Shakes Names Makeshift Bafana Squad For Cosafa Cup
Bafana Bafana head coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba has named his
squad for the upcoming Cosafa Cup tournament. South Africa will face
Botswana in the quarter-final of the competition on Sunday, 24 May at Moruleng
Stadium in the North West Province. Fourteen of the players ply their trade in
the Premier Soccer League, while the rest are from the National First Division,
the ABC Motsepe League and academies. There are no overseas-based players in
the squad. “This was perhaps one of the most difficult squads to announce due
to a number of reasons. The end of the domestic league programme always poses a
challenge for the national team as it is not easily clear which players will be
available. And when you look down the NFD and ABC Motsepe Leagues, you find
some of the players you have earmarked for a tournament of this nature are
involved in play-offs,” said Mashaba adding the squad selected will compete. We
will have three warm-up matches before the start of the tournament as there are
many new players in the set-up and that exercise will help a great deal. The
good thing about this squad is that we are increasing our base of national team
players because the bigger the base, the more the fight for places in the
squad, which makes for a strong Bafana Bafana. I would also like to take this
opportunity to thank all the clubs who have released their players for national
team duty.” Bafana Bafana go into camp on Sunday, 10 May in Johannesburg, and
will have training sessions on Monday and Tuesday. The next day (Wednesday, 13
May) the teams travels to Lesotho to play two training matches against the host
nation on Thursday, 14 May and Saturday, 16 May. They have also scheduled
another training match against neighbours Malawi which will be played on
Friday, 22 May in Rustenburg at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Full Bafana Bafana
squad:
Goalkeepers:
Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Mondle Mphoto (SuperSport FC),
Ricardo Goss (Golden Arrows)
Defenders:
Madisha Modjeka (M.Tigers FC), Subisiso Mxoyana (Vasco da Gama), Marc Van
Heerden (AmaZulu FC), Siyabonga Nhlapho (Bidvest Wits), Kwanda Mngonyama
(Maritzburg United), Clayton Daniels (SuperSport FC), Sibusiso Khumalo
(Mamelodi Sundowns)
Midfielders: Cole
Alexander (Polokwane City), Thapelo Morena (Bloemfontein Celtic), Thamsanqa
Sangweni (Chippa United), Carl Lark (Santos FC), Athenkhosi Dlala (SuperSport
FC), Hendrick Ekstein (Kaizer Chiefs), Mzikayise Mashaba (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Strikers: Puleng
Tlolane (Polokwane City), Phumelele Bhengu (Thanda Royal Zulu), Gift Matupa
(Baroka FC), Moeketsi Sekola (Free State Stars)
Sports Minister
Fikile Mbalula has urged players to join the South African Football Players
Union to protect their rights. Mbalula made the plea at the launch of a
partnership between SAFPU and Old Mutual – aimed at helping professional
footballers manage their finances – in Rosebank on Thursday. “This is brilliant
initiative for our players,” said Mbalula. “I believe that the
players union can be strong if players take their own union very seriously. They
must join the union in big numbers. It is nice if you are earning a couple
thousands not to think about the union. You can imagine if all players in the
PSL are unionised what would happen. There would be strikes sometimes and it
will make the bosses to think right. It will instil to players the concept of
an injury to one, an injury to all. I think even in Europe when players are
well paid, players are unionised or belong to an association. To belong to a
union as a player is not criminal but the right thing to do to protect your
rights and fight exploitation in the workplace.” The South African
Football Players Union are set to launch a new programme to educate local
footballers on how to manage their finances.
Orlando Pirates have
confirmed they will face AS Kaloum in the CAF Confederation Cup in Mali on May
15. The play-off round tie will start at 17h00 local time at the Stade
Modibo Keita Stadium in Bamako. Pirates beat CF Mounana 5-2 in the previous
round of the continental competition.
Kaizer Chiefs and
Orlando Pirates will join Mbabane Swallows and Royal Leopards in the inaugural
Kings Super Cup next month. Bucs administrative officer Floyd Mbele says
the one-day tournament in Swaziland will fall within their pre-season plans and
so a strong side can be expected.
On Wednesday night, Heineken delivered more than beer to PDL
Car Wash in Soweto. When a
truck bearing a branded container and booming the UEFA Champions League anthem
pulled up outside the venue, little did soccer supporters who had gathered to
enjoy the semi-finals match know that they were in for a legendary match night.
