SL Podcast: Recent Episodes
SL Podcast
The SL Podcast brings you interviews and football shows with professional football stars, coaches and personalities. Catch our episodes weekly!
On this episode of The Car Wash 2.0, Teko Modise, Linda Mntambo, Brighton Mhlongo, and Delmain Faver sit down with renowned football analyst and coach Darian Wilken for a deep dive into the evolution of the modern game. Drawing from his experience with Raja Casablanca, Simba SC, and Orlando Pirates, Wilken shares exclusive insights into elite coaching, tactical analysis, and why South African coaches are making a growing impact across African football.
From his honest thoughts on Hugo Broos and whether he should continue in the Bafana Bafana job, to the exciting new generation of stars led by Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Ime Okon, this is a football conversation every South African fan needs to hear.
We also look ahead to the 2026 Engen Knockout Challenge, discussing why it continues to produce the country's future professionals and whether the next Bafana Bafana star is already waiting to be discovered.
Plus, we chat about football culture, passionate supporters, exciting fan experiences, and how brands continue to invest in growing the beautiful game in South Africa. The Carwash 2.0 Episode 8
The gents are back with Episode 7 of Carwash 2.0, tackling everything Bafana Bafana and the World Cup! ⚽
We explore the incredible impact of the Engen Knockout Challenge, revealing how 6 players from South Africa's current FIFA World Cup squad launched their careers at this developmental tournament. But it's not all celebration - we give our unfiltered thoughts on Bafana's World Cup chances, why the tournament lacks that special atmosphere this time around, and the eerie similarities between today's squad struggles and the challenges faced by the legendary 1996 team.
If you bleed green and gold, you don't want to miss this one! 🇿🇦
Episode 6 of CARWASH 2.0 tackles the hottest topics in South African football. The panel debates if Orlando Pirates can finally dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns for the Betway Premiership title and dives into the heated Player of the Season race. Plus, they discuss the life-changing impact of a FIFA World Cup, Reyaad Pieterse’s dilemma of trophies vs. game time, promotion/relegation drama, and raw dressing room realities. Unfiltered football talk at its best! The Carwash 2.0 Episode 6
Episode 5 features a fiery and unfiltered conversation with German tactician Ernst Middendorp, who joins us as a surprise guest and doesn’t hold back, especially when it comes to that now-famous LinkedIn presence where he’s been taking aim at everything and everyone in the game.
We also welcome back Teko Modise, as the panel dives into the biggest talking points in South African football right now.
With just a handful of games to go at the time of recording, the Betway Premiership title race is on a knife edge, with only two points separating Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. We break down both teams’ run-ins and ask the big question, who has the edge?
The conversation then shifts into the realities of coaching at the highest level: How do you manage crowd favourites who don’t always fit your system?
Just how difficult is it to coach a club like Kaizer Chiefs?
Does “losing the dressing room” really exist in South African football?
And is player power real? Middendorp shares first-hand experiences working with strong personalities and special talents like Scara Ngobese.
Expect strong opinions, real stories, and honest football talk.
Soccer Laduma Senior Journalist Masebe Qina sits down with lifelong Orlando Pirates supporter Helen Zille, who weighs in on the club’s title race, crucial upcoming fixtures, and the intense pressure surrounding the derby. Zille explains why consistency is critical and emphasizes that the Buccaneers simply can’t afford to drop more points at this stage of the season.
South African defender Tylon Smith sits down with Soccer Laduma’s International Journalist, Matthew Petersen for a deep dive into the turning points of his career. From the challenges of the past to the massive opportunities of the current season, Tylon reveals what it really takes to make it on the international stage.
In this episode, we welcome legendary goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, aka “Spider-Man,” as our first-ever guest—and he absolutely delivers. From untold career stories to elite-level insight, this episode is packed with powerful moments and real football talk. Baloyi reflects on how he nearly made a move to Liverpool FC, while we unpack Benni McCarthy’s incredible R100K gesture to Brighton Mhlongo. Linda Mntambo opens up about his injury, rehab journey, and return timeline, and there’s an emotional moment that leaves Mhlongo in tears. With the signature Car Wash energy, banter, and unfiltered discussions you’ve come to love, this is more than just a podcast—it’s where football stories come to life. Baloyi Reveals Liverpool Move, Benni’s R100K Gesture & Mntambo Injury Update!
In this episode, Brighton, Dona and Figo dive into the Soweto Derby, unpacking the intensity of Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates. From behind-the-scenes build-up to derby-specific tactics and top-four pressure in the Betway Premiership, nothing is off limits. They also debate whether some big-name players are built for smaller teams and what it really takes to step up to the giants. Plus, inspired by Thierry Henry’s apology to his kids, the crew tackles the fatherhood dilemma: providing vs being present.
The hosts break down Monnapule Saleng’s surprise move to Mamelodi Sundowns, with Teko Modise pointing at the similarities to his move and that of Thembinkosi Lorch. Securing the bag is also discussed in detail, with players urged to secure their financial futures; all this in light of Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s move to Chicago Fire in the MLS.
The Carwash Crew give PSL clubs their mid-season grades, discuss why panic buying & breaking salary caps don’t always work. Teko gives Linda ‘flowers’ for being his authentic self on social media. They reveal their guilty pleasures, things they can’t live without & the merits of SA teams singing before games, especially against Ronaldo. ‘Figo’ justifies wearing skirts, Brighton opens up about ‘that game’ & Teko clears the air about his relationship with Dr Khoza and reveals details about their meeting.
The hosts break down South Africa’s AFCON group and expectations, asking the hard questions, with the attention turning to key squad decisions, including the omission of Thembinkosi Lorch and Keletso Makgalwa, and what that says about the direction the national team is taking. The conversation further looks beyond AFCON to the bigger picture: what realistically needs to happen between now and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, protecting Relebohile Mofokeng, and whether South Africa are building a team capable of competing when it matters most.
In a candid interview with Soccer Laduma, Simba star Neo Maema opened up about Kaizer Chiefs’ interest in his services, why he asked Miguel Cardoso to let him leave Mamelodi Sundowns, and how CHAN gave him the highlight of his career.
In this episode of Diski Dads, Soccer Laduma journalist Delmain Faver sits down with Ramon Dolly, the father of Keagan Dolly. Ramon opens up on the incredible sacrifices, tough choices, and the unwavering faith that built a football star, revealing why standing behind his son's dreams has been his greatest joy, both on and off the pitch. YouTube
Soccer Laduma journalist Tshepang Mailwane sits down with TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi to discuss the future of star midfielder Kamogelo Sebelebele, Khulumani Ndamane’s rumoured links to Mamelodi Sundown's, and more!
In this episode of Diski Dads, Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver sits down with Lance Foster, the proud father of Burnley and Bafana Bafana striker Lyle Foster. Lance opens up about the incredible sacrifices he made to support his son’s football dream, including quitting his job, and how Orlando Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza stepped in personally to pay his salary during that time. YouTube
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Tefu Mashamaite recently spoke with Soccer Laduma journalist Tshepang Mailwane to share his candid assessment of the club's season. He discussed the highs and lows, key moments, and offered insights into where the Chiefs stand as they head into the next campaign.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns right-back and 2016 CAF Champions League winner, Siyanda Zwane, shares his insights and valuable advice for the Tshwane giants as they prepare for the second leg of the final against Pyramids FC. This interview was conducted by Soccer Laduma journalist Tshepang Mailwane.
In this episode, we visit South African soccer star Dino Ndlovu at his stylish lounge, Good Fellas, in Klerksdorp. Join us as Dino shares his inspiring journey from the football field to the world of business, discussing his motivations beyond the game and giving us an exclusive glimpse into his ventures and future aspirations.
Bafana Bafana has come a long way since Hugo Broos took over in 2021. Many were concerned about his management style, but he has revolutionised the way the National team plays. The team plays with passion and grit and ultimately, they are more committed than ever. Broos has collected some impressive results, with none more special than the bronze medal at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In recent weeks, Broos has been the subject of rumours stating he's leaving the National team to take up a job with Club Brugge in his home country, Belgium. SAFA and Broos have denied these rumours, however, Mzansi is worried given how much he has done for Bafana.
