Mamelodi Sundowns make CAF Champions League fashionable

(Judas Moseamedi -  2017 Castle Cosafa Plate winner)

The South Africa national team won the 2017 Castle Cosafa Plate on Friday night, and we already forgot they are champions. That is all we can say about that.

Mamelodi Sundowns have made the CAF Champions League fashionable. 
The revived the interest and have turned up the style.

Since the Orlando Pirates victory in 1995, Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs had reached the finals once before Minwana Phezulu recently won it.

Dynamos of Zimbabwe reached the finals on two separate occasions in between, and they were coached by the new Castle Cosafa Cup winner, Sunday Chidzambwa.

This tournament used to be the domain of Zamalek. Al Ahli, Rajah Casablanca, JS Kabilye, Esperance, Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak of Ghana and Canon Younde, just to name a few.

For some reasons, South African teams never took participating in Africa worthwhile, until now. It was probably financially unwise as the local teams lost resources and risked injuries instead of focussing on the local league and cups.

Since Sundowns gave this tournament their all, it has suddenly improved in stature and interest in South Africa and the continent has immensely increased.

The long-term effect on Bafana Bafana performance can never be over-emphasised. Losing the quarter-final in the Castle Cosafa Cup to Tanzania at home was an embarrassment. 

However, most South African teams playing club continental football are doing very well and that minor setback shall be forgotten.

Both Platinum Stars and Supersport United are progressed very well, with Supersport and Sundowns already in the knockout stages of the tournament - the quarter-finals of their respective competitions.

Ted Dumitru’s address at SAFCA symposium on High Performance for International Excellence

In one of the most exciting and relevant presentations I have ever heard, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chief coach straight away pointed out wrong and outdated training methods employed by coaches, explaining that all training methods produce results.

The question was the type of training offered and the fruits produced. The good football training preparation created positive effects that have the ability to alter the results. The culture of such effects was such that success realised was never transferable, meaning that what worked elsewhere is not necessarily going to be a hit at another place at another time.

Some methods of training are known to be detrimental. The higher the level of play, the higher the complexity and methodologies. More important to note, was the fact that high performance training for international excellence involved training the brain.

The football brain rules performance. Coaches needed to work on the brain as there is little benefit to do physical, technical and tactical work if brainpower is ignored. Knowledge of the game will teach one that the quantity aspect of training is not best.

Dwelling on the need to run more, kick more and work more steals from the quality aspect of training. As much as we may not have much football brain at our disposal, the work ethic of the modern game dictates that we stimulate the mind by increased variation, increase the defensive and offensive elements, allowing increased creativity and improvisation and most importantly, the variation of pace.

Ted emphasised that players can play as far as they could think. All his address reminded me of the article I wrote after I watched Zimbabwean football (http://www.tsendex.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-zimbabwe-football-is-horrible.html). In the modern game, active distance between players is significantly reduced, ranging between 8 and 10 metres vertically and horizontally. That aspect demands quick quality decision-making. Players are exerted to increased pressures due to reduced space and time. The speed thought remained more relevant as the complexity of the game went obviously high.

Players performed tasks concurrently, in quick succession and even simultaneously. These include but are not limited to decision-making, emotional balance, assessment of the football situation and commitment to support amongst others. This is the dynamic situation of the game, hence the need for dynamic training.

The highest complexity of the game is scoring goals. There are 27 factors and variables surrounding that function. Coaches therefore need to maximise the training content. One way to do that is the packaging all the aspects of football (physical, technical, tactical and mental) into one.

The decision must be made whether the coach wants to train the team or train the players. The question of whether players are performing to the best of their ability should be addressed as much as the players’ ability to manage their weaknesses. Coaches are responsible to fix this.  

The football brain motivation creates a mental environment to absorb training content. This can be achieved if everything in training is done with the ball or in relation to the ball, directly or indirectly. By taking static training out of the picture, full-scale football intensity should be utilised.  

Coaches should think of options and variations to allow for creativity, initiative and leadership. There must be consideration of the expenditure and recovery of energy on a regular basis as the rate of effort and recovery must be systematic.

In one very interesting point, Ted tore one everyday piece of equipment used nowadays; the flat cones and agility ladder. Such equipment forced players to keep their heads down. Players have to look at the opponents and even beyond them. Hurdles and cheap mannequins are the best at all times. These improve the 3-Dimensional vision perspective of the game and bring reality to the training session.

