Lebese Turns Down Turkey To Stay At Chiefs
George Lebese was offered lucrative terms from Turkey but
says he could not turn down the contract put forward by Kaizer Chiefs. The
left-footed midfielder recently penned a new three-year deal with Amakhosi,
having rejected advances from Balikesirspor. According to a source, Lebese
could have netted close to R5 million per season had he moved to the Süper Lig.
Lebese, however, insists he is pleased to have committed his future to the Absa
Premiership and MTN8 champions. “Kaizer Chiefs is a big club and I was offered
a good three-year deal; I couldn’t turn it down,” Lebese told Chiefs’ website.
The 26-year-old added: “I am happy to be involved with Chiefs for three more
years. Hopefully it will even be for longer.”
Maritzburg United say
they are considering legal action against coach Steve Komphela who allegedly
joined Kaizer Chiefs without paying the required compensation to the Team of
Choice. Komphela resigned as United’s coach on June 12, and was announced
as Kaizer Chiefs’ new boss five days later. According to Maritzburg chairman
Farouk Kadodia, after Komphela left he was meant to pay compensation as his
contract expires next year June with the Team of Choice. But the matter has yet
to be resolved. “There has been no finality on the issue yet and our legal team
will decide what is the best way of sorting out this situation,” Kadodia said. “What
we are getting from Komphela’s camp is that the reason why this matter has not
been sorted out it’s because they are basically dependant on the new team
[Kaizer Chiefs] to take care of the matter. But this is a matter between
Maritzburg and Komphela, not his new team. He knew very well that he was
supposed to take care of the compensation before, 1 July.” The Komphela versus
Maritzburg issue adds more problems to Chiefs, who are also involved in a
transfer tussle over Togolese striker Camaldine Abraw with Bloemfontein Celtic.
Amakhosi unveiled Abraw as a new signing from Free State Stars earlier this
month, but Celtic claim the player has penned a pre-contract with Phunya Sele
Sele. The PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber is scheduled to deal with the matter
on Tuesday.
Chippa United have
parted ways with Mich D’Avray. The former Moroka Swallows coach served as
the club Technical Director before being roped in as a coach after Ernst
Middendorp was relieved of his duties at the club. The Chilli Boys have already
recalled Roger Sikhakhane as the club head coach, and it has now been revealed
that D’Avray will no longer stay on as Technical Director, along with former
manager Peter Koutroulis who also left the club. Chippa, who finished just
above the relegation zone in 14th place last season, face defending champions
Kaizer Chiefs in their opening fixture of the 2015/16 campaign.
Ugandan pair Yasser
Mugerwa and Saidi Kyeyune are making their way to South Africa for trials with
Orlando Pirates. The duo, who play for Uganda Revenue Authority, impressed
Pirates’ technical team during the clubs’ CAF Confederation Cup duel earlier
this year. Bucs edged the two-legged tie 4-3, with Mugerwa scoring in a 2-2
draw at Lugazi Stadium on April 4. URA general secretary Henry Mayeku confirms
that the players – who are both 21-year-old midfielders – have been invited for
trials. “Yes it’s true, they have been invited for trials by Orlando Pirates.
They are still waiting for their visas and I believe they should be arriving in
South Africa this coming Friday,” Mayeku said. Pirates currently have five
foreigners on their books in the form of Issa Sarr, Tendai Ndoro, Felipe Ovono,
Helder Pelembe and Mwape Musonda, although at least one of the latter two are
likely to leave the club.
University of
Pretoria are yet to make a decision whether to sign Katlego Mphela as he
continues to train with the team. ‘Killer’, who has scored 81 goals in 160
PSL starts for SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs since
2005/06, plus 62 substitute appearances, has been training with AmaTuks and his
agent Glyn Binkin has given an update. “He’s been training and nothing has
happened yet. Maybe in the next few days,” Binkin said. Mphela was released by
Chiefs recently and the chairman of the club Kaizer Motaung revealed that the
30-year-old was let go after he was “called into a disciplinary hearing for
failing to attend a number of important events”.
Neil Tovey has been named as the new SAFA Technical Director.
