MAPUTSOE (TMGLive) – The former Lesotho Premier Champions FC Likhopo, escaped relegation on Saturday when the defeated Ketane FC 2-1 in the last game of the play-offs played at the Maputsoe Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) football ground.
sports
July 12, 2018
2 min read
FC Likhopo escapes relegation
Prior to this match FC Likhopo defeated Lithabaneng Golden 1-0 at Maseru Bambatha Sports Arena, in Maseru last Wednesday. This was after Ketane also beat Lithabaneng Golden 1-0 in the first fixture of the one leg play-offs.
The two teams went into Saturday’s do-or-die match each having collected three points from their matches against Lithabaneng Golden.
This was after the two LeFA stakeholders ‑ Lesotho Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) and A Division Management Committee (ADMACO) ‑ decided to use the play-offs system in order to fill up the gap left by Sandawana Football Club, which was from the elite league for failing to comply with the rules and regulations of PLMC and LeFA during the 2017/18.
Under normal circumstances, FC Likhopo was supposed to be relegated because they were second from the bottom of the 2017/18 Premier League as stated by the PLMC rules and regulations. But the decision made by the two LeFA stakeholders gave FC Likhopo the opportunity to compete against Lithabaneng Golden Football Club and Ketane FC ‑ both from the A Division.
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The two A Division clubs came second from their respective streams. Katane was second to Galaxy in the North Stream and Lithabaneng Golden was second to Swallows in the South Stream.
Mothusi Letsie, the Public Relations Officer of the A Division said: “It is not fair to point fingers at anyone about the decision to play the play-offs. Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) Executive Committee requested to both the Premier League and A Division on what method could be used to feel the gap left by Sandawana FC.
“The two stakeholders did not make the decision until LeFA had to make the decision based on FIFA rules and regulations. At the time, Manonyane was already out of the race. The competition for the title was between Swallows and Lithabaneng Golden for the south Stream title. It is not fair to point fingers at one individual; instead the LeFA, Premier League and A Division should take the blame for the delay.”
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