Paintsil Signs For
Maritzburg
Maritzburg United have confirmed the signing of former
Ghanaian international John Paintsil. The 33-year-old was training
with Chippa United but it turns out the two parties couldn’t reach an agreement
for a deal. Paintsil, who played for Santos last season, has since put pen to
paper with Maritzburg.
With just over two
weeks before top-flight domestic football returns, the PSL have confirmed the
2014/15 MTN8 fixtures. The MTN8 tournament will usher in the 2014/15 season
– with the first game scheduled for the first weekend of August 2014. Tickets
are now on sale at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers countrywide at R40 for
adults and R10 for children under the age of 12.
MTN8 Fixtures:
Friday, 1 August
Bidvest Wits vs Bloemfontein Celtic, Bidvest Stadium (20h00)
Saturday, 2 August
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Platinum Stars, Loftus Versfeld Stadium
(15h00)
Orlando Pirates vs SuperSport United, Orlando Stadium
(20h15)
Sunday, 3 August
Kaizer Chiefs vs Black Aces, FNB Stadium (15h00)
The driver of
Maritzburg United’s ex-player Orlando Smeekes appeared in the Pietermaritzburg
Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for a charge of murder. The driver is being
charged with the murder of 23-year-old Jake Smith after an incident at the KFC drive-through
in Pietermaritzburg early on Sunday. He was placed under arrest on Sunday
afternoon after he handed himself over to police. Smeekes, Maritzburg United’s
imported Dutch star, declined to comment on the details of the incident, but
was “deeply saddened and shocked” by Smith’s murder and extended his
condolences to Smith’s loved ones. Smith was stabbed to death in front of a
crowd of people at the KFC, allegedly after an altercation with Smeekes and his
driver. Smeekes accused Smith of jumping the queue by foot when the fracas began. Smeekes, who
was a passenger in another car, allegedly jumped out of his vehicle and
approached Smith and Volmink, accusing them of cutting the line. Smith
allegedly denied the accusation and a verbal argument between the two men
ensued. The verbal altercation escalated into a physical one when Smith and his
friend followed Smeekes to his car and pulled him out,during which Smeekes’
driver allegedly joined the fray, armed with a knife. That is when Smith was
stabbed and fell to the ground. The driver allegedly sped off in the car,
leaving Smeekes at the scene. Police confirmed that Smeekes had co-operated
fully with investigations and has not been charged.
The South African
Football Association would like to clarify further insinuations that the
Association has offered Stephen Keshi the job as Bafana Bafana coach. Reports
coming through and carried out by several media outlets are quoting Mr Keshi
alleging he has an offer on the table from SAFA. “There is no iota of truth in
this statement. SAFA has not offered any coach the Bafana Bafana coaching job
and we don’t take kindly to such rumours,” said SAFA president Danny Jordaan
from Brazil. “It is not true because SAFA has not entered into a discussion
with any coach or a representative of any coach,” he added.
Forgotten striker
Diyo Sibisi is back in the country following a brief spell in Vietnam and aims
to compete domestically for the next four months before returning to Asia in
November. Sibisi has been playing for Vietnamese V.League 2 club Tay Ninh
with whom he says he will be returning to play for when that country’s football
league starts. “I have just come back from Vietnam where I have been playing
for the past four months,” Sibisi said. Sibisi scored twice in the four games
that he played for the struggling club who finished bottom but will, however,
not be relegated as the eight-team V.League 2 will have more clubs next season.
“When I arrived the team was struggling but in the few games that I played I
made a difference and they are so happy with me that I am going back again,”
Sibisi said. “They were actually saying they wish I had been with them earlier.
However, now that I have seen what their football is all about I will
definitely make a difference when I go back there. For now my intention is to
play here because the league in Vietnam will only be starting again in
November. I need to continue playing while I am here.” The 32-year-old last played locally during the
second half of the 2012-13 season while on loan at Mpumalanga Black Aces from
University of Pretoria. He has also represented Maritzburg United, Ajax Cape
Town, Mamelodi Sundowns and Free State Stars.
