Sundowns Sign A Colombian and Ivorian
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has confirmed the
signing of Colombian striker Leonardo Castro and Ivorian defender Bangaly
Soumahoro.Mosimane revealed the news after Sundowns reached the
uThungulu Mayoral Cup Final with a 4-0 demolition of Thanda Royal Zulu in
Richards Bay over the weekend. “He’s an Ivorian and we have signed him
also,” Mosimane said of Soumahoro, who played against Thanda. Last month
Downs had registered Zimbabwean Cuthbert Malajila and newcomers Mogakolodi
Ngele (Botswana) and Fiston Abdul Razak (Burundi) as three of their five
permitted foreigners for the season.
SAFA has written to
the PSL seeking clarification about Tsepo Masilela’s injury before considering
any disciplinary actions. The Kaizer Chiefs left-back was called up for
Bafana Bafana’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritania, but he pulled
out because of a knee injury. SAFA requested Masilela report to camp so that he
can be assessed by national team doctors as stipulated by FIFA rules, but he
didn’t show up. According to SAFA head of communications Dominic Chimhavi, they
have written a letter to the PSL seeking clarification. “As people know, as an
association we can’t deal with clubs directly, we have to go via the PSL and
the same applies when we call up players for national team duty,” Chimhavi said.
“So we have written a letter to the PSL CEO Mr Brand de Villiers seeking
further information about Masilela’s injury. The information we get from the
PSL will help us complete our investigation before we can think about taking
any disciplinary action. As stipulated in the FIFA rules, any injured player
must come to the national team to be examined by our doctors and that did not
happen. We need to establish the reasons for this.” If the matter is taken to a
SAFA DC and Masilela is found guilty, he could miss Kaizer Chiefs’ next match
against SuperSport United as per Article 5 of FIFA rules.
The South African
Coaches Football Association (SAFCA) has released a statement regarding the
selection criteria for national teams. SAFCA technical advisor Ted Dumitru
stressed that any successful football nation is guided by policy. The press
release read, in part: “The work on the policy is done collectively with the
involvement of the Technical Committee, Technical Director, national coaches
and experts on related support systems like medical, nutrition, physiology,
psychology etc. “The task is of highest responsibility and not easy to
complete. In defining the policy of national teams there are key factors to be
considered. Selection of players is regulated by the following: Performance
Objectives (Immediate to long term); Team Development Stage (Rebuilding or High
Performance Ready); Playing Philosophy (A Specific Competitive National Style
of Play); Global Competitive Trends; Variables (Players’ Form, Injuries etc.). Following
the approval of the policy and its time frame by all those involved, it is only
the national coach who is responsible for the selection of players and full
implementation of the preparation plan. If the policy was competently,
objectively and honestly constructed, then the foundation for players’
selection, type of national football style and performance would be solid and
lasting. SAFCA is of the view that the current debates on the selection of
players are because the set up and process explained in this media statement is
not reflected in the criteria. For example, to build a team that has the
mandate of qualifying to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup; then the
immediate performance objective (AFCON) has to be linked with Vision 2022. This
is imperative and non-debatable. The time factor in developing the players and
the type of successful football for 2022 has a decisive significance. No
genuine football technician will would ignore the fact that the process of
building performance standards for a national team to qualify for the
semi-finals at the World Cup will take 8-10 years without exception.“
2015 Cosafa Cup Player of the Tournament, Namibia midfielder
Wangu ‘Baptista’ Gome, has joined Bidvest Wits. Wits officials have
confirmed that Gome has signed with the club for this season after excelling at
the regional tournament three months ago.
The 22-year-old has been playing for Civics FC in the Namibian Premier
League. He was born to an Angolan father in Windhoek, Namibia.
The Tunisian Under-23
side were able to level matters with South Africa following a 2-1 victory in
their second friendly played at the Stade Olympique Elmenzah on Monday
afternoon. The duo had locked horns just three days prior, with the South
Africans ending the match as resounding 4-0 winners. However, the hosts who
were out to avenge Friday’s loss got off to the perfect start, opening their account
just two minutes into the game via set piece. The two matches played provided
ideal preparation for both teams who are participating in this year’s 8 Nations
tournament in Senegal, kicking off in November.
