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.

Football coaches need to invest in themselves

(Courtesy of KickOff)

Watching Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs play, most Absa Premier League teams for that matter, it is easy to see the backgrounds of these players lacks fine details required to play well at that level. Furthermore, how much coaching contribute in formulating attacking patterns of the country’s biggest teams, remains to be seen.

One African coach was on my case after the 2010 Fifa World Cup opening match, South Africa versus Mexico. His point was that the best South African player leading to the tournament could not control the ball, not once, not twice. In all cases, losing great scoring opportunities that could have put the match to bed, before Simphiwe Tshabalala scored and after he did, and before the Mexican goal as well as after. Just the conduction of the ball, choice of controlling surface and direction of the touch was enough to conclude that our best player was bad. (and so were his coaches).

Kaizer Chiefs thrive more on their superior defensive behaviour rather than the incisive penetrating patterns. The teams swing hammers at them until they cannot lift their arms and then get battered. As to why the defence is that solid, it is the foreign elements comprising the European nature of the English coach, Stuart Baxter, local players with foreign experience and the massive destruction efforts of bulldozing Zimbabwean anchor, Willard Katsande.

Katsande, like the rest of the best of the South Africa’s central midfielders over the years, comes from Zimbabwe’s development production responsible for products like Tinashe Nengomashe and Ezrom Nyandoro, just to name the recent like for like. The northern neighbours’ systems are flawed but are streets ahead of their local counterparts in many aspects.

In Zimbabwe, each city or town has a strong and active junior committee that is responsible for the fixtures, referees appointment and competitions. The same goes with the schools’ program. The massive differences lie in the hunger to do well by the Zimbabwean coaches. They hunt for information and update their skills at every opportunity.

The support they give to each other spurs them to obtain even superior quality and they utilise every resource available. It is unbelievable the extent to which they can go to seek advice and information. They pay through their nose to attend local and foreign courses and the best part is that they share whatever they get. They sell houses and property if necessary.

By contrast, getting a full house to a free seminar in most parts of South Africa is a huge luxury. Coaches feel they are doing someone a favour by attending. Some feel they know the game, and that exact mentality prove how much they do not. Imagine how hard it would be to have people pay for their coaching education, but proper coach education is expensive.

The cause for this occurrence is simple. Few ‘accidental’ successes made people believe that they are good, and therefore, they became comfortable. They may have been, but the game evolved and they remained in one stubborn spot. Forming solid coaches’ structures may assist, if they can germinate to start with. Coaches need to meet weekly in known informal settings. This is good for the public image and the aspiring coaches get to meet the best mentors in their society.

That platform, above all, affords concrete and relevant discussion about football development, exchange of ideas as well as referrals and recommendation of players. Interaction by coaches from different levels of the game evens out the inequality of the perceived huge gaps between different leagues.

How Orlando Pirates beat Kaizer Chiefs to win Carling Black Label Cup

The first Soweto derby of the season, the Carling Black Label played at the FNB Stadium proved that South African football is on the ascendance. This pre-season tournament, now in its fourth year, got fans to vote for their preferred starting eleven players from both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Without Simphiwe Tshabalala, Bernand Parker and Knowledge Musona through injuries, Chiefs brought in Willard Katsande replacing Simphiwe Tshabalala, Katlego Mphela and Kingston Nkhatha to the starting line-up.

The match needed 18 kicks from the penalty spot to decide the winner after the 0-0 fulltime stalemate. Let us say, 19 kicks, as George Maluleka missed the regulation time penalty that was awarded to George Lebese when Rooi Mahamutsa felled him wide on the right. Maluleka had to hit the same spot twice, the left top corner of the cross bar.

Chiefs controlled the first half, while Pirates displayed a very mature brand of football. If that match was anything to go by, the local game grew by leaps and bounds. The passing, ball control and decision making was excellent.  

Both teams took particular shapes and each unit engaging the opposite in direct confrontation and combat seen in the 2014 Brazil Fifa World Cup. The ball moved from the back into the midfield and passed through to the final third. The players showed a lot of trust in their teammate’s abilities by passing and supporting the player in case they needed an outlet to pass the ball.

To match the daring passing, the ball control surpassed the expectation as the midfield battles saw players turned and ran with the ball in a congested area looking for spaces in the attacking third. This exhibition by both teams excited the crowds and coaches alike; however, the conclusion of the attacks never matched the moves from behind through the preparation zone.