The former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain was announced in the
role by SAFA via social media on Saturday afternoon. Tovey, who led South
Africa to victory in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, has also coached a number
of teams since he retired from playing football, including Mamelodi Sundowns,
Amazulu, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Thanda Royal Zulu. He was also one of the
candidates to coach Bafana Bafana a few years ago. Chair of the Technical
Committee, Natasha Tsichlas was quoted on the Safa Twitter account saying,
“Neil understands the South African culture and has a track record to succeed.”
The role has been vacant for a few years, however Fran-Hilton Smith has most
recently filled the role on an interim basis. Safa intends to train around 10
000 coaches annually and the new TD will supervise the acceleration of the
development of coaches instructors to realise this goal. He is mandated to
improve and streamline the referees’ training programme in addition to the
Youth Programme, Women football development among others. “We feel he (Tovey)
has sufficient experience to see through our technical master plan as he was
part of the group of coaches who devised that plan,” said Safa CEO Dennis
Mumble. In another development, Safa is expected to post a healthy surplus of
R28.5 million in the current year. Last year, the Association realised a R10
million profit as part of its financial turn-around strategy and that figure is
expected to triple this year. This followed tight financial controls aided by a
number of proactive initiatives, according to the chair of the Finance and
Procurement Committee, Gay Mokoena. These, among other crucial resolutions
taken in the meeting held in Johannesburg, were as follows:
• The appointment of the new Technical Director (TD)
• Reporting a projected income surplus of R28.5 million for
the year ending 2015.
• Taking control of the running of all School Football
activities and doing away with SASFA
• Revisiting and approving the new National Teams calendar
for the current year
• Unveiling the new Technical Centre which would become
operational next month
• The introduction of the vanishing spray within the local
league matches.
Kaizer Chiefs have
confirmed Chris Matombo and Zitha Macheke have signed one-year loan deals with
Chippa United. Matombo was previously thought to be on his way to
Bloemfontein Celtic. However, Matombo’s prospective move to Celtic was
apparently derailed by the transfer tussle involving Togolese striker Camaldine
Abraw.
Maritzburg United are
keen to sign AmaZulu midfielder Goodman Dlamini, according to the player’s
agent Jazzman Mahlakgane. Dlamini has been a key performer for NFD-bound
Usuthu in recent seasons, scoring six goals in 27 starts this past campaign. “Yes,
we are talking to them [Maritzburg],” Mahlakgane said. Mahlakgane also
dismissed talk AmaZulu are asking R3million for the KwaNongoma-born attacker. “It
is not true. I think that was a rumour. What I can tell you now is that
Maritzburg United want the player and that (R3m) is not true. What I’m telling
you is the real story, and we are talking.” Dlamini was named his club’s
Player of the Season in 2013/14.
SuperSport United
have offered Bennett Chenene and George Chigova to Polokwane City as part of a
swap deal involving striker Puleng Tlolane. Chenene and Chigova have both
fallen out of favour at United, with the former spending the second half of
last season on loan at neighbouring University of Pretoria. Zimbabwean
goalkeeper Chigova has had to play second fiddle to Matsatsantsa number one
Ronwen Williams in Tshwane. Tlolane netted 11 league goals for City in 2014/15,
three less than Golden Boot winner Moeketsi Sekola.
Polokwane City striker Roggert Nyundu says he has no desire
to return to the club where he is paid R5 000 monthly and is hoping to find a
new employer. Nyundu – who was loaned to Black Leopards last season
and scored 18 goals in 17 games for Lidoda Duvha in all competitions – raised
his profile with a winning goal against Kaizer Chiefs in last season’s Nedbank
Cup. The 27-year-old revealed to the Sowetan that he is one of the lowest paid
PSL players. “They [Polokwane City] did not respect me as a player and I don’t
want to go there on July 1 [when they open for pre-season]. I used to live at
the clubhouse [in Soetdoring], on the outskirts of Polokwane and it is like a
camp for the under-12s,” he says. “It is far from town and difficult to go
there if you don’t have a car … I pray that God makes the chairman of City let
me go so I can find a club that will allow me to provide for my family.” Polokwane City chairman Johnny Mogaladi says
he won’t discuss his players’ salaries.“I’m not here to discuss a player’s
contract on the phone. I won’t discuss how much he is getting or how much other
players are getting paid,” he told the newspaper. In the past, a proposal by
the South African Football Players’ Union required that players in the PSL
should earn at least R15 000 a month.
