SuperSport Confirm
Igesund As Head Coach
SuperSport United have appointed Gordon Igesund as their new
head coach with immediate effect, the club has announced. Igesund,
58, is the only man to coach four different top-flight teams to the Premier
Soccer League title and recently worked as head coach of Bafana Bafana where he
steered the team to a memorable win over number one-ranked Spain. SuperSport
United chairman Khulu Sibiya said: “We are very pleased to welcome Gordon
Igesund to the SuperSport United family as our Head Coach. Gordon has proven
himself at the highest levels of the game as both a club and a national team
coach. His leadership skills and track record for success make him the ideal
person to lead this club.” Igesund, a two-time PSL coach of the year, has
been signed by Matsatsantsa on a two-year contract. The new mentor will be
assisted by his former Bafana Bafana assistant and former SA Under-20 head coach
Serame Letsoaka. The two have had a good working relationship with the national
team and Letsoaka’s experience of working with young players will stand the
club in good stead as they continue to produce a pipeline of talent from their
successful Youth Academy.
Moroka Swallows have confirmed they will be signing Brazilian
midfielder-cum-striker Thiago Rodrigo Dos Santos if they agree in on-going
negotiations. Rodrigo has made a huge impression on Swallows coach Zeca
Marques during the past two-and-a-half weeks since he first joined the Dube
Birds nest.“I like him and we are all in agreement that we need him in the team
and we will have to sign him,” says Marques. The 28-year-old is a left-footed
offensive player who was most recently with Brazilian club Atletico
Cajazeirense de Desportos and has also played for Hai Phong FC in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Kenyan midfielder Kevin Omondi is yet to be registered but continues
to train with the club. Omondi was signed on a two-year deal in June but there
seems to be a cloud of uncertainty around whether he will be used this season.
The 24-year-old joined from Kenyan Premier League leaders club Gor Mahia where
he was on loan from FISA Academy.
Former Bidvest Wits striker Letsie Koapeng is set to sign a three-year
contract with Orlando Pirates. Koapeng was recently on trial at
Mpumalanga Black Aces but couldn’t get a deal although he impressed the coach
Clive Barker. Reports that he could sign with Pirates came after the
Diepkloof-born player was spotted at the Parktown-based club this past weekend
during the match against the Nedbank Cup Ke Yona team. A source close to the
player earlier revealed that the 22-year-old was poised to be given a deal at
the Buccaneers after he impressed. Koapeng was formerly on the books of Bloemfontein
Celtic on a loan deal from The Students, but only made two appearances before
he was shipped out to Chippa United. However, at the end of last season, his
contract expired at Wits and he was not offered fresh terms.
Mpumalanga Black Aces have made an offer
for Raymond Monama. The midfielder is currently a free agent after
terminating his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns just a few hours before the
transfer window deadline. Monama spent last season on loan at University of
Pretoria and he could now find a home at Aces after making contact with the
player’s agent, Tim Sukazi.
Orlando Pirates beat
the Nedbank Ke Yona team 2-0 at the Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Lennox
Bacela and Letsie Koapeng were the goalscorers in a match pitting last season’s
Nedbank Cup champions against a Ke Yona team search outfit compiled by the
likes of Shakes Mashaba and Owen da Gama.
Orlando Pirates
have snapped up former Amajita midfielder Menzi Masuku. Masuku – who has played for Mpumalanga Black
Aces, Jomo Cosmos and Dynamos – has signed a three-year contract with Pirates. Bucs administrative official Floyd Mbele
confirmed that the 21-year-old midfielder is now property of the Soweto giants.
Big-spending First
Division club Royal Eagles have confirmed the signing of former Mpumalanga
Black Aces midfielder Setjhaba Mmuso. Eagles, who have had a rough start to
the season after losing their opening two games, have brought in the
27-year-old to widen the midfield options. Mmuso was released by Aces in
January after battling for game-time. Meanwhile, there has been yet another
shake-up in the club’s technical team with Professor Ngubane vacating his
technical advisor role less than three months since joining the club. Ngubane has
left citing family reasons and becomes the third coach to leave the club after
Major David Bright (who was the first head coach) and David Notoane, who
briefly worked as an assistant.
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Edward Manqele
has stopped training with the Brazilians and is at home waiting to hear from
the club about his future in football. Manqele remains a frustrated figure
after he was meant to travel to Port Elizabeth this week to start training with
Chippa United. However, Manqele’s trip was cancelled – this after a loan move
to the Chilli Boys on transfer deadline day hit a snag. Manqele’s agent Josiah
Mphono admits they are unsure on a way forward for the ex-Free State Stars man.
Mphono confirmed that Kaizer Chiefs had made an offer to Sundowns for the
services of Manqele.
Reigning champions
University of Pretoria will face the University of Johannesburg in the final of
this year’s Varsity Football tournament after both sides secured penalty
shoot-out victories in their respective semi-finals. Tuks will be looking
to retain their trophy next Monday after a tough spot-kick victory over the
North West University in Mafikeng. The open and fast-paced encounter failed to
produce any goals over the 90 minutes as the lottery of the penalty shoot-out
loomed.