Amongst the many more issues brought up, the psychometric assessment of the football brain remained a priority. Players could be given scenarios to solve their problems. That exercise will  provide coaches with a clear idea of the personalities in the team.

Over a 160 coaches gave a round of applause for the eye-opening presentation session of the legend.

Hail to the Kings, the Kaizer Chiefs

With a single fixture of the ABSA Premiership to go, the title has been taken. Kaizer Chiefs won their first title in 8 years after that famous draw with draw specialists in Supersport United. With that, it may be worthwhile to declare Black Leopards relegated. Chippa United and Ajax of Cape Town will decide amongst themselves who goes for play-offs by playing for their lives.

There is a couple of things of concern here. A team of the magnitude of Amakhosi can never be allowed to go without a title for so long. While congratulating them and appreciating the efforts of Kaizer Mutoung and his family for this feat, it underlines what has been gross under-achievement by their very high standards. 

Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and to a lesser extent, Moroka Swallows and Supersport United should never go for so long without a title. Rotating the title among the Soweto rivals should be the norm. This is due to their following and financial muscle. Sundowns provide the financial stability that all teams envy. 

As for Supersport, their is the stability in other resources that are not necessarily financial They have all the equipment and facilities anyone can dream of. They have access to archives and material including continental football records that can be accessed by their technical stuff. This should see them do better in the African safari, but like Chiefs in the local scene, they misfire constantly.

Let us not take away the shine away from the Naturena Boys. They were a solid unit of note for the first time in years. This is mainly based on their recruitment of the correct material for their campaign. One cannot really say the right material, but the best local talent money could buy. Their line-up is basically the national squad by any measure.

In Itumeleng Khune, save for the poor penalty saving record, they have probably the best goalkeeper in Southern Africa, maybe Africa. His distribution of the ball is the best I have ever seen in my life. The timing and accuracy sends chills down the spine of the observer. 

Formerly based overseas and playing in the UEFA Champions League, Tshepo Masilela covered the wing back position the way he did in La Liga and Israeli league. His Bafana colleague in Sibusiso Gaxa has much of that overseas experience and their defensive roles were as important as their defending; fast-flowing and ruthless.

Morgan Gould is another national team defender of note, aggressive and intelligent. In Mashamaite, he had a solid partner who can play anyway in the world. The solid holding role of Katsande and the offensive prongs of Reneiloe Letsholonyane and Simphiwe Shabalala ensured a complementing structure that was both unbreakable and unstoppable.

The reasonable width came from the wing backs but Bernard Parker drifted well in supporting Lehlohonolo Majoro. Majoro was signed a season earlier after a good run in KZN but people were beginning to doubt his goal-scoring prowess until this season. He became a beacon in national team colours too. With that kind of skeleton, any flesh thrown in there would bring the title home, provided the management was sober enough.

Not being a big fan of Stuart Baxter, he really did not need to be good to win this one. Any average performance from this line up over 12 months will yield something for sure. It must be mentioned that he had a big role to play standing along the touch line talking to the 4th official and sometimes the linesman. Baxter's supporting men also played a big role considering the weight of their names, e.g Doctor Khumalo worth his weight in gold (and black) for sure.

Not that these gentlemen are unqualified. Their colourful CVs are an envy to many and a close ally tells me they are shrewd too. While for sentimental reasons, many see VV, the former mentor as more tactically aware (I'm not sure of the measurement used here), he did not win much to talk about. They then want to blame his failures on his material.

Earlier on, I mentioned the credit that must be given to the whole management of Kaizer Chiefs because after spending so much money and a huge wage bill, they were likely to eat from the same plate as Sundowns. However, they conquered Mzansi by their solid performances and discipline approach with flying ego that sought massage from those also seeking massaged. How they kept this in check should be a lesson to all. They applied the principles of monkeys, that 'you scratch my balls I scratch yours'. This they did faithfully and religiously in all their matches.

Having mentioned the 'galatico' in Sundowns, everyone there wanted their balls scratched but no one had the will to scratch. As we now all know, the recipe for that is disaster. One can assume they learnt a thing or two, in which case Chiefs will find it harder to retain their title. Not only Minwana Phezulu are the threat. There is still the wounded Sea Robbers.

Orlando Pirates feel the sabotage mission of a few individuals led to the loss of their title. Their run in Africa is very much alive and kicking and they think they had the potential to do that at home. How far they go in the safari may be a problem for Chiefs. If they win the Champions League, they may be the real deal. Pirates are not necessarily solid but crafty and tactically aware by a mile in comparison. If they are going to be a threat in reclaiming their title they had domesticated for the last 2 seasons, they may have to enter the market and get rid of bad apples.

