Mahachi Signs Loan Deal For Golden Arrows
PSL newcomers Golden Arrows have confirmed the signing of Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi on loan. “Abafana Bes’thende have secured the services of Zimbabwean international Kudakwashe Mahachi on a loan deal agreement from Mamelodi Sundowns,” read a statement on the club’s official website. It was reported last Friday that a deal was close to being finalised for the 22-year-old, who has found game-time difficult to come by at Chloorkop. The Zimbabwean international, who has been with the Brazilians since last year, will look to revive his career in KwaZulu-Natal, where he joins former teammate Rodney Ramagalela.
Mpumalanga Black Aces have reportedly terminated the contract of Ghanaian defender Kwabena Adusei. The 28-year-old was not registered by the club this season as he is still struggling with a knee injury that limited his appearances in 2014/15. A source claims the player and Aces met yesterday and it was decided to terminate the contract.
The 2015/16 Telkom Knockout Cup will offer R14, 2 million in total prize money. The winners will take home R4 million, while the runners-up will receive R1, 5 million. The two losing semi-finalists will each pocket R750 000, whilst the four losing quarter-finalists take home R400, 000. And each of the 16 Premier Division clubs will get a participation fee of R250 000. The competition starts tomorrow when Polokwane City host holders SuperSport United at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium (kick-off: 19h30).
Luyolo Nomandela has been training with Jomo Cosmos, but he is still not eligible to play. As previously reported, Cosmos were just minutes away from signing Nomandela from Mamelodi Sundowns but narrowly missed out as the transfer window drew to a close on August 31. However, Cosmos boss Jomo Sono says they are still “contesting” the matter with the League. As it stands, though, it is not clear how long the process would take to resolve the matter.
Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen is eager to extend Helder Pelembe’s stay at the club from Orlando Pirates. Pelembe has shone since joining Celtic on a season-long loan, netting three times for high-flying Phunya Sele Sele. The Mozambican striker opened his account with a cracker of a goal against Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 before bagging a brace in his side’s 2-0 win over University of Pretoria in the League on Sunday. Mthokozisi Dube, another loanee from Bucs, has also impressed Larsen. Meanwhile, the coach confirmed Malawian striker Gabadinho Mhango has recovered from injury and could make his return against Mpumalanga Black Aces in the Telkom Knockout this weekend.
Maritzburg United have appointment Clive Barker as head coach on a two-year deal. The Team of Choice had been on the lookout for a new coach after Mandla Ncikazi was fired after just four games. Barker got off to a disappointing start going down 4-1 away to his former side Black Aces in his maiden game in charge. The Team of Choice are currently bottom of the log, winless with five defeats from six games. “All football coaches like to turn bad situations into good situations,” he tells the club’s official website. “You can’t be a good side a couple of months ago, top eight, and be a bad side now.”We have good quality players, we have to make them believe in themselves, and work hard each day at training.” Fadlu Davids, who took over in Ncikazi’s absence, will stay on as assistant coach.
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Mbombela United are set to swoop on former Orlando Pirates midfielder Lebohang Mothibantwa and ex-SuperSport United striker Petrus Ngebo. Both players are already training with the club, and negotiations between the parties are at an advanced stage. “They have been here for more than a week now. They both came for an assessment and the technical team has recommended that they must be signed,” says the source. Former Free State Stars defender Sfiso Sithole is also training with Mbombela United.
Mamelodi Sundowns insist they will take action against a “minority of supporters” for their unruly behaviour during a match against Ajax Cape Town at Lucas Moripe Stadium last week. Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane needed a police escort after his side beat the MTN8 champions 3-2 in the League on September 23. Fans stormed the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, demanding Mosimane must vacate the Brazilians hotseat. Downs have since released a statement, which said: “Mamelodi Sundowns is very disappointed with the improper behavior by a small minority of its supporters, whose conduct and utterances relating to the head coach are unacceptable. “Disciplinary actions will be taken against those supporters who may have violated the Mamelodi Sundowns supporters’ rules and regulations. “The board and management of Mamelodi Sundowns is fully supportive and behind the head coach, Pitso Mosimane.” Mosimane steered the Tshwane giants to a 2-0 victory over struggling Jomo Cosmos yesterday.
