Leemisa Thuseho

PREMIER league defending champions, Bantu, yesterday beat Sefotha-Fotha 0-2 to end their five-game winless streak at Ratjomose Ground, in Maseru.
Tšepang Sefali scored in both halves to hand Thabo Tšutšulupa his first win since joining the Mafeteng outfit last month.
In their last game, Bantu drew 1-1 with LCS. Sefotha-Fotha, who are currently at the bottom of the league with nine points, recorded their first win last weekend after edging Lifofane 0-1.
Yesterday Sefotha-Fotha got off to a strong start in the opening minutes while Bantu started slowly trying to find their feet in the opening exchanges of the match.
Bantu produced their first chance on 15 minutes but Itumeleng Falene missed the target.
The visitors eventually took the lead on 20 minutes when Sefali slotted the ball in after Sefotha-Fotha goalkeeper, Lefu Teboho, found himself in no man’s land.
Thereafter, Bantu started dominating the proceedings while the home side were struggling to breakdown their opponents’ defence.
Just before the break, Bantu made an injury induced substitution replacing striker Motlalekhotso Lerotholi with Tšepo Suturumane. And in the second half, Sefotha-Fotha rested Tumelo Maine bringing in Teboho Mohale.
Bantu responded by ejecting Neo Mokhachane and Jane Tšotleho for Lehlohonolo Fothoane and Mokone Marabe respectively.
The changes paid off as the side extend its lead on 69 minutes through Sefali who earned himself a brace on the day. Sefali was later sacrificed for Katiso Selili while Hlompho Kalake was substituted for Motlomelo Mkwanazi.
Sefotha-Fotha’s last substitution of the day saw Kopo Chobokoane making way for Nkopane Chitja.
Tšutšulupa said he was is hopeful that the win was the beginning of more good results to come.
“This will boost the morale of the players after they had failed to win in five consecutive matches,” Tšutšulupa said.
“Today we were determined to win and there is progress in what we are building on.”
Bantu started with the same first 11 which played LCS last week and Tšutšulupa said he was avoiding making too many changes which could negatively affect the players’ confidence.
“We are in a building process and we must stick to what we want and avoid making changes after every match,” he said.
Sefotha-Fotha coach, Lerato Mokheba, admitted that he was concerned with his side’s showing given its position in the log table.
“The league is now left with just 10 games and that means we must fight for survival. We won last weekend and this loss has taken us back, however, we will go back to the drawing board and hope for better results in our next game,” Mokheba said.
In another game at Ratjomose, Lioli edged Swallows 1-2 while Matlama won 1-0 over LDF in Maputsoe.
Kick4lIfe and LMPS drew 0-0 at LCS Ground while LCS beat Liphakoe 1-0 at the same venue. CCX were held to a goalless draw by Lifofane in Hlotse.