In Roger De Sa, they have a astute mentor with experience. They need a back-up for their crucial positions upfront in younger and agile goal poachers. With Chiefs' title celebration still not and vibrant, it must be remembered that if overdone, it may be their undoing and the momentum for next season may be lost, but they have monster characters in Bafana players. 

Regardless how one looks at how they came of age, it is worthy to note that their giant mentalities won it for them against weak Platinum Stars who were pretenders to the throne in the later part of the season. In time to separate boys from men, Kaizer Chiefs, Amakhosi, the Glamour Boys of Naturena proved their league involvement this season was no child's play. 

Whether or not they have the pedigree to perpetuate their dominance over a period spurning two overlapping seasons remains to be seen. Only time will tell but for now sithi 'Alala Amakhosi Alala'.   

Mamelodi Sundowns' sun is up

There is no way to properly describe Mamelodi Sundowns. There is however one and true word to describe the owner, Patrice Motsepe: educated. Now Minwana Phezulu are in the Telkom KnockOut final, a miracle indeed.

Never in our lifetime have we imagined Minwana Phezulu would be that rock bottom without anyone rocking the boat. Not to say that it was the right thing to do and we may never see it again.

Motsepe of old would have wielded the axe and romped in a new and costly replacement, but he believed in a project that is not bearing fruits, unfortunately. Sundowns have been hit by a bad patch that will see the change in regime soon. It may also come with a mass exodus of players as there is no way to pick up the pieces, judging at the behavioural signs exhibited by the players’ body language. There is so many wrong things about the team.

Their woes are music to the ears of the Kaizer Chiefs fans who look forward to landing the crown to Naturena after their cosmopolitan troops seem to savour the purple patch. Amakhosi have been sublime in front of goal, with Bernard Parker and Lehlohonolo Manjoro enjoying the time of their lives.

Orlando Pirates on the other side are experiencing a yoyo of emotions as Roger de Sa slowly gets to grips with the Buccaneers movement. Pirates’ woes in their quest to defend their title are enhanced by their injury list making their camp resemble a hospital ward.

This is besides the over-weight problems they deal with in Benni McCarthy, Collins Mbesuma and Thulasizwe Mbuyane. It is likely that Moenoeb Josephs will have to negotiate his starting 11 place hard and strong with Senzo Meyiwa. Rooi Mahamutsa, Benni, Andile Jali and many others on the sidelines are team that can actually challenge for the championship. It is hard to raise one’s hand and bid for the top prize under the circumstances.

Platinum Stars seem to be shinning so far and their slow progress up the ladder impresses friends and foes but whether they are championship material will be answered when the Sea Robbers return to full strength, if Chiefs do not take advantage and run with the thing.

It must be mentioned that Sundowns’ neighbours on the standings have done wonders to come from a very amateur team into the Second Division Vodacom ranks for a season, pass into the National First Division and shoot to the ABSA Premier League.

The meteoric rise detrimentally affected their vision and zeal as seen by their three coaches who bit the dust in less than a third of the league matches played. The popular 2-match record for Mangqoba Mnqithi will remain a record for years, even though elsewhere, coaches were hired and fired even before they arrived at the football ground. Chippa United will need patience and I am confident that they have a project going.

It is however still early days to see the shape of the whole ABSA Premiership and soon enough, we will know.

The pleasures and perils of TV

A Facebook comment on a recent post from this blog prompted my attention to be drawn into looking at the game on a different light. The last time I was on TV doing commentary analysis was ages back. The comment sung heaps of praises on a match I rubbished after I watched it at the FNB Stadium.

Actually, the match may have been juicy, but my bone of contention was the lack of football awareness on the part of Kaizer Chiefs. It was surprising how they were on the score sheet the first time. After that, it was more surprising they registered a single goal more.

That is the fun of the game sometimes, as you stamp the catwalk, strut nothing on the ramp to talk about, and win something sounds as attractive as wining Lotto. The Chiefs' coaches would surely feel the same.

For starters, my point is that television is such a wonderfully deceitful gadget. Wonderful because the normal and majority of the audience are on it for entertainment. Given that line of consumption, it is better to stay put and as an added bonus, there is all the benefits of the commentary. 

Furthermore, there is the slow-motions and zooming in to see the players almost at a one versus one basis and regularly. The statistics and general background information from the the men behind the microphones is priceless.