Kaizer Chiefs
football manager Bobby Motaung insists there has been no contact from the South
African Football Association with regards to Stuart Baxter. SAFA have
reportedly earmarked the Amakhosi coach, as well as Maritzburg United coach
Steve Komphela, for the Bafana Bafana technical director role, which will work
hand-in-hand with the new national team coach. Baxter has supposedly been given
until Friday to make up his mind, but Motaung says that Chiefs have not been
notified. Chiefs and Baxter are
currently in pre-season, preparing for the season-opening Carling Black Label
Cup on July 26 against Orlando Pirates.
CAF have confirmed
that South Africa will now have two clubs representing the country in the
Champions League instead of one. Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns
and runners-up Kaizer Chiefs qualify to play in the event this year. The same
applies to the Confederation Cup, which means Nedbank Cup winners Orlando
Pirates and third-placed League finishers Bidvest Wits qualify for the
competition. All four clubs have been asked to confirm their participation. CAF
granted the extra spots by virtue of South Africa being rated as one of the top
12 African countries as far as club competitions are concerned.
Kaizer Chiefs’ utility player Josta Dladla has renewed his contract
with the club for another year, as has Siyabonga Nkosi. ‘JD’, as the
former is affectionately known, signs a new deal following the expiry of his
ban for using the banned substance Methylhexaneamine. He was suspended for four
months earlier this year after pleading guilty to the charge, though he
maintains it was in error and his sentence expired in May. Dladla, who turns 35
on July 13, has not played for Amakhosi since starting in the 4-1 victory over
AmaZulu last December but he is available for the start of the 2014/15 season.
Meanwhile, midfielder
Nkosi has also penned a one-year extension in Naturena. Nkosi’s previous
deal likewise expired at the end of June and he had been locked in negotiations
with the club for the past few weeks. The Glamour Boys today confirmed an
agreement has been reached. The 32-year-old made 15 starts for Chiefs in all
competitions last season.
Maritzburg United are
still frantically trying to replenish their troops ahead of the 2014/15 PSL
campaign, and they are a step closer with the acquisitions of defender Kwanda
Mngonyama and midfielder Sibusiso Kumalo from Mamelodi Sundowns now confirmed. The
players arrive at Harry Gwala Stadium on season-long loans, and are unlikely to
be the last Downs players captured by the Team of Choice ahead of the new
season. Negotiations for Downs defender Abel Mabaso have hit a stumbling block
but are still ongoing, and Maritzburg are confident that they will have their
man by the end of the week. Then there is Sundowns striker Rodney Ramagalela,
who the club says might still end up in Maritzburg. Coach Steve Komphela was
also looking at Zimbabwean left-back Khumbulani Banda as a possible replacement
for Ruben Cloete, but no decisions had been made yet.
Duncan Lechesa is set
to hand in his resignation as Free State Stars’ assistant coach barely two
weeks after returning to the club. Lechesa, who captained Stars during his
playing days, was returning to Ea Lla Koto to serve as an assistant coach and a
week later, the club confirmed his return. However, Lechesa is now set to quit
the job in favour of a move to National First Division side Royal Eagles in
Durban. Ironically, Eagles have parted ways with their coach David Bright after
just a month. Despite numerous attempts, Lechesa couldn’t be reached for
comment. Stars recently appointed Belgian Tom Saintfiet as their new head
coach, with Kinnah Phiri shifted to a technical director role.
Mamelodi Sundowns
look to hold all the aces over Orlando Pirates when it comes to the race to
sign Ajax Cape Town winger Keagan Dolly. The 21-year-old is the hottest
property on the local transfer market, and while he had previously said that he
would prefer to stay in Cape Town and get regular game-time, the club looks
likely to cash in on the player. Both Pirates and Sundowns have tabled offers,
but that the Brazilians’ is by far the more enticing for the Urban Warriors.