On opening the container, ecstatic fans found themselves face to face with UEFA
Champions League legend Deco (one of the few players to have won the UEFA
Champions League with two different clubs – FC Porto in 2004 and FC Barcelona
in 2006), local comedian David Kau and DJ Euphonik. As long-time global sponsor
of UEFA Champions League, Heineken knows that UEFA Champions League is about so
much more than the game alone – it’s about the experience. The global celebrity
trio took to the green couch inside the specially decked out container to host
a live, social-media driven talk-show. They commentated on the game, engaged
with fans and other international UCL legends via the @Heineken_SA account as
part of the global #ChampionTheMatch sessions that have captured the globe’s
imagination throughout the championship.
Mamelodi Sundowns
playmaker, Teko Modise has explained why his overseas move never happened and
says it “kills” him that he couldn’t leave Orlando Pirates at the time despite
lots of interest. The 32-year-old says he had offers from the likes of
Panathinaikos, West Bromwich and Stoke City, among others, but ended up joining
Masandawana because he didn’t have a release clause at the time. “A buy-out
clause in my contract didn’t exist at the time. There was no concrete number
and there was just speculation. You know what these European teams are like –
they lose interest if you mess them around. They’ll only chase you for a
certain time. We tried everything we could! Playing overseas was one of my
biggest ambitions. The fact that I could have made it there is what kills me. Even
at Pirates some big European teams came through with offers. So many teams came
through with offers – Panathinaikos, West Brom and Stoke City. There were
others from smaller countries like Denmark as well,” Modise said. ‘Donadoni’
further explained how hard his failed move abroad hit him and how he struggled
to remain focussed on playing for Pirates. “I just wanted an opportunity, even
if I’d failed! None of the teams that came through said I must come for trials.
They just wanted me to come, do a medical and sign. I was a different player. I
had to ask myself, ‘How can I be loyal when no one appreciates me?’ I’ve done
the best that I can, so why can’t I get a chance!?” In your head you know this
is happening, but then you’ve got to go out and play for Bucs on the weekend
like nothing is happening. It was a problem!”
A football supporter
died in a scuffle with a policeman on Saturday, marring the final round of
South African Premiership matches in which famed Durban club AmaZulu were
relegated. The death occurred in southern city Port Elizabeth during a
post-match pitch invasion after champions Kaizer Chiefs completed the season
with a 2-0 victory at lowly Chippa United. As spectators poured on to the
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium pitch to celebrate a title success clinched 17 days
ago, one of them reportedly tried to grab the gun of a police officer. In the
ensuing scuffle, the gun of the officer accidentally went off, fatally wounding
the supporter, a police spokesman said. “A man tried to take the gun of a
police officer and it went off during the scuffle, fatally wounding him,”
spokesman Johan Rheeder told reporters. A Premiership official later confirmed
the death. AmaZulu, formed in 1932 and among the oldest South African football
clubs, lost 2-1 at home to Maritzburg United and finished bottom of the 16-club
standings.A win would have guaranteed survival. But after equalising 17 minutes
from time in Indian Ocean city Durban, they were beaten by a late Mohau Mokate
goal. Victory meant Maritzburg finished in the all important eighth spot. Moroka
Swallows, who began the final round below AmaZulu on goal difference, won 1-0
at home to Bloemfontein Celtic though a second-half goal from veteran Siyabonga
Nomvethe. But the Soweto club are not assured of top-flight football next
season as they must face two second division clubs in a mini-league with the
winners earning Premiership status. Wits clinched a 2016 CAF Confederation Cup
place by edging Platinum Stars 1-0 in Johannesburg through a Vincent Pule goal.
Qualification for Africa offers the ‘Clever Boys’ a chance to atone for a
humiliating preliminary-round exit to Swaziland police outfit Royal Leopard in
the same competition this year. Former African champions Orlando Pirates, who
entered the final round ahead of Wits on goal difference, had to come from
behind to draw 2-2 at Ajax Cape Town. Menzi Masuku struck twice within seven
minutes early in the second half after goals from Thabiso Nkoana and Riyaad
Norodien had given the hosts a two-goal half-time advantage.