Veteran striker
Siyabonga Nomvete could be joining Jomo Cosmos in the near future. The
37-year-old also has also had other options according to agent Mike Makaab. “We
are busy talking [to Cosmos], but there are other clubs that are interested,”
he says. “Thank God Nomvete is not a rookie anymore so he understands that all
the ingredients must be in the contract before he signs. He is not a baby
anymore.” Makaab, who has been Nomvete’s business manager for more than 15
years, further explains why the former Bafana Bafana striker is still going
strong at his age. “I wish all the youngsters can take a leaf out of his book.
A lot of people forget that he played for three years in Italy, won a league
medal in Sweden, won a league medal in Denmark and played for the big two in
this country [Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates]. “If you ask me who is the
real role model, it is Nomvete. We all know the late ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu, how great
he was and look at Buffon [the Italian goalkeeper]. If you respect the talent
that God has given you, you can play for a long time. It is down to having the
right attitude and Nomvete has that,” Makaab concluded.
Royal Eagles have
confirmed they are leaving Durban and will be based in Pietermaritzburg next
season. The ambitious NFD side has yet to decide where they will play their
home games. “As we speak, I’m busy finalising the deal and I can confirm
to you that the club is relocating to Pietermaritzburg and we have our village
there,” Eagles manager Richard Makhoba said. “It is ready and the
team will be based in PMB. That said, it is not about creating a new fan base.
We have a village built there and it has all the facilities for training and
our players will be housed there. Regarding match venues for games next season,
we are still going to announce that and I don’t want to put the cart before the
horse. We will announce where we will play our matches but the fact is, the
team will be in PMB.” Makhoba adds: “We will still be taking our
supporters here at home and wherever with the trains and buses, as we were
doing last season.”
Siyabonga Ngubane has
completed his move to Mpumalanga Black Aces after a proposed switch to Orlando
Pirates fell through. Pirates were poised to sign the midfielder but pulled
the plug on proceedings at the eleventh hour. Ngubane joins AmaZayoni as a free
agent after seeing out his contract at University of Pretoria. The 26-year-old
made 20 starts in the Absa Premiership in 2014/15. Ngubane joined Tuks in July
2013 following a loan spell – along with Buhle Mkhwanazi – as part of the swap
deal that saw Bongani Zungu go to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Bidvest Wits have
handed a trial to midfielder Keaghan Jacobs. The 25-year-old has been
plying his trade at Scottish second-tier outfit Livingston since 2007. “He
[Jacobs] is here with some other new faces training with us,” Wits CEO
Jose Ferreira tells this website. Jacobs was born in Johannesburg but is
eligible to play for Scotland through residency eligibility rules.
Experienced playmaker Lerato Chabangu is training with
Bidvest Wits in the hope of earning a contract, while Dillon Sheppard is set to
extend his stay with the club. Chabangu, whose deal at NFD-bound
Moroka Swallows expires on June 30, has been linked with a move to Wits since
last season. The Bafana Bafana international had been a key performer for the
Dube Birds since reviving his career in Soweto under Gordon Igesund in 2011.
Camaldine Abraw faces
a possible six-month ban from football if it is found he signed contracts with
two different clubs, according to Mark Gleeson. The PSL’s Dispute
Resolution Chamber is set to deal with a dispute between Bloemfontein Celtic
and Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday over the signing of the Togo international
striker. Celtic claim the player signed with them on a pre-contract before Free
State Stars sold him to Chiefs, and that he was entitled to do so as he was in
the last six months of his contract. However, Stars exercised an option they
had on his contract and sold him to Chiefs. When papers were signed, when
options were exercised and who made contact with whom should all be made clear
at the hearing next week. PSL rules state that ‘no player may place himself in
a position where he is contracted to two clubs simultaneously’, and if he does
so must be charged with misconduct, reports Gleeson. The rules also state that
the contract lodged with the PSL first will be accepted unless compelling
evidence is led which causes the DRC to come to a different conclusion. Chiefs
have in the past lost transfer disputes involving Dumisa Ngobe, Lesley
Manyathela, Papi Zothwane and Siphelele Mthembu.
