Former SuperSport United midfielder Clifford Mulenga has signed a three-year-deal with Mpumalanga Black Aces. Also joining the Zambian midfielder at Aces is SuperSport defender Danleigh Borman, who has signed a one-year-deal. – Full Story via KickOff.com
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala will be out until at least October 22. ‘Shabba’ picked up a knock in the MTN8 semi-final against Orlando Pirates on September 24, and will miss Amakhosi’s Telkom Knockout fixture against Polokwane City on Saturday. “Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala has suffered an adductor muscle injury,” team physiotherapist Dave Milner tells Chiefs’ website. “He had a scan which showed muscle damage. He should recover before our game against Golden Arrows in Durban on the October 22.”
Former Bidvest Wits striker Thembinkosi ‘Terror’ Fanteni has resurfaced at National First Division side Chippa United. Fanteni, who recently had unsuccessful trials at AmaZulu and Bloemfontein Celtic, is a free agent after parting ways with the Clever Boys in August.
Ryan Moon has become the third membet of his family to sign for Maritzburg United. The 17-year-old striker follows in the footsteps of brother Bryce and father Patrick, who was signed by current club chairman Farook Kadodia back in 1979. “I am really excited to have signed and now be a part of Maritzburg United Football Club,” Moon tells the club’s official website. “It is a great feeling to have signed for the club that my dad and brother have played for. I know that I will have to work really hard to become successful and I am looking forward to working with the head coach, Ernst Middendorp, and the technical team.”
Esperance coach Maher Kanzari is hoping his side can turn Orlando Pirates’ ‘fickle’ fans against them in the first leg of their African Champions League clash in Orlando on Saturday night. Kanzari told reporters his side are coming to South Africa to attack, and that an early goal at the weekend would see the Buccaneers faithful pile the pressure on their own side. “What we gathered is that while Pirates fans are flamboyant, vibrant and intimidating, they can also be fickle,” Kanzari said. “If we score first, we can really unsettle them. They tend to become disillusioned when their team is on the back foot. So it will be vital for us to score first.” Kanzari says his team has no thoughts of playing for a draw and will try to set the tempo for the game. “We are not going to sit back and allow Orlando Pirates to dictate pace on us. That type of soccer is against our culture of entertaining, attack and defend as a soccer unit. This is the nature of our game. Our success over the past years has been built around taking the game to our opponents. We believe in soccer’s oldest adage that attacking is the best form of defence.”
National First Division side Chippa United have sent a letter of complaint to the PSL and SAFA regarding referee Bafana Mosia, who officiated their match against Jomo Cosmos at Philippi Stadium on Friday night. The referee, who hails from Soweto, awarded both teams questionable penalties and made comments that have angered Chippa United management. When Chippa captain Andile Mbenyane and his teammates appealed for a hand-ball inside the penalty box, it is alleged that Mosia said he could not give the team a second penalty. – Full Story via KickOff.com
Belgian goalkeeper Glenn Verbauwhede has been issued with his permanent residence permit by the Department of Home Affairs paving the way for him to be registered as a ‘non-foreigner’ and then become available for selection at Mamelodi Sundowns. The 28 year-old will however have to start further down the pecking order in his bid for game time as Wayne Sandilands is already also waiting for his turn behind reliable first choice Kennedy Mweene. – Full Story via KickOff.com
Platinum Stars coach Allan Freese has hailed the impact of Senegalese midfielder Issa Sarr. Sarr has impressed in Rustenburg since signing from National First Division outfit Chippa United early into the season. He has been an ever-present in the side, notably being named Man of the Match in Stars’ MTN8 triumph at the weekend. – Full Story via KickOff.com
Bloemfontein Celtic defender Thabo Nthethe will lend his expertise to help with the design of a new soccer boot. The South Africa international recently signed as an ambassador for Mr Price SPORT, and will play a pivotal role in developing a Maxed boot. – Full Story via KickOff.com
Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the signing of Ugandan international defender Ivan Bukenya. The club tweeted: “Kaizer Chiefs would like to acknowledge the signing of the Ugandan International, Ivan Bukenya. We welcome him to the Family!” – Full Story via KickOff.com