Line-up:
SA U23: February, Macheke, Ledwaba, Makhele, Farmer, Nel,
Dolly (c), Phiri, Mothiba, M. Masuku, Shozi
Subs: Goss, Ngqobe, Mekoa, Dube, Moerane, Zuma, Patel,
Ntshangase
Orlando Pirates have
appointed a new fitness coach in Warren Engelbrecht, who will take over from
Brazilian and ex-Moroka Swallows trainer Japhet Borges. Borges and his
compatriot, goalkeeper coach Alexandre Revoredo, parted ways with Bucs after
their contracts expired at the end of last season. Engelbrecht is a University
of Stellenbosch graduate and has previously worked with Banyana Banyana, Ajax
Cape Town as well as a number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Pirates coach
Eric Tinkler says he is pleased with the appointment of Engelbrecht, whom he
previously met at a KNVB coaching course. “I met him at a KNVB instructor’s
course some time ago and I’ve known him since then. He’s really good at what he
does, and I like the way he works,” Tinkler said. “One thing in particular that
I like about him is that everything he does is football specific – even stuff
like aerobics is done with a ball.”
Orlando Pirates have loaned out striker Tebogo Masaole to
big-spending NFD club Royal Eagles for the rest of the season. The
25-year-old spent last season on loan at Golden Arrows and helped them become
First Division champions by scoring seven goals, including a hat-trick against
Baroka FC and a brace against Black Leopards. Masaole reveals he has now been
loaned to Eagles, another club looking to win Absa Premiership promotion,
following his successful season-long spell with Abafana Bes’thende. “I’m at
Royal Eagles now and I was on loan last season at Golden Arrows,” Masaole said.
“I still have a contract with Pirates and they have loaned me now to Eagles. I
just arrived after the deal was done on the last day of the transfer window. And
maybe by next week I will be playing my first game for the club.” Eagles have
made some high-profile signings in Katlego Mphela and Dominic Isaacs as they
look to launch a serious bid for promotion this season. Masaole joins three
other players who are on loan at Eagles from Pirates, namely Siyanda Ngubo,
Letsi Koapeng and Masaelo Seanego, while former Sea Robbers midfielder
Khethokwakhe Masuku has also joined the club. The Buccaneers have recently
loaned out Mwape Musonda, Philani Zikalala and
Gladwin Shitolo to Arrows while Mbongeni Mzimela is at Eagles’
neighbours AmaZulu.
Mpumalanga Black Aces
are set to sign Liberian defender Dirkir Glay. Glay, who was on trial at
Aces, will return to South Africa this week after doing duty in his country’s
1-0 victory over Tunisia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on the weekend. AmaZayoni
coach Muhsin Ertugral confirmed he is expecting a Liberian to join his team but
refused to name the player. The Absa Premiership leaders last month recruited
Glay’s compatriot Kpah Sherman on a three-year deal.
Former South Africa U-23 midfielder Cyril Zuma passed away in
his hometown Ntuzuma yesterday after he was in a coma after being struck by a
car four weeks ago. The
30-year-old captained the national U-23 team under Steve Komphela, while he
also played for Maritzburg United, Moroka Swallows, City Pillars and Mpumalanga
Black Aces. ‘Qga’, as he was known in football circles, was highly talented but
his career never reached its true potential due to off-field issues. Zuma’s
former representative Mike Makaab, of Prosport International, conveyed his
condolences to Zuma’s family. “Cyril Zuma, I looked after him sometime
ago,” Makaab said. “Let me tell you, he was a super talented player
and unfortunately he never quite realised his full potential because I don’t
think he was serious about his career. But without a doubt, a really, really
talented player and a good person. To his family, I’m sorry about the loss and
we all know that he is in a better place and may his soul rest in peace and may
God give the family the strength, courage in this difficult time.”
Tickets have gone on
sale for the MTN8 Final between holders Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on September 19. Tickets are available at Computicket
and Shoprite, selling at R80 (West stand) and R40 (for the rest of the
stadium). The match will start at 15h00 in Port Elizabeth.
Kaizer Chiefs trialist Dean Jones is determined to impress the club’s management. The Cape Town-born centre-back will start a month-long assessment with Chiefs in October as part of the Nedbank Cup Ke Yona Draft. Jones, who played for Salt River Blackpool in the Castle League, was in the Ke Yona team that lost 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in Atteridgeville on Sunday. “I was emotional when selected,” Jones is quoted as saying on Amakhosi’s website. “I always wished to be in the limelight one day and here I am. Kaizer Chiefs is a big club, very huge, it is a giant. It is an immense responsibility to wear the gold and black jersey. However, I have always thought that one day my chance would come and now it has arrived.” The 21-year-old added: “I’m ready to adapt to the requirements at Chiefs.”