Orlando Pirates have
decided to take their CAF Confederation Cup Group B game with Egyptian giants
Zamalek to Mbombela Stadium on July 11. Pirates, who face AC Leopards
tomorrow in Dolisie, Congo-Brazzaville, have changed venues due to maintenance
at Orlando Stadium. “Our game against Zamalek is at the Mbombela Stadium
due to the maintenance of the pitch at the Orlando Stadium,” Bucs administrator
Floyd Mbele said. “However, I believe Orlando Stadium will be ready for use
before our first league game next season.”
Ajax Cape Town newcomer Ruzaigh Gamildien says the club plays
his “kind of football”. The former Bafana Bafana and
Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder ended last season at NFD side Milano after being
offloaded by AmaZulu for ill-discipline in October. Ajax snapped up Gamildien
on a pre-contract in April. “It’s been tough, we’ve been training hard this week,”
Gamildien told the Urban Warriors’ website. “It’s taking me a while to adapt to
this kind of professional environment again. Things are looking good though,
Ajax play my kind of football, so I am happy to be here. I know most of the
players who are here and they have accepted me into the group, so that’s also
good. It’s also especially nice to be close to my friends and family. When you
go through a difficult patch in life, your friends and family are always there
to help you through things,” concluded the 26-year-old Capetonian.
Coach Roger
Sikhakhane said that he had a lengthy talk with Chippa United’s management
before deciding to return to the club for the umpteenth time. Sikhakhane –
who ended last season with Thanda Royal Zulu after being sacked by the Chilli
Boys in January – is back with the PSL outfit. “There is nothing special,
there is no surprises,” Sikhakhane said. “We had a long conversation
before deciding to accept the offer as you know what happened before. I am
happy again to back with Chippa and coaching in the PSL again.”
New Kaizer Chiefs signing Siyanda Xulu was once on the brink
of joining Barcelona, while he was also on the radar of Real Madrid and
Atletico Madrid, according to the defender’s agent Paul Mitchell. Chiefs
unveiled Xulu as their player on Tuesday after the defender penned a five-year
contract with the Soweto giants. The 23-year-old was previously on the books of
FC Rostov, having joined the Russian side from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2012. “Siyanda
was the first player I signed in South Africa after bringing Matthew Booth back
from Russia and bringing Jorge Acuña from Holland to [Mamelodi] Sundowns. I
signed ‘Siya’ when he was just 17 years old,” Mitchell recalls. “We
have walked a long road together, we went to Barcelona and had a very
disappointing time there because it was a done deal but it fell through at the
last minute. People thought he [Xulu] only landed in Barcelona because of
[Ex-Downs coach and Barca legend, Hristo] Stoitchkov but he had nothing to with
it. It was all our work and at that time Xulu was in the top young 50 players
in the world. Real Madrid came at the same time while we were at Barcelona but
that was a rollerc oaster and it never happened. Atletico Madrid put an offer
to Sundowns but it was rejected and we we eventually ended up in Russia and it
wasn’t easy because negations were long and we did the deal on the last day of
the window.” Meanwhile, Mitchell says Xulu reminded him of a young Rio
Ferdinand when he first saw the Bafana Bafana international in action. In terms
of quality, the first time I saw Siyanda [play] I was so excited. He reminded
me of Rio Ferdinand,” he says. I watched Rio at a young age when he was at
West Ham and Siyanda reminds me of him the way he carries the ball out. He
[Xulu] can pass and he learned a lot under Ted Dumitru and Trott Moloto, that’s
why I’ll always be grateful to Mamelodi Sundowns for the opportunity they gave
him but at the end of the day Hristo Stoitchkov and Antonio López Habas gave
him a chance and he took it with both hands.”
Polokwane City have
cut ties with exciting midfielder Ayanda Lubelo while experienced campaigner
Benson Mhlongo’s future at the club is in doubt. Lubelo arrived at the club
last season but was only used in the club’s MultiChoice Diski Challenge team.
The 22-year-old, who has previously been with University of Pretoria and
Bidvest Wits, has left the club’s base in Limpopo. Experienced campaigner
Mhlongo reported for duty earlier this week but is no longer training with Rise
and Shine. The 34-year-old, who has a year left on his contract, is unlikely to
be in Kosta Papic’s plans after the coach confirmed he is looking for defensive
reinforcements to strengthen his squad. Papic has just returned from holiday
and is expected to make decisions on players by next week. Veteran defender
Joseph Musonda has also not been training with the rest of the squad despite
reporting back to duty earlier this week. Musonda is amongst the players whose
contracts are coming up at the end of the month who have been informed by the
club not to train with the team. Meanwhile, some good news is that defender
Tlou Molekwane has returned to training following a long injury layoff.