Lerato Chabangu has signed a
pre-contract with Bidvest Wits for next season, ending his five-year stay with
Moroka Swallows.The 29-year-old will
join Gavin Hunt’s ambitious side having opted not to renew his contract with
The Birds. Swallows CEO Leon Prins told Sowetan he hoped to retain the services
of the former Bafana Bafana international, but those hopes appear dashed. “I
would definitely like to keep him, there is no doubt about that,” Prins
said. “But all I can say now is that he is giving his all for the team. He
is fully focused on Swallows and helping us in this relegation battle.” Chabangu
has had a roller-coaster ride of a career with well-documented off-field
problems. Having played for the juniors at SuperSport United, he made his
professional debut with University of Pretoria in the National First Division
before joining Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2004-05 season. There he remained for
the next six campaigns, bar a loan spell at SuperSport which netted him a PSL
winners medal in 2008-09 as he helped Hunt’s team to the championship. But the
following year he barely featured at all for Sundowns, and looked consigned to
the scrap-heap as off-field issues saw him sidelined. While at Sundowns, he won
the league championship in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, the latter under
coach Gordon Igesund, and scored the winner in the 2008 Nedbank Cup final. After
being dumped by Sundowns, Swallows took a chance on him and was revived under
Igesund.
True to his word,
Bloemfontein Celtic chairman Max Tshabalala cancelled the player awards after
their defeat to Moroka Swallows on Saturday afternoon. Tshabalala made the
threat earlier in the week, and stayed true to that after the Birds beat them
1-0 today. “Unfortunately we are left with no option but to cancel rewarding
players after a string of poor performances and failing to reach the target set
for them,” he told the club’s official website. “It will be a travesty of
justice to reward them for not committing and showing supporters appreciation.
We are calling on supporters to a meeting next week firstly to apologise in
person and subsequently tell them plans for the new season.” The awards were due to take place on Sunday
night.
Former Bafana Bafana
captain Bongani Khumalo had personal items stolen from his hotel room in
Colchester, Essex on Sunday night. The 28-year-old, who is on loan at
Colchester United from Tottenham Hotspur, discovered the theft on returning to
his room from a night out with his teammates. The team was celebrating
preserving their League One status on the final day of the season. “All my
possessions had been taken including some sentimental items, one being a Bible
that my late mother left me,” Khumalo told Tottenham’s official website. “It
still had her notes and everything – that was always something that I’ve held
dear to me. I don’t know – if there’s any universe where someone would find the
good nature to just leave it back at the hotel or something. I’d be so grateful
because that’s something that can’t be replaced.” Bafana legend Benni McCarthy
was also the recent victim of crime, getting held up at gun-point in Melrose
North, Johannesburg last Tuesday.
Free State Stars striker Moeketsi Sekola has won the Lesley
Manyathela Golden Boot award for the 2014/15 Absa Premiership season. The
26-year-old netted on the final day as Stars drew 2-2 with Mpumalanga Black
Aces to take his tally to 14 goals, pipping Lerato Lamola to the award after
Bloemfontein Celtic lost 1-0 to Moroka Swallows. Polokwane City’s Puleng
Tlolane, who was leading the standings at the turn of the year, finished on 11,
while Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Kermit Erasmus (Orlando
Pirates) were the other players to reach double figures. SuperSport United’s
New Zealand international, Jeremey Brockie, finishes with eight goals, despite
only playing his first match in February.
Absa Premiership top
scorers:
14 – Moeketsi Sekola
13 – Lerato Lamola
11 – Puleng Tlolane
10 – Cuthbert Malajila, Kermit Erasmus
8 – Geofrey Massa, Jeremy Brockie, Lehlohonolo Majoro,
Ndumiso Mabena
The PSL’s most
prolific marksman Siyabonga Nomvete has confirmed that he will continue playing
next season. Nomvete rescued Moroka Swallows at the weekend with a 68th
minute header against Bloemfontein Celtic that meant The Dube Birds moved off
the bottom of the table into 15th place and thus head into the Promotional
Play-Offs. “I will definitely be playing next season. I will be there 100
percent,” said Nomvete. Nomvete – who turns 38 later this year – is out of
contract at Swallows at the end of June. The veteran forward is the PSL
all-time top scorer with 120 goals despite having spent seven-and-a-half years
of his career playing in Europe. Nomvete has scored seven goals this season.
Bafana Bafana
defender Daniel Cardoso has pulled out of the Cosafa Cup squad due to a shin
injury. Cardoso received his second call-up to feature for Shakes Mashaba’s
side during the Southern African showpiece that will start in Rustenburg this
weekend.