Firstly they have offered more money than the Buccaneers and secondly, and
arguably most importantly, their deal includes loaning Dolly back to Ajax for
the 2014/15 season. The deal has dragged on with club boss Ari Efstathiou
attending the World Cup, but with him now back in South Africa, it seems likely
that Sundowns could land their man.
Reigning PSL
champions Mamelodi Sundowns will play Moroka Swallows in the Gauteng Cup
following the draw in Rosebank on Wednesday. Now in its third year, the
Gauteng Cup will take place in Atterridgeville, Pretoria, on July 19 at Lucas
Moripe Stadium and tickets are available at Computicket for R35. Kaizer Chiefs
won the first two editions of the tournament, but will not be taking part this
year. The winners will take home R500 000.
THE DRAW:
Moroka Swallows vs Mamelodi Sundowns
University of Pretoria vs SuperSport United
The first match is scheduled for 10h00 and the second match
at 12h00 with the Final set for 16h00.
Kaizer Chiefs and Nike have revealed their new home and away
kits for the 2014/15 PSL season.Nike have retained the majority of
the gold from last season’s home jersey and added a black strip on the
shoulder, and removed the black collar and trim on the sleeves. Amakhosi fans
should be pleased with the redesigned away strip, which is arguably a lot
sleeker than last season’s one and does away with the black stripes.
Matthew Booth
believes his latest NGO venture, Educating Athletes, is the perfect initiative
to help aspiring players find a balance between football, education and
lifestyle. The 37-year-old has recently paired up with former Ajax Cape
Town and African Soccer Development (ASD) mental skills coach and counselling
therapist Chantelle De Abreu to start the new initiative, for which he is the
brand ambassador. The project looks to give underprivileged, talented athletes
the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming professional athletes
without having to give up their schooling.
Orlando Pirates will
hold their end-of-season awards in Johannesburg on July 23. Pirates
finished the past season on a high note after winning the Nedbank Cup Final
against Bidvest Wits, having lost the deciders in the CAF Champions League,
Telkom Knockout Cup and the MTN 8. Midfielder Oupa Manyisa, goalkeeper Senzo
Meyiwa and defender Thabo Matlaba are vying for the Player of the Season award,
while Lennox Bacela is set to take home the top goal scorer award. Meanwhile,
Daine Klate, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Tlou Segolela and Matlaba are contesting the
DSTV Goal of the Season award.
South African players
abroad round-up: Daylon Claasen made his second appearance for new club
1860 Munich as the side upped their pre-season preparations in Austria. After
debuting in the 2-1 victory over Russian Premier League side Lokomotiv Moscow
in his first game, this time Claasen was on the end of a 1-0 defeat to
second-tier club Austria Lustenau. The Bafana Bafana midfielder played the
first 67 minutes before being replaced having played the first half against
Lokomotiv.
Thulani Serero, who only returned to training last week
after being given an extended break by Ajax Amsterdam, played the second half as
the Dutch club defeated Wacker Innsbruck 5-1 in Austria. Serero, who recently
extended his contract with the Dutch giants to June 2017, played the full
second half.
Austria is a popular destination for pre-season because
clubs are able to train at high altitude that in theory allows player to reach
peak fitness quicker.
Meanwhile, PEC Zwolle, without their South African duo of
Kamohelo Mokotjo and Dean Patricio, cantered to an 18-0 victory over local
amateurs DOS Kampen.
Ayanda Patosi was missing for Belgian side Lokeren as they
won 5-0 over local side Red Devils, but Darren Keet played for Kortrijk as they
beat fellow top-flight side Lierse 2-0.
Andile Jali also missed KV Oostende’s 1-1 draw at KSV
Roeselare for unspecified reasons.
Finally, Lebogang Phiri was on the bench for Danish side
Brondby as they won 2-0 at Czech Republic side Slovan Liberec. Phiri will hope
to be in the starting line-up when Brondby host English giants Liverpool on
July