Nedbank Semi-Final
Draw Pits Sundowns Against Vasco
Mamelodi Sundowns will host Vasco da Gama, while Ajax Cape
Town will entertain SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals. The
Premier Soccer League decided the match-ups by holding a draw straight after
Sundowns beat Mpumalanga Black Aces 2-0 in a last-eight tie at Mbombela Stadium
on Sunday afternoon. The dates, times and venues for the semi-finals are yet to
be confirmed. Ajax defeated Bidvest Wits, SuperSport got the better of Golden
Arrows, while Vasco saw off NFD rivals Black Leopards in the quarter-finals of
the competition.
Former Orlando
Pirates midfielder Lebogang Mothibantwa has taken charge of Garankuwa United as
a player-coach. Mothibantwa has a daunting task ahead as the Tshwane-based
club are second-from-bottom on the NFD standings with 16 points from 25 games. “They
asked me to help based on my experience in football,” Mothibantwa, who
recently had a short stint in Cyprus said. “It has been my ambition to go
into coaching after my playing days.” He added: “We will keep
fighting. The spirit is there and we are working hard to try to survive
relegation.”
The PSL has given
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune five days to explain the comments he
made about match officials on Twitter. Khune sent out some controversial
comments following his sending-off against AmaZulu last week. He was first
booked for time wasting and then again for showing dissent at the decision of
referee Phillip Tinyane. “The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has written to Kaizer
Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune as per provisions of the PSL Rules to admit
or deny certain comments attributed to him on the social media network Twitter
on Thursday, 09 April 2015. The comments related to match officials appointed
to officiate the Absa Premiership fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and Amazulu on
9 April 2015. Khune has been afforded five days to respond.”
Khune’s Twitter comments: “Its about time action is taken
against this referees by @OfficialPSL.
They’ve been very poor since beginning of the season. “Its unfair how we are
painted bad for our actions on de field but we are provoked by these referees,
can call me names but I stand 4 what’s right.”
Kaizer Chiefs are
planning to return to the negotiation table with Tefu Mashamaite’s
representatives with a new and improved offer. According to an unnamed
source, both parties are eager to extend the 31-year-old defender’s stay at the
club. Amakhosi recently offered their skipper a one-year extension, but it is
thought that Mashamaite is holding out for a longer deal and more money. Mashamaite
joined the Glamour Boys from Bidvest Wits in 2011 and was handed the captain’s
armband earlier this season following an injury to goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. He
has proven to be Stuart Baxter’s most played player and one of the top
performers in the Englishman’s reign.
Promotion-chasing
Thanda Royal Zulu have appointed Roger Sikhakhane as their new coach straight
after parting ways with Vladislav Heric. Heric was released by Thanda
following a protracted wait for his work permit from the Department of Home
Affairs. Thabani Gumede, the Thanda GM, confirms the appointment of Sikhakhane
– who has been without a job since being shown the door at Chippa United at the
end of last year. “Roger has taken over as our new coach because we felt we
needed to have a coach on the bench for the remaining six games since we are
now in a Play-Offs position. We couldn’t keep going on without a head coach on
the bench when other teams that we are competing with are fully equipped,” says
Gumede. Thanda next travel to Milano United on Sunday.
Gabon have been named
as the host of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. The West African country saw
of the challenges of Algeria and Ghana to host the continent’s showpiece event
after Lybia withdrew. Gabon was a co-host when the tournament took place in
2012. The three tournaments after that will be hosted by Cameroon (2019), Ivory
Coast (2021) and Guinea (2023).
Bafana have been drawn in Group M for the 2017 Africa Cup of
Nations qualifiers following the draw in Cairo last Wednesday. South
Africa are joined in the group by Cameroon, Gambia and Mauritania. Cameroon are
ranked 49th, Gambia are 168th and Mauritania are 115th. South Africa are
currently 55th. The group winners and two best second placed teams will join
hosts Gabon at the finals.
FULL DRAW
Group A
Tunisia, Togo, Liberia, Djibouti
Group B
Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Central Africa
Republic, Madagascar
Group C
Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, South Sudan
Group D
Burkina Faso, Uganda, Botswana, Comoros
Group E
Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Guinea Bissau
Group F
Cape Verde, Morocco, Libya, Sao Tome
Group G
Nigeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Chad
Group H
Ghana, Mozambique, Rwanda, Mauritius
Group I
Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Gabon
Group J
Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Seychelles
Group K
Senegal, Niger, Namibia, Burundi
Group L
Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland
Group M
Cameroon, South Africa, Gambia, Mauritania
Kaizer Chiefs
defender Morgan Gould is expected to resume training in September after having
successful surgery last Wednesday. The 32-year-old, who went under the
knife at Rosebank Clinic, tore his left Achilles tendon during a CAF Champions
League game against Morocco’s Raja Casablanca on the weekend. “We are looking
at full training with the team in September,” Chiefs’ physiotherapist David
Milner told the club’s website. The former SuperSport United captain ruptured
his right Achilles tendon two-and-a-half seasons ago.
