elite.
With pre-season now complete, Lifofane’s focus shifts to the opening whistle of the new VPL season. Although Sunday’s defeat exposed shortcomings that require attention, the club remains confident that the experience gained against one of South Africa’s leading development academies will prove invaluable as they prepare to launch another ambitious domestic campaign.
Summary
- Vodacom Premier League (VPL) title hopefuls Lifofane FC have turned their full attention to the start of the 2026/27 domestic campaign after wrapping up their pre-season programme with a demanding test against South African giants Kaizer Chiefs’ reserve side.
- Despite suffering a 3-1 defeat in Sunday’s international friendly, the VPL outfit believes the encounter provided exactly the type of challenge needed ahead of the new season, which kicks off on 22 August.
- KamogeloMalefo completed the turnaround by firing the visitors into the lead before Eliyahu Benjamin added a third goal to seal a convincing victory for the Glamour Boys’ youthful side.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