All teams go through their dominant eras, however, locally and internationally, Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United have had the hardest falls from grace, having both been dominant forces for decades, only to now be classified as mid-table teams. Supporters are the lifeblood of clubs, but many seem to walk away when their teams are underperforming. Surely when your team is in a rut, support means more to them? Supporters need to stand by their cubs and support them through thick and thin!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to rumours circulating about Hugo Broos Leaving Bafana Bafana. The fans speak about supporting big clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United during tough times. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Benni McCarthy is nothing less than a South African legend and a household name and ever since he landed a job at English giants Manchester United, the 2004 UEFA Champions League winner has had the pleasure of working alongside first-team coach, Eric ten Hag. Benni is now eyeing his next role amidst his Manchester United future.
Soccer Laduma international journalist, Kurt Buckerfield, reckons Benni wants to be the 'main man' on the touchline and work his way up towards European glory. With that being said, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts pleads with Benni to not come back to the PSL. "He has already done the PSL and how can you go from a club like Manchester United to the likes of Sekhukhune," says Roberts.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts and Soccer Laduma international journalist Kurt Buckerfield discuss the quarter-finals of the FA Cup which sees Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to face off against Manchester United. The lads discuss the recent UEFA Champions League results which had Arsenal scrap through against Porto and the gents discuss the greatest Premier League title win of all time! www.soccerladuma.co.za
The Soweto Derby, in recent years, has truly been dominated by Orlando Pirates, with Kaizer Chiefs struggling to gain ownership of the bragging rights the fixture has to offer. The Bucs seem to constantly have the edge over their noisy neighbours and quite frankly, it seems as though the Amakhosi faithful have finally had enough of their performances against their arch-rivals.
The latest edition of this fixture, was not short of goals and excitement, having been a 5-goal thriller, with two braces - one from each team. But ultimately, it was the Buccaneers who were victorious having won 3-2 thanks to goals by Monnapule Saleng and Thabiso Lebtiso.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi nation have expressed their disappointment with their Kaizer Chiefs’ performance and have questioned the stature of the coaching staff, firing shots at head coach, Cavin Johnson. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
With Manchester United having a rollercoaster season, the future of Eric Ten hag seems to be up in the air. The Red Devils are currently 6th on the domestic table having lost a shaky 11 matches this season, out of 27. It is going to be tricky to get into the top 4 - which may be the only way ten Hag remains in the United dugout.
Across the ocean in Germany, Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen are lighting up the Bundesliga having gone unbeaten the entire season. With a goal difference of +45, Alonso's men are currently topping the table with a whopping 10-point lead over Bavarian and Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich. Are we on track to witness a new Bundesliga Champion?
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts breaks down the state of Manchester United and the coach, Eric ten Hag, with Soccer Laduma International journalist, Kurt Buckerfield. The gents discuss Xabi Alonso and his Bayer Leverkusen run of success and touch on the 4-year ban given to Juventus superstar, Paul Pogba! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will lock horns once again, on Saturday 9 March at the FNB Stadium. In recent matchups, it has been the Buccaneers who have accumulated the points, and of course the bragging rights. Amakhosi will be hoping to avoid another goal drought and build on their recent win over Golden Arrows.
In recent years, both Chiefs and Pirates have produced underwhelming performances in all competitions, and it appears as though Mzansi no longer consider these teams 'big clubs,' as this transpired into the loss of value and importance which has also been the Soweto Derby?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi debates whether or not the Soweto Derby is still an important fixture or one of a standard DStv Premiership fixture. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The Nedbank Cup has moved on to the last 16, with the Round of 32 bringing some interesting results. Goals galore from Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, and more misery for Kazier Cheifs and Cavin Jonhson. Amakhosi bowed out of the Nedbank Cup after they lost on penalties (5-4) to Milford FC.
Overall, the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 brought with it some interesting results, and some spectacular football!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 Results which brought some surprises, shock results, and misery for Khosi Nation! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The Nedbank Cup returns to our stadiums with some intense fixtures set to light up the Round of 32. Orlando Pirates will be looking to retain their title, and Khosi Nations believes Kaizer Chiefs needs this trophy to get out of their trophyless rut!
The Nedbank Cup allows undiscovered talent from across the country, to showcase their skills against the best teams in the land, allowing youngsters to progress in their careers.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi discusses what the Nedbank Cup means for South African Football and the fans mention which fixtures they look forward to the most! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bafana Bafana is coming back home with the entire nation supporting them after a stellar 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Hugo Broos and his team ended the tournament in the third spot after beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on penalties.
The team played the entire tournament with grit, desire, and a massive amount of passion; something that we have not seen come from the team in quite some time. Hugo Broos has managed to gel the players and ultimately, they can all give themselves a pat on the back.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi praises Bafana Bafana and Hugo Broos after a superb 2023 AFCON performance. The nation also selects their personal Bafana player of the tournament. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bafana Bafana has one more game to play at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but unfortunately, it is not the final. Hugo Broos and his team were unable to capitalise on their chances and ultimately, bowed out against Nigeria on penalties, losing 402 from the spot. Bafana has shown that they are more than capable of playing attractive football and performed incredibly well against some of Africa's highest-ranked nations.
Manchester United seems to have found some good form having not lost in their last 5 games (in all competitions). The Red Devils now come up against a strong outfit in Aston Villa where Eric ten Hag will be hoping captain Bruno Fernandes and co can continue their good run.
Sticking with the Premier League, former Chelsea captain Thiago Silva has come under fire after his wife, quote-unquote, fired shots toward the manager, Mauricio Pochettino. Silva's wife took to social media to clarify her dismay with the manager which ultimately saw Silver being dropped from the starting 11. This seems to have caused a domino effect after multiple players expressed their dissatisfaction with the clubs' promise of the future.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Sheffield Wednesday and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie Sean Roberts breaks down Bafana Bafana's semi-final loss to Nigeria in their 2023 AFCON matchup. The gents comment on Manchester United's current run of form and discuss the issues come from Chelsea! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bafana Bafana are continuing to show their courage and prowess after they beat Cape Verde in their 2023 African Cup of Nations quarter-final match-up. The game went all the way to penalties after the regulation time of 120 ended goalless. Cape Verde took the first spot kick which saw Captain Ronwen Williams pull out a miraculous save. The 32-year-old's heroics did not stop there as he ended up saving 4 out of Cape Verde's 5 penalties. Bafana Bafana ultimately overcame Cape Verde 2-1 via a penalty shootout.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundown's goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and his 2023 AFCON heroics and discusses whether or not he could make it to Europe! The fans also break down Bafana's performance against Cape Verde and wish Hugo Broos and his team luck against Nigeria. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
It seems as though Bafana Bafana has turned a corner when you take a step back and look at how their 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) performances have gone thus far. They began with a 2-0 loss to Mali, but they pushed through and ultimately, have just beaten Morocco to make it to the quarter-finals. Hugo Broos has gotten his team to play with a certain level of passion and vigour - this looks like a completely different team!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi expresses pure joy with Bafana's 2023 African Cup of Nations run. Bafana now faces Cape Verde in the Quarter Finals and Mzansi is adamant that Hugo Broos and Bafana can go all the way. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
In what is possibly the most unexpected announcement of 2024 already, Jurgen Klopp recently announced that he plans to step down as Liverpool's head coach come the end of the season. This is after the German suggested he wants to experience a normal life before it is too late.
'Liverpudlians' will be quaking at the knees after this announcement, especially when you think of how far Klopp has taken the team. 3 UEFA Champions League Finals, multiple trophies, and a huge improvement, it is no question that Klopp will leave to tumultuous applause.
Marcus Rashford has hit the headlines again after some questionable 'off-field' behavior. The 26-year-old recently missed a training session due to illness, when in fact, he was out in night clubs until 3 am. Rashford has since been fined 2 weeks' worth of wages and has been through the necessary disciplinary routes with manager, Eric Ten Hag.
