Chris Theko
Linare ‘Tse Tala’, stunned newly crowned Vodacom Premier League (VPL) Champions Matlama with a 2-0 walloping in an entertaining encounter played at the Maputsoe DiFA stadium on Sunday to become the only side to complete a double over ‘Tse Putsoa’ as Matlama is popularly known, this season.
Siyabonga Mkhizi registered his name again to the scoreboard when he put ‘Tse Tala’ ahead in the first half having also scored in the 4-1 victory over Bantu in the prior weekend.
John Mofokeng doubled the lead in the second half to help Linare maintain their impressive run since Teboho Moloi returned to the hot seat.
The victory over ‘Tse Putsoa’ took Linare to seventh position with 44 points after 28 games and a good chance to finish the campaign among the top 8 teams in the league.
Meanwhile, Bantu claimed bragging rights in a well-deserved victory against bitter rivals Lioli away in Teyateyaneng on Sunday as the two teams battled it out for a top four finish.
Veteran midfielder Hlompho Kalake scored the only goal of the match as A-Matṧo Matebele looked to cement their place among the top four teams in the Vodacom Premier League.
The Mafeteng-based outfit currently sits in third position with 55 points from 28 games a point behind second-placed LDF. The two teams are 10 and 11 points behind champions Matlama respectively.
Elsewhere, LCS forward Makara Ntaitsane returned to the summit of the Vodacom Premier League top goal-scoring charts after netting his 16th goal of the campaign in the one-all draw against LMPS in a match played at LCS Ground.
Ntaitsane had been tight-up on 15 goals with LDF striker Katleho Makateng and the two are expected to take the race for the golden boot to the wire in the remaining two games.
LDF, who have been ruthless in the second round of the campaign were in action on Saturday clinching a comfortable 3-0 victory over Lijabatho at home at the Ratjomose Barracks ground.
Goals by Thabo Mongali, Motlatsi Kokoana and an own goal by Lijabatho gave the Motheo Mohapi-coached outfit all the three points to better the side’s chances of finishing the VPL contest as runners-up.
Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Swallows took another step out-of-the-coals in a 3-0 victory over struggling Kick4Life to boost chances of avoiding the chop.
Former Lesotho international Mohau Khali bagged a hat-trick as the Mazenod-based outfit went to 23 points, three ahead of Likhopo which played to a goalless draw against
already relegated Sefothofotha on Saturday.
Vodacom Premier League weekend results in a nutshell
Saturday
Sefothafotha 0-0 Likhopo
LDF 3-0 Lijabatho
Kick4Life 0-3 Swallows
Lifofane 0-0 Liphakoe
Sunday
Linare 2-0 Matlama
Lioli 0-1 Bantu
LMPS 1-1 LCS
CCX 1-1 Manonyane
