Two of Soweto’s big three clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows, will enjoy home-ground advantage against Black Leopards and Ajax Cape Town when the journey to the final of the SAA Supa 8 Cup begins on August 14. The Pretoria-based Supersport United and Wits University of Gauteng also won home-ground games.
The sky could be the limit for Mamelodi Sundowns in the new season following their signing of seven new players. Goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, Josta Dladla, Neil Winstanely, Surprise Moriri, Raymond Seneo, Vuyo Mere and Thabiso Rammile all wore big smiles when they were introduced to the media at a briefing on Monday.
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter said the result could have been bigger had his strikers converted most of the chances they created after his charge’s 2-0 win over Burkina Faso at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. ”It could have been a different game as well if we had scored four of the 15 chances we created in the first half,” he said.
Comfortable win for Bafana Bafana
Bafana Bafana made use of their territorial advantage at FNB Stadium on Saturday when they beat Burkina Faso 2-0 in a 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifier. Steven Pienaar and Shaun Bartlett scored in the 13th and 32nd minutes respectively to help ease the pressure for the South Africans on the road to Germany and Egypt.
Erasmus Magwaza and his boisterous trainer, Nick Durandt, could both eat humble pie on Friday night for looking down on Menzi Mdunge, who will challenge Magwaza for the South African lightheavyweight title at Durban’s DLI Hall. Durandt has already announced that his charge will seek international fights after beating Mdunge.
”Let’s chuck these cheats in the dustbin,” is how Premier Soccer League CEO Trevor Phillips feels about the recent allegations of match fixing and bribery which implicates top officials, players and referees within local football. ”Sometimes it is too difficult to decide between competence and cheating. But something needs to be done about the standard of refereeing,” he said.
Jomo Cosmos’ hopes of ending their 2003-2004 Castle Premiership season on a positive note by beating Orlando Pirates on Sunday were shattered when the Jomo Sono-led club drew 1-1 at the Rand Stadium. This means that Cosmos have failed to defend their SAA Supa 8 Cup.
Santos travelled all the way from Cape Town hoping to collect maximum points against Wits University on Wednesday night and move up to third position on the Castle Premiership table. The Capetonians had to settle for a point after their one-all draw with the hosts on a cold night at Bidvest Stadium.
American boxing promoter Don King surprised pupils and their teachers at the Seona Marena High School in Soweto when he presented them with a 000 cheque on Thursday. The visibly thrilled children and staff responded by bursting into a song that they had specifically composed in his honour.
High-flying Orlando Pirates were brought down to earth by Wits University in a narrow 1-0 defeat in a Castle Premiership match at the Johannesburg Stadium on Wednesday night. The teams remained deadlocked after a goalless first half. It was a well deserved victory for the disciplined visitors, who showed total disrespect for the defending league champions.