Closer to home, Bafana Bafana is doing Mzansi proud after they marched into the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Bafana overcame Africa's highest FIFA-ranked side, Morocco, when they met last week for their round of 16 Clash. Hugo Broos and his team can take a bow!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts breaks down the latest International Football news with Soccer Laduma journalist, Kurt Buckerfield. The gents chat about Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool Legacy, and Manchester United's rebuild and salute Bafana Bafana's 2023 AFCON heroics. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bafana Bafana has made it through the group stages of the 2024 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON), finishing second in a tough group, with Mali topping the group by 1 point. Hugo Broos and his team will now face off against Morroco in the round of 16, which is sure to be a firecracker of a fixture - the last time these teams met, Bafana took all 3 points!
Hugo Broos seems to have the reigns under control and with his knowledge of the tournament, perhaps it is by time that we acknowledge that the Belgian might be the right man for the job.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Bafana Bafana progressing to the 2024 AFCON knockout rounds where they face off against Africa's highest-ranked team, Morroco. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bafana Bafana seems to have turned a corner after giving Namibia an AFCON thumping they will struggle to forget. Goals from Percy Tau, Themba Zwane, and Thapelo Maseko saw Bafana claim all 3 points in a 4-nil victory.
Hugo Broos's team played with passion and vigour and they looked to gelling very well. Free-flowing football with well-strung passes made it very difficult for Namibia to break down. The big question now is, will Broos and Bafana keep the momentum when they take on Tunisia? This match ultimately decides their fate. A win or a draw will see Bafana have a great chance at progressing through to the knockout rounds.
Broos will have to ensure the team is well prepared for not only a physical battle but a mental one too.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Bafana Bafana's victory over Namibia and questions how Hugo Broos will prepare the team for when they take on Tunisia in a must-win match at AFCON 2024. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bafana Bafana kicked off their 2024 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) with a 2-0 loss to Mali. Bafana had multiple chances that they failed to capitalise on; chances such as Percy Tau's miss which at this level, should not be happening. Hugo Broos's team had some good spells of play in the first half, but they failed to grab even a single point from their opening match.
Broos has some thinking today considering the next team standing in his way, Namibia, grabbed their first-ever AFCON win after beating Tunisia 1-0. Bafana cannot afford to not use the few chances that they create because if they do, an early exit is imminent.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Bafana Bafana's 2-0 loss to Mali in their opening 2024 AFCON match. The fans analyse the performance and mention what is needed to take on teams such as Namibia and Tunisia. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The January transfer window is well and truly open and thus far, we have seen some interesting transfers, reports, and news; especially for Manchester United. Former Borussia Dortmund player Jadon Sancho has returned to Germany on a loan until the end of this season. Sancho publically claimed how he missed the club, giving off the impression that his heart was never with Manchester United.
The Premier League returns this weekend with Manchester City travel to Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspurs heading to Old Trafford. Beyond these matches, Unai Emery is looking to continue his and Aston Villa's run of form and Chelsea will be looking to grab all 3 points against Fulham.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Jadon Sancho is a hot topic after his cold words directed towards Manchester United. The English Premier League returns! www.soccerladuma.co.za
The Carling Knockout Cup is Officially over in all its might and Glory. Stellies FC were ultimately crowned champions which meant they had the chance to take on the Carling Knockout Cup All Stars last weekend. The All-Stars were comprised of players selected by you, the fans! Stellies fell just short of the Mark thanks to goals by Kaizer Chiefs duo, Mfundo Vilakazi and Ashley Du Preez. One other Kaizer Chiefs player stood out and in turn, was named Man Of The Match. Itumeleng Khune put on a stellar performance and given that in recent weeks, he had some off-field issues which saw him be suspended by his club, it goes to show his professionalism and love for the sport.
The 2024 AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) commences on Saturday 13 January with Bafana Bafana taking the field for the first time on Tuesday 16 January. Hugo Broos feels very confident with his team selection but many question the absence of some stars. Will this year be Bafana's year or will Broos's men crumble within a very tough group?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi shares their thoughts on Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana team selection and comment on Itumeleng Khune's cosmic performance for the Carling Knockout Cup All Stars. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
2023 has come and gone and with it, saw some memorable moments. Mamelodi Sundowns won the inaugural African Football League and we saw Orlando Pirates retain their MTN8 title. The DStv Premiership has also grown to the point where there are no longer 'small teams.'
Above and beyond the results, we also saw multiple coaches being sacked and hired, and we also had a handful of players making headlines!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi discusses the highlights of PSL football in 2023 and discusses what 2024 has in store! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
It is no secret that Mzansi craves football 24/7. With so many competitions and tournaments going on all at once, South Africans are overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of football, that some feel 'lost' during the rest periods when club football stops intermittently. To combat this feeling, communities around the country have joined forces to arrange, host, and run supported-based tournaments, allowing Mzansi to keep their spirits high, watching the sport we all know and love.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi expressed joy towards community football tournaments being hosted during the festive period. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
After 18 years and 185 Caps, Banyana Banyana defender Janine Van Wyk has retired from International football - becoming the most-capped African player of all time. Van Wyk guided Banyana to their first-ever World Cup appearance and helped the team win the 2022 Women's African Cup Of Nations (WAFCON). Van Wyk has inspired thousands of young girls around the country to pursue a football career. She is the epitome of what it means to be an ambassador of the game.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the news of Banyana Banyana legend Janine Van Wyk retiring. Van Wyk is highly praised after a stellar 18-year career! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
After a stellar first season with Manchester United, Eric ten Hag seems to be failing to deliver results for the club this season. Multiple poor performances, disappointing losses, and the inability to end the game when it matters see the Red Devils all but knocked out of the UEFA Champions League whilst they sit 7th on the domestic table. Rumours suggest that ten Hag has lost more than half of the dressing room and now the Dutchman's future seems to be worrying.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts chats with Soccer Laduma International News correspondent, Kurt Buckerfield about Eric ten Hag's future with Manchester United. The gents discuss some recent Premier League results whilst offering some insight on the new round of fixtures. www.soccerladuma.co.za
It is no secret that Lionel Messi and Barcelona quickly became divided when they started clashing heads in 2020. Messi handed in his notice to leave but the club refused and stated he had 1 year left remaining on his contract. This is of course public knowledge, but what most people aren't aware of, is the fact that ionel Messi almost joined Manchester City. Pep Guardiola went to Messi's house and chatted with him about the plan to include in in the squad, how the tactics would change, and where the Argentine would play. Unfortunately, this all broke down as City missed the window which saw Messi join Parisian outfit, Paris Saint-Germain.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts unpacks the latest run of UEFA Champions League fixtures with Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield. The gents chat about how Lionel Messi almost joined Manchester City and touch on the ongoing struggles Manchester United are facing. www.soccerladuma.co.za
For the past 24 years, Itumeleng Khune has been with Kaizer Chiefs, first in the youth system and then in the first team. In over 2 decades, we have never seen a report that suggests Khune has alcohol problems, let alone arriving to training 'drunk.' The news of the 36-year-old allegedly arriving to training intoxicated has taken Mzansi by storm, and the club has since suspended the player pending further investigation.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi is still in shock after learning about Kaizer Chiefs goalie Itumeleng Khune's behaviour in recent days, as the club captain allegedly arrived at training under the influence of alcohol. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The international break has come to an end for now, during this break, Bafana Bafana had 2 World Cup qualifying matches against Benin and Rwanda respectively. A mixed bag of results was the outcome with a 2-1 win over Benin and a surprising 2-0 loss to Rwanda.
Many are questioning the selection process and choices of coach Hugo Broos which saw multiple overseas-based players getting the nod, leaving performing PSL-based players scratching their heads.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi gives his opinions on the team selection of Hugo Broos during Bafana Bafana's recent World Cup Qualifying matches. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Pitso Mosimane and Al Wahda parted ways with the former Mamelodi Sundowns man now a free agent. Rumours are circulating about a potential return to South Africa with Kaizer Chiefs allegedly wanting the 59-year-old. Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts reckons Pitso is better suited for a European move as he claims Kaizer Chiefs could most likely not afford Jingles.
The first edition of the African Football League has come to an end with Mamelodi Sundowns being crowned the inaugural champions. A solid performance by Masandawana saw them bag a cool R75 million with CAF President Patrice Motsepe willing to double their winnings!