The wing play and penetration into the final third became the point of weakness of the whole match by both teams. The ball was never played wide often enough, and in rare moment that the ball was played to crossing areas, it was done very late with defenders already in good defending areas.

The Chiefs defence kept their line and shape and easily thwarted each attack from Pirates. Given that it is the beginning of the season, defensive and midfield work takes priority, as much as physical conditioning. The teams showed exceptional quick passing and ball control skills. The interception by both sets of defenders proved sharp enough as they blocked each other’s attack completely restricting the entire match to less than 3 shots on target for each team.

One hopes that the Zimbabwean football fraternity watched and took notes of how the game should be played. There is no need to photocopy the whole match, but the concept of the game should fundamentally be followed. Highlanders, How Mine, Dynamos and Caps United of the Castle Lager Premier League played a close resemblance of the game.

Pirates and Chiefs did not play the way the Dutch or Germany played, but it showed they followed the modern trends of the game. If the rest of the ABSA Premier League teams and the National First Division follow the same pattern, the South African football can be said to have come of age. One hopes that it only gets better.

Majoro Saga - Are we expecting too much from players?

World football has had many feuds and controversies when it comes to players transfers, misconducts and deals. That ranges from the Bosman case which led to what is known as the Bosman rule and the recent Neymar transfer from Santos of Brazil to Barcelona. Lehlohonolo Majoro of South Africa has been making the headlines, firstly for his fallout with the Kaizer Chiefs technical team as surplus to requirements and then their managements by what they termed his (mis)conduct.

Major, as he was affectionately known at Amakhosi, hopefully will be the same or a better Major at Orlando Pirates, has been recently been accused of betrayal of trust and misbehaviour by his agent, Tim Sukazi just to paraphrase the whole thing. Many of you are aware of the details, some even well-versed than yours truly. The stories later ran regarding the risk Pirates were taking in trying to field the player. This was based on the fact that Major had his contract cancelled by Kaizer Chiefs on Friday having already signed a pre-contract to join Pirates next season.

The reports feared the Premier Soccer League regulations that state clearly that no player may be registered outside of the transfer windows if he was contracted to another club at the time the last window closed, but the South African Football Players Union released a statement to clarify the saga as these fears were based on uninformed sources. To summarise the SAFPU statement, it said that Majoro was declared a free agent by the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber. The implications thereof were that, among many other things, he was at liberty to choose his next destination and start work with immediate effect. He was declared a free agent on Saturday, 22 February 2014, meaning the player would be entitled to register outside the window period for any club of his choice. Chiefs opted not to oppose the application for his free agency. The statement mentioned that as long as proper registration procedures were followed, Majoro would be entitled to play football immediately, ‘without any club being at risk to be "DOCKED" points’. 

Coming to his assumed dealings with Sukazi, the story has many prisms. Even those on the same side see different colours and reflexions. There is talk of the two gentlemen’s relationship having reached low levels, but from what the agent says, there may be no relationship at all to talk about. The issue is that Majoro by-passed what was his main man, to join the Sea Robbers. Many believed that Majoro’s contract with Sukazi was expired and hence someone else negotiated his three-year deal on Monday with the Buccaneers. The juicy part is that the negotiator is said to be an unregistered agent and neither is he a practising lawyer in his country of jurisdiction. It is believed by others that Sukazi was still Majoro's agent. The agent has since said he will sue to clear his name and probably for being hard done by the player after they hopped from Supersport United to Ajax Cape Town FC yet the player was dealing with someone else.

The fact of the matter is that this case is a big story because it involved big teams, a big player and hence represented a big business. With all due respect, players have limited capacity to make decisions and Sukazi should know better. It is not that football players are not as professional as they should be because they choose not to be. Major may be of a higher or lower intellect or education than an average footballer but here is the point: Many footballers have limited time and resources to get education as many will sign their first professional contracts before they are done with school. They spend the rest of their playing careers being admired superstars and that is the life they know.

I cried while watching one documentary of one player many thought was the best thing after Pele and Eusebio, one Nii Lamptey of Ghana. For all the glory and talent, he is poorer that a church mouse as he was milked dry by agents who made him hop from one frying pan to fire. He could neither read nor write. A few years back, Lebohang Mokoena was playing for Pirates during the days of Joseph Makhanya, Gift Leremi and Jimmy Khauleza and Benedict Vilakazi. The Cheese Boy opted against writing his matric examinations doing football. At least arriving to that level was an extreme achievement on its own.