SuperSport United
defender Clayton Daniels has been handed a R50 000 fine for assault,
misbehaviour and unsporting behaviour by the Premier Soccer League. The
former Ajax Cape Town defender appeared before the PSL Disciplinary Committee
on Thursday afternoon where he received his sanction. Daniels was charged by
the PSL for assault, misbehaviour and unsporting behaviour for an incident
during SuperSport United’s 1-1 draw with Moroka Swallows last month. The Matsatsantsa captain was seen shoving The
Dube Birds coach Craig Rosslee over on the touchline, while trying to get the
ball for a throw-in. Daniels has now been sanctioned to a R50 000 fine, R25 000
of which is suspended, and was made to apologise to Rosslee, who was present
during the hearing.
Mamelodi Sundowns are
ready to swoop for Burundian striker Fiston Abdul Razak, who was on trial with
the club recently. Razak spent a few days at Chloorkop where it is reported
he did well to impress coach Pitso Mosimane. The 23-year-old striker is
currently on the books of Sofapaka in Kenya. Mosimane has since confirmed his
club’s interest in Razak. “He is a good footballer. We like him. We came
over, we assessed him. He is more of a Malajila kind of player, he scores
goals. He is young, he is 23 years old. We are interested. We will see how it
goes. The generals [points at the presence of Trot Moloto, Mike Ntombela and
Alex Tshakoane] are here. Those are the people who give us direction.”
Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter and Bloemfontein Celtic
forward Lerato Lamola have been named the PSL’s manager and player of the month
respectively for April/May. Baxter, who claimed five victories out
of six in the relevant period, saw off stiff competition from Free State Stars
mentor Kinnah Phiri, who has led Ea Lla Koto’s remarkable rise to top-eight
contention. Golden Boot hopeful Lamola was recognised for netting four goals
and providing two assists for Phunya Sele Sele. Mamelodi Sundowns pair Pitso
Mosimane and Cuthbert Malajila won the awards for February/March.
Kaizer Chiefs coach
Stuart Baxter says the club will be in search of a top striker for next season.
Despite Amakhosi’s League and MTN8 success this season, Baxter admits that
the fact that none of Chiefs’ attackers are on double figures in terms of goals
scored means he must look at other options. Chiefs’ top scorer is Mandla
Masango, who has scored eight goals in all competitions. Losing our top striker
[Kingston Nkhatha] halfway into the season made things difficult… We need to
get a striker who can get us 10/15 goals next season,” Baxter says.
South African
midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi will be sent on a personalised boot camp programme
in order to be fit for next season. This season’s Cardiff City signing has
played just 74 minutes in the league for his Welsh club since making the move
from Crystal Palace, owing to a number of muscle problems that have left him on
the sidelines. Yet after initial reports
suggesting the 30-year-old will be let go at the end of the season, Cardiff
boss Russell Slade has revealed the Bafana Bafana international will be given
the chance to prove his worth by attending a European summer boot camp in north
England. “It’s been frustrating because we haven’t seen anything of him,”
the Bluebirds boss told Walesonline. “Clearly, he had a major injury problem
and also got himself into a situation where fitness was also an issue. We are
working on that through the summer and he needs to take ownership for that. He
is going to a boot camp in the north of England, the Lake District, in
mid-June. No phones, no nothing. Just a sweat jacket and hard work.” Dikgacoi
has just over a month to prove himself before returning to his club’s training
headquarters. After going to the north he will report back to our training
ground in the middle of June, earlier than the main group,” Slade added. It
remains to be seen whether or not the club will keep the former Golden Arrows
reinforce, with two years left on his contract in Wales.
The National First
Division teams participating in the Promotion Play-Offs this year can do so
without age restrictions. As per the
rules, NFD teams must start games with five U-23 players but this regulation
will not be enforced on the NFD teams during the Play-Offs. As per usual, the
Play-Offs will be played in a mini-league format, home and away, and the team
with the most points will win promotion.
Kaizer Chiefs coach
Stuart Baxter admits he has no idea whether goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will
stay or go, saying negotiations are still cordial at this stage. The
27-year-old has been strongly linked with Mamelodi Sundowns and also Orlando
Pirates, but Baxter says as far as he knows there is no “impasse” between
Chiefs and Khune. “I’m not part of the management and therefore I’m not privy
on the stages of negotiations that are ongoing. My information is that the
negotiations are still on and both parties are still trying to find a
solution,” Baxter said. Baxter, though, is satisfied that Khune is still
showing commitment despite the uncertainty over his future.
