Moorosi Tsiane
THE dates for the 2019/20 Econet Premier League season have finally been revealed with the first matches to be played on the first Saturday of September 2019.
Former champions Bantu will open the league at home against Sefotha-fotha at Setsoto Stadium.
Last season Bantu started their campaign against the same side and were held to a one-all stalemate which haunted them for the rest of their season. In the end, they relinquished the title to Matlama.
Tse Putsoa will begin their title defence against Swallows in the second match of the Setsoto double header on the same day. Swallows last season survived relegation on the last day of the campaign courtesy of a 1-0 triumph over LCS.
The rest of the teams will be in action on 8 September with Kick4Life welcoming Liphakoe at LCS Ground. Both teams had an incredible season managing to finish in the top eight with Liphakoe achieving the feat for the first time since.
Lioli, who finished seventh last season, will be hoping for a positive start under new coach Thabile Secker this season as they visit third place finishers LCS in the second match of the double header at LCS Ground.
It will be a battle of the government institutions at Ratjomose Ground as LDF will be hoping to start from where they finished off last season (fourth) when they take on LMPS.
Debutants, Lifofane will start their campaign in the elite league with a fierce battle against Linare who have also been busy on the transfer market trying to reinforce their squad for the new season.
The Butha-Buthe outfit will be hopping to make a positive start that will help them settle as soon as they can in the top flight if they are to maintain their status this season.
Linare, who have also been fighting for survival since the 2014/15 season, will be eying a great start in the new campaign to compete for honours.
Other new comers, Lijabatho will face off with Likhopo at yet to be confirmed venue.
Mahala, as the Morija outfit is popularly known, has been rocked by off the field problems that have seen team president Sipho dissolving the whole executive committee and the technical team led by Motolo Makepe who helped them gain promotion into the premier league.
Likhopo had a poor start last season and lived to regret it for the rest of the season and Halemakale Mahlaha would not want a repeat of the sour experience this season.
Saturday 7 September:
Bantu vs Sefothafotha (Setsoto Staium)
Swallows vs Matlama (Setsoto Stadium)
Sunday 8 September:
Kick4Life vs Liphakoe (LCS Ground)
LCS vs Lioli (LCS Ground)
LDF vs LMPS (Ratjomose Ground)
Lifofane vs Linare (TBA)
Lijabatho vs Likhopo (TBA).