In what was arguably the match of the season, Chelsea FC and Manchester City played out to a thrilling 4-all draw at Stamford Bridge over the weekend. Cole Palmer had the final say with a stellar penalty taken in the 95th minute. Overall, this was a fair result which had some drama, plenty of goals, and some surprising post-match comments!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, the future of South African legend Pitso Mosimane is discussed after the former Mamelodi Sundowns man became a free agent. Mamelodi Sundowns became the inaugural African Football League champions and the deal between Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is close to becoming a reality. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs faced off once again in the Soweto Derby with the Buccaneers going into the match as favourites considering the turmoil which Chiefs are going through. Multiple changes of coaches and technical teams, lack of will up front, and lacklustre defenders proved too much for Chiefs as Pirates won thanks to a single goal by Evidence Makgopa. Kaizer Chiefs need to go back to the drawing board if they wish to turn things around.
Mamelodi Sundowns became the first-ever champions of the African Football League (AFL) after they overcame a 1-goal deficit against Wydad Casablanca. Rulani Mokwena and his team showed their class by beating the Moroccan giants 2-0 on the day, and 3-2 on aggregate. Sundowns have now bagged a cool $4 million which will only mean one thing - Sundowns will get better and better.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the latest Soweto Derby which saw Orlando Pirates Beat Kaizer Chiefs in their DStv Premiership clash. The fans have their say on the Mamelodi Sundowns squad after Masandawana beat Wydad Casablanca in the inaugural African Football League Final. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The 2019/20 English Premier League was the inaugural season with VAR being used. The groundbreaking technology was brought in to assist the referees and since then, matters have gotten far worse than ever predicted. It seems as though in the current game, the refs are relying on VAR and not using it as an extra aid. Multiple decisions have been scrutinised, with none more chaotic than a goal award for Newcastle against Arsenal when the Gunners dropped all 3 points. Mikel Arteta publicly criticised the decision and since then, Arsenal FC has decided to take further action.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma International news correspondent, Kurt Buckerfield about the poor use of VAR around the world. The gents unpack the horrid decisions that have been made using technology supposedly meant to aid the refs. Conversations about Kylian Mbappe's future take place with the Parisian seemingly not interested in joining Real Madrid! www.soccerladuma.co.za
The Carling Black Label Knockout Cup has officially reached the business end of the competition with four teams remaining; Richards Bay takes on Stellenbosch FC and AmaZulu faces TS Galaxy. None of the so-called 'big teams' are present in the sem-finals which poses the question 'Do big teams and small teams still exist?'
The South African footballing fraternity, The PSl, AmaZulu, and the Nutli family suffered a tragic loss this week, with AmaZulu striker Bongi Ntuli passing away. The passing of the 32-year-old came as a shock to all. A highly talented footballer who was respected on and off the pitch; may his soul rest in peace.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi questions whether or not big teams still exist in South African Football with Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates all exiting the Carling Black Label Knockout Cup. Mzansi also pour their hearts out for the tragic loss of Bongi Ntuli. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The Springboks have just been crowned World Champions of Rugby for the fourth time when they lifted their second consecutive William Webb-Ellis Trophy. We as a nation were completely united behind the team; South Africa was one nation. The question is, why don't Bafana Bafana get the same level of support as that of the Springboks? Perhaps it's funding, perhaps it's performance. The fact remains - Bafana Bafana has a long way to go and a lot to do to be supported as much as the Springboks.
Cavin Johnson and Kaizer Chiefs began their partnership exactly where Chiefs left off, with yet another loss. This is clearly not the start Johnson and co would have liked, but Mzansi suggests time is needed.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Kaizer Chiefs' 2-1 loss to Golden Arrows and gives their verdict on newly appointed coach, Cavin Johnson. Mzansi also speaks about the level of support Bafana received, compared to that of the Springboks. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
After months of back and forth and major uncertainty, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has won his bid to purchase 25% of Manchester United and become a minority stakeholder. Ratcliffe was in a bidding war with Qatari businessman, Sheik Jassim. Rumour has it, is that a few of the Glazer brothers did not want to sell. This decision has caused frustration amongst the United faithful, with many suggesting being state-owned by an Arabic country is a far better boat to be in, than Ratcliffe's proposal.
The Red Devils have been in fine form in recent weeks, having won their last 3 matches in all competitions, with a surprising boost of performance from former captain Harry Maguire. The club is not only desperate for silverware, and perhaps better management from up top, but in the simplest of terms, the team is desperate to win games, and the fans share this sentiment. Erik ten Hag and co will face a tough opponent this coming weekend, which sees the blue half of Manchester travel to Old Trafford, in what is perhaps the biggest sporting matchup in the world.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goal is joined by Soccer Laduma International journalists Kurt Buckerfield and Kamogelo Motecwane to chat about the upcoming Balon d'Or ceremony which sees Lionel Messi arriving as the favourite. The gents discuss Sir Jim Ratcliffe's stake in Manchester United and go down memory lane for Seeking the Socials! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs fans were at it again over the weekend, when they expressed their frustrations through aggression and violence. For the fourth time this year, 'hooligans' within Khosi Nation were throwing bottles at Chiefs' technical team and vandalising the stadium. Chiefs were warned after the last time, that should it occur once more, a stadium ban would be imminent.
The violence occurred after the Carling Black Label Knockout Cup match between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu, The Glamour Boys will now travel to the Mpumalanga Stadium to face off against Golden Arrows, but do the fans feel safe, and should Chiefs fans be banned?
PSL legend Bernard Parker suffered what might be a career-ending injury during TS Galaxy's matchup against Mamelodi Sundowns. The 37-year-old suffered a broken leg after Bongani Zungu entered a tackle studs-up, and connected with Parker's ankle.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi offers well-wishes to PSl Legend, Bernard Parker. The fans express their disgust towards Kaizer Chiefs fans for once against abusing Chiefs' management and for violent behaviour. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The 2023 Carling Black Label Cup is set to commence on Wednesday 18 October, with Mamelodi Sundowns taking on TS Galaxy in the inaugural match. The tournament will feature all 16 PSL teams and will function in the same format as the Telkom Knockout Cup.
This will prove to be a huge task for PSL teams, as the fixture list for each club will grow immensely, and in turn, potentially causing player fatigue. Will the competition get in the way of the league or will the players be able to handle the pressure?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi offers insight and opinions into the way the fans are feeling towards the 2023 Carling Black Label Cup. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The MTN8 final has come and gone, with Orlando Pirates walking away with a second consecutive title. The Buccaneers were able to keep Mamelodi sundowns out for 120 minutes, forcing the game to go to penalties. The Buccaneers would have had a few shaking nerves, considering the last penalty shootout they took part in; they lost to Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy. Masandawana were not clinical from the spot, with Orlando Pirates winning 3-1.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Orlando Pirates beating Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 on penalties to claim a second consecutive MTN8. The fans analyse the teams’ performance and comment on the officiating. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The 2030 FIFA World Cup marks 100 since the inaugural tournament held in Uruguay in 1930. The 24th edition of the tournament will be commemorated by having 3 matches played in South America, where it all began, before vacating the continent and moving over to Spain and Morroco. A very strange move by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Many are suggesting that this move is a sly way for FIFA to 'line their pockets' as Saudi Arabia is bidding to host the world cup in 2034.
Manchester United is currently having not only the worst start to a UEFA Champions League season but also an English Premier League season. The Red Devils have lost both of their opening group matches and currently find themselves sitting in 10th position in the English top flight. Rumors are flying around suggesting Erik ten Hag is in danger of being shown the way out!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kamogelo Motecwane; they break down the 2030 FIFA World Cup's structure and dive into some UEFA Champions League results. The lads get involved in a wager relating to the Arsenal/Manchester City match-up. www.soccerladuma.co.za
The CAF Champions League is the most coveted football trophy on African soil, yet in the same breath, it is the most elusive to South African teams. For far too long, Southern Africa has barely had a say in this competition since Mamelodi Sundowns claimed the silverware way back in the 2015/2016 season. Only Kaizer Chiefs have come close since then when Gavin Hunt took the glamour boys to the final in 2021.
