Manyama Chooses SuperSport Over Chiefs
Ajax Cape Town have confirmed that Lebogang Manyama will join SuperSport United in January. The winger, who netted 15 goals in 71 starts for the Urban Warriors since his arrival at Ikamva in 2010, recently turned down a move to Premiership champions Kaizer Chiefs. Ajax and Chiefs had agreed to the sale but Manyama rejected the personal terms offered by Amakhosi, with the deal falling through. – Full Story via Supersport
Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral will only return to the club in mid-January after being granted compassionate leave. The Turkey-born tactician has been given time off to attend to family matters following the passing of his foster-father Adnan Senses. Ajax, who start training again on January 3, will resume their Premiership campaign against Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium on January 27. – Full Story via Kickoff
Former North-West University midfielder Thabo Mnyamane is finally ready to begin his new career with University of Pretoria. AmaTuks beat AmaZulu to ‘Scara’s’ services, after his superb performance during the Varsity Football Tournament in July, where he won both the Top Goalscorer and Player of the Series awards. The 21-year-old midfielder was waiting to finish his Sports Science studies at NWU, Mafikeng, before beginning his professional career in 2014. – Full Story via Kickoff
Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has set the record straight with regards to Lehlohonolo Majoro’s decision to leave the club at the end of the season. Majoro will either leave at the end of his contract in June or in the January transfer window, after informing Chiefs that he is not interested in renewing his contract, and has been linked with various clubs. Baxter admitted that he is disturbed by allegations that Majoro wants out because he does not enjoy a good working relationship with the coach, stating in no uncertain terms that it is all about playing time – or a lack thereof. – Full Story via Kickoff
SAFA president Danny Jordaan says Bafana Bafana will be playing in a new kit come March next year. German sportswear company Puma has severed ties with SAFA, but the national football teams, including Bafana, continue to wear Puma. However, Jordaan has given his word that there will be a new technical sponsor by the time Bafana host Brazil on March 5 at Soccer City. – Full Story via Kickoff
Bobby Motaung has confirmed Kaizer Chiefs have made an offer to Mamelodi Sundowns for Edward Manqele, and are also negotiating for the services of George Maluleka from SuperSport United. Motaung, Amakhosi’s general manager, told the club’s official website: “The matter of Edward Manqele now rests with his club, Mamelodi Sundowns. We have submitted our proposals and also extended our engagement to Moroka Swallows, where the player is currently on loan. We offered them one or two of our quality players as part of the deal to bring Manqele to Naturena. – Full Story via Kickoff
Ajax Cape Town will host Dutch Premier League side PEC Zwolle and Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart in Cape Town at the beginning of the new year. The Urban Warriors have lined up the international friendlies before the domestic league resumes in the new year. The dates for both matches are yet to be confirmed. Both clubs have South African connections, as Bradley Carnell and Sean Dundee played for Stuttgart in the late 1990s, while Kamohelo Mokotjo is having an outstanding season for Zwolle. – Full Story via Kickoff
Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa has assured fans that he is safe and enjoying the festive holidays with his family in Durban. This after reports emerged that Meyiwa was involved in a car accident in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend. However, the Bucs goalkeeper said the reports are far from the truth. “There is nothing like that,” he insists. “I am safe. I am home and enjoying the holidays with my family.” –Full Story via Kickoff
Kaizer Chiefs Development beat defending champions Soweto Stars 1-0, via an own-goal, to take the 2013 Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge. The tournament was played at the Nike Centre in Pimville, Soweto, from December 1, with 56 teams taking part in the senior category. Alton Macheke’s headed effort was deflected into the net for an own-goal to hand the Chiefs youngsters, who are coached by Donald Khuse, a hard-fought victory. Amakhosi took home the trophy, which is named after struggle icon Walter Sisulu (1944-2003) and a cheque for R70,000. – Full Story via Kickoff