The few people like myself, get really bored by all this. The worst part is that the view is restricted to the desires of the producer or director. That box of the transmitted mobile images excludes other areas of our interest. 

It is for this reason that the TV viewer in question and myself differed in our opinions of the same match. Up to the moment Amakhosi scored, they were static off the ball in a way I have never seen. The man on the ball would have no options.

The potential wing attack never developed to offensive options and the simple passing done by Surprise Moriri surprising eluded the entire Chiefs line up somehow. It may have been hard for many who were even at the stadium to see as they were off-the-ball incident.

Countless times, the Glamour Boys gave away possession cheaply and it was at that point that Sundowns contributed to making the match boring as they never capitalise, not even once. That aside, the Pretorians were much accurate in passing and ball-control as well as the movement off the ball.

I was extremely impressed by their overall performance as potential kings of South African football. They deserve to be the nucleus of the national team with a few additions from other teams. It could be the quality of the players or a contribution of great coaching.

Having dwelt so much on local football and TV, I must make mention of a sensitively controversial observation. While the European and South American leagues have great entertainment, the English Premier League has a growing that leads to debates of it being the best in the league.

As a very strong marketing tool, the English can only access a single match a day. They have to go to the stadia to experience more and real action. It is for that reason that they record full-houses every week.

The rest of us have the luxury of watching about three matches each weekend day. Being glued to the screen the entire weekend gobbling that free entertainment means we divorce our own league and engage the English game as our own.

In getting to know that league than any other, we enjoy and praise it and find it as unequalled in quality. As permanent admirers of that super product, attendances in matches, especially in Africa suffer a great deal.

At the end of the day, the English football enjoys our patronage as we have turned into its addicts at the expense of our own, and that passion grows stronger week in and week out. 

Of course, the 12557 of us who attended the Chiefs vs Sundowns match had a choice to watch the matches on the telly, but given the fan-base of the two and the significance of the match, that was unjust. Chiefs' bad run since the sacking of their coach was the biggest excuse and there were more Orlando Pirates fans rooting for Chiefs than Amakhos' amahle.

Kaizer Chiefs finally win by beating Mamelodi Sundowns

In a typical 'The hare and tortoise race' at the FNB Stadium, Kaizer Chiefs shook off the monkey and beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0.

An incredibly tactically inferior and tasteless match, especially by the Amakhosi who were literally on the tortoise pace, the scoreline flatters to deceive. The Pretoria boys played the true hare who ran fast and still the race by unprofessional decisions and unproductive play.

The Chiefs first eleven ball-watched the entire match and the sleek Sundowns were unfortunate not to overrun the opposition with goals. This was so despite the introduction of the deadly Domingos, sharp-shooting Katlego Mphela and the general in captain Teko Modise.

As baffling as the reasons why the trio started off the bench, was how Chiefs played a game called football. The whole team spent huge moments stationary and watching the man on the ball running out of ideas.

There was gross lack of support, no penetrative runs or elements of surprise until Reneiloe Letsholonyane was introduced. His mobility and comfort on the ball resulted in the creation of the first goal.

Chiefs started getting into the game after the Sithembiso Ngcobo's strike and could have added a few more. Simphiwe Tshabalala closed the night's chapter with a beautiful strike that made up for his wastefulness.

The pedestrian Chiefs took more control of the match from that point on, but remained a fragile lot and Sundowns stepped up a gear and sought to hit back.

It was however enough trouble for the visitors and luck for the hosts to stop the poor record that saw the Naturena boys go four straight matches without a victory.

One can only hope there is more legs on Chiefs to finish the league and Sundowns may turn out to be a charging bull as their firepower seemed under-utilised and dangerous enough. It was evident that they were not on top gear at all.

With that 2-0 Amakhosi win, title hopefuls like Supersport and Moroka Swallows will surely be sending the victors flowers for a lifeline while leaders, Orlando Pirates will be looking forward to finishing off their remaining matches in style to seal the championship.

Orlando Pirates doing it for themselves

Matters concluded elsewhere, or at least interest lost due to the underworld gods of the game in Europe, the ABSA Premiership looks set to remain a nail-biting affair after order was restored by the events over the Easter weekend.

As hard to accept and as confusing as it may, that Manchester United are the kings of English football and will continue to rule for a long time, it is fact and unchangeable. Love them, hate them, they own the league and the title.

