VPL 2020/21 season to resume

Chris Theko

The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) has directed all the league bodies to start with preparations that will eventually lead to the smooth resumption and subsequently the continuation of the 2020/2021 season.

Following the easing of restrictions which had effectively barred all forms of contact sport in the country the football governing body has decided that the season which was disrupted shall resume and play to completion.

“Having received two recommendations from the League Management Committees (Premier League Management Committee, A, B and C Divisions) and also following two consultative meetings with PLMC, the National Executive Committee of the LeFA has resolved that the 2020/21 season shall resume and hopefully be played to a finish,” reads a statement released by LeFA on Wednesday.    

The PLMC has further been directed to re-fixture the Lesotho Defence Force FC and Lesotho Mounted Police Services FC matches, which were not played on account of the two teams having three or more players in the national team and that the PLMC rescind their earlier decision of docking points and or effecting forfeiture in the two clubs matches against them.

The two premier league sides were docked points by the PLMC after they were found guilty of misconduct for failing to honour their Vodacom premier League (VPL) matches in June because some of their players were on duty with the senior national team that was at the time preparing for the COSAFA Cup.

The leagues are also requested to furnish the office of the Secretary General with their proposed schedule of events and activities that will lead to the full resumption of the game in all divisions.

“The schedules should reach the office of the Secretary General no later than 12noon on Wednesday 06th October 2021,” reads the statement. 

However, the statement further stated that there is a chance that the 2021/22 season is unlikely to be played given the amount of time remaining before the traditional end of the season which under normal circumstances would be around 31^st May 2022.

“It does not look likely that such a season would be able to be factored in without having to overload players with two or three matches per week in the elite leagues,” further said the statement. 

Early last month the 11 premier league teams had tasked the PLMC with a recommendation to the LeFA NEC that the league be ended prematurely with only three voting against while two were not present.