Orlando Pirates have confirmed five of their new signings,
including Filipe Ovono, Tendai Ndoro and Gift Motupa. Ovono, who is
from Equatorial Guinea, also clarifies that he in fact signed with the team
months ago. Ndoro arrives from Mpumalanga Black Aces, while Motupa signed a
while ago from Baroka FC. Pirates have also signed Thembinkosi Lorch (Maluti
FET) and Luvuyo Memela (Cape Town All Stars).
Tickets for the 2015
Bokone Bophirima Maize Triangle Challenge have gone on sale with fans now able
to book their seats for the pre-season spectacular to be staged at the Moruleng
Stadium on Saturday, July 11. Known as the Maize Cup, the one-day event
provides a feast of football in the format of the old Charity Cup and like that
former favourite on the South African soccer calendar, will also be
contributing to charitable causes from the proceeds raised on the day. Host
side Platinum Stars entertain Botswana Premier League giants Township Rollers
in the first semi-final at 10h00, before Bloemfontein Celtic clash with
Mpumalanga Black Aces in the second semi at 12h00. The winners of those two
matches will then contest the final of the competition at the same venue at
17h00 for the honour of being the first recipients of the Maize Cup trophy. All
proceeds on the day will go to charitable causes, which will be announced by
organisers in due course.
Mamelodi Sundowns
midfielder Lindokuhle Mbatha is set to join either Platinum Stars or Mpumalanga
Black Aces for next season. Mbatha has been struggling for game-time at
Sundowns and according to a source close to the player, he has already
requested permission to play elsewhere next season, at least on loan. The
29-year-old looked impressive at Platinum Stars during the 2013/14 season
before he made the move to Sundowns, where his career has slowed down. He was
also not registered for Sundowns’ 2015 CAF Champions League squad, a further
indication of where he is in the pecking order at Chloorkop.
SuperSport United
coach Gordon Igesund says he is looking to shore up his defensive unit ahead of
the start of the 2015/16 campaign. The former Bafana Bafana coach led the
Pretoria side to a sixth place finish in the League last season, yet shipped 40
goals in the process – something which their manager wishes to improve upon. “I
want to strengthen up defensively – not that I am unhappy with my defence, but
I do want to strengthen as we conceded a lot of goals last season, and I want
to make sure that does not happen again,” Igesund said “We have a very
offensive team, and I want to tighten up the back a little bit.” The
Matsatsantsa tactician is hoping to build a competitive squad that will fight
for positions on a regular basis. “I want to have a competitive team where the
players are fighting against each other for a place in the team. I don’t want
to have any automatic choices – I’ll have a squad of about 26 players or so,
and I want each and every one of them to be able to play in the team on a
regular basis and fight for positions, and keep each other on their toes. I
think this will add to the good environment of the team and good work ethic
amongst the players – this is what I demand from my players.” SuperSport, who
returned for preseason training this week, get their 2015/16 league campaign
underway against Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.
Ajax Cape Town have
paid tribute to their former defender Nazeer Allie, labelling the 30-year-old
“one of their best ever players”. Allie this week joined Bidvest
Wits, having spent his entire professional career at Ajax since breaking into
the senior team during the 2004-05 season.
Kaizer Chiefs have
been drawn against Mbabane Swallows in the first semi-final of the King’s Cup
tournament set to be held in Swaziland on July 18. The other semi-final has
set up a battle between Orlando Pirates and Royal Leopards, who booted Bidvest
Wits out of the CAF Confederation Cup earlier this year. The draw for the
inaugural pre-season tournament was held at the Royal Convention Centre in
Mbabane. Chiefs’ first match is set to kick off at 09h00 on July 18 while
Pirates’ game is billed for 11h00. The final is set to kick off at 15h00 and it
could be the first ‘Soweto’ Derby of the season should both South African teams
win their matches, with the Carling Black Label Cup a guaranteed fixture on
August 1 at FNB Stadium.