Even in higher leagues, few players study beyond elementary levels as one or two go on to get Doctorates but one can count them on one hand, as you will remember the great Socrates of Brazil who was a medical doctor and a philosopher. David Wetherall and Barry Horne had a degree in Chemistry, Steve Palmer in Software Engineering. (Other include Steve Heighway (economics), Slaven Bilic (law), Shaka Hislop (mechanical engineering), Iain Dowie (Masters in engineering), Steve Coppell (economics) and Richard Hinds (law, Open University), Arsène Wenger (economics), Gudni Bergsson (law) and Oliver Bierhoff (economics).

To be fair, many of us expect too much from our professionals who cannot do much other than play football. If they were what we take them for, life would be very easy and they would not need agents and managers to run their playing careers and take care of their moneys. This typical example shows how much more help players actually need. As Sukazi goes to court to teach ‘John Legend’ a lesson, we all learn from both, a valuable lesson that we would have paid much to learn - that palyers need much help than meets the eye and that the agents do not do as much for the players as they should. It is that gap that accumulates mistrusts and many take each other for granted As of now, we wish the agent success in court and Major the best on the field.   

Is the Orlando Pirates ship sinking fast?

The game of football is hard to understand. Of course, football is football but it is not just football. There are teams and coaches who get away with breaking fundamental rules and things go well for them. It is not always given to depend on fortune. In many ways, teams make their own luck, but what does that mean.

In the modern game, and the future game as the English are working on right now, you do not play the same way against everyone in your league nor in a different competition. Neither do you play home and away matches with blinkers. This is barring the philosophies and beliefs of the clubs and coaches. The complexity of playing styles and patterns are fundamental in any coaching and planning and often revolve around the question of 'what' and 'where'.

Under Harry Redknapp and to a lesser noticeable extent, in the current campaign, Tottenham Hotspur produced scintillating performances and miraculous results in Europe and lost domestic fixtures will chilling regularity. For many, that was bizarre. For coaches and managers, that was normal, as long as the understanding of the demands of the competition differences were never factored in.

Cup football and league matches very different and balancing the two is no mean task. It is a tough ask indeed., especially when the team is running rings around opponents in one tournament or competition. The theory is never to change a winning team or formula. This phenomenon is true, in my country and your country, in Africa, in Europe, big leagues, small leagues.

During their campaign in the Africa Champions League, South Africa's Orlando Pirates played football last seen in Africa decades ago. This made them conquer all and sundry until they reached the final. They lost under very unfortunate circumstances. That football was not sustainable in the league in South Africa. The Ghosts started suffering the same Champions League syndrome by trying to play catch-up in the ABSA Premiership.

Roger De Sa would soon pick up that there must be a clear difference between the domestic league and African football. The level is much higher on the continent, the demands are tactical and the professionalism more sound. The impatient Irvin Khoza showed the coach the road but until the incoming coach realises to disengage the continental football mode, Pirates will continue to be the sterile attacking team they are right now.

Pirates are playing brilliant football but the penetration is lacking in a huge way, especially the patience in delivering the final ball. There is usually too much space at higher levels of the game and no space to play in a domestic league. I believe RDS was well suited for the Ghosts and that he would have turned things around very soon. With all their efforts and no goal to show for it, the incoming Vladimir Vermosovic will ride the crest if the team scores the first goal in his first match.

The goal has been eluding the Happy People despite their entertaining football. With time, the Champions League syndrome will die a natural death and VV will get the credit of steadying the Bucs ship. Not that VV is a bad coach, he is coming to a good team already. Anyone can coach the Pirates now and get away with murder because the players are committed but results are not forthcoming. Not yet.

By contrast, Kaizer Chiefs do not even know where their goals are coming from. Everyone gets comfortable hitting the ball from anyway and it flies in. They do not even need to score some of the goals themselves. The same is true in their defensive areas. They can all take a break off the field and their match still goalless. Such is football sometimes as you will remember that we said that one creates their own luck.

As for the Sea Robbers, if VV fails to deliver in the first few matches, the players will begin to doubt his philosophies and attribute his departure from Chiefs a few years back as something coming to haunt them. African players usually do well under foreign coaches, especially the whites. VV does not need to be astute to turn the Pirates fortunes, but needs to be fortunate enough to be at the right p[lace at the right time, and I think he is. If not, the Pirates ship will be sinking, and fast.