Is the CAF Champions League too much to ask of the players, coaches, and teams from Southern Africa? Perhaps the traveling is playing a big role, or even the quality of the pitches. One thing we know for sure, is to be the best, you have to beat the best and given the expectation that this competition expects, to go all the way and win the cup; you have to dig deep, be consistent, and focus on your strengths.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Morgan Mammila being re-appointed as head coach of Chippa United. They also speak on Steve Komphela turning Swallows around. The fans break down the poor performance shown by South African teams in the CAF Champions League. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
In a public interview, 2022 FIFA World Cup Winner Lionel Messi openly admitted that his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 'failed' to congratulate him when returning from his World Cup triumph. This allegation has spread like wildfire, with the president of the Paris-based club, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, squashing the truth behind Messi's statement. "French fans are extremely hostile, so if Messi was to be paraded in the capital, it would have been ill-received," says Kamogelo Motecwane on the latest episode of the International News Desk.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts breaks down the latest news surrounding Lionel Messi with Soccer Laduma International news correspondent, Kamogelo Motecwane. The lads discuss the upcoming English Premier League and UEFA Champions League fixtures, and break down a tough question about Neymar during Seeking the Socials. www.soccerladuma.co.za
The MTN8 final semi-final legs have come and gone, with Kaizer Chiefs being knocked out by Mamelodi Sundowns. The second leg between these two giants, came with controversy after referee Luxolo Badi turned a blind eye and denied the Glamour Boy’s 3 clear-cut penalties. Mzansi has expressed their deepest frustrations towards not only Badi, but SAFA and the PSL as a whole.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the poor display of officiating during the MTN8 semi-final second-leg match-up between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The second legs of the MTN8 semi-finals commence this weekend with Orlando Pirates looking like they are in the best position to make it to the final. After securing a victory against Stellenbosch FC in the first leg, the Buccaneers will be hoping to continue their fine run of form when they welcome the traveling team from Cape Town to the Orlando stadium
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns are all square going into their second-leg fixture at the Lucas "Masterpieces" Moripe Stadium. Amakhosi have not had the best results in the league, unlike Sundowns, but the Glamour Boys will be hoping to edge one over the current DStv Premiership title holders.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi comments on the upcoming MTN8 fixtures which sees Kaizer Chiefs travel to Lucas "Masterpieces" Moripe Stadium and Stellenbosch FC face off against Orlando Pirates in Soweto. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The UEFA Champions League has returned in all of its glory of a long-anticipated wait. The battle of the European giants has begun, with a certain team from Manchester looking to retain their title. Match day one saw some big matches, with none more so than Manchester United who traveled to the Allianz Arena to face off against Bayern Munich. The away team showed their talents but ultimately, silly errors cost them the win. Bayern Munich emerged victorious in a 4-3 humdinger. Arsenal returned to the premier league with a convincing 4-0 win and Barcelona showed the world that you should not count them out.
In more of a local topic, Bafana Bafana international Lyle Foster saw a straight red card when Burnley faced Nottingham Forest last weekend. The 23-year-old was sent for an early shower after he was involved in violent conduct. Let's not forget that Foster has kicked off his Premier League career in the best way possible, by bagging a few goals and offering an assisting hand.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks all things UEFA Champions League with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield. The gents touch on Lyle Foster's red card and explain why he has a promising career ahead of him in England. www.soccerladuma.co.za
With Manchester United still being regarded as one of the biggest clubs in the world, being under a constant microscope comes with the territory. This will always be a burden that the club will have to live with, and at times, it may be easier said than done. As it stands, the clubs’ fans are in utter disbelief at the current state of the team, with Brazilian superstar, Anthony, being investigated for 3 separate counts of domestic abuse. The player has personally suggested that he stay in his home country whilst the investigation is ongoing. Numerous injuries have plagued the first XI, with multiple defenders being ruled out.
The club does have some positives to go by, with new signing Rasmus Højlund bringing the energy during his short spell against Arsenal during the Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat. This result was also an example of how well the team can play, should they stick with the game plan. Head coach Erik ten Hag still has lots of work to do, but given the time, the United outfit feels he will be able to bring the team back up to the standard that it so thoroughly deserves.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie and Soccer Laduma International news Correspondent Kurt Buckerfield dive into all things Manchester United. The gents discuss the ‘’off-field’ antics on display as well as the verbal and online abuse being thrown toward a certain out-of-touch defender. They answer a tough question during Seeking the Socials and speak about the latest doping scandal in world football! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bafana Bafana has just come off the back of an unbeaten run with a goalless draw against Namibia and a 1-0 victory against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The goalless draw brings a concerning thought into the minds of local supporters, which is how lackluster the team looked against a lower-ranked nation in Namibia. The performance against the DRC proved that we have the potential to provide an attacking threat while being solid at the back. Coach Hugo Broos will have all to prove during the upcoming AFCON tournament and with his recent comments about the team, he has lost the support of many fans.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the ‘lackluster’ performances from Bafana against Namibia and the DRC. The fans express their thoughts on Hugo Broos’ coaching style and suggest that Bafana Bafana is on the right track moving forward SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The 30-man shortlist for the 2022/23 Ballon d’Or has been announced with some surprising features and shocking exclusions. The biggest talking point, of course, is who is going to win this esteemed accolade. It appears to be a two-horse race between World Cup winner Lionel Messi, and Treble titan, Erling Haaland. Many are suggesting that Messi should claim his 8th Golden Ball, but the argument of Haaland cannot go unnoticed.
The transfer window is officially closed and many teams have “splashed the cash” to beef up their squads. Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts and Soccer Laduma international News Correspondent, Kamogelo Motcewane unpack and outline some of the best transfers, whilst explaining why some players make their respective list of flops!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts breaks down the best and worst transfer of the season thus far with Soccer Laduma international News Correspondent, Kamegelo Motcewane. The lads unpack the race for the Ballon d”or and also break down the ongoing beef between Manchester United Superstar Jadon Sancho and coach Eric ten Hag! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos finds himself in hot water after his somewhat unnecessary comment directed towards Kaizer Chiefs players and the club as a whole. When the media asked Broos about the lack of Chiefs players, the 71-year-old Belgian suggested that ‘no player(s) from Kaizer Chiefs deserves to be within the national setup.’ Chiefs’ head coach Molefi Ntseki announced his disappointment with Broos and we are now seeing an ongoing beef between the two coaches. This comment by Broos has caused some obvious outrage amongst Khosi nation with one fan saying “Hugo Broos has lost the plot!”
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation and Mzansi react to the ongoing beef between Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos and Kaizer Chiefs’ Molefi Ntseki. Broos was caught saying that no player from Chiefs deserves to be in the national team, and Molefi Ntseki has hit back! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs are welcoming Mamelodi Sundowns to the FNB Stadium during their mouth-watering matchup. Kaizer Chiefs seem to be slowly finding their form under new head coach Molefi Ntseki, whereas Mamelodi Sundowns are looking stronger than ever, after claiming maximum points during their 5 Dstv Premiership fixtures. The last time the glamour boys managed to beat Masandawana, was back in 2021, when Chiefs won 2-1. Molefi Ntseki needs to be brave, and courageous and bring some innovation if he wants to overcome a powerhouse in Mamelodi Sundowns.
The last time Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC met, the Buccaneers went down 1 goal to nil, with the team from Cape Town grabbing all 3 points in their Dstv Premiership matchup. Pirates have been in hot - goalscoring form and they will be looking to capitalise on any mistakes which Stellies may make. Stellenbosch are hoping to continue their run of good form.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi speaks on the first leg of the MTN8 Semi-Finals which sees Kaizer Chiefs tackle Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates taking on Stellenbosch FC. Will Mamelodi Sundowns continue to dominate or will the Glamour Boys cause an upset? Stellenbosch FC will be looking to edge one over the Soweto Giants and Plano Pirates are hoping to breeze past Stellies! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs have had a poor start to their 2023/24 Campaign; having only scraped past Cape Town City in the Nedbank Cup quarter Finals, the Glamour Boys are currently sitting in 13th position, after only managing to take 1 point away from a possible 9. Chiefs recently appointed former Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki to turn the ship around, however many are suggesting that having Ntseki at the helm with assistant coach Arthur Zwane, failure is imminent.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the latest incident involving Royal Am and how they treated a PSL fan. Khosi nation also reacts to Kaizer Chiefs’ poor run of form, and even suggests that Molefi Ntseki and Arthur Zwane are not a perfect match! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The 2023/24 English Premier League Season has started strong with Manchester City and Erling Haaland continuing where they left off, but with Kevin De Bruyne's injury being labeled as 'serious,' how will the current EPL champions fair? Newcastle United put on a strong performance and Manchester United scraped past Wolverhampton Wonderers, claiming all 3 points.
