Local News
De Sa Hopeful To Feature In World Cup With Iran
Roger de Sa says that he has not joined Ajax Cape Town, and adds that he might be doing some work at the World Cup. Since resigning as coach of Orlando Pirates, De Sa has been linked with the Urban Warriors, as well as a Bafana Bafana assistant position should his close friend Carlos Queiroz get the head coach job. However, the former Bidvest Wits mentor insists nothing is on the table just yet. – Full Story via Kickoff
Chippa United coach Vladislav Heric says that former Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits striker Thembinkosi Fanteni is no longer training with the club. ‘Terror’ was looking to revive his career with the National First Division outfit but has now reportedly stopped training with the team. – Full Story via Kickoff
Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Mark Mayambela is closer to earning a contract in Sweden after receiving another standing ovation from Djurgardens fans. Mayambela impressed the Swedish team’s management and fans once again after another heart-warming performance at the weekend. The Cape Town-born midfielder’s manager Tim Sukazi says the Djurgardens board of directors are set to meet this week to finalise the player’s deal. – Full Story via Kickoff
Milano United have signed former SuperSport United and University of Pretoria striker Fikru Lemessa until the end of the season. Milano coach Theo Hempe is confident the Ethiopia international, who was recently released by AmaTuks, will bolster the National First Division club’s promotion prospects. “We are a little bit thin up front and signing a player like him will help us with the experience he has,” says Hempe. – Full Story via Kickoff
Pitso Mosimane and the South African Football Association have reached a settlement over the former Bafana Bafana coach’s claims of wrongful dismissal. “Jingles” was relieved of his duties on June 3 last year after Bafana were held to a 1-1 draw by Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier, effectively making qualification for the finals in Brazil a near impossible mission. Mosimane demanded R10million from SAFA for wrongful dismissal, more than double the R5million that was being offered. After meeting in court, a settlement has now been reached, though the amount agreed upon remains confidential. – Full Story via Kickoff
Mark Harrison has been sacked as Golden Arrows coach. Harrison only joined the club in October, but a horror run has seen them rooted to the bottom of the standings. They did beat Polokwane City on Saturday, ending a streak of six consecutive defeats, but did so with Shaun Bartlett and Bheka Phakathi on the bench. – Full Story via Kickoff
Nhlakanipho Ntuli will finally join Dutch side FC Twente on February 22. The young midfielder, who featured for the national Under-20s at the recent CAF Youth Championships, has been ‘parked’ at Orlando Pirates since the start of the season as he awaited his 18th birthday. Ntuli turns 18 today, and the club has now confirmed that he will arrive in the Netherlands next week Saturday to start his European career. – Full Story via Kickoff
Ajax Cape Town left-back Aiden Jenniker has extended his contract with the club until 2017. The 24-year-old, whose previous deal was expiring in June, has been a regular feature in the side since graduating from the Parow-based outfit’s youth ranks in 2009. “It means a lot to the club to have players of the calibre of Aidan Jenniker at Ikamva,” Ajax executive director Ari Efstathiou told the team’s official website. – Full Story via Kickoff
Following their 1-0 victory against Orlando Pirates on Saturday night, Mamelodi Sundowns have officially been crowned Q-Innovation1 winners. The Brazilians won the first quarter with 17 points. The Buccaneers can still reach 16 points in the last match of the quarter, but Sundowns are now beyond reach and will walk away with the R1.5million prize. It is Downs’ first win since the introduction of Q-Innovation last season. – Full Story via Kickoff
Kaizer Chiefs have got their CAF Champions League campaign off to an impressive start following their 3-0 win over Namibian side Black Africa at Soccer City Stadium. Mandla Masango was first on the scoresheet, while Kingston Nkhatha contributed a brace to give the Glamour Boys a comfortable win. Masango put Chiefs ahead in the 18th minute benefitting from a cross by Knowledge Musona. Nkhatha made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute beating Subeb from outside the box. – Full Story via Kickoff
Platinum Stars have completed the signing of goalkeeper Mwenya Chiwe on a three-year contract. Chiwe caught the eye when he excelled during the recent Nedbank Ke Yona Cup game against Kaizer Chiefs in Tshwane. The 19-year-old has already been registered with the Premier Soccer League for this season. – Full Story via Kickoff
Lehlohonolo Majoro’s agent Tim Sukazi has responded to suggestions by AmaZulu that he made it difficult for them to re-sign their former striker last month. Sukazi and Majoro were headline-makers during the January transfer window after the Kaizer Chiefs striker had allegedly signed a pre-contract with Orlando Pirates. The player is expected to join the Buccaneers at the completion of his contract in June, but for now he remains on the sidelines at Chiefs. – Full Story via Kickoff
Former Golden Arrows mentor Manqoba Mngqithi has taken up an assistant coaching role with Mamelodi Sundowns. The 42-year-old, who left Arrows for the second time in October last year, will serve under Pitso Mosimane at Chloorkop, alongside Alex Bapela. Mngqithi also had stints in charge of AmaZulu and Chippa United. – Full Story via Kickoff
AmaZulu appear to have beaten a host of PSL clubs to the services of hotshot Ugandan striker Yunus ‘Manucho’ Sentamu. Sentamu is due to arrive at AmaZulu within the next week for a brief assessment and medical ahead of a move that will finally settle the dust about his future. The 19-year-old, who has been playing for Ugandan Premier League leaders Vipers SC, has been the subject of widespread speculation since his impressive showing at the recent CHAN tournament, in which he scored three goals. – Full Story via Kickoff