Orlando Pirates
striker Thamsanqa Gabuza says he felt like he was “playing for his future
at Pirates” in the game against CF Mounana over the weekend. The
27-year-old made his first start at Orlando Stadium and put in an impressive
performance capped off by an assist for Kermit Erasmus’ hat-trick goal. “I
was happy to finally get a chance to start for my team. I was actually given my
first opportunity to start this season when we played Mounana away in Gabon,
which was a real honour for me but to start at home in front of our supporters,
it was a very special moment,” he told the club’s website. “I guess
it was emotional because going into the match I felt it was a life-or-death
situation for me. I knew that if I played badly people would criticise me and
say I was sidelined because I did not deserve to play, but if I played well I
know the comments would be positive like why have I not been playing before or
when am I going to play next. Therefore I felt I was playing for my future at
Pirates.” The former Golden Arrows man reveals that club chairman Irvin
Khoza has been very influential in his hardworking approach to the game. “I
would like to thank the chairman for that, he made me understand the game by
pointing out my strengths and weaknesses. He explained that he acquired my
services because I am tall, physical, I drop deep to collect the ball and that
I am full of energy. So when I played I tried to incorporate all of the above.”
Thanda Royal Zulu
striker Phumelele Bhengu has finished the National First Division season with
22 goals – the highest total in at least 10 years. The former national
Under-23 player, now 25, propelled Thanda to a fourth-place finish in the NFD this
season as they narrowly missed out on the promotion playoffs. Charlton Mashumba
scored 17 League goals as Jomo Cosmos qualified for the playoffs, finishing in
second place seven points behind NFD champions Golden Arrows. Cape Town All Stars, who lost 2-0 at home to
Thanda in the final game of the season, were also in the playoff reckoning this
season thanks in large part to Amigo Memela’s 15 goals but missed out in the
end. Roggert Nyundu of Black Leopards –
most famously remembered this season for scoring the goal that knocked Kaizer
Chiefs out of the Nedbank Cup in the last 16 – also scored 13 league goals for
Black Leopards, who join Cosmos and Moroka Swallows in the playoffs.
NFD top scorers
(2014/15):
Phumelele Bhengu (Thanda Royal Zulu) – 22
Charlton Mashumba (Jomo Cosmos) – 17
Amigo Memela (Cape Town All Stars) – 15
Roggert Nyundu (Black Leopards) – 13
Brice Aka (Jomo Cosmos) – 11
Walter Maponyane (Royal Eagles) – 11
They might not have
had the best of seasons, but Orlando Pirates have again managed to preserve the
pride of being the only team to always finish in the top 8 through all of the
19 years of the PSL. Fourth place was disappointing for Pirates, but they
will know that they have at least guarded a measure of precious consistency
that is not matched by any other club in domestic football. Actually, across
all 19 years of the PSL, Bucs hold the highest average position of 3.05,
despite some seasons when they haven’t been up to scratch, like this past
season. The second most consistent team in the PSL is Kaizer Chiefs, whose
average position stands at 3.36, with that mark spoiled by the fact they have
twice finished outside the top eight – ending up ninth in 2001/02 and 2006/07. Six-time
champions Sundowns, who have a tendency of putting up sub-standard runs and
have finished outside the top eight on four occasions, have ironed out 4.10 as
their average position.
NFD champions Golden
Arrows finished their season in style on Sunday, while Jomo Cosmos and Black
Leopards booked a spot in the Promotion Play-Offs alongside Moroka Swallows. Arrows
took their season tally to 60 points with a 2-1 win over Highlands Park.
Sibusiso Sibeko and Prince Nxumalo got the goals for Arrows, while Teboho
Kalake netted for the hosts. Moroka Swallows will battle Jomo Cosmos and Black
Leopards in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Offs.
Steve Barker insists
he does not regret his decision to join AmaZulu, and says he is prepared to
coach in the NFD. Usuthu were relegated after a 2-1 loss to neighbours
Maritzburg United in Durban on Saturday, with Barker joining the team in
November following a lengthy stint at University of Pretoria. “I am
willing to go with the club, in fact preparations need to start as early as
Monday so that we know which direction we are taking. I don’t regret my
decision of being with the club,” Barker told AmaZulu’s website. “I
believe we have what it takes to bounce back to the PSL in years to come and
become a competitive team.” He added: “I am happy with the progress
that we made, there were some positives, but again disappointed that I could
not achieve my main objective which was to save the club from being
relegated.”