Orlando Pirates swept aside perennial yoyos, Jomo Cosmos to leap to the summit of the South African league 2-1, hopefully until the end of the season. Cosmos will be spending their traditional last moments in the league and all know that they will be back next season.

Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to reclaim the spot while Moroka Swallows will seek to gain some ground and fancy a chance of something they never had in living memory.

The Dube Birds were exactly at the opposite end last season when Gordon Ingesund removed them from the relegation murky waters. How beautiful it would it be for them to claim the title.

More interesting would be Ingesund's illustrious career that will see him having lifted the championship with five different teams. 

Pirates have been in good form lately and the prospect of a photo finish will not be an ideal one as the Bucs have lost the championship several times before within the last 10 minutes of the season.

Kaizer Chiefs are a distant 6 points behind with a remote chance of claiming the prized pole. Their prayers for the misfortunes of Pirates, Sundowns and Swallows are a little too much, as they have to pray for theirs as well.

Their night vigil should start tonight as Black Leopards lay wait for Sundowns in Limpopo.

Nedbank Cup draw; Pirates and Sundowns again.

Orlando Pirates preserved a log lead in the ABSA Premeir league in the most dramatic of circumstances, making light work of heavy weights in fellow title aspirants, Mamelodi Sundowns, with a 2-0 victory during the weekend. Katlego Mashego coolly placed a penalty kick at the corner with Sandilands diving the other way. Thulasizwe Mbuyane headed in the final goal to seal the deal.

Kaizer Chiefs were made to look pedestrian against Platinum Stars in the first half. Thank God, the Tycoons lost shape and composure and will nilly gave away the ball and were second best to every ball until Amakhosi were 3-2 up. It was just. Thank God they dispatched Moroka Swallows to go second on the log behind the Bucs.

Given their fortunes of the weekend, they found favour of the football gods in drawing lower division opposition in the Nedbank Cup's last 32 draw. By contrast, Pirates are dating the team they would have preferred to meet in the final, Mamelodi Sundowns.

It was an unfair affair as most Premiership teams will face each other and chances of minnows reaching the finals are very high. The complexity of the draw means that Chiefs will have an advantage in competing in the league for a short moment. Then Pirates and Sundowns will have an excuse of concentrating in either the Cup or title depending on the outcome of the match. Going for both would be sweet if the double is achieved, but the embarrassment of getting neither may lead to technical department changes, especially for Pirates.

I would like to express my disappointment at how Chiefs gave a lacklustre performance against Stars. Simphiwe Tshabalala and Reneiloe Letsholonyane dropped their heads when they were on the back foot and their mega star experience failed to show when needed the most. The win had nothing to do with their prowess but rather the ineptness of their opponents. Pirates, by contrast were benefactors of lucky moments they made. They kept going and hoped for cracks to develop and they did.

Sundowns were so unfortunate, but they did everything they could. Their biggest letdown was trying to play beautiful football with a lot of class. Class does not always win you games, unless you do it progressively. Pelembe was outstanding and tried a little too hard. On a good day, such a performance gets rewarded with a goal. Had Sundowns got a goal anytime before Pirates's second, the result would have changed. Downs are suffering the Chelsea syndrome and the sooner they forget about money and think points, the better.

A 4 point lead with a 10 games to go is not a big gap at all. Ajax can be the silent recipients of the coveted title as the Soweto giants try to wrestle points off each other and Sundowns grinding results off big teams and failing to fry small fish.

Full draw
 
MP Black Aces vs Hanover Park
United FC vs Future Tigers
Maritzburg United vs Moroka Swallows
SuperSport United vs Golden Arrows
Bloemfontein Celtic vs Platinum Stars
Orlando Pirates vs Mamelodi Sundowns
Amajuba United Killers FC vs Vasco Da Gama
Black Leopards vs Thanda Royal Zulu
AmaZulu vs Real Madrid
Baroka FC vs Mighty Mega Force
Witbank Spurs vs Chippa United
Bidvest Wits vs Santos
Carara Kicks vs Cullinan FC
Free State Stars vs Ajax Cape Town
BTX Liverpool vs Blackburn Rovers
Nathi Lions vs Kaizer Chiefs

Pirates restore order

As order of things were to have it, the owners of the ABSA Premier League top spot have taken their rightful  place for once. Orlando Pirates needed a bad defensive behaviour of The Students, Bidvest Wits, who led 2-0 at half time and eventually surrendered 3 second half goals. The Sea Robbers did not need the support of the Happy People, only 5000 coming to watch the match. That is a shame.