Former SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town winger Sameehg
Doutie has signed for Indian Super League side Atletico de Kolkata. Doutie
spent the past season on loan at Bidvest Wits from SuperSport, who have opted
not to extend his contract, and he has now signed for Atletico Madrid’s
franchise in the money-rich Indian League. The 26-year-old will also get the
opportunity to play in Europe as upon the end of his four-month stint in the
ISL from September to December this year, the Spanish La Liga club will place
him in a team in Europe. The ex-Orlando Pirates man has been close to a move to
Europe in the past but for various reasons a move didn’t materialise, and he
will now get his chance. Doutie will know at least one familiar face at
Kolkata, who are coached by former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
Ex-Wits midfielder Ofentse Nato played also played for them during the 2014 ISL
season. Other former PSL players who have played in the relatively new Indian
Super League are Fikru Tefera Lemessa and Isaac Chansa.
Goalkeeper coach
Arthur Bartman has left Golden Arrows after the club decided against renewing
his contract, which expires at the end of this month. The former Kaizer
Chiefs glove man is third person to leave Abafana Bes’Thende in the space of
two weeks following promotion-winning head coach Shaun Bartlett and long-term
servant Bheka Phakathi. Bartman says his contract was not renewed and he holds
no grudges against the club as he was part of the technical staff that helped
Arrows get back into the PSL.“My contract was coming to an end and I was never
approached after that,” Bartman said. “It is part of football and I did what I
was supposed to do. We had the best defensive record and most clean sheets [in
the NFD] and I did my job. Having said that, whatever decision they came up
with, I was not informed.” The club recently appointed Serame Letsoaka as their
new head coach to replace Bartlett. Rumour has it former Mamelodi Sundowns
goalkeeper John Tlale is being lined up for the assistant coach job.
The South African Football Intermediaries Association (SAFIA)
– an agents group headed by Mike Makaab – have issued a statement on Safa’s
plans to cap agents’ fees at three percent. The statement reads as
follows: On 25 June 2015, the Johannesburg High Court, after being approached
on an urgent basis, granted the South African Football Intermediaries
Association (SAFIA) an order against the South African Football Association
(SAFA), in terms of which SAFA has been interdicted from implementing their
proposed new regulations on working with intermediaries, pending the outcome of
a Review Application to be brought in the future. On 01 April 2015, in response
to FIFA’s decision earlier in the year to deregulate agents, SAFA implemented
their new regulations, called the South African Football Associations
Regulations on Working with Intermediaries. The introduction of the new
regulations has severe consequences on the occupation of players’ agents, one
being that their commission would be restricted to no more than 3%. FIFA’s
regulations recommended as a guideline, a 3% cap on agents’ remuneration, but
SAFA went one step further and mandated a 3% cap on agents’ commissions. In
this respect there was previously no cap on the commission that a player’s
agent could earn in this country, although an industry norm of approximately
10% was the general guideline in place between the respective parties. The new
regulations are extremely controversial and have generated a significant debate
within the football fraternity and in the media, both locally and abroad, and
it is relevant to note that similar legal action has been implemented in the UK
and in Germany. In arriving at his decision to award the interdict, Judge BA
Mashile found that SAFIA has reasonable prospects of success in the Review
Application. He also found that the new regulations, which effectively seek to
slash agent’s earnings by 70%, would cause agents to suffer irreparable harm if
the interdict was not granted and was satisfied that SAFIA had satisfied all
the other requirements necessary for the interdict. According to the agents’ attorney, Jeff
Afriat: “In our view, the 3% cap is unconstitutional because it unreasonably
and unjustifiably limits the fundamental rights of agents, enshrined in the
constitution; namely their freedom of trade and that no one may be deprived of
property which includes one’s ability to earn an income. Furthermore, the cap on agents’ remuneration
amounts to unlawful competition under the Competition Act. Accordingly, my
clients will also lodge a complaint with the Competition Tribunal who will
investigate this matter and make findings in this regard.” The decision of the
Johannesburg High Court is a ground-breaking decision which will no doubt have
many other countries following suit, seeking to challenge similar regulations
that their own National Associations seek to implement. In the meantime, the
regulations will be not implemented and depending on the decision of the Review
Court, may never be. “This is not a victory for agents, as certain quarters of
the media might suggest, but it’s imperative for us to be recognized as
important role players in the football industry and for our input to be treated
with the seriousness it deserves. We have been and remain willing to sit across
a table with SAFA and the NSL/PSL (as although we operate under the rules and
regulations as prescribed by SAFA, it is with the Clubs that we have the
majority of our interaction) and find a workable solution to the new proposed
rules and regulations, so that all the participants in the football industry
and not just the preferred stakeholders, are treated in a fair and just
manner,” commented Mike Makaab, president of SAFIA. “SAFIA does not represent a
small group of agents, as quoted by some media releases, but the large
majority, if not all, of the major players in our profession – not pseudo
profession, as named by those who have scant respect for the livelihoods and
careers of others.”
