MultiChoice To Revive
Reserve League
MultiChoice has announced its new multi-pronged Corporate Social Investment
(CSI) programme aimed at supporting development in football and broadcasting. The
programme, called the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, includes a football
competition for PSL academy clubs; life-skills and leadership development for
players; an internship programme to develop broadcasting skills amongst the
youth; scholarships for players and production interns; as well as a chance for
community television channels on DStv to broadcast the MultiChoice Diski
Challenge matches. The programme is a three-year partnership with the PSL with
the focus on building the Reserve League. In line with the PSL’s Club Licensing
Programme, the primary emphasis will be on fast-tracking the club’s Under-19
talent into their first teams, with clubs limited to include a maximum of three
players above the age of 20 in their reserve league teams.
MultiChoice Diski
Challenge: Group A – Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, SuperSport United,
University of Pretoria, Bloemfontein Celtic, Maritzburg United, Polokwane City,
Ajax Cape Town
MultiChoice Diski
Challenge: Group B – Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits,
Mpumalanga Black Aces, Platinum Stars, Free State Stars, AmaZulu, Chippa United
The competition includes a round-robin league format and
knockout phase for the 16 PSL teams, and will also equip players for life after
football through life and leadership development skills as well as exposure to
careers in broadcasting by attending a one-week career conference at the
MultiChoice campus. PSL chairman Irvin Khoza says the MultiChoice Diski
Challenge addresses the need for PSL clubs to develop homegrown talent which
will facilitate progression from academy football to the professional ranks. The
MultiChoice Diski Challenge tournament will kick off with a festival weekend in
KwaZulu-Natal in September and runs to March 2015. The winning team will
receive a magnificent floating trophy and a life-changing trip to Holland for a
four-day training camp with the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB)
and their top youth coaches, as well as a match against a top Dutch team. The
team will also play two friendly games in Germany against two top Bundesliga
teams. SuperSport will broadcast the MultiChoice Diski Challenge matches live.
It will give up to 43 production interns the chance to get on-the-field
experience as the crew for the league. They will produce live games as well as
a weekly magazine show under the guidance of experienced SuperSport production
staff. These internships aim to attract more females into the world of sport
production, with 50% of the interns being female. The interns and the players
will also benefit from five fully paid academic scholarships. As part of this
groundbreaking initiative, the games will be offered for broadcast to community
television channels, which are already available on the DStv platform. The
first festival weekend of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge will be played in KZN
on September 13, followed by a life-skills workshop for players on September 14
before moving on to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein in the weeks
ahead.
Bafana Bafana midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo has signed a
four-year deal with FC Twente, the Dutch club has confirmed. Twente
revealed Mokotjo, who cost a reported €1.5 million from PEC Zwolle, attended
training this morning and will wear jersey number 22 at De Grolsch Veste. The
23-year-old joins compatriot Nhlakanipho Ntuli at The Tukkers, with the latter
competing for the youth team. Twente moved to bring Mokotjo on board – amid
rival interest from Ajax Amsterdam – following the sale of Quincy Promes to
Spartak Moscow for €15m.
AmaZulu coach Craig
Rosslee is hopeful star midfielder Goodman Dlamini will soon be available after
he missed their Premiership opener against Ajax Cape Town due to paperwork
issues. Dlamini, who is Usuthu’s reigning player of the season, was a
notable absentee in Sunday’s goalless draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Banyana
Banyana beat Namibia 2-0 in an international friendly at Dobsonville Stadium on
Sunday afternoon. In Janine van Wyk’s 100th international match, the home
side took an early lead when Amanda Dlamini slotted home after just three
minutes, taking advantage of an interception from just outside the box. Banyana
are preparing for the 9th edition of the African Women’s Championship, which
will be hosted in Namibia from 11-25 October.
Hansa Pilsener has become the official beer sponsor of Barclays Premier League
clubs Manchester City and Arsenal in South Africa. The deal comes following
City’s League and Capital One Cup triumphs in 2013/14, while Arsenal won the FA
Cup last season. Commenting on the partnership, chief business officer for
City, Tom Glick, said: “Hansa has a special relationship with South African
City fans and has been part of their match-day experience in pubs and
supporters clubs across the country for many years. Their brand vision to inspire people to
achieve their dreams, make them the perfect fit for Manchester City, and we are
looking forward to helping them to achieve this goal.” Vinai Venkatesham, sales
and marketing director for Arsenal, said of the partnership: “We are delighted
to welcome Hansa Pilsener to the Club as an official partner. We are always
looking to engage with our supporters and fans of the game globally, and
through this partnership we will be able to offer exclusive access to the Club
while giving Hansa Pilsener the opportunity to reach our millions of supporters
through creative digital media campaigns.” Hansa will also have exclusive
access to match tickets and autographed official merchandise to give away to
South African fans over the next few months. “As official sponsors of
Manchester City and Arsenal in South Africa, Hansa Pilsener is looking forward
to making football fans dreams come true and has more exciting initiatives planned
which will be announced in due course,” said Hansa Pilsener general manager
Khensani Nobanda.