Supersport United came into the party with a handy 1-0 victory over local archrivals and championship pretenders, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the Pretoria derby. The faded champions eased the worries of coach, Gavin Hunt, who used the sniper instincts of Erasmus. Matsatsantsa a Pitori may be on their way back.

It was all tears after tears in the Dube Birds camp, as Moroka Swallows were hit for 4 by Usuthu. Swallows coach, Gordon Igusend was frustrated by the way they gave too much space to Amazulu. Trying to get out of the relegation zone may be a tough call, but not impossible for Izinyoni, who had a cool 3-1 victory a few days back.

One team assured of not being in the league next season by their own undoing, is Mpumalanga Black Aces. Amaziyoni just managed to keep their heads over the water in the play off last season, by they are not Premier League material. Recycled football may bring a glimmer of hope here and there, but their case was concluded by yet another defeat, this time a 0-1 margin to Santos.

Hopefully, there will be something to say about Kaizer Chiefs soon.

Where to South African football?

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have always been the symbol of South African football, regardless of their lackluster performances. They command huge followings in and around the country. This is despite the dominance of faded Supersport United and the riches of Mamelodi Sundowns. It must be said that Bloemfontein Celtic draw probably the biggest crowd in South Africa in their home matches if all things are equal.

As it stands, South African football has represented the continent well by its coverage on TV and cyber space. The quality of play has not matched the promise expected by both locals and outsiders. Many coaches and observers have tried to get SAFA and the ABSA Premiership management teams to implement one form of reform or another. The easiest thing to do has been nothing and that is exactly what we got.

Super diski, as we call our football, has always had an Achilles’ heel. The game here has depended on foreign material since the early days of the end of apartheid. In those days, Orlando Pirates won the Africa Champions League with players like Jerry Skhosana, Helman Mkhelele, Mark Fish, Sizwe Motaung and William Okpara name but a few. Not long from that point, Mzansi were the African champions in 1996.

From the dizzy heights of being both club African champions and continental big fish, South African football has been a laughing stock, as seen by the CAF league ranking a few weeks back. Ranking 17^th in a league that is well funded and has that much history and general pride and self esteem, is such a shame. Details of what might have gone wrong may vary and excuses may be given, but the bottom line is that there must be change. That change will not be coming anytime soon anyway.

The past decade has seen South African Footballer of the Year accolades going to foreign players for the majority of the times. That goes for the Top Goal Scorer and Rookie of the Year Awards. From the days of Wifred and William Mugeyi, George Nechironga, Collins Mbesuma, Benjani Mwariwari, Tico Tico and now, Knowledge Musona, you will see the point. True comparison result proves our players are just inferior. It would be necessary to find out why.

Supersport United won the championship so many times and failed to make an impact in Africa despite the resources they have. Rounds going about nowadays is how the top teams in the league are coached by foreigners. While I do not want to believe that these guys are better, Sundowns, Chiefs, Pirates and Ajax are indeed under the tutelage of aliens. What I can not confirm is whether it is the quality of the coaches that makes the difference or the quality of the squads they have. For me, the later is true.

Another argument is whether foreign players, in this case, Knowledge Musona the current top goal scorer, is a cut above the rest. That is an undisputed fact as of now. What is the South African football strategy to get players of the same quality? Nada. What I can tell you is that there are people of the same quality who are not playing football. I have coached a tertiary institution and I can tell you that for a fact. The system must encourage such people to see it worthwhile to play football. It could be also, that the most fans going to the stadia are foreign too.

Given that South Africa is rarely a force even in the SADC region, with all the potential sponsorship for its benefit, a COSAFA version of clubs maybe something worthwhile for the nation to consider. This will measure the clubs’ preparedness for the champions’ league and measure any progress of the nation’s football; first at club level, then higher.

Kaizer Chiefs suffer defeat as Orlando Pirates earn a point

One man Orlando Pirates fans will really love to love, it is Sekou Camara of Santos. With the same passion, Kaizer Chiefs fans will not be having nice vibes for the former Jomo Cosmos player. Camara scored the goal that ended Amakhosi's unbeaten run and collected maximum points for the visiting Cape Town team. The Absa Premiership match played at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg was a poor affair by Chiefs who seemed to have their thought glued to the weekend Soweto derby as they lost concentration to concede an 87th-minute goal.