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane says he will know the extent of his injury when the club returns to training next week. ‘Yeye’ was stretchered off in the 64th minute in Amakhosi’s 1-0 win over Golden Arrows, after straining the ligaments in his leg in a bad tackle, and did not feature in the last match of the year against AmaZulu. Letsholonyane has pulled out of the Bafana Bafana squad for the African Nations Championship because of the injury. Amakhosi face Mpumalanga Black Aces on January 24 at Soccer City. – Full Story via Kickoff
The Tlou Segolela Annual Festive Tournament kicked off in Polokwane during the week. The Orlando Pirates midfielder started the tournament three years ago, with the intention of ploughing back to his community, and the event has grown in leaps and bounds ever since. This year Segolela has secured more than R60,000 in sponsorship for his tournament. – Full Story via Kickoff
Kaizer Chiefs have decided they will release their Bafana Bafana players called up for CHAN only after they visit Mamelodi Sundowns in Tshwane on January 23. Amakhosi announced the news on their official Twitter account on Wednesday. The Premiership leaders tweeted: “Chan: Kaizer Chiefs will release the called up players after the Sundowns match on 23rd of January as our commitment to the national team. “Chan: We have written a letter to Safa indicating that we will release the called up players after the Sundowns game on the 23rd of January. – Full Story via Kickoff
Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are still battling each other for the services of Golden Arrows striker Bongi Ntuli. The 22-year-old, who is under contract until 30 June 2014, has netted four times in all competitions this season, with his last goal coming in Arrows’ 2-1 league win over Maritzburg United in late November. “There is official interest from both Pirates and Sundowns (in Ntuli),” Ntuli’s agent Mandla Mthembu confirmed. “I understand both teams are talking to Arrows.” – Full Story via Kickoff
Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper Sean Roberts is targeting a move in the January transfer window, after being frozen out of the first team. Roberts says indications of interest from local and European clubs have already started pouring in. The 30-year-old previously had a spell with Sheffield Wednesday in England. – Full Story via Kickoff
AmaZulu goalkeeper Mandlakayise Sangweni appeared in the Ngwelezane Magistrate’s Court in KwaZulu-Natal for allegedly shooting and wounding his uncle. The 26-year-old’s bail application was postponed on Monday and he would be back in court on Thursday. Sangweni allegedly shot his uncle Vusumuzi Sangweni at his homestead in Kwambonambi, on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast, apparently after an argument about witchcraft on Friday. The uncle was in a critical condition in a local hospital. Sangweni is the brother of Orlando Pirates and Bafana defender Siyabonga Sangweni, 31. His younger brother Thamsanqa, 24, plays for Mamelodi Sundowns. – Full Story via Sowetan
SA players abroad:
Steven Pienaar played a part in Everton’s 2-1 win over Southampton, but Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie slipped further out of favour in England at the weekend.
‘Schillo’ was rested following the Toffees’ 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Saturday, but came on after an hour against the Saints and helped lift his side to victory in the Premier League.
Dean Furman played for Doncaster Rovers in their 0-0 home draw with Millwall in the Championship, a game Bongani Khumalo missed with a twisted knee.
Rantie was not in the Bournemouth match-day squad at all, his move to England slowly turning into a nightmare having gone from first team regular, to the bench and now not in the final 18.
Darren Keet conceded five goals for the second game running as his Kortrijk side were humbled 5-1 by league leaders Standard Liege in Belgium on Friday night. It was a poor end to 2013 for a side that are now winless in their last eight top-flight matches and slipping well off the pace for the championship playoffs. Keet also conceded five when his team, who had boasted among the best defensive records in the top-flight up until the last two games, lost at Mechelen on December 21 with Keet’s parents in the crowd.
It was a similar story for Anele Ngcongca’s Genk, who are going through a mysterious slump in form that has taken them from title contenders in the beginning of November to now battling to make the top six. The side have lost six of their last seven league games, the latest a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Charleroi.
Ayanda Patosi’s Lokeren had a better time of it, winning 3-0 on in their final game of the year to move up to fifth in the table, above Genk.
Bafana forward Dino Ndlovu was again missing for Israeli side Maccabi Haifa as he nears a January exit from the club.