Xolani Mdaki has completed a six-month loan to Swedish top-flight side
Djurgardens. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, who spent last season on
loan at National First Division side Santos, joins compatriot Mark Mayambela at
the club. He has been signed to cover a number of positions across the park and
will hope to extend his deal with an influential second half of the season. The
22-year-old Mdaki has been given the number 17 jersey this season.
Brazilian side Santos were crowned the
inaugural champions of the eLAN Durban Under-19 International Football
Tournament after defeating Portuguese side Benfica 2-0 in the final at the
Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night. Their South American rivals Boca
Junior from Argentina claimed third with a penalty shoot-out victory over
Feyenoord. But the glory belonged to
Santos, who claimed the main prize and bragging rights after what has been a
memorable tournament in Durban. It looked as though their final with Benfica
might go to penalties before substitute Igor Santana came on as a substitute to
score two goals. That was enough to hand the trophy to Santos, who ended up as
the top-scorers in the competition with 10 goals. Their forward Matheus Silva
finished as the leading individual scorer with three goals. The eLAN Durban
Under-19 International Football Tournament is in its inaugural year and is a
partnership between the South African Football Association, KwaZulu-Natal
provincial government and Ethekwini Municipality.
The South African Football Association
says they will push on with the ‘prosecutions’ of the players who opted out of
national team duty towards the end of last season. Bafana Bafana travelled
to Australia and New Zealand in May without a host of first-choice players for
what proved to be Gordon Igesund’s last matches in charge. Three months on,
SAFA CEO Dennis Mumble says they are pressing on with action against the likes
of Teko Modise, Sthembiso Ngcobo, Oupa Manyisa and Thabo Matlaba. “We will
prosecute those players that refused to play in the Australia and New Zealand
tour,” Mumble said at a press conference on Friday. “If we want to prosecute a
player in the Premier Soccer League, we will prosecute him. We are SAFA and we
are in charge of South African football.” As for the punishment to be meted out
to the players, Mumble says they will await what the Disciplinary Committee
says.
The South African Football Association
has announced that the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria
will be played in Cape Town. Bafana Bafana open their qualifying campaign
with a tough away trip to Khartoum on September 5 to face Sudan, before hosting
the Super Eagles at the Cape Town Stadium five days later. Meanwhile, SAFA
president Danny Jordaan says new coach Shakes Mashaba does not have a mandate
to qualify for the Nations Cup in Morocco.
Zambia striker
Clifford Mulenga has signed a one-year deal with Ajax Cape Town following a
trial at the club. Mulenga was on the books of Mpumalanga Black Aces
last season. “It feels good signing for Ajax Cape Town, it wasn’t my best year
last season playing for Black Aces and Ajax Cape Town have given me the
opportunity to prove myself again,” Mulenga said.
Ajax Cape Town have secured the services of midfielder Granwald Scott for a
further three years, the club has confirmed. The 26-year-old has been with
the Urban Warriors since the age of 12 and is delighted to extend his stay at
Ikamva. Scott has made more than 150 appearances for the club, with just about
double figures in the goals-scored column, but that is not his game in any
case. Scott’s contract with Ajax now runs until the end of June 2018.
Moroka Swallows have re-signed Giulio
Giuricich on a one-year deal. Giuricich initially joined Swallows in
September 2012 on a deal running to the end of the 2012/13 season but tore his
cruciate ligament in May 2013, forcing him to sit out the past season while
recovering. The 24-year-old, who has also played in the Italian lower leagues,
can play as a left-back and in midfield.
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Raymond
Monama will be joining Mpumalanga Black Aces. According to a source, the
deal is as good as done. “The two clubs are still talking to finalise the deal
and at this stage, it has not been decided whether he will join on loan or an
outright deal but I can tell you that he is joining Aces. That’s for sure,” he
says. The 25-year-old joined Sundowns at the beginning of the 2013/14 season,
but was loaned out to University of Pretoria in January this year.
Platinum Stars are still in talks with
Mamelodi Sundowns over signing striker Eleazar Rodgers. Dikwena hope to
enlist the ex-Santos man as part of the deal that sees midfielder Mogakolodi
Ngele link up with the Brazilians next season. Stars football manager Senzo
Mazingiza confirms the club’s continued interest in Rodgers, who was on loan at
Ajax Cape Town last season.