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'.   

Pirates' ABSA Premiership wrecked as Chiefs rule, just though

After Orlando Pirates were held to a 0-0 draw by the University of Pretoria in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday night, it was evident they had hit a brick wall. The TUKS defended for dear life and The Ghosts coach, Roger de Sa complained that the students came just for a point.

He had a point but the point is the season begins with everyone on 30 points. The University of Pretoria's best bet was to keep the point they had before kick off, that lose it or indeed donate to the Sea Robbers. That result saw the defending champions on 43 points, trailling Amakhosi by a cool 7 points after the Naturena Boys beat Bloemfontein Celtic 3-0.

"They came here for a point and sat back and waited for the counter, we expect that and have to expect that from all teams," De Sa said after the match.

Chiefs huffed and puffed earning the respect of the linesman and the referee on several occasions as Siwelele could have had penalties that could have changed the match result and probably the championship destination. They created their own luck and that is football.

The obvious fact of Pirates failing to defend their title is as bare as the truth of Chiefs being not good enough to do it for themselves despite an extremely talented line-up that makes Mamelodi Sundowns jealous. Manchester City would do with what Stuart Baxter has, really, but they have not lived up to their billing save that The Happy People are a pathetic lot at the moment.

Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa suddenly look as over-rated as I initially suspected. Their contribution to the title fight favours Kaizer Chiefs. The usual suspects in Collins Mbesuma, Dane Klate and Tlou Segolela blatantly fire blanks with chilling accuracy and one can only cry for the return of injured Thulasizwe Mbuyane.

Suspicions of Benni McCarthy destabilising RDS following their last season fall-out while at different camps does not hold water but one cannot help smelling a rat. Pirates are pathetic to be polite. Camping in enemy territory and remaining that blunt in front of goal is something Africans attribute to being 'tied'. I think one could use the word 'curse' if it makes for good understanding.

Kaizer Chiefs on the other hand start and stutter and hope that the Pirates ship remains wrecked for the next few weeks. It may be high time the Glamour Boys took the honours as the complacent Orlando boys wake up from their slumber. One hope the wake up call will be enough to have them out of the blankets by the dawn of the next season.

Could it be RDS cannot handle Pirates, or that just that they are going through a patch to be overcome in due course, given that Chiefs are not doing much either, other than gleaning on the misfortune of a struggling neighbour? Whatever the answer, Kaizer Chiefs will grow in confidence and believe they can actually do it for themselves. From past experience, Pirates do not want to build a monster they will fail to destroy and so far, they are doing a very bad job of it.

As for pushing RDS into sea, I do not see it as a solution and especially now. The coach should remain until the end of the season and probably steady the ship in time to challenge for the lost titles. There is however a risk of doing a 'Sundowns' if Irvin Khoza does not nip the bud on the head. Even Kaizer Motaung knows that for now, their fortunes are purely the misfortunes of Pirates.

Afcon 2013 ; South Africa 2 - Angola 0

South Africa  came to the party on a productive Moses Mabhida afternoon with a near polished performance punctuated by a goal in each half, the first from an Orlando Pirates defender and the other from a Kaizer Chiefs striker.

Siyabonga Doctor Sangweni volleyed from an acute angle on the blind side while Lehlohonolo Majoro waltzed his way through the Angolan defence and from an acute angle once more, slid the ball into the net. It ended 2-0.

The presence of the immense pressure of expectation counted for nothing as the hosts played a free-flowing game, a little bit more methodical than the previous encounters since Gordon Igesund took over.

The former Moroka Swallows coach was a relieved man when Sangweni ventured forward to give the Bafana Bafana that elusive goal. That opened the flood-gates for the rest of the tournaments and suddenly, South Africa look like champions in waiting.

That victory was complemented by the 1-1 between Carpe Verde and Morocco may not have handed Bafana Bafana any perceived advantage. It would have been preferable to have the Moroccans win and have them face the hosts looking for a single point to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The way the islanders played, they have the ability to play in the quarter-finals. Morocco have lost their touch over the years and they have to dig deeper against South Africa to produce the required result.

What made the South African game a little different was the urgency to attack and win the ball back at the soonest possible convenience. Penetration was superior and the delivery of the final ball was effective.

