. . . as league enters home stretch
Moorosi Tsiane
Maseru
Bantu captain Tlali Maile says there is still a long way to go before the Mafeteng-based side clinch their first-ever Premier League title.
A Matšo Matebele, as Bantu are affectionately known, top the 14-team Premiership table after collecting 52 points, and lead Lioli and Linare, who occupy second and third positions respectively, by eight points, with four matches remaining before the season comes to a close .
However, Maile believes the war is far from over, adding the team must remain focused until the end to avoid last year’s saga, in which they lost the title to Lioli after a dramatic dip in form in the last seven matches of the campaign.
Maile told the Sunday Express: “What happened last season cannot be easily forgotten, because history can repeat itself.
“That is why we have been saying all along that we need to remain focused because that was a bitter lesson for us. It’s not over until it is really over.”
“We still have a lot of work to do; to be exact, we still have four matches to play so I cannot really say we have won the league championship as yet because anything can happen,” he added.
The national team defender, however, admitted Bantu are in a better position to win the championship than both Lioli and Linare.
“We stand a good chance, though, to be crowned league champions if you look at the points difference between us and the two teams we are competing with, namely Lioli and Linare.”
Bantu were supposed to play relegation-threatened Joy in Leribe yesterday but the match was postponed to accommodate the funeral of former Joy president, Dr Knight.
However, A Matšo Matebele, who are yet to lose a match this season, on Thursday meet Linare, before taking on Likhopo, Qoaling Highlanders and Joy, respectively.
“You can see that the remaining fixtures are not going to be easy at all,” Maile said.
“We expect stiff resistance, especially against Linare, who are also chasing the title, so we will have to beat them to strengthen our chances of taking the championship.”
Maile thanked the supporters for their loyalty and urged them to keep on rallying behind the team.
“I would like to pass our sincere thanks, as players, to the supporters who have been with us through thick and thin, and we are urging them to continue coming to our matches in their numbers,” said the inspirational skipper.
“Their support could mean the difference in these last matches, hence this appeal for them to continue backing the team until the last match of the season.”
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