Moorosi Tsiane
LIKHOPO will be hoping to beat Lioli for the second time this season when the two sides clash in an Econet Premier League match at Setsoto Stadium this afternoon.
Halemakale Mahlaha’s outfit shocked Lioli with 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Teyateyaneng towards the end of last year courtesy of a Thabiso Mari goal.
The Red Army goes into the battle with their heads up following their 2-0 victory over LDF last weekend. However, Lioli on the other hand are beaming with confidence after their 6-0 thumping of Swallows last Sunday.
Mahlaha said they are not expecting an easy game against one of the country’s top guns but said his charges are ready for the clash.
“It is not going to be an easy fixture,” Mahlaha said adding: “We managed to beat them in the first leg and we know that they are going to come gun blazing seeking revenge, so we are ready”.
“Like every team, we will also be playing for a win.”
The former Lioli mentor said the confidence is high in his team but lamented that the team has been inconsistent.
“The morale is high. Matches of this kind are a motivation to players. However, our problem has been lack of consistency and that is one area that we have to work hard on and hopefully we will get there.
“Lioli is a big team and beating them will always be a challenge but the boys are motivated. Besides that, anything can happen in a game of football.”
Lioli coach Lehlohonolo Thotanyana said his team is on the right track.
“Our target is still to improve our standings on the log and we can only achieve that by winning our matches so this weekend’s match will not be an exception.
“We need to collect as much as we can and see how far we will have gone when the season ends.
“There is lot at stake this time of the season because teams are fighting for the top eight and the top four. Others are trying to escape relegation while others are challenging for the league. So, every match is important and we are not expecting anything less when we face Likhopo,” Thotanyana said.
He said although Likhopo were not too sharp an opponent when they played the first leg, they won because they showed more hunger for a win.
“I think they were hungrier than us in the first leg but they were not troubling us. We committed silly mistakes and got punished. I just hope we will be better on Sunday,” Thotanyana said.
Swallows will host Bantu later at Setsoto Stadium while Galaxy welcome on song Kick4Life at Maputsoe DIFA Stadium.
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