The attacking players saw much of the ball and the Morocco defending had lots of defending to do. The execution of the ball by Sangweni was tip-top. A few more polished moves and clinical finishing could have handed Gordon Igesund’s men a bigger scoreline.

The defending unit never gave a thing away. The midfield operation was cohesive and functional, thwarting and smothering attacks while threading the balls into the necessary and vital spaces.

That smooth operation brought into life the roles of Tokello Rantie and Katlego Mphela as attackers. Furman, Parker, Mahlangu and  Phala started being more effective on the offensive by their unit always exposed the defense who happened to be resolute.

The midfield ventured forward and was turned inside out by the pace of the Angolans. Save for Mahlangu and Furman who maintained a central midfield presence, the central position looked secure. Letsholonyane and Oupa Manyisa added defensive steel and the attacking flair appropriately when they came on

It was however Majoro who came in and became ever so useful by his runs and offensive movement on and off the ball. With better finishing, he could have taken the match ball home tonight.

Bafana won their first AFCON match since 2004 when they defeated Benin in Tunisia. The best is yet to come, if they can take that performance a gear up. They ran their socks off but that was not top gear.

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.

Pirates start the long journey in style

ABSA Premiership result: Pirates 2-1 Arrows
Venue: Orlando Stadium

A stunning strike from Tlou Segolela gave Orlando Pirates a winning start to their ABSA Premiership campaign after they beat a lively Golden Arrows 2-1 at the Orlando Stadium on Friday. Thulasizwe Mbuyane struck late in the first-half to cancel out the opening goal from Bonginkosi Ntuli and Segolela buried a sensational winner in the second-half.

Neither side really managed to get into their stride in the opening 10 minute but Arrows were lively and Stanton Lewis forced Moeneeb Josephs into a good save in the 16th minute with a low curler that the goalkeeper tipped around the post. The opening goal would arrive moments later when Sifiso Myeni was stopped dead in his tracks with an excellent tackle from Thanduyise Khuboni. He then picked out Lewis who forced Josephs to parry and Ntuli was following up to tuck away the rebound from close range.

Pirates had the chance to hit back immediately with a free-kick inside the area but Arrows did well to clear the danger. The Sea Robbers then suffered a blow when Ndumiso Mabena went down clutching his leg and was soon replaced by Mbuyane.

Benni McCarthy produced a weak header at the far post in the 28th minute while Siyabonga Sangweni made a fantastic tackle to deny Ntuli his second on the night. Khuboni was a monster in defence for Arrows and crucially took the ball away from Mbuyane who looked set to get a shot on target in the 42nd minute.

Pirates would not be denied though and Mbuyane buried a sensational header from a Myeni corner to draw the game level just before the break. The Buccaneers started the second period with more purpose and saw Myeni smash a shot just wide of the target three minutes in.

McCarthy then unsuccessfully looked for a penalty in the 50th minute before Myeni lifted another opportunity over the crossbar. Andile Jali should have scored two minutes later when he was picked out by Thabo Matlaba but his first-time shot was unable to trouble the goalkeeper.

Segolela replaced Myeni in the 63rd minute and almost made an immediate impact only for his shot to be blocked before Daine Klate also saw his effort charged down moments later.

Lewis tried to respond for Arrows, who had been less effective in attack in the second-half, but his powerful drive flew just wide of the target.

The winning goal would then arrive in the 78th minute and it was well worth the wait as Segolela latched onto McCarthy's header from far out to the left of the target and let rip with a stinging drive that touched the hand of the goalkeeper en route to the top corner.

Arrows failed to really trouble Josephs in the final few minutes of the game while Pirates could have extended their advantage, but no more goals arrived and the defending champions picked up their first three points of the new season.

Pirates: Moeneeb Josephs, Thabo Matlaba, Lucky Lekgwathi, Siyabonga Sangweni, Patrick Phungwayo, Daine Klate, Andile Jali, Manti Moholo, Sifiso Myeni, Ndumiso Mabena, Benni McCarthy.

Arrows: Pavels Steinbors, Siyanda Zwane, Ritus Krjauklis, Musa Bilankulu, Sibusiso Hadebe, Philani Shangwe, Souleymane Keita, Thanduyise Khuboni, Nkosinathi Ogle, Stanton Lewis, Bongi Nutli. By Sbue

Pitso won't let the sleeping dogs lie

Let's take interest in very interesting developments in South Africa where the national association fired a coach with a handsome handshake claimed to be around R5 million, his potential predecessors have been wildly drawn up as caretaker coach Steve Khompela and Moroka Swallows' Gordon Igesund.