Mason Greenwood's future will be decided before we know it and the morality behind this decision is teetering on completely unacceptable. If Manchester United did not want the 21-year-old to rejoin the team, the club would have surely made a decision a while ago; but the mere fact that the decision has been up in the air, only screams the question of morality!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks to Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kamogelo Motecwane about the return of the English Premier League. The gents break down some big results from match day one and offer some predictions for the second round of fixtures. Questions about Mason Greenwood's imminent return to Manchester United and a tough question gets asked during Seeking The Socials! www.soccerladuma.co.za
The first round of the MTN8 has come and gone with the semi-finals now confirmed. Kaizer Chiefs scraped past Cape Town City whereas Orlando Pirates, thanks to Zakhele Lepasa, breezed past Sekhukhune United. Mamelodi Sundowns got the better of a 10-man Swallows outfit and Stellenobosch FC managed a 1-0 victory over SuperSport United.
Mzansi gives their opinions on these matches, with some fans suggesting that an ideal final would be Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates at Soccer City. Not only to prevent Mamelodi Sundowns from grabbing yet another trophy but also due to the possibility of having a Soweto Derby this early in the season.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the MTN8 Semi-Final Draw which sees Stellenbosch FC face Orlando Pirates, while Kaizer Chiefs meet Mamelodi Sundowns. Khosi nation suggests the ‘Glamour Boys’ owe the fans a trophy! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The 2023/24 English Premiership season is set to return with a bang when the reigning champions Manchester City, take on newly promoted side Burnley FC. Burnley of course is fielding a strong side with South African striker Lyle Foster.
This season is surely going to bring excitement, challenges, and perhaps a new champion; the quality of players is unmatched and clubs have 'beefed' up their squads with world-class talent. Arsenal will be looking to overcome the challenges they faces last season, when they gave the lead to Manchester City. The Red Devils of Manchester United are hoping that Erik ten Hag's new signings will be the difference in grabbing silverware this time around.
On the latest episode of the International News desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent, and 'first timer' Kamegelo Motecwane about the 2023/24 EPL season. The gents unpack the saga relating to Neymar Jr and give Banyana Banyana the flowers they so thoroughly deserve! www.soccerladuma.co.za
The 2023/24 Dstv Premiership is back on track with Match One producing some exciting results. The reigning Champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, grabbed 3 points against Sekhukhune United which poses the question ‘Are Sundowns continuing where they left off.’ Kaizer Chiefs showed they are handling the midfield well, but still lack ‘venom’ upfront and Orlando Pirates, in a shock result, lost 1-0 to Stellenbosch United.
Kaizer Chiefs were dominant when looking at the states, stringing over 350 passes and having 10 shots on goal. The worrying aspect is that only 3 were on target and Chiefs did not find the back of the net. This goes to show that Kaizer Chiefs are in dying need of a natural goal scorer.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi comments on the first round of matches from the 2023/24 Dstv Premiership and give their thoughts on Kaizer Cheif’s lack of ability upfront. Khosi Nation now stands firm on the fact that Molefi Ntseki needs to find a natural goalscorer. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
In recent days, breaking news hit the airwaves with Thabo Cele ‘agreeing personal terms’ with Kaizer Chiefs. The 26-year-old has spent close to a decade plying his trade in Europe where he is currently playing for Polish outfit Radomiak Radom. Chiefs are currently still in negotiations with the Bafana Bafana midfielder but there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
The 2023/23 Dstv Premiership season gets underway on 4 August with Mamelodi Sundowns beginning their title defence against Sekhukhune United. Are we in for yet another Masandawana masterclass, or will we have a new PSL champion this time around? Teams have ‘beefed’ up their squads and teams will be looking to start strong with a victory.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi gives their thoughts on the 2023/24 Dstv Premiership season as they hope a new team will be crowned PSL champions. Mzansi react to the news of Thabo Cele potentially joining Kaizer Chiefs, with one fan saying “Cele will fill the hole Blom left.” SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Kylian Mappe has been hogging the headlines in recent weeks thanks to his ongoing dispute with his current club, Paris Saint-Germain. The 2018 FIFA World Cup Winner is refusing to extend his contract with the Parisian outfit due to his high demand from Clubs, specifically Real Madrid. PSG have been known to ‘torment’ players who refuse to extend as they did with Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr, and Adrien Rabbiot. Whilst this dispute was going on, Al Hilal, from the Saudi Pro League, tabled the biggest offer in sports history. €700 million for one season. Mbappe rejected the offer as he is hoping to join Los Blancos
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts sits down with Soccer Laduma international News Correspondent to speak about Sadio Mane joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo. The gents break down the latest drama surrounding Kylian Mbappe after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Winner rejected Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Harry Kane to Bayern Munich is a move that seems to be edging ever closer to being finalised. Bayern are prepared to break their record for transfer fees as they continue to try a full void which has been an issue ever since Robert Lewandowski left the Bavarian giants to join Barcelona in the Spanish league. Sadio Mane has had a horrid time since joining Bayern Munich, and his future has been up in the air for quite some time, but it seems as though a new path is being formed for the 2019 African Player of the Year.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington provides an update on the ongoing transfer involving Harry Kane moving from Tottenham Hotspurs to Bayern Munich. Kres Also speaks about the tabled offer Sadio Mane has received!
Kaizer Chiefs have signed some young stars in recent years, however, the lack of game time for these players is quite a concern. Many players arrived at Chiefs with the idea of them being the next big stars, however, the lack of game time, nurturing and confidence has seen them sit on the bench. Players such as Sabelo Radebe, Wandile Duba, and Samkelo Zwane are not getting enough game time and their futures are being questioned.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi nation expresses their concerns with the cub benching young stars, forcing them to lose confidence. Khosi nation is unsure if Molefi Ntseki is a coach who appreciates young players. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Sadio Mane has had a horrid time in the German since joining 32-time leave winners Bayern Munich. Mane joined the Bavarian giants in 2022 after spending 6 years with English outfit Liverpool. During his time with Bayern, the Senegalese superstar has been riddled with injuries and bad press. It would appear as though the 2021 African player of the year is getting abuse thrown at him by all ends of the German press, and his exit from Bayern is a case of ‘when.’
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington speaks on the poor treatment Sadio Mane has received since going to Bayern Munich. Kres breaks down Bayern’s offer to Harry Kane which could disrupt the locker room. Some friendly matches are on the Horizon which includes former Bayer Munich manager Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City!
The 2023/24 Dstv Premiership Season edges ever closer, and the fans are worried about the net costs involved in watching a match live. Transport, merchandise, ad-hoc and ticket prices accumulate to figures that seem far too unreasonable. Mzansi has been pleading with the PSL and with SAFA for changes to be made. With ticket prices starting at R50 for lower division matches, and spiking to over R200, it makes sense as to why stadiums are standing empty. Of course, the derbies such as the Soweto Derby, see a full stadium, but the majority of matches are played in front of a crowd less venue
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, soccer lovers around Mzansi express their frustration towards SAFA and the PSL regarding the net costs involved in watching Dstv Premiership matches live. Mzansi suggests that clubs should be looking out for their supporters, and even recommend season tickets and membership cards. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The Saudi Pro League has been a massive talking point in recent weeks, thanks to the large sums of money being used to purchase players entering the twilight stages of their careers. It all started with Cristiano Ronaldo when he signed for Al Nassr on a mouthwatering $200 million a year. Saudi Arabia was also the home for a local talent, in the coaching department, Pitso Mosimane.