There was a few chances for both sides here and there but still no clear cut domination of the Naturena Boys. Amakhosi had Siphiwe Tshabalala crushing the crossbar with a 20-metre free kick just 15 minutes into play. They dominated possession especially in midfield but their penetration was restricted to the middle third of the pitch. The People’s Team seemed to be playing for a point and made it difficult for Amakhosi to enter the final third. Bafana Bafana player, Reneilwe Letsholonyane played a vital role in midfield for Chiefs but his contribution was restricted to futile long-range shots.
 
There was better luck for the other Soweto giants, Orlando Pirates, as they picked up a point on the road at the Princess Magogo Stadium from Amazulu. This may be the difference on Saturday as they ride the confidence wave against a demoralised Chiefs. What was disappointing for the Bucs is how much they fired blanks. They Happy People had been prolific in front of goal, but they failed to make meaningful impact, which will worry coach Ruud Krol. Chiefs may actually come out as a wounded lion against Pirates as they seek to salvage lost pride and atone for poor results.
 
AmaZulu were never in the match and were content to contain the attacking Pirates forward who were ably supported by the gifted Andile Jali. Clifford Mgomeni fought crucial midfield battles and had a shot going wide from a good lay-off outside the penalty box. Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Dikgang Mabalane and Daine Klate combined well and found Usuthu not giving anything away.
 
Pirates could have done with Tlou Segolela earlier on, but when 240km/hour came in, they never bothered utilising him and his speed, shifting the attack into other channel. It can be misconstrued that they wanted to use him as a decoy, letting him get the attention and then taking the attack line in the other direction. As it turned out, it was a naive case of hope without any intelligence. The Sea Robbers pinned AmaZulu and could have retreated once in a while and then catapulted using the man the speed traps cannot detect.
 
Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya brought the best out of Amazulu keeper in the 36th minute when Mbuyane flew down the AmaZulu left flank and played a measured pass to Msowoya who held off a defender and hit a low shot. Goalkeeper Mzimela was equal to the task and parried the ball to safety. Pirates will need to increase their game for the weekend derby in order to kick-out Chiefs as they did in the MTN-8 semi-final.
 
Moroka Swallows lost a home match 0-1 to Golden Arrows after Siyabonga Nkosi was on target in the 76th minute. Maritzburg United followed their crushing of Mamelodi Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout Cup with a draw with another Tswane team with a 2-2 scoreline. Supersport needed a crucial 74th minute goal from defender Morgan Gould, to rescue a point. Sundowns made their comeback with a crucial 2-0 win over Free State Stars by goals from Mathew Pattison and Mabhuti Khenyeza. Bloemfontein Celtics beat Platinum Stars by 2 goals to 1 while Mpumalanga Black Aces came from behind to draw 1-1 with visiting Bidvest Wits.

Sundowns downed by Maritzburg Utd: Pirates may meet Chiefs in the Telkom Cup Final

A TV commercial of the Telkom Knockout Cup somehow feels to be in bad taste as a woman on a Telkom line calls a dear friend about a cheating husband. The lady says the husband has even mentioned the name 'Derby' in his sleep. Then we are reminded of the intriguing Soweto Derby.
 
Orlando Pirates, who are in red-hot form after two successive 3-0 victories which included the crushing of Supersport, are likely to face Kaizer Chiefs in the final, whom them outclassed in the MTN-8 semi-final a couple of weeks ago. First, each of the Soweto giants have one more hurdle to have us talk of that 'Derby' final everyone is anticipating. 
 
The Bucs have to deal with Santos in the semi-final who beat Mpumalanga Black Aces at home. Kaizer Chiefs have a trickeir fixture against surprise package, Maritzburg United. United beat log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by 2 goals to nil. The first goal came from Rudolf Bester who converted a penalty needlessly given away by Vuyo Mere. Fabian McCarthy scored a header against his former pay masters to seal the deal at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
 
Sundowns travelled to KwaZulu Natal and dominated the match and pushed for goals. However, that possession was pure romance with no penetration whatsoever where it mattered. They failed to have a single shot on target despite their visible threats from Mabhuti Khenyeza, Nyasha Mushekwi and substitute Lebohang Cheeseboy Mokoena.
 
Beating Sundowns was one thing and facing Chiefs in the semi-final will be a mountain to climb but achievable. It will be interesting to see if we will have a proper Soweto derby final that has eluded us for ages now.

Former Sundowns and Bafana Player Dies.

Former Bafana Bafana defender, Oscar Ntwagae has died. The Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars players expired after a Friday car crush when he was from training. He was on the verge of joining Jomo Cosmos.