And then, Rahman Gumbo was also caretaker coach after the suspension of alleged match fixing by Norman Mapeza. Unlike Pitso Mosimane of South Africa who went a winless 7 matches, the Zimbabwean coach is still to be hired and had been in charge of one match which he lost 0-1. Harare fans want him fired already.

If all women fired their husbands for being sterile after a single entry, divorce courts who be the most lucrative business. Taking the case of the two countries, theirs was a bachelor's party. Their one and only will be walking in the aisle in no time. How holy that matrimonial union will be is common knowledge. They all come and end the same way, like in Gumbo's case, before the honeymoon night is over.

Roger de Sa is the most qualified replacement for Mosimane, while media favourite, Gavin Hunt may feel he has a case after successes with Supersport United. He will have to enjoy following on Mosimane's foot-steps as he did at club level.

Knowing the South African Football Association, they have a novice Eastern European with a forged CV lined up. Their counterparts may be attempting to change their favourite beacon's name so as not to match the banned list records. The colonial mentality of SAFA embedded in race rivals the tribalistic ZIFA. The best part is that their recipes produce the same bread.

The long cycles of inactivity will be a bore to Hunt and Igesund and the 'tell it like it is' attitude of De Sa counts him out as the two parties are unofficial enemies. Admittedly, the temptation in the four-time PSL champion will be strong. Igesund is in his twilight coaching years. There may never be another opportunity, but his project with Moroka Swallows is unlikely to be compromised.

It is extremely hard trying to comprehend what the football administrators think, if they do. There is rarely a moment they pick the right candidates, even just for interviews. Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs promoted either development coaches or those with CVs claimed to be doctored for the purse. The arrival to the same point is guaranteed and the cycle will begin.

To spice up how brainy these fellows can be, just over a year ago, the Premier Leagues of the two countries announced with days that they intended to change their calenders and for exactly the opposite reasons. If the neighbours belonged to different time and weather zones, it would make sense. To make the point clear, to date, they both haven't moved an inch.

In any case, it was all about Mosimane, who is said to be taking legal action against SAFA for his unlawful dismissal.It may be on strong moral grounds or just crocodile tears, if the R5 million claimed he stands to benefit is a reality. If he strongly feels that way regardless of the fee he may get, he is a strong man and SAFA must keep him.

It is not every day that a man who knows what he is doing will fore-go that much money to embarrass himself. On the other hand, it is easy to assume that Mosimane did not put much effort in the job knowing what he stood to benefit. The legal action issue is to mud our faces and divert our thinking that he is a bitter man.

Given that he had two years left on his contract, or R9.6 million more to earn, he may be looking to get his loot, intact as it is and right now. It may be real that he is arguing over his record and it doesn't say much really.

After all is said and done, if anyone comes in touch with him, and he has banked the sack, just remind him how I wrote nicely about him over his tenure. I may not need my day job after that.

High-landing Highlanders FC- The dear owners

Let us call a spade a spade. Highlanders Football Club is supported by people both full of jealousy and lacking in vision. They do it by heart and less brain. It is time that we have a reality check and to thoroughly examine ourselves with total honesty.

One of the best commercials ever on TV, feature a desperate beggar on the street. As much as sentimental the only available item is to the SUV lady driver who stops at the traffic light, out of pity, she thinks twice before she gives away the very lovely designer dress. The begging tramp lady takes it in her hands, fascinated and bewildered, admiring the artistry of the apparel before looking back at the giver with a scornful look.


'Thanks madam, but RED!!!!. I'm sorry, it's not my colour.' throwing it back to an unbelieving proud owner. As a club fan, so are you.

The over-rated notion that Bosso will supernaturally over-ride its financial woes solely based on goodwill is grossly exaggerated. If those harbouring the idea that Highlanders deserves everything from everyone for free is nothing but malicious mischief and fallacy.

Brandishing the concept of the larger than life Bosso brand as a casino slot-machine where throwing cow-dung coins out millions at the flick of a finger took the team nowhere since 1926. In that point in history, all else did not matter or count. This is a different era.

Doubtless to say that the name has power, the institution requires classy thinking to harness its power and strength as a meaningful brand to reap from its potential. Most of the blame has always been thrown at the management, with due reason of cause.