Coach Molefi Ntseki has named his 21-man squad for the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile. The squad was announced at Athlone Stadium today, where the team lost 1-0 against Chile. Amajimbos will travel to South America on Tuesday to continue their preparations for the world showpiece, and will begin their camp in Rio de Janeiro, where they will play a friendly match against their Brazilian counterparts on October 4. They will then make their way to the host nation’s capital city Santiago to play a friendly against Chile on October 7, and they will conclude preparations against New Zealand.
Amajimbos World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Mondli Mpoto (SuperSport Academy); Sanele Tshabalala (Bidvest Wits Academy); Walter Kubheka (Mamelodi Sundowns Academy)
Defenders: Notha Ngcobo, Thendo Mukumela (both Mamelodi Sundowns Academy); Reeve Frosler (Bidvest Wits Academy); Keanu Cupido (Diambars Academy); Katlego Mohamme (SuperSport United Academy); Riyaaz Ismail (Hellenic)
Midfielders: Athenkosi Dlala, Nelson Maluleke, Simon Nqoi (all SuperSport United Academy); Sphephelo Sithole (KZN Academy); Wiseman Meyiwa (Kaizer Chiefs Academy); Sibongakonke Mbatha (School of Excellence); Tebogo Qinisile (Bloemfontein Celtic); Kobamelo Kodisang (Platinum Stars Academy)
Strikers: Khanyisa Mayo (SuperSport United Academy); Luvuyo Mkatshana (Bidvest Wits Academy); Vuyo Mantjie (Harmony Academy); Dylan Stoffels (AmaZulu Academy)
An early strike from Thamsanqa Gabuza ensured Orlando Pirates a 1-0 victory over Al Ahly in their first leg CAF Confederation Cup semi-final at the Orlando Stadium. Bucs take a slender 1-0 aggregate lead to Cairo, as they now look to defend it when they face Al Ahly in the second leg next weekend.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) on Friday announced a sponsorship relationship with Burger King to the tune of R25million over the next five years. The sponsorship will go mainly towards the youth development although it will also filter to the Senior Men’s National Team, Bafana Bafana in the process. The new sponsors will drive the U17 Men’s National Team, Amajimbos who take part in the FIFA Junior World Cup. The sponsorship will then look after the U19 Inter-Provincial tournament and the U20 Men’s National Team, Amajita. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at a Cape Town hotel on Friday night, Burger King chair Hassen Adams said his company was living up to the late statesman Nelson Mandela’s idea’s of nurturing the youth. “We have taken it upon our company to embrace youth development in a bid to create a winning nation. “Our objective is already bearing fruits with the U17 going to the FIFA World Cup in Chile. Amajimbos are true ambassadors of the country and must represent us well in Chile,” said Adams.
UWC claimed their first Varsity Football title as they came from behind to beat TUT 2-1 in the Final in Cape Town on Thursday. Two second-half goals saw the home side prevail at the ‘Operation Room’ where they have gone unbeaten this season. TUT threw everything into attack in a desperate attempt to find a late equaliser, but it was not to be as UWC held on for their first title in front of their home crowd.
Kaizer Chiefs defender Tsepo Masilela is due to appear before a SAFA disciplinary committee this week to face charges of failing to honour a Bafana Bafana call-up at the beginning of the month. Dominic Chimhavi, the SAFA head of communications, confirms that the mother association has sent out communication to the PSL and Chiefs informing them about the DC hearing set for Friday. Masilela failed to show up for camp for the disastrous 2017 Afcon qualifying trip to Mauritania and Nelson Mandela Challenge victory against Senegal a few days later, with his club citing injury as the reason for his no-show. The 30-year-old then chose to travel to the United States of America during the week when Bafana were in camp instead of reporting for a mandatory assessment by the national team doctors – as per FIFA rules – in the same way that Thulani Serero did after Ajax Amsterdam reported that he was injured. After the Bafana camp ended, Masilela missed Chiefs’ next match against SuperSport United but was then back for the MTN8 Final with his club coach Steve Komphela stating that the Witbank-born defender has a well-documented, chronic knee injury that is being managed regularly at Naturena. The SAFA DC is now set to put to an end to a row that could have easily been avoided had Masilela reported for that ‘check-up’.
