VPL title race heats up

…as relegation scrap intensifies at the bottom

With just seven matches left in the Vodacom Premier League (VPL) season, the race for the championship, and the desperate scramble to avoid relegation, is reaching boiling point.

At the top, defending champions Lioli FC have reignited their title defence, closing the gap on the current league leaders Matlama FC to a single point after a statement 3-0 win over Manonyane on Tuesday night.

Matlama, who have set the pace for much of the season, stumbled with a 1-1 draw against mid-table Lijabatho FC, dropping two critical points that could prove costly in the run-in.

Matlama remain in pole position with 55 points, but Lioli’s resurgence sees them breathing down their rivals’ necks on 54 points, and with the two sides yet to face each other, the title remains very much up for grabs.

In reaction to their recent match, Matlama’s head coach Halemakale Mahlaha acknowledged the weight of expectation but remains unfazed by the pressure.

“Pressure is there, but that is not a new thing to any one of us. Where people are working there is always pressure, even in our respective personal lives there is pressure,” Mahlaha said.

Despite their slip-up, Mahlaha remains confident that Matlama have what it takes to stay ahead in the title chase.

“In a football match we can expect three things; a win, draw or a loss, so we take the point as we believe it will help us going forward.”

But the road ahead is treacherous. Matlama must still face all of the current top three, including Lioli and third-placed Bantu , as well as tough sides like LDF, LCS, Majantja, and Linare. It is a gauntlet that will test their championship credentials to the limit.

“To be the best, you must beat the best, so we will be ready for every match and make sure that we do well,” Mahlaha said.

Lioli, on the other hand, are carrying momentum into their heavyweight clash with Bantu on Saturday. Victory there, combined with a Matlama stumble, could see them take control of the title race.

With three teams still eyeing the crown, the VPL is serving up one of its most dramatic finishes in recent years.

At the other end of the table, the battle for survival is equally fierce. ACE Maseru (12 points), Liphakoe (10), and Mzamane (10) are all fighting to avoid the drop as the relegation zone tightens like a vice.

With just a few games left to save their seasons, every point now matters — and none of the bottom three can afford further missteps.

This weekend’s fixtures could reshape both ends of the log. Key matchups include: