Moorosi Tsiane
ON song Matlama will be out to secure a place at the top of the table when they take on struggling Galaxy in the Econet Premier League at Setsoto Stadium this afternoon.
Tse Putsoa go into the match following their hard fought 1-0 win over Liphakoe on Thursday at Setsoto Stadium to maintain their four-match unbeaten run.
Matlama have 10 points along with LCS and LMPS who have all won three and drawn one match apiece.
LCS are however, have a superior goal difference having scored 12 goals and sit atop the log table while Matlama (nine goals) are second and LMPS (four) are third.
Galaxy on the other hand have endured a difficult start to their debut season in the elite league having lost all their first four matches against LMPS, LCS, Liphakoe and LDF respectively.
Matlama coach Thabile Secker said they are aware that Galaxy are wounded lions hence they would not undermine them but said they would still be out for maximum points.
“Of course, they haven’t been playing well in terms of results but that’s beside the point because every match is different and we don’t want any surprises so we have prepared for this match like we have been doing for our previous matches,” Secker said.
“Our main focus is collecting the maximum points and I think we are on the right track so far although I wasn’t satisfied with our performance against Liphakoe on Thursday.”
The former Sky Battalion mentor said his side has eyes set on the league come the end of the season.
“Bantu and Lioli are always the favorites and so far, it looks like they are struggling so the race is open and that’s where our eyes are. However, it is still too early to say. Ours is just to keep on working hard and grind results,” he said.
He added that to achieve their mission they have collect as many points as they can during this first period of the league.
“The second round is the toughest phase of the season because there is just too much that every team is fighting for so we better collect points now so that come the second round, we will only be maintaining the momentum and try to avoid pressure,” Secker said.
On his part, Galaxy coach, Thabang Busa, who is also a former Matlama midfielder, said his old side are in for a surprise today.
“It would be great to register our first win of the season against Matlama who are also my former team. I think the boys are ready for the challenge and we are going into the match as underdogs so it means we have less pressure although we haven’t been playing well,” Busa said.
Staff, as Busa is popularly known in football circles, said they are still working hard to earn their first win and hopefully the Matlama match would be their first breakthrough.
“We are working hard to get our first points. It is not easy but we have to push and I am confident the boys will do the job on Sunday and cause an upset against my old outfit.”
Busa said they have been unlucky in some of their previous matches this season as they did not deserve to win.
“I think sometimes working hard is not enough and luck also counts but unfortunately, it looks like we don’t have much of it so we have lost matches that we were not supposed to lose.
“But we are soldering on. The players have been playing together for about three seasons now so they understand each other. We just need to keep working hard and that breakthrough will come,” Busa said.
In other league matches today, Liphakoe host Kick4Life in the first of a double header at LCS Ground that will also see LCS host Bantu in the second match.
Linare will welcome Majantja at Maputsoe DIFA Ground, struggling Likhopo will be out in search for their first win this year when they play Swallows at Ratjomose ground. In the second match LDF will host Sefotha-fotha.
To complete this weekend matches LMPS will be hoping to continue with their unbeaten streak when they welcome Lioli at PTC Ground.
Comments are closed.