Matlama Football Club recorded their first win of the season following a hard-fought 2–1 victory over LDF FC last Sunday at Ratjomose Stadium, bringing an end to their run of two consecutive draws in the 2025/26 Vodacom Premier League campaign.
Coming off a goalless stalemate against Maroala, Matlama needed a strong response, and they delivered, though not without struggle. LDF, still reeling from a narrow 2–1 loss to Linare, were once again left to rue missed opportunities and late lapses in concentration.
Coach Shalane Lehohla was visibly relieved with the result but remained realistic about his team’s form.
“Playing against an experienced team like LDF is never easy, especially when fielding mostly young and relatively inexperienced players,” said Lehohla.
“I’m satisfied with the result, though it is not enough to say we have solved all our problems.”
The win came at a crucial time for Lehohla, whose side had failed to score in their opening fixtures. He attributed some of the early struggles to off-field challenges, with several players balancing football with their jobs.
“Around four players missed the last match due to work commitments. Although they returned for this game, it was clear that their lack of preparation took a toll,” he revealed.
Despite those setbacks, Matlama showed improvement in their attacking build-up. The return of key players such as Jane Thabantšo, Phafa Tšosane and Charlie Hlalele added valuable experience and composure to the young squad.
“I am proud of my performance after some time away. I am still working to reach my best form. Our squad has a lot of young talent, and it is up to us experienced players to guide and support them,” Hlalele said.
The match itself was tightly contested, with both sides creating chances. Matlama opened the scoring, but LDF equalised midway through the second half. A defensive lapse from LDF late in the game allowed Matlama to seal all three points, sending their fans into jubilation.
Despite their rocky start, Matlama will hope to carry this momentum into the tournament and stake an early claim for silverware.
“We are far from where we want to be, but I believe we’re moving in the right direction. We ask our supporters to be patient and continue backing the boys,” Lehohla added.
It was a case of déjà vu for LDF. Once again, they conceded a decisive goal in the dying minutes, a frustrating pattern that head coach Malefetsane Pheko was quick to address.
“This is the second game we’ve lost late. It’s extremely painful. Our players are failing to manage games. The midfield isn’t linking up properly, and we sat back too much in the first half.” Pheko said.
With back-to-back defeats, Pheko admitted that morale is low but vowed to address the team’s mental lapses during training.
“I need to instill belief and focus in the players. We cannot let this become a pattern,” Pheko added.
Weekend League Results:
Manonyane FC 1–1 Majantja FC, Lijabatho FC 1–1 LMPS FC, LCS FC 3–0 Members FC, Matlama FC 2–1 LDF FC, Linare FC 0–0 Machokha FC, Liphakoe FC 2–1 LU FC.
The league will pause for the much-anticipated Top 4 Tournament, which kicks off on October 5. It will feature last season’s top teams: Matlama, Lioli, Bantu, and LDF.
Summary
- Matlama Football Club recorded their first win of the season following a hard-fought 2–1 victory over LDF FC last Sunday at Ratjomose Stadium, bringing an end to their run of two consecutive draws in the 2025/26 Vodacom Premier League campaign.
- Our squad has a lot of young talent, and it is up to us experienced players to guide and support them,” Hlalele said.
- Once again, they conceded a decisive goal in the dying minutes, a frustrating pattern that head coach Malefetsane Pheko was quick to address.
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.
