Matlama eye victory

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – Matlama are hopeful for a repeat of the stroke of luck, which saw them grabbing maximum points against Lioli last Saturday as they face Bantu in a league tie at Setsoto Stadium tomorrow.

Shetsane Ramoseeka’s own goal was enough for Tse Putsoa to stamp their authority on top of the 14-team Econet Premier League log table which they currently lead with 41 points.

Matlama are ahead of the second-placed LCS with a four-point difference while third-placed Bantu trail with nine points.

The defending champions Bantu have two games in hand after collecting 32 points from 15 matches. Both Matlama and LCS have played 17 games in which the prison warders collected 37 points.

On an average, the 2018/19 Econet Premier League season remains with nine matches before it ends.

Bantu head coach James Madidilane intends to defend their league title at any cost.

Madidilane therefore said they were looking to collect maximum points in all their remaining games, including their crucial match against Matlama.

“We have to defend our league title, and that is our main goal this season,” Madidilane told Public Eye on Wednesday.

“And if we could win all our remaining games the difference between us and Matlama would be a two-point gap, and we are determined to collect maximum points in each and every game left.”

Bantu on Wednesday hammered premier league rookies Galaxy 4-0 in a catch-up league match at the DiFA Maputsoe Stadium in Leribe.

If Bantu win all their remaining games they would have 65 points, while Matlama would finish with 68, if they could also win all of theirs.

But as things stand now, that appears to be impossible for the two giants.

The fact that they still have to play each other means one of them is likely to lose tomorrow or both drop points if they draw.

There is no doubt the pressure which comes with games of this magnitude is always huge and Matlama head coach Thabile Secker took note of that fact.

“In football we all expect to win, draw or lose but the last results (draw and loss) are not important,” said Secker.

“And the more you win the bigger the pressure becomes. So we cannot say either the Lioli or Bantu match is better than the other, meaning we are preparing ourselves for the Bantu match the same we did when we prepared for the Lioli match last week.”

Secker, however admitted the victory over Lioli last weekend was great motivation to his players going to tomorrow match.

“The spirit is currently very high at our camp after defeating Lioli and we are ready for the Saturday game,” he said.

In other Saturday league matches LCS will host LMPS at the LCS Ground, while LDF will visit Liphakoe in Quthing.

At the DiFA Maputsoe Stadium on the same day, Linare will host Lioli.

On Sunday, FC Likhopo face Kick4Life while Swallows lock horns with Majantja, both matches at the Ratjomose Ground. Galaxy host Sefotha-fotha at the DiFA Maputsoe Stadium.