Coming from the fatalist-fan group, they are the product of a poverty complex buttered with cheesy undertones of not underselling the club. The killing of that backward mentality began with a strong start of the season by the team, and usually, at that point, the disease engulfs everyone on board with a saddening grip that lasts well after the doom becomes a permanent resident of the system. 


For instance, the team engaged in that ancient routine begging bowl antic after the alleged usual financial doldrums. Many thanks to the donations and pledges made by the invited guests. I trust many were willing to give but their circumstances did not allow. It was sad that some preferred to donate anonymously for the very reason that 'red is not our colour'.


If the club's bank balance read zero, it is never in the mind of the management and worse off the fans, that a man, a body, who has a family first to risk his fortunes and then rescue a public property. 


The process comes at a price to both the fans and the club. No one accepts this. Only after other clubs from Harare have engaged in some insightful projects do the Tshilamoya supporters feel left behind. They must be commended for the loud talk but action speaks louder than words. 


The man risks $10 to generate $20 for the club and the traditional thinking is that the $20 belongs to the club. Noble as it sounds, the Mantengwane growth has been nil and will continue in that vein until Dynamos use BF as the home-ground. 


'Delusionaries' tried to enter into such ventures, albeit for a while and the club is still begging for funds. All people can do, is acknowledge and applaud the love for the team by those who enjoy the limelight of appearing to be assisting Highlanders. 


It is not right for Bosso to be a perennial donor recipient. Charitable organisations have their mission to fullfil in other social circles. Sustainable financial stability and independence materialises only on business concepts that are either long lasting or permanent. 


The $10 that the man risks is sacred but as for the other $10 generated by the man-Bosso partnership, it becomes the cake for both parties, and in a way that promotes symbiosis. Only that way, will the team realise its financial potential.


The idea is to make the man keep generating cash using the Highlanders brand in a very serious business and not charitable way. Donor funds dry, but enterprises like Nokia have been around since the 1800s. 


To many people, this is faulty and I can tell you right now, that it is that kind of thinking that is very faulty. Highlanders have depended on the emotionalisation and sensationalist behaviour to override logic, not just because of the behaviour of fans venting out their anger invading the pitch and the like. 


All relationships with the corporate world come to naught at one point or another. The sugar-coated truth is that the club belongs to the people. How unlucky can an elite institution like Bosso be to belong to such people? 


The calamity of this club ends with the death of the prescription that any individual or business benefiting from the name of the club is bad. That idea is very bad. As soon as focus is on the individual or person and not the club, we are in the wrong business.


To think of the of this club with a small mind is to kill the club slowly. In financial terms, the club has been wheel-chair bound since birth. The much needed surgery always gets aborted on the notion that the procedure hurts the patient. What a lame protectionist measure of disproportionate barbaric nature. 


Looking at the club potential, match-fees at basically $2 a week by a few thousands of people could be 'moneygrammed' or 'Western Unionied' monthly or annually, but lack of trust kept threatening the concept of those in the diaspora. The club reportedly accepted assisting those calling the office with funds going directly into its account.


More ways and means of injecting cash are being coined and the means of transacting may be a challenge, but then, those with noble intentions get a way to forge ahead and materialise their pledges.


That does not leave out my book that was meant to permanently boost the club cash as an ongoing income. To many, use of credit cards and accessing the book online is a huge challenge. To others, it is the calculation that after selling a million books, $10million will be realised. With more than 50% publishing costs, it is the $2.5 million that goes to my pocket that is a bother. Nobody looks at the $2.5 million Bosso is missing. Typical rural mentality that always killed Bosso. 


In South Africa, the marketing strategy aggression saw people going to great length digging deep to unearth hundreds of millions of rands to finance the game, first from ABSA Bank, then Nedbank and Supersport. The success of the deals was borne out of rewarding that negotiating excellence generously. Figures of up to R80 million per individuals are normal and the relationships between the game and sponsors flourish


Orlando Pirates operated on the model that Highlanders are constituted until sober minds prevailed. It does not necessarily mean that  Bosso should change based on that, nor should the come, that it be in the model of the Bucs.


The team has not lost a single match and the brand of football so far exhibited has been refreshing. To think that after the players' magnificent shows they have nothing much to show for it, is just but pathetic. Al we want to do is hear the results, cheer and sing praises. Thanks for that but it does not feed the players. 