Sipho Mngomezulu is
set to join PSL strugglers Moroka Swallows for the remainder of the season. Mngomezulu,
32, was on the books of Bidvest Wits last season, yet after falling out of
Gavin Hunt’s plans, trialled unsuccessfully at AmaZulu in September last year,
and has not found a new club since. The Dube Birds have however thrown the
wing-back a lifeline, signing him for what is believed to be a short-term
contract after undergoing a medical with the club this week. With Swallows
defender Luvhengo Mungomeni ruled out for the rest of the season through
injury, Mngomezulu will be up for selection for a starting berth at right-back.
Senegalese goalkeeper
Bouna Coundoul’s future with Platinum Stars could be in jeopardy after he
failed to arrive back in the country from national team duty. Coundoul
signed a short-term contract with Stars during the past transfer window period,
but a hold-up in his paperwork from home affairs means he is yet to play an
official game. It seems that frustration may have got to him, with coach Cavin
Johnson saying he has no idea where the player is. “I haven’t seen him
here. He went home for national team duty and has not come back,” Johnson said.
TP Mazembe boss Moise Katumbi has admitted that signing South
African players is nearly impossible for his team and others on the continent.
Katumbi, whose side knocked out Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions
League recently, explained during an interview with BBC that the PSL’s strong
financial position means that teams such as TP Mazembe cannot consider signing
South African players. “If you compare South Africa and Congo, South Africa is
a developed country. The South African budget is bigger than the Congolese
budget,” says the man who is apparently among the richest football club owners
in Africa. “So it is difficult to convince a player who is in a better
condition to come to Congo. Maybe one day,” he adds. So what was Katumbi and
Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe discussing while sitting together during the
second leg between TP Mazembe and Sundowns? “Patrice is really a brother to me.
I met Patrice while I was in exile [in Zambia] and we were discussing the
future of African football. We were discussing how people can become interested
to sponsor soccer in Africa,” Katumbi reveals. “As chairmen, we are having big
problems in Africa. You can go bankrupt and we were saying let’s find a way for
people to bring money to African football. That was our discussion. I have been
chairman of TP Mazembe for 33 years … We have used some money from the transfer
of some players to finance the team.” During Katumbi’s tenure as chairman, TP
Mazembe have won the CAF Champions League four times, added one Confederation
Cup title to their trophy cabinet and participated in the FIFA Club World Cup
twice.
Mamelodi Sundowns
have confirmed that their match against Kaizer Chiefs on April 29 will now be
played at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. Initially, the fixture
had been scheduled for Loftus Stadium but according to our source, the reason
for the change is that the Loftus pitch is not in a ‘good condition’ to host a
match of that magnitude. Kick off for the match is 19:30 and the match will be
live on SABC 1 and SuperSport 4.
Orlando Pirates
goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after
dislocating his finger against Platinum Stars last week. The 24-year-old
was substituted at halftime after colliding with Ndumiso Mabena during the
thrilling 3-3 draw at Orlando Stadium, with Siyabonga Mpontshane coming on for
his Bucs debut. Mhlongo has been Pirates’ first-choice keeper since the passing
of Senzo Meyiwa last year.
Kaizer Chiefs
assistant coach Doctor Khumalo says the club will take action if they feel
Itumeleng Khune crossed the line following his dismissal against AmaZulu last
week. Khune received two bookings, for time-wasting and dissent, in quick
succession by referee Phillip Tinyani late into the game at Peter Mokaba
Stadium, with the goalkeeper later venting his frustration with the officials
on Twitter. Khumalo, who oversaw the Amakhosi bench in the absence of suspended
head coach Stuart Baxter, told the log leaders’ website: “We are at that stage
of the League season when cool heads and professionalism must prevail. We are
professionals. It is all in the mind. By the look of things, pressure is
mounting on the players and the match officials alike.” The Glamour Boys legend
added: “We will watch the recordings and, if Khune was at fault, we will take
the necessary remedial steps. We have systems in place to deal with such
situations. Khune is one of the senior players in the team, so he knows what is
expected of him.”
The South Africa Under-23 team made a late rally but it was a
question of too little too late against Sudan as they failed to qualify for the
All Africa Games. Despite winning 1-0 in the second leg at
Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday, they could not overturn a 2-0 deficit they
suffered in Khartoum two weeks ago to bow out 2-1 on aggregate. It was a
disappointing end for the U-23s of whom a lot was expected. They put tremendous
pressure in the dying minutes of the second half and got the opening goal of
the day but time was not on their side to add the all-important second goal.