As many as six Baroka FC players were hospitalised after surviving a serious car crash Sunday on their way home. The Limpopo National First Division side was returning from a match against United FC in the North West, where Baroka lost 4-0 at Moruleng Stadium. The players admitted to hospital were Tshepo Mothiba, Mathari Motupa, Augustine Rampela, Maleasenya Kuduku, Thabo Ralebakeng and Caiphus Mashiane. The driver Billy Matamane is apparently in a critical condition taking the tally of those injured to seven. – Full Story via KickOff.com
New SAFA president Danny Jordaan says he does not believe South Africa is a “football nation” – something which needs to change. Jordaan believes South Africa does not play enough soccer, as a nation, and that needs to change. “The challenge for all of us is the development and reconstruction of South African football. Many say we are a football nation but I say we are not. Germany is playing 80,000 junior matches over a weekend. Spain is playing 30,000. France is playing 40,000. If you find 3,000 matches in South Africa you’re doing well. So that’s the problem. We have to get the junior leagues going.” – Full Story via KickOff.com
There are first time call-ups for Sibusiso Vilakazi and Keagan Dolly in Gordon Igesund’s latest Bafana Bafana squad, while Siphiwe Tshabalala is out with an injury. Bafana will face Morocco in an international friendly on October 11 in Agadir. The team will depart from South Africa on Monday, October 6, for Morocco. After the Morocco match, Bafana will play a training game on October 14. The opponent is yet to be confirmed. Igesund emphasised youth during his announcement, saying that the next World Cup team for 2018 will have an average age of 25-26. – Full Story via KickOff.com
SQUAD
Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (c) (Kaizer Chiefs)
Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United)
Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk, Belgium)
Defenders:
Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium)
Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic)
Bongani Khumalo (Doncaster Rovers, English Championship)
Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs)
Buhle Mkhwanazi (University of Pretoria)
Siyanda Xulu (FC Rostov, Russia)
Kgosi Ntlhe (Peterborough United, English League 1)
Midfielders:
Kamohelo Mokotjo (PEC Zwolle, Holland)
Bongani Zungu (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Sibusiso Vilakazi (Bidvest Wits)
Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren, Belgium)
Daylon Claasen (Lech Poznan, Poland)
Keagan Dolly (Ajax Cape Town)
Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers, English Championship)
Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, England)
Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs),
Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows)
Strikers:
Tokelo Rantie (Bournemouth, English Championship)
Kermit Erasmus (Orlando Pirates)
Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)
Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi has named a much changed squad to face Bafana Bafana in their friendly match next month. Taoussi has retained just 13 players from the Africa Cup of Nations squad earlier this year. Fulham midfielder Adel Taarabt was omitted from that squad after allegedly refusing to meet Taoussi, but makes a return to the team for the match next month. Bafana have an unbeaten record against Morocco, with two wins and two draws in four previous meetings, most recently an AFCON qualifier which ended 2-2. Morocco became the last side to qualify for the African Nations Championship to be held in South Africa next year after they defeated holders Tunisia 1-0 in Sousse in July. – Full Story via KickOff.com
Morocco squad:
Goalkeepers:
Mohamed Amsif (FC Augsburg, Germany)
Yassine Bounou (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Anas Zniti (Royal Armed Forces)
Defenders:
Mehdi Benatia (Roma, Italy)
Zakarya Bergdich (Real Valladolid, Spain)
Issam El Adoua (Levante, Spain)
Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (Montpellier, France)
Zouhair Feddal (Siena, Italy)
Adil Karrouchy (Raja Casablanca)
Abdelatif Noussir (Maghreb Fes)
Mohamed Oulhaj (Raja Casablanca)
Midfielders:
Abdelaziz Barrada (Al Jazira, United Arab Emirates)
Younes Belhanda (Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine)
Omar El Kaddouri (Torino, Italy)
Abdelilah Hafidi (Raja Casablanca)
Mounir Obbadi (Monaco, France)
Fettah Said (Wydad Casablanca)
Salahdine Saidi (Royal Armed Forces)
Adel Taarabt (Fulham, England)
Forwards:
Abdeslam Benjelloun (Royal Armed Forces)
Mohamed Berrabah (Wydad Casablanca)
Youssef El Arabi (Granada, Spain)
Mounir El Hamdaoui (Malaga, Spain)
Abderrazak Hamedallah (Aalesund, Norway)