A host of young aspiring footballers from around the continent were given a unique cultural and footballing experience in a camp hosted by Coca-Cola in Pretoria a fortnight ago. Sixty-seven talented teens from seven Southern African nations arrived in South Africa’s capital and united to play in a week of football at the Copa SABU camp. Forgetting what makes them different – age, nationality, language, culture and background – these teens were given an opportunity to celebrate their commonality – their love of the game. The Copa SABU camp is the culmination of the greater Copa Coca-Cola initiative – the world’s largest grassroots football programme which unites more than 1 million teens in over 60 countries. Held at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, each team at the camp earned its right to be there by winning its respective country’s 2015 Copa Coca-Cola tournament. Players from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland, gathered on South African soil to make new friends, embrace diversity and have some fun. The week was filled with soccer tricks, coaching, a trip to Soccer City, a round-robin tournament and even a special visit from the renowned Bafana Bafana coach and captain duo, Clive Barker and Lucas Radebe. Clive and Lucas took part in the boot swap event, an ice-breaker which saw each boy receive a shoebox with either two left or two right soccer boots. They were then tasked to find the boy with the matching pair, team up and create a slick soccer move. Despite language barriers, age differences and cultural gaps, these boys showcased an array of talented tricks, united in their love of the game. Under the guidance of Lucas and Clive, the best eleven were then filmed and documented as the “11 Moves for Unity”. “The Copa SABU camp is more than a week of football. It’s an opportunity for these teens to pursue their football dream, and in the process, come together to make new friends and learn what it takes to be part of a diverse team” says Malefetsane Mbele, Senior Communications Manager of Brand Experience at Coca-Cola South Africa. “At the end of the day, we are more alike than we think and it’s our shared passion for football that allows the sport to transcend all cultural, language and race barriers.”
SA players abroad:
Kamohelo Mokotjo scored his first goal of the season, Lebogang Phiri impressed, while Thulani Serero, Andile Jali and Mandla Masango featured off the bench in Europe on the weekend.
Daylon claasen was benched for 1860 Munich’s 2-2 home draw with RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga II. 1860 are still waiting for their first win of the season nine games in.
Kagisho Dikgacoi played the full 90 minutes as he helped English Championship side Cardiff City return to winning ways with a 2-1 home victory over Charlton Athletic.
Andile Jali came off the bench midway through the second half for Belgian league leaders KV Oostende as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Mouscron-Péruwelz.
Darren Keet kept a clean-sheet as Kortrijk defeated Genk 1-0 in the Belgian league.
Sergio Marakis was replaced at halftime by Cypriot side Ermis as they lost 2-1 at home to Nea Salamis.
Mandla Masango came off the bench for the final 20 minutes as Randers slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Midtjylland in Denmark.
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender, Tefu Mashamaite, missed Hacken’s 2-1 away win over Falkenberg through illness.
Kamohelo Mokotjo netted his first goal of the season as FC Twente finally managed a win in the Dutch league with a 2-1 home success over Roda JC.
Anele Ngcongca was an unused substitute for French Ligue 1 side Troyes as they drew 1-1 at Rennes.
Ayanda Patosi played the full 90 minutes as Lokeren slipped to a 1-0 home loss to Club Brugge.
Lebogang Phiri was one of the stars for Brondby as they claimed a fine 1-0 home win over FC Copenhagen on Sunday.
There was no Tokelo Rantie in action for English Premier League Bournemouth this weekend as they lost 2-1 at Stoke City.
Thulani Serero came on for the final eight minutes as Ajax Amsterdam maintained their lead at the top of the Dutch league standings with a 2-0 home win over Groningen.
Pietermaritzburg-born Michael Travis was on target for Scottish third-tier side Forfar Athletic, a third goal of the season for the defender, as they lost 2-1 at home to Stranraer.
Joel Untersee helped Vaduz ease their relegation fears with a 1-0 victory over Sion.