There is a stark difference of opinion as to how Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns view their status in South African soccer: Chiefs claim the Brazilians are attempting to usurp their role of pre-eminence while Sundowns, for their part, insist they have already achieved this objective.
Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Brian Baloyi was unflappable, stopping numerous goal-scoring attempts from the Free State Stars, as his team won 2-1 in the extreme heat of Kimberley where they played their Telkom Knockout Cup soccer semifinal match.
Santos put on their best home performance and were held to a 1-1draw by defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premier League soccer match at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night. The home side should have held at least a 3-0 lead at the interval. Instead, they went into the break with a 1-0 lead, thanks to a penalty by Erwin Isaacs.
It was almost with a measure of relief that Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira announced his "strongest available" 22-man squad on Wednesday to tackle foxy world champions Italy in their Siena lair on October 17.
Suspect on the bigger stage in Africa, but continuing to reign supreme in South Africa, current Premier Soccer League (PSL) and Supa8 champions Mamelodi Sundowns sauntered to a 3-0 victory over Golden Arrows in the opening game of the lucrative Telkom Knockout Cup at Loftus on Wednesday night.
Providing an encore performance after their success in the Supa8 Final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns left Wits University singing the blues while securing a 3-1 Premier League victory at a vibrant, pulsating Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday night.
South Africa star striker Benni McCarthy will end a 19-month international exile when he plays against Zambia in Cape Town next weekend. The Blackburn Rovers striker, second highest English Premiership scorer last year, was included on Wednesday in a 22-man squad for an African Nations Cup Group 11 qualifier on September 9 at Newlands Stadium.