Mamelodi Sundowns have confirmed that former Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic defender Brent Lawler is still training with the club. Lawler has been training with Sundowns since late last year but it remains unclear if and when he is going to be signed. Thulani Thuswa, the communications co-ordinator at Sundowns, confirms the presence of Lawler at Chloorkop. – Full Story via Kickoff
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport is waiting for Kaizer Chiefs player Josta Dladla to respond to charges before setting up a date for his disciplinary hearing. The 34-year-old tested positive for Methylhexaneamine following a clash between Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on October 26. When we spoke to the player’s business manager Steve Kapeluschnik, he said his client was hoping for a plea-bargain. – Full Story via Kickoff
Bidvest Wits defender Matthew Booth was slightly injured in a late-night altercation in Cape Town’s Long Street last Friday night, after the team had lost 1-0 to Ajax at Cape Town Stadium. According to Booth, he and some of his teammates had ventured out to the city’s ‘party’ street to have a few drinks, and at one stage, Booth had left the group to go to an ATM. – Full Story via Kickoff
AmaZulu are ready to take missing Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed-Awal Issah as far as FIFAs legal department after a breach of contract. Awal has gone AWOL since last year December and his whereabouts are still unknown. Usuthu marketing manager Lunga Sokhela says that the club is ready to take legal action against the Accra-born midfielder. – Full Story via Kickoff
SAFA are keeping quiet about the future of the organisation’s vice-president Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana following his suspension. Nonkonyana was suspended by SAFA in October for saying Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund “must do the honourable and resign if he fails to win the African Nations Championship”. Subsequently, the Chief also lost his position as the chairman of the CHAN local organising committee and was replaced by Molefe Oliphant. – Full Story via Kickoff
Mamelodi Sundowns are set to loan out newly signed defender Hichani Himoonde to Golden Arrows until the end of the season. Himoonde has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Sundowns but will only begin his full-time career at Chloorkop next season after the club exhausted their foreign quota. According to a source close to the Brazilians, the Zambian defender is likely to join struggling Arrows until the end of the season. – Full Story via Kickoff
Mamelodi Sundowns have decided against signing Nigerian striker Christopher Eze and Walter Musona from Zimbabwe. Both Eze and Musona were training with Sundowns with the hope of securing contracts at Chloorkop this season. However, both players have since been sent back to their respective homes. – Full Story via Kickoff
Orlando Pirates allowed 22 children from Ennerdale SOS Children’s Villages to accompany the players onto the field for their match against Mamelodi Sundowns last Saturday. “It is something that the kids really enjoy,” said Pirates spokesperson Mickey Modisane. “They have seen these icons on TV and to be that close to someone you admire and idolise is something that will be immortalised in the hearts and minds of these children,” he adds. – Full Story via Kickoff
SA players abroad wrap
Ajax drew 1-1 with Kamohelo Mokotjo’s PEC Zwolle, leaving the capital club five points clear at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie table, though they have played one more game than second-placed FC Twente. Mokotjo did not play in the tie as he continues to recover from knee surgery, but there was an appearance on the bench for former SuperSport United defender Dean Patricio, who moved to Zwolle at the start of the season.
There was another defeat for Anele Ngcongca’s Genk on Sunday as they let a lead slip at home and went down 3-1 to Club Brugge in a season that continues to go from bad to worse.
Jali came off the bench with 30 minutes to go to make his league bow for Belgian side Oostende as they were held 0-0 by Gent on Saturday. The former Orlando Pirates midfielder had featured in the Belgian Cup in midweek, and was given an outing at the weekend as he works his way towards his first start.
Darren Keet was restored to the Kortrijk starting line-up for the 2-2 draw with Anderlecht, though he did concede a goal deep into injury-time to turn victory into a point.
Ayanda Patosi played the final few minutes of his side’s 3-1 win over Charleroi. He has not started for Lokeren since Boxing Day.
Kagisho Dikgacoi started for Crystal Palace as they made it three wins from their last four English Premiership matches with a comfortable 3-1 home success over West Brom. ‘KG’ was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself when his effort was cleared off the line by West Brom’s Youssouf Mulumbu and next up for him is a trip to Goodison Park to play Steven Pienaar’s Everton on Wednesday.
Pienaar started for Everton as they were unlucky 1-0 losers at his former side Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Both Bongani Khumalo and Dean Furman started for Doncaster Rovers as they lost 1-0 at Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Championship. Khumalo found himself playing as a make-shift striker in the final 10 minutes as his side chased the game, but could not manufacture a goal to get them a point.
Tokelo Rantie came off the bench for Bournemouth as they came from two goals down to earn a credible 2-2 draw at Bolton Wanderers.
Kgosi Ntlhe was an unused substitute for Peterborough United as they kept their League One promotion play-off hopes alive by scoring twice in the last two minutes to win 2-1 at Leyton Orient.
South African-born Joel Untersee started his second successive match for second-tier Vaduz in the Swiss League as they were held 1-1 by Wohlen.
In friendly action, Daylon Claasen was on the scoresheet for Polish side Lech Poznan as they beat Zabki 3-2.
Former Kaizer Chiefs left-back Ritchie was sent-off 34 minutes into his first friendly game for new club Slavia Prague as they lost 1-0 to CSKA Sofia from Bulgaria. Moroka Swallows defender Roger da Costa, on trial with Slavia, also started the game.
And finally, AmaZulu left-back Van Heerden played the second game of his trial with Swedish side Orebro as they beat Austrian outfit Mattersburg 2-1.