Ajax Cape Town midfielder Franklin Cale
has returned to training but will miss the early-season action as he remains at
least a month away from playing competitive football. Cale played just two
games for Ajax early last season but a nagging knee injury forced him to miss
the rest of the campaign after he underwent surgery to correct the problem.
According to Ajax coach Roger de Sa, the 31-year-old is back at full training
but not yet ready to take to the field on matchdays.
Nike, the technical partner of the South
African Football Association, has explained the extensive absence of the
national team kits from the market. The strip is not available six months
after the two parties signed a five-year partnership, ending a short
association with German company Puma. Nike Africa communications manager
Seruscka Naidoo says that enthusiasts will have to wait a little longer for the
kit, which will only be available early next year. “The new Bafana Bafana
national team kit will be available for purchase in early January 2015,” she
says of the kit Bafana first wore in March during a 5-0 defeat to visiting
Brazil at FNB Stadium.
Santos have announced the appointment of
Farouk Abrahams as head coach and the resignation of Edris Burton as chief
operations officer. “I am very happy and excited at the prospect of
guiding this youthful squad to maturity in the hurly-burly world of NFD
soccer,” Abrahams, who briefly coached Chippa United recently, tells the
club’s website. With regards to Burton’s resignation, a club statement read:
“The club would like to wholeheartedly thank Mr Burton for his services to
the club over the past seven years. “We at Santos fully appreciate his
contribution as a player as well as an administrator and with him all the
success in his future endeavours.”
Edward Manqele’s move to Chippa United
is off the table, according to the Mamelodi Sundowns striker’s agent.
Sundowns recently announced Manqele was joining United on a season-long loan,
along with Thamsanqa Sangweni. However, Manqele’s representative Josia Mphono
later revealed his client had not agreed on the switch, saying talks were
ongoing. Mphono has now confirmed Manqele will not be linking up with the
Chilli Boys.
South African players abroad wrap
Kamohelo Mokotjo
made his debut for FC Twente. He left PEC Zwolle last week, made his Twente bow
off the bench as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Cambuur. The visitors were
trailing at the break when Mokotjo was introduced.
Compatriot Nhlakanipho
Ntuli made his first professional appearance when he came off the bench for
the Twente’s reserve side at VVV Venlo on Friday night.
Thulani Serero
played the full game for Ajax as they crushed Vitesse 4-1.
Daylon Claasen
did not make it off the bench as his German Bundesliga II side 1860 Munich
continued their poor start to the new season with a 3-0 loss at home to
Leipzig. That is now back-to-back defeats for the promotion hopefuls and
Claasen will now hope for a starting berth when the side travel to Heidenheim
on Friday.
Lebogang Phiri came
on for the final 15 minutes as his Brondby side drew 1-1 at home to Odense.
They have yet to win any of their four leagues matches to date and were also
dumped out of the UEFA Europa league by Belgian side Club Brugge last Thursday.
Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo
Rantie played the final eight minutes for English Championship side
Bournemouth as they trounced Huddersfield Town 4-0 away from home, but Kagisho Dikgacoi missed Cardiff City’s
1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Friday night through injury.
Dean Furman
started for Doncaster Rovers as they begin life back in the English third-tier
following their relegation from the Championship last season. Rovers thumped
Yeovil Town 3-0 and must be among the favourites for promotion from this
division.
Bafana leftback Kgosi
Ntlhe also started for Peterborough United in League One as they won 1-0 at
Rochdale Town. There is also plenty of optimism around Posh for a promotion
push this year.
Darren Holden was
an unused substitute for Hartlepool United as they lost 1-0 Stevenage in their
League Two opener.
Andile Jali
started as KV Oostende picked up a first win of the season with a 1-0 success
at Cercle Brugge in Belgium and Anele
Ngcongca was in the Genk side that were held to a 0-0 draw by Lokeren, who
were without the injured Ayanda Patosi
once again.
Darren Keet was
in goal for Kortrijk as they picked up a first win of the Belgian season with a
2-1 success away at Mechelen.
May Mahlangu
played for Goteborg as they were held 2-2 by Malmo in Sweden and Mark Mayambela came off the bench as
Djurgardens lost 2-1 at Halmstad. There was no sign of Djurgardens’ new signing
Xolani Mdaki though.
Ayanda Nkili came
on as a late substitute for Orebro in Sweden as they got a much-needed 1-0 away
win at fellow strugglers Mjallby.
Joel Untersee
played in the last 68 minutes of Vaduz’s 1-0 loss at Sion in Switzerland, but Lukas Schenkel did not make it off the
bench for FC Thun.
Siyanda Xulu was an unused
substitute for his Russian side FC Rostov as they were held 2-2 by Kuban’
Krasnodar.
Dani Amos was not
in action again for Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv as the start of the season in
that country was delayed for a second weekend in a row due to the ongoing
conflict in Gaza.