New VPL season kicks off with a bang

SEBONGILE MATHE

MASERU – The 2025/26 Vodacom Premier League season roared to life this past weekend, delivering a thrilling mix of dominant displays and hard-fought battles that have set the stage for an unpredictable and exciting campaign.

The opening weekend was a tale of two halves for many teams. While Lioli FC sent a powerful message with a resounding 5-0 demolition of Members FC, other fixtures were tightly contested, none more so than the stalemate between Limkokwing University FC (LU FC) and LCS FC at the Ratjomose Grounds.

The match finished 0-0, a result that left both camps with contrasting reflections. LU FC’s coach, Motebang Makhetha, praised his young squad’s resilience against a seasoned opponent.

“The first game brings a different dynamic,” Makhetha stated. “We targeted adjusting to the intensity, and the boys gave a performance I am pleased with. However, we must improve on converting our chances, especially when the opposition is under pressure.”

In a revealing strategic insight, Coach Makhetha emphasized a youth-focused approach for the season, acknowledging that a more experienced starting line-up might have secured an early advantage but valuing the long-term development of his new talent.

For LCS FC, the draw felt like two points dropped. Assistant coach Tšepo Hlojeng pointed to first-game nerves and the relentless energy of the LU FC side.

“We were expected to win, but their youthful enthusiasm made it difficult to control the game. Our main objective was scoring, and that did not materialise,” Hlojeng conceded.

The weekend’s action saw defending champions Bantu FC grind out a narrow 1-0 victory over LMPS FC, proving their ability to secure results even in tough encounters.

Newly promoted Machokha FC enjoyed a dream start to life in the top flight, securing a confident 2-0 win against Liphakoe FC. The clash between Lijabatho FC and Matlama FC ended in a 1-1 draw, highlighting the competitive balance expected this season.

The opening weekend has set several compelling narratives for the 2025/26 season, LU FC’s performance against LCS signals a growing trend of clubs investing in young talent, which could challenge the established hierarchy. Lioli’s title intentions were laid bare, their 5-0 victory immediately establishes them as serious title contenders, putting other favourites on notice.

Machokha FC’s strong start suggests they have the quality to compete, potentially avoiding a relegation scrap, and the number of close scores and draws indicates that the league will be highly competitive from top to bottom, with no easy games.

Fans can look forward to another round of fixtures this Sunday, including a crucial top-of-the-table clash between LCS FC and Bantu FC.

Weekend Results:

Lioli FC 5-0 Members FC

Lijabatho FC 1-1 Matlama FC

Machokha FC 2-0 Liphakoe FC

Bantu FC 1-0 LMPS FC

LU FC 0-0 LCS FC

Key Fixtures for Sunday, September 21:

LU FC VS Lifofane FC Ratjomose, 13:00pm

Machokha FC VS Manonyane FC Nyakosoba, 15:00pm

LDF FC VS Linare FC Ratjomose, 15:30pm

Majantja FC VS Liphakoe FC Mohale’s Hoek, 15:00pm