Cristiano Ronaldo recently slammed the likes of European leagues and American leagues alike, saying he is up for the challenge and is ready to compete for trophies in Saudi Arabia!
Jingles coached Al Hilal to promotion in the second division but has since announced he has yet to be paid for the last 5 months of his tenure. This is hugely contradictory to the sums of money coming out of the country.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about the antics relating to Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Pro League. The gents discuss Ronaldo's recent statement directed at Lionel Messi and the latest transfer coming from Old Trafford! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bayern Munich is in the spotlight again this week after Thomas Tuchel opened up about Sadio Mane. The 49-year-old German has told Sadio Mane some heartbreaking news, which, unfortunately, was not unexpected. Sticking with Bayern, the Bavarian Giants are holding firm on signing Harry Kane, with another bid being made to Tottenham.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the biggest and best transfer happening around the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich are still holding firm on signing Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel discuss Sadio Mane!
Kaizer Chiefs recently provided an update surrounding the news which suggests Khama Billat is unreachable. The glamours are hoping to make contact with the Zimbabwean to table a new deal. As it stands, Vina Maphosa, the communications manager of Kaizer Chiefs, provided some much needed clarity on Billiat’s situation and expressed his and the clubs’ concern over the player’s safety. Billet first joined Chiefs back in 2018 and has since made over 80 appearances for the Soweto Outfit - scoring only 18 goals.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi offers some hard truths about Khama Billiat’s future at Kaizer Chiefs. Khosi nation suggests Khama’s heart is no longer with Chiefs, with one fan suggesting ‘Khama is a graveyard investment.’ SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Kylian Mbappe's future is continuously being thrown around in conversation; with the latest reports suggesting the 24-year-old is being held 'hostage' by Paris Saint-Germain(PSG). Mbappe is entering the last 12 months of his contract - but could the Parisian outfit lose the 2018 World Cup winner on a free transfer?
Harry Kane has been weighing up his option, with the choice between staying with a somewhat average Tottenham Hotspur or moving to the kings of Germany, Bayern Munich.
The 'Seeking The Socials' segment returns with a controversial topic relating to a former Manchester United Starlet who is still under the clubs' payroll!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about the latest saga relating to Kylian Mbappe's future. The gents discuss wether Kan to Munich makes sense and they also chat about the number one goalkeeper target on Manchester United's radar! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Royal AM owner Shauwn Mkhize has escaped off to a fancy ski resort despite her club facing a potential transfer ban.
What's the story?
Shauwn Mkhize is currently enjoying an idyllic winter's getaway, escaping the drama and stress behind her at Royal AM regarding their dispute with Samir Nurkovic.
MaMkhize has given her followers a glimpse into her "wonderland" family holiday, including a professional shoot on a pile of snow.
Thwihli Thwahla's boss lady has flooded her social media pages with content from her winter getaway in what appears to be Lesotho.
MaMkhize went from chasing summers with holidays to the Maldives, Dubai and even Sun City to chasing the snow for a winter holiday with friends and family.
MaMkhize posted pics and a video of her trip to a snowy location that resembles the Afriski Mountain Resort and likened her holiday to a "winter wonderland."
She braved the gruesome conditions and had a full-on styled shoot on a pile of snow, which was photoshopped with a backdrop of ice-tipped mountains.
The Royal AM head honcho also wore a white ski suit with a massive coat. She also dripped out in a white fur, showcasing her skiing gear.
Back at the ranch, it's not all rosy for MaMkhize's club as they're set to face a transfer ban from FIFA after failing to compensate their former player Samir Nurkovic for terminating his contract.
The Durban-based outfit missed the deadline to pay Nurkovic's compensation of R12 million and are now in danger of not being able to sign players in the current transfer window and most likely beyond.
Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane is reportedly set on joining only one club in this transfer window as he seeks to return to playing UEFA Champions League football.
The 29-year-old’s future in London appears more and more uncertain by the day amid his apparent unwillingness to sign a new contract at the Lilywhites.
Kane, England’s all-time record goalscorer with 58 international strikes, will see his current deal at Spurs expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
Chairman Daniel Levy is said to be not interested in selling the club’s star man despite the looming risk of losing him on a free transfer in 2024.
Kane had previously been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United in this window, but Sport1 claims the striker has his heart set on joining Bayern Munich for the coming season and that other interested parties have been informed of that.
The Bundesliga champions were believed to submit a second bid for the player’s services on the weekend after having their first approach rejected, though it still appears unknown as to whether the proposal is enough to tempt Levy.
It is claimed that Kane could very well communicate his desire to leave Spurs when he returns to training at the club this week, with new manager Ange Postecoglou recently addressing the issue.
The Australian tactician has said he has no doubt that Kane wants the London side to be successful and that he will discuss the situation with the player when they meet ahead of pre-season.
Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur’s are battling it out for the signing of English striker Harry Kane. The 30-year is eager to win silverware and his luck with the London-based club has been far from perfect. Although he is a world-class striker, scoring 30 goals this past season, the chances of the 30-year-old winning a trophy with Spurs is slim. Bayern are not showing all their cards being the master negaters the world has come to know them as.
Former Bayern Munich and German international Bastian Schweinsteiger, as come out and publicly accused Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola of the German national team’s decline in recent years.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Harry Kane to Bayern Munich seems unlikely and Pep Guardiola is taking hits from a former Bayern Munich and German international stalwart.
Moroka Swallows have recently appointed Steve Komphela as head coach, after a lengthy spell with Mamelodi Sundowns. Steve explained that he felt somewhat ‘forced to the sidelines’ after Rhulani Mokwena announced that he was wanting to work with new a technical team. Komphela spent 3 years with the reigning Dstv Premiership champions, first as a co-coach, and then as a senior coach.
Swallows FC Chairman David Mogashoa insisted that former head coach Musa Nyatama with his assistant Ditheko Mototo will remain at the club, but will make way for coach Steve to learn more about the role, as Komphela as a wealth of experience. Kopmela goes into this role with excitement, confidence, and of course, years of experience
On the latest episode o the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Steve Komphela’s move to Moroka Swallows after spending 3 years with Mamelodi Sundowns. Mzansi insists that Steve is the right man for the job, albeit a challenging task. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bayern Munich has had a void to fill ever since the departure of Polis striker Robert Lewandowski. The Bundesliga Champions have struggled to get goals from forwards, but they may have a solution. Harry Kane is said to be the number one priority for Bayern, with Kres Harrington saying “He will fill Lewandowski’s shoes.”Sadio Mane has had offers from around the globe, but the 2021 African Player of the Year has finally broken his silence on where his future lies.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington speaks about the future of both Sadio Mane and Tottenham Hotspurs striker Harry Kane. Kres breaks down the poor performance of the German side at the u21 European Championship.
The transfer window is well and truly open with Orlando Pirates making the most headway thus far. The Buccaneers have acquired the signature of Sephelo Baloni from Cape Town All Stars, Katlego Otladisa from Marumo Gallants, Melusi Buthelezi from TS Galaxy, and Patrick Maswanganyi from SuperSport United. The Sea Robbers have also parted ways with 5 stars. Kaizer Chiefs are searching the market to beef up their squad after they recently announced the departure of Siyabonga Ngezana who joined Romanian Liga 1 Club FCSB
During the week, Kaizer Chiefs announced their new head coach; Molefi Ntseki. Ntseki had a spell with Bafana Bafana between 2019-2021. Kaizer Chiefs have had a few poor seasons, given the expectations, and Arthur Zwane was unable to fulfill the club's need for silverware. Will Molefi Ntseki fit one of the biggest clubs in Africa?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi nation reacts to the appointment of Molefi Ntseki. Mzansi gives their thoughts on the latest transfer within the PSL. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Manchester United have had a poor transfer window thus far, with the only action coming from Zidane Iqbal who leaves the Red Devils for a fee close to £1 million. Eric ten Hag has his sights set on a few big-name players, including Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Tottenham’s Harry Kane; but both transfers seem unlikely due to the prolonged sale of the club. Both Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have increased their bids, but the Glazer family is yet to decide. There is no doubt that the slow window is due to this decision.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Sheffield Wednesday and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about all things Transfers. Manchester City have parted ways with Ilkay Gundogan, but sees Mateo Kovacic join their ranks. Kylian Mbappe’s future at PSG seems short and Manchester United have had a somewhat disappointing transfer window thus far. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bayern Munich has once again poached a player from arch-rivals, Borussia Dortmund. Raphael Guerreiro becomes the sixth player in recent years to make the switch between these two clubs, with Bayern still being accused of poaching players. Perhaps the old saying ‘’if you can’t beat them, join them’ rings louder than expected. The 29-year-old joins Bayern after seven seasons at Dortmund, signing a three-year deal. Whilst this is going on, it looks like Lucas Hernandez is on his way out of Munich, after the player agreed on personal terms with Paris Saint-Germaine
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington touches on the racist abuse thrown towards two German u21 players. Kres speaks about the 2023/24 Bundesliga fixture calendar and also about the latest transfers coming out of the Bundesliga.
