New football season kicks-off
NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – The 2022/23 Vodacom Premier League season begins tomorrow as CCX FC, Manonyane and Lifofane host the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) FC, Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) FC and Bantu, respectively. Premier League rookies, Galaxy, former champions Lioli and last season runners-up the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) FC begin their campaign against Liphakoe, Swallows and Linare, respectively.
It shouldn’t be difficult for LCS coach Shalane Lehohla to have a better start to this season. Lehohla guided LCS to third-place in his first season as the team head coach last season. The former Likuena player (Lehohla) is too sensible to be looking too far ahead, and he can’t afford to.
An outing against CCX who finished their first top-flight league season lying on position 12 on the 16-team Vodacom Premier League log table, is at the forefront of his mind. “We are ready for the new season, but what will be important is how we will perform when the games commence,” said Lehohla in an interview with Public Eye yesterday. Lehohla further said: “The CCX match doesn’t pose any threat to us. We just need to be buoyant for the clash.”
Lioli new coach, Atang ‘Bob’ Mafoso, is surely expecting his team to continue its good run after winning the Alliance Winter Challenge three weeks ago, and the Swallows tie shouldn’t be a tough encounter for the Teyateyaneng-based side at home. Lioli finished last season lying on fifth position, while Swallows were last sitting on position 14, just above the relegation zone. Mafoso is appointed to lead Lioli into a brave era after he guided Bantu to the league title before.
“I think we are ready for the new season and we must get off to a good start against Swallows, especially now that we are going to play at home,” said Mafoso. Mafoso further said: “Some of our players will be playing in front of the Lioli fans for the first time in the league, but cups like the Alliance Winter Challenge gave us the feel how it is like to play for Lioli and every player would like to impress with their first game.”
Lioli forward, Morapeli Lesoetsa, will not be available for selection this weekend. Lesoetsa is nursing an ankle injury which he last sustained in a friendly match against Township Rollers of Botswana a month ago. “But other players like Mafa Moremoholo and Mokoteli Mohapi are back from injuries. “Mohapi’s problem was a shoulder while Moremoholo sustained a hand injury,” Mafoso said. Like Lesoetsa, Moremoholo sustained the injury in the same match against Township Rollers.
Weekend fixtures on a glance
Saturday
CCX vs LCS (LAC Ground 15:00)
Manonyane vs LMPS (Nyakosoba Ground 15:00)
Lifofane vs Bantu (Butha-Buthe 15:00)
Sunday
Galaxy vs Liphakoe (DiFA Leribe 15:00)
Lioli vs Swallows (TY 15:00)
LDF vs Linare (Ratjomose Ground)