PSL title winners Kaizer Chiefs were crowned as Absa
Premiership Q4 winners, bagging an addition R1.5 million in their back pockets.
Amakhosi’s 2-0 victory over Chippa United secured the last of the
quarterly prizes, adding to the Q1 they won earlier in the season. Stuart
Baxter’s men were pushed all the way by a resurgent Free State Stars, who
finished just two points behind, yet were unable to earn maximum points against
Mpumalanga Black Aces in their last fixture of the season while Chiefs were
comfortable winners in Port Elizabeth.
Orlando Pirates
communication manager Mickey Modisane has confirmed his resignation. Modisane
tendered his resignation letter to Pirates chairman, Irvin Khoza with the
intention to join the Ministry of Sport and Recreation where he is set to serve
as spokesperson for Minister, Fikile Mbalula.
Ajax Cape Town coach
Roger de Sa is looking forward to taking his young side into the CAF
Confederation Cup next season. Ajax’s qualification means no place in
African competition for Orlando Pirates next year – unless they win the CAF
Confederations Cup this year. The Urban Warriors have already qualified for the
CAF tournament by reaching the Nedbank Cup Final – win or lose against Mamelodi
Sundowns in next weekend’s final in Port Elizabeth, the Urban Warriors qualify
because Sundowns are runners-up in the Absa Premiership and will join champions
Kaizer Chiefs in the CAF Champions League. Bidvest Wits finished third and will
the other side taking part in CAF Confederations Cup with Ajax Cape Town. “We
have spoken to the players about playing in Africa and we are looking forward
to it,” De Sa said. “I have also spoken to the management about having a
slightly different squad. We need players to play in Africa, a couple of strong
players. It’s not like playing in the PSL … it’s quite different.” De Sa speaks
from experience, having led Pirates to the Champions League Final in 2013. “It
will be a nice challenge for the youngsters to step up to. This will be the
closest they could get to playing for the national team,” he says. “It is going
to be a great opportunity for them and they should learn from it.”
SA players abroad
round-up: Ayanda Patosi provided three assists to outshine Bafana Bafana
teammate Andile Jali.
AYANDA PATOSI AND ANDILE JALI
Patosi was in sparkling form for the 65 minutes he was on
the pitch, laying on three assists in a 6-1 rout of Jali’s KV Oostende that saw
Lokeren move a step closer to competing in the UEFA Europa League. The result
ensured Lokeren finished at the top of Playoff II Group B to set up a
two-legged tie against Group A winners KV Mechelen. The Playoff II winner then
plays a home-and-away tie against either the fourth-placed or fifth-placed team
from the Playoff I for a Europa League place.
KAMOHELO MOKOTJO
Mokotjo missed FC Twente’s 3-0 win over Dordrecht with a toe
injury.
CHEYNE FOWLER
Fowler played for Finnish second-tier side Haka as they lost
3-2 at PS Kemi.
MAY MAHLANGU
Mahlangu played for Turkish side Konyaspor as they lost 1-0
at giants Galatasaray.
ANELE NGCONGCA
Ngcongca was suspended as Genk won 3-2 at Zulte-Waregem but
finished second in their UEFA Europa League qualification pool. His season is
now over.
AYANDA NKILI
Nkili came on at halftime as Orebro’s disastrous start to
the new Swedish league season continued with 2-0 away loss to Hacken.
RICARDO NUNES
Nunes played for Polish club Pogon Szczecin in their 3-1
loss to Lechia Gdansk in the championship playoffs.
LEBOGANG PHIRI
Phiri came off late for Brondby as they were held 1-1 at
home by Aalborg in Denmark.
THULANI SERERO
Serero played in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Cambuur that was the
penultimate match of the season for Ajax Amsterdam.
MICHAEL TRAVIS
Travis played for Scottish third-tier side Forfar Athletic
as they won through to the final of the League One promotion play-offs with a
1-1 draw at Stranraer that handed them a 4-1 aggregate victory. They will now
meet Championship side Alloa Athletic over two legs in the final.