At this point, to cultivate enthusiasm in the players and team management, would it not befit the worth of your salt, not only to pay the necessary lip service, but think like a businessman whose company is Highlanders Football Club?

Pirates are the champions with another treble

Orlando Pirates snatched away the ABSA Premier League title when they predictably wrapped up the season in true style without the need of favours from anyone after a classic 4-2 victory over Golden Arrows in Durban in a match in which veteran Benni McCarthy shone like a beacon.

The Ghosts were never going to be outshone by Golden Arrows as their attack was sharper as seen by the goals. The Bucs retained not only the title, but the complete treble package they bagged last season. 

The victory was ever so sweet as the other Soweto giants were humbly watching how football is played. As a gesture of celebratory significance, they will be invited to the party too.

While the treble becomes the second for the Sea Robbers, that feat was achieved only twice before, by Kaizer Chiefs in 1992 and by themselves last season.

The victory was a significant landmark for Dane Klate, who became the first player to win five successive titles. He had his treble of titles at Supersport United before he joined Pirates last season.

The Happy People lifted their 6th trophy in just two seasons, an incredible achievement for what had become a team of underachievers since the days of Lesley Manyathela and Gift Leremi who then played alongside Lebogang Mokoena, Benedict Tso Vilakazi and Joseph Dukuduku Makhanya.

The team of Moeneeb Joseph, Tlou Segolela, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Siyabonga Sangweni, Lucky Lekgwathi, Benni McCarthy, Rooi Mahamutsa as well as the injured players like Jele and Cloete turned into heroes of record breakers with a hungry and committed fight.

Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Dikgang Mabalane, Isaac Chansa and Clifford Mngomeni were some of the cornerstones of the campaign.

Captain Lekgwathi headed the team ahead before two quick surprise goals that temporarily set the champions back for a moment. It proved the necessary backward step for a huge forward leap as the half time score was 2-2.

It was then up to the experienced McCarthy to head the Bucs into the championship before icing the cake with a free-kick to officially close the season's campaign.

Orlando Pirates will win it

Orlando Pirates will wrap up the season in style without the drama of the English Premier League as anticipated by their protagonists and foes who are praying doomsday prayers for the Sea Robbers.

Golden Arrows envisage to playing their full-fledged team that displays attacking football. That will be handy for an afternoon entertainment than a bull-fighting encounter. 

The truth be told, the Happy People should have wrapped this title weeks back when they chose to draw easy matches. They quickly learnt to convert a substandard product into a 'hot cake' as seen by the dramatic late surges that catapulted them to the log summit in the past weeks.

Even the events of last week could have ended the title contention by now bitter rivals, Moroka Swallows, had the Dube Birds failed to squeeze what ended up looking as an easy win against Platinum Stars.

A loss or draw for them in that match could have ended the ABSA Premier League with a match to spare. Pirates were guilty of missing seater after seater in their matches, but fighting strong to the end and proving to be worthy of being champions. 

The fast paced and entertaining style of free-flowing football will be expected to be the order of the day at the KZN and hopefully, more chances will be created and a higher conversion rate will be mandatory, not that goals matter.

Swallows are a force to reckon with themselves, given the record of their mentor, Gordon Igesund who has four different titles under his belt. 

With the resurgent free-scoring Siyabonga Nomvete on a purple patch, they will terrorise Maritzburg United and the pressure of the day may see them drop points. Winning it would make it interesting though it will count for nothing.

While Igesund holds this record with two other coaches in the domestic scene, his peers had it easy in doing so with the same teams that normally had class and resources. His story has always been that like the Swallows that he rescued from relegation only less than a year ago, into contenders today.

The Birds will come out consoling themselves of that feat, which deserves an applause, but they will live to fight another day. For sentimental reasons, it would be lovely to have a local coach prove me right that we are better than expats.

Regardless of how lekker local can be, as Igesund is, teams like Kaizer Chiefs will keep forking out cool rands for questionable characters. 

Not that Stuart Baxter is questionable in his ability given his invisible successes, but the story of his forged CV explains how the rest of the unknowns from Eastern Europe arrive with long resumes made in the backyard and destroy African football and eventually become permanent citizens of the continent.

While being so grateful of this colonisation, the Bucs are mentored by Honduran (or is he Peruvian) Augusto Palacious. He gets favours as a coach just because he is a Buccaneers and is temporary.

Thina ubunandi siyazenzela.

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.