Golden Arrows’ PRO
Vusumuzi Vilakazi believes the four players loaned from Orlando Pirates will
have a major impact in the team’s squad in their maiden National First Division
campaign. Vilakazi has confirmed that Orlando Pirates quartet Mashale
Rantabane, Itumeleng Tlali, Tebogo Masoale and Zukile Mkhize have signed
one-year loan deals, and are expected to add competition for places in Abafana
Bes’thende’s squad in their mission to fight for a quick comeback to the
Premiership. The four players joined Pirates during transfer period and had
been part of Bucs’ preseason camp, but have been loaned to Arrows to get
game-time as they are not part of coach Vladimir Vermezovic’s plans for this
season. Twenty-four-year-old central defender Mashale Rantabane comes from NFD
side Maluti FET College; Itumeleng Tlali, a 23-year-old right back, comes from
Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League side Mbombela United; 25-year-old striker Tebogo
Masoale arrives from Santos in the NFD while Zukile Mkhize is a 19-year-old
promising striker from KZN ABC Motsepe League side Blue Birds.
Kosta Papic has been appointed head coach of Polokwane City.
Papic replaces Boebie Solomons, who was fired by City last week. Papic
recently resigned from Chippa United, citing interference in team matters as his
reason. City are second-from-bottom on the Absa Premiership standings with
three points from five matches. They next host fellow strugglers AmaZulu on
Saturday.
Durban’s Moses
Mabhida Stadium will host the MTN8 Final between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer
Chiefs. The high-stakes Soweto Derby will take place on September 20, with
kick-off set for 20h15. Tickets went on sale at 13h00 on Friday at Computicket
and Shoprite from R80. About 30 000 tickets were sold in the first 90 minutes after
going on sale and it wasn’t long after they were sold out. It has been confirmed
that all 50 000 tickets have been snapped up.
The inaugural
MultiChoice Diski Challenge will take place on Saturday at the King Zwelithini
Stadium. The initiative was initially launched on August 12, but
encountered some early issues when SAFA accused the league of exceeding its
mandate on various issues, most notably the age-limit. However, with the issues
now seemingly resolved, the league announced the inaugural fixtures, which will
be televised on SuperSport 4 and the community TV stations on DStv. AmaZulu vs
Orlando Pirates; Maritzburg United vs Kaizer Chiefs; Bloemfontein Celtic vs
University of Pretoria; Bidvest Wits vs Platinum Stars. Festivities kick-off at
9am and include live music, food and various prizes.
Chippa United recruit Ugonna Uzochukwu
has reportedly received his clearance from Nigerian club Enugu Rangers. The
Chilli Boys signed the 21-year-old midfielder midway through July. Uzochukwu
represented the Super Eagles at the African Nations Championship, which took
place in South Africa earlier this year.
Chippa United have
appointed Roger Sikhakhane as their caretaker coach following the departure of
Kosta Papic. Chilli Boys spokesman Lukanyo Mzinzi confirms Sikhakhane has
returned to the hotseat, while Joel Masutha will continue to serve as an
assistant coach at the PE-based side. Mzinzi also says Chippa are in no rush to
appoint a permanent successor to Papic.
Engen in partnership
with SuperSport United last Tuesday launched the first ever Engen Champ of
Champs tournament. The national championship will see the five regional
Engen Under-17 winners, including the host club, face off against each other on
the weekend of the 10th to 12th of October for the right to be named the best
team in the country at the specific age level. The event will take place at the
Nike Football Centre in Pimville, Soweto. The six teams that have made it
through to the finals are Bidvest Wits, AmaZulu, African Sports Development,
Port Elizabeth Sundowns, Harmony Academy and hosts SuperSport United.
Mamelodi Sundowns have decided against
loaning out 19-year-old midfielder Flavio Bento despite the unlikelihood of him
playing this season. Bento joined Sundowns after spending a few years at
Academica de Coimbra in Portugal towards the end of last season and was set for
a loan move away from Chloorkop to get more game-time. However, coach Pitso
Mosimane seems to be very impressed with the youngster and has decided to keep
him. Sundowns official Thulani Thuswa confirmed the South African-born player
will be staying with Brazilians. The former Jomo Cosmos youth player was part
of the Sundowns team that took part in a pre-season tournament in Cape Town.
South African players
abroad round-up
Despite the international break there were still a number of South Africans in
club action over the weekend, including a long-awaited debut. Former ASD Academy graduate Ethen Sampson finally made his bow in
Major League Soccer after overcoming a knee injury to start for Vancouver
Whitecaps in their 0-0 draw with Washington DC United. The Cape Town-born star signed a professional contract with the
Canadian club in March, but has been sidelined since then with his knee
complaint. The 20-year-old defender,
a former teammate of Ayanda Patosi,
lasted for 54 minutes before succumbing to cramps.
In the division below, Tiyiselani
Shipalane scored his fifth goal of the season as Carolina Railhawks drew
2-2 away at another Canadian side, Ottawa Fury.
Darren Holden was a late substitute
for English League Two side Hartlepool United as they won 2-0 at home to
Shrewsbury Town.
And there were three South African-born players in the
Livingston team that went through to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in
Scotland with a 1-0 extra-time victory at Peterhead. The Jacobs brothers, Keaghan and Kyle, as well as Burton O’Brien, all started for Livi.
Finally, it was not such a good weekend for defender Ntuthuko Radebe, who played as his
Belgian second-tier side Eupen lost 3-1 at Racing Mechelen.