South Africa XI: Ricardo Goss, Junior Sibande, Zitha
Macheke; Motjeka Modisha, Kwanda Mngonyama (c), Ayabulela Magqwaka, Bafana
Dlamini, Deolin Mekoa, Thapelo Morena, Sifiso Nkosi, Sibusiso Mahlangu
Subs: Lebo Ngubeni, Menzi Masuku, Tyroane Sandows, Abednigo
Masiatlhaga, Andiswa Mtsila, Siphelele Luthuli, Mbongeni Gumede
Banyana Banyana
qualified for the All Africa Games following a 5-0 thrashing of Botswana at
Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Having led 1-0 from the first
leg, the game was a mere formality for Vera Pauw’s charges, who made light work
of reaching the finals in Congo in September. The goals came from Mamello
Makhabane, Portia Modise, Amanda Dlamini, Noko Matlou and S’lindile Ngubane. It
was Modiose’s 101st goal for her country.
Thulani Serero has
made it onto World Soccer’s list of the 500 Most Important Players on the
Planet. The magazine, an authority on international football since 1960,
describes the list in the April edition as follows: “This is not intended to be
a list of the ‘best’ 500 players in the world. It’s impossible to compare
players from different leagues and continents as any list is inevitably subjective.
We have endeavoured to compile a list of the world’s most talked-about players
– the most newsworthy players who, by definition, are the most important.” World
Soccer has also divided the list into five categories:
1) In-form players
who have been making headlines in the 2014/15 season
2) The young
talents who have earned rave reviews in the past year
3) The
internationals who are key figures for their respective national sides
4) The
headline-makers who have made news for their actions off the pitch
5) Those genuine
world-class players who regularly feature in World XIs
Serero has been classified in the second category – the
rising young talents.
They write: “South Africa’s most high-profile player, but
was left out of the 2015 African Nations Cup squad after playing in the
qualifiers.” Serero has made 19 starts and six substitute appearances for Ajax
Amsterdam this season, scoring one goal.
Ajax Cape Town have
completed the signing of Vasco da Gama midfielder Ndiviwe Mdabuka on a
pre-contract. Mdabuka is originally from the Ajax youth structures but had
to go via Cape Town All Stars before spending two years at Vasco. He has now
won a first-team contract at Ikamva. The 24-year-old will be in Ajax colours
effective from June following an impressive two years with Vasco playing as a
holding midfielder.
SA players abroad round-up: Andile Jali’s playoff hopes took strain, Dean Furman’s promotion ambitions were dashed, while Steven Pienaar made his return after a four-month absence in European action last weekend.
ANDILE JALI
Jali’s KV Oostende lost a second successive playoff match as
they went down 2-0 to Mouscron-Peruwelz.
DEAN FURMAN
Furman played for Doncaster Rovers as they were held 1-1 at
home by Rochdale to end their promotion play-off hopes.
STEVEN PIENAAR
Pienaar played his first game for Everton in four months
when he came off the bench for Everton midway through the first half of their
1-1 draw at Swansea City, earning praise from manager Roberto Martinez after
the game.
DARREN KEET
Keet was back from injury but had to again settle for a
place on the bench as Kortrijk beat leaders Club Brugge 2-0.
BONGANI KHUMALO
Khumalo suffered a first defeat at Colchester United as they
lost 1-0 at Coventry City and remain in the relegation zone.
KAMOHELO MOKOTJO
Mokotjo played for FC Twente as they returned to winning
ways with a 3-1 success at struggling Go Ahead Eagles. It is just a second
league win their last 10 matches in the Eredivisie.
ANELE NGCONGCA
Ngcongca’s Genk made it two from two in the UEFA Europa
League playoffs in the Belgium league when they defeated Waasland-Beveren 2-0.
The Bafana right-back played the full game.
AYANDA PATOSI
Patosi’s Lokeren were held to a 1-1 draw by Westerlo, with
the Bafana winger playing the entire 90 minutes.
LEBOGANG PHIRI
Phiri came off late as Brondby moved up to third in the
Danish league with a 1-0 away win at Sonderjyske.
THULANI SERERO
Serero played the final 20 minutes for Ajax Amsterdam as
they laboured to a 2-0 victory at Heracles in the Dutch league.
AYANDA NKILI
Nkili played for Orebro as they suffered a second successive
loss in the Swedish league, this time at Falkenbergs.
KGOSI NTLHE
Ntlhe played for Peterborough United in their 1-0 loss at
Swindon Town that also likely condemns them to another season in League One.
RICARDO NUNES
Nunes played for his Polish side Pogon Szczecin as they
claimed a 2-0 home win over high-flying Jagiellonia Białystok.