The family and former team-mates found it hard to take the heart-breaking news of the 33-year-old true servant of the game. Ntwagae had 15 Bafana caps and was a dependable wing defender who could also play central defence.

He played for Platinum Stars until 2005, after which he went on to play for Sundowns and Supersport United, both of Pretoria. May his soul rest in peace.

Former Sundowns and Bafana Player Dies.

Former Bafana Bafana defender, Oscar Ntwagae has died. The Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars players expired after a Friday car crush when he was from training. He was on the verge of joining Jomo Cosmos.

The family and former team-mates found it hard to take the heart-breaking news of the 33-year-old true servant of the game. Ntwagae had 15 Bafana caps and was a dependable wing defender who could also play central defence.

He played for Platinum Stars until 2005, after which he went on to play for Sundowns and Supersport United, both of Pretoria. May his soul rest in peace.

Former Sundowns and Bafana Player Dies.

Former Bafana Bafana defender, Oscar Ntwagae has died. The Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars players expired after a Friday car crush when he was from training. He was on the verge of joining Jomo Cosmos.

The family and former team-mates found it hard to take the heart-breaking news of the 33-year-old true servant of the game. Ntwagae had 15 Bafana caps and was a dependable wing defender who could also play central defence.

He played for Platinum Stars until 2005, after which he went on to play for Sundowns and Supersport United, both of Pretoria. May his soul rest in peace.

Telkom Charity Cup

As of Friday noon, Amazulu were leaders with over 96000 votes in the Telkom Charity Cup voting. Usuthu were followed by Mamelodi Sundowns 'Sky is the Limit', Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, in that order. The Dube Birds were close behind the 'Happy People'. At the end of the voting table is Golden Arrows with 90, followed by Free State Stars with 101.

Tickets for the Telkom Charity Cup to be staged at Soccer City on Saturday have been sold out, with only hospitality suite tickets are still available.Voting by the public determines which four PSL teams will compete in the annual PSL season-opener,  in the day long event.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Gift Lunga Jnr, Zephania Ngodzo, Bekithemba Ndlovu and Gilbert Banda played a blinder in their dispatch of Monomotapa yesterday. Highlanders won the match 1-0 to advance to a semifinal of a BancABC Sup8r Cup. They will face either Hwange or Dynamos probably at BF. The winner of the Cup plays in the CAF Confed Cup. Dynamos lost in Tunisia in the African safari.

Telkom Charity Cup

As of Friday noon, Amazulu were leaders with over 96000 votes in the Telkom Charity Cup voting. Usuthu were followed by Mamelodi Sundowns 'Sky is the Limit', Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, in that order. The Dube Birds were close behind the 'Happy People'. At the end of the voting table is Golden Arrows with 90, followed by Free State Stars with 101.

Tickets for the Telkom Charity Cup to be staged at Soccer City on Saturday have been sold out, with only hospitality suite tickets are still available.Voting by the public determines which four PSL teams will compete in the annual PSL season-opener,  in the day long event.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Gift Lunga Jnr, Zephania Ngodzo, Bekithemba Ndlovu and Gilbert Banda played a blinder in their dispatch of Monomotapa yesterday. Highlanders won the match 1-0 to advance to a semifinal of a BancABC Sup8r Cup. They will face either Hwange or Dynamos probably at BF. The winner of the Cup plays in the CAF Confed Cup. Dynamos lost in Tunisia in the African safari.

Telkom Charity Cup

As of Friday noon, Amazulu were leaders with over 96000 votes in the Telkom Charity Cup voting. Usuthu were followed by Mamelodi Sundowns 'Sky is the Limit', Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, in that order. The Dube Birds were close behind the 'Happy People'. At the end of the voting table is Golden Arrows with 90, followed by Free State Stars with 101.

Tickets for the Telkom Charity Cup to be staged at Soccer City on Saturday have been sold out, with only hospitality suite tickets are still available.Voting by the public determines which four PSL teams will compete in the annual PSL season-opener,  in the day long event.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Gift Lunga Jnr, Zephania Ngodzo, Bekithemba Ndlovu and Gilbert Banda played a blinder in their dispatch of Monomotapa yesterday. Highlanders won the match 1-0 to advance to a semifinal of a BancABC Sup8r Cup. They will face either Hwange or Dynamos probably at BF. The winner of the Cup plays in the CAF Confed Cup. Dynamos lost in Tunisia in the African safari.