Kaitano Tembo is set
for the SuperSport United assistant coach job. Igesund is on the lookout
for a new number two after Serame Letsoaka took up the head coach job at
newly-promoted Golden Arrows. Tembo is currently working with SuperSport’s
Youth Development academy.
The increasing
popularity of the Carling League of Champions has attracted legends of the game
such as Mlungisi ‘Professor’ Ngubane, who has applauded Carling Black Label for
its unique initiative. The 2015 Carling League of Champions continued this
past weekend as the Moses Mabhida Stadium outer fields and Ikageng Stadium
hosted the third and fourth round of the tournament. The fourth edition of the Carling Black
Label-sponsored tournament kept fans in awe with some nail-biting football that
was accompanied by goals. With Carling Black Label increasing the stakes this
year – R30 000 prize money plus an exclusive trip to the highly anticipated
Carling Black Label Cup – teams put up a good display of football for the fans
that came out in their numbers to rally behind their teams. “What Carling Black
Label is doing is quite an exciting yet important initiative of going into our
communities and providing an unforgettable football experience for players. It
is through such tournaments that our communities can be exposed to professional
football and be diverted from all social ills while at the same time affording
them an opportunity to be seen by scouts” said Ngubane.
New Kaizer Chiefs
recruit Siyanda Xulu has explained why he chose the Soweto giants over former
club Mamelodi Sundowns. Xulu left the Brazilians for Russian side FC Rostov
in 2012, and speculation was rife that we would return to his former employers,
but it seems they never made an offer. “Only Chiefs showed good interest
and no other teams,” Xulu explains. “That’s why I decided to sign for them.” When
pressed further on his decision to snub The Brazilians, Xulu added: “I
think it won’t be good for me to speak about Sundowns, I’m a Chiefs player
now.” The 23-year-old defender says racist remarks made last year by his
former coach at Rostov, Igor Gamula, were not the primary reason why he ended
his three-year stay in Europe. “All I wanted was to come home and play
because my intension was not to be in Russia for too long. My three-year
experience was priceless; I won the Russian Cup and played many games until I
mentioned [to Rostov management] that I wanted to leave the club, that’s where
it started to be a problem and that’s why I didn’t play [anymore]. The racial
issue wasn’t a problem for me as I’ve mentioned before. The only problem I had
was that I didn’t want to stay there [in Russia] for long and I had injuries
which were a setback for me but then I decided to come back home. Xulu has four
Bafana Bafana caps to his name and says his desire to get back into the
national set-up also influenced his decision to return to the PSL. “I want
to get back into the Bafana team. [But] I don’t think putting myself under
pressure to be selected for Bafana will be good for me. I just want to get
myself back into South African football and after that I can focus on
Bafana.”
Lebohang Manyama is
closing in on a move to Mpumalanga Black Aces. A source has revealed that a
deal for the former Ajax Cape Town man to join Aces is nearing completion after
the two clubs agreed on a transfer fee. Manyama
previously worked with new Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral at Ajax.
Newly-promoted Absa
Premiership club Golden Arrows have announced Abel Makhubele as their new
assistant coach. “Lamontville Golden Arrows are pleased to announce the
appointment of Abel Makhubele as assistant coach,” read a statement released by
the club. Makhubele will assist Serame Letsoaka, who replaced former coach
Shaun Bartlett at the Kwa Zulu-Natal-based side. Makhubele comes with vast
experience in the local game, having held the position as development coach for
the Limpopo Province for nine years following his appointment in 2001. Makhuele
served as assistant coach at Black leopards in the 2012/13 season, before
taking on the caretaker role in charge of Lidoda Duhva. He also coached the
U-19 Limpopo team which claimed Metro Cup honours in 2009.