Germany, who are hosting the 2024 European Championships have gone winless in 3 games, in what can only be described as a dismal run of form. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Winners are hosting the competition, which may well have been the only way they qualified.
Two African superstars are praised for their recent performances; Sadio Mane of Senegal and Victor Oshimhen of Nigerian. Both players managed to get on the score sheet for their respective countries during their recent international fixtures. Sadio Mane’s future seems to be in the air this week after the 2021 African Player of the Year was quoted saying “Never say never.”
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington speaks about the future of Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane. Kres Also breaks down Germany’s performance after the recent International Friendlies, which has seen the 2014 World Cup Winners go winless in 3 games. Victor Oshimen is praised highly after his recent performance with Nigeria.
Siyabonga Ngezana has joined an elite set of players who have made the move out of the PSL, and into Europe. The Former Kaizer Chiefs defender has put pen to paper and signed for Romanian Ligue 1 club, Fotbol Club FCSB. The versatile defender spent seven seasons with the Glamour Boys, where he grew into a formidable defender. Many Chiefs fans have even praised the 25-year-old, claiming he was one of the best defenders during the 2022/23 Dstv Premiership season. The beauty of this move is that there is proof that development players have what it takes to make the move to Europe, so long as the player is hard-working, determined, and ready to make the necessary sacrifices.
Ngezane was able to control the defence, not only playing in the full-back position, but when duty called, he slotted perfectly into a center-back role, which make him an indispensable player. Being able to shift mindsets into these positions, is no easy task, which is why a European club came calling.
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker, Samir Nurkovic has been in a legal battle with Pal club, Royal AM over a contractual dispute, which saw the club owned by Shawn Mkhize terminate the Serbians contract early, to the tumultuous groans of the PSL. Nurkovic signed a two-year deal, not long after being released by the Glamour Boys, but he never featured in any competitive matches. Nurkovic’s contract was terminated 2 months into this binding agreement, without any form of compensation. The club argued he was released due to a lengthy period of ‘sick leave.’ The Serb took this discrepancy forward to the PSL, where, in his favour, it was announced that Royal Am has to payout the contract, a fee which comes close to R12 million, or ‘Mkhize’s men’ will face a ban imposed by FIFA.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi praises former Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezane for making a move to Europe, where he has signed for Romanian Ligue 1 club, Fotbol Club FCSB. Mzansi reacts to the legal battle between Samir Nurkovic and PSL club Royal AM after his contract was terminated prematurely. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
If history is anything to go by, Bayern Munich is without a doubt, the biggest club in Germany. Perhaps this is why they have so much pull when it comes to signing players. We all know that Bayern has the funds, and the demand to essentially, bring on anyone who they please, but many clubs are now getting frustrated with the Bavarian giants, as they have now been accused of ‘poaching’ the hottest talent in the league. For years, Bayern dismantled Borrusia Dortmund's team, by signing players such as Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, and Mario Gotze. They even went as far as signing Serge Gantry from Hoffenheim. But the latest player to join Bayern is one Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig. Laimer becomes the second player to leave ‘Die Roten Bullen,’ after Joshua Kimmich made the move back in 2015. Many are calling this poaching, but the Bayer faithful will tell you that it is good business. Bayern do not like to feel threatened and considering how close Leipzig finished to them in the league table, perhaps this will go down as just good business. Recent reports even suggest that Bayern went after Borrusia Dortmund’s very own Raphael Guerreiro, which if it is true, proves that Bayern will continue to poach as they see fit.
In what is perhaps the biggest signing of the transfer window so far, and perhaps the most anticipated; is Jude Bellingham leaving Borrusia Dortmund for Real Madrid. The 19 year has put pen to paper with ‘Los Blancos’ which will see him earn around €10 million per year. Dortmund sold the 2022/23 Bundesliga player of the season for a staggering €103 million, but this could increase to €134 million with the agreed terms for the add-ons. One can argue that these numbers are getting out of control, but unfortunately, it is what it is and this is what the market is demanding. This transfer does prove one thing; Dortmund are experts in nurturing young talent into world-class stars - with the likes of Erling Haaland too.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the latest transfer news coming out of German. Jude Bellingham makes his move to Real Madrid, Naby Keita returns to the Bundesliga and Bayern Munich is accused of ‘poaching’ the best talent in the Bundesliga!
In what has already been a transfer window of historic proportions, Lionel Messi has booked his flight and signed for Inter Miami. The little Argentine will most likely be doing a team, at the bottom of their respective table, and will be a part of a club run by former Manchester United and Real Madrid icon, David Beckham. ‘Leo’ has opened up about this transfer, amidst rumours of his emphatic return to Barcelona. “I am protecting my family, and taking us all out of the spotlight.” After 18 years in European football, one can understand why the world-cup winner has taken this decision and ultimately, what else is there for him to do in Europe. He has won every trophy and competition he has played, including the recent COPA America, and of course the coveted 2022 FIFA World Cup. A transfer that took the world by surprise has ultimately been a personal gain for Messi.
Karim Benzema has put pen to paper and signed with current Saudi ProLeague Champions, Al Ittihad. The Frenchman announced his exit from Real Madrid before los blanks took the pitch on the final match day of the 2022/23 La Liga season. After 14 years with the Spanish giants, Benzema has his sights on a new challenge. Benzema of course will now be a direct rival of former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Saudi Pro League is doing everything it can to prove to the world that it can host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, and by pouring millions of Euros into improving their league, infrastructure, and the quality of the game, they just might have a point.
In the biggest match of the season, Manchester City is 90 minutes away from becoming only the second British football team to claim ‘’treble rights.’ The citizens face off against an extremely tough opponent in Inter Milan on Saturday 10 June, in the UEFA Champions League Final. The Blue half of Manchester will be eager to not only claim the club’s first-ever UCL trophy but to also make history by joining Manchester United. Although this game is not going to be a walk in the park, City is the clear favourite; but could we see the upset of the decade?
On the latest episode of the International News desk, former Mamelodi sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts takes on Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent Kurt Buckerfield as they speak about the recent transfer rumours and the confirmed transfers relating to Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema. The gents also dive into the UEFA Champions League Final and discuss the matchup between Manchester City and Inter Milan. www.soccerladuma.co.za
In July 2022, the PSL announced that the Carling Cup, historically played between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, will be scrapped as a whole, with the Carling Knockout Cup taking its place. This tournament will see all 16 PSL teams taking part, with the fans of Mzansi having the final say, by voting for their 4 favourite teams, to partake in the matches. These changes has been heavily welcomed by football fans around the entire country, as it allows teams, other than the Soweto Giants, to have an opportunity to play for silverware.
This cup has replaced the Telkom Knockout Cup, after close to 3 decades of enjoyment. The Carling Knockout Cup will follow the same format of the Telkom Knockout Cup,, where the 16 DStv Premiership sides will be drawn in a straight knockout tournament until a winner is determined.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi Reacts to Carling Knockout Cup, which will feature all 16 teams from the Dstv Premiership. The fans express their excitement for the competition to begin and share their thoughts on the format. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
RB Leipzig were crowned Champions of the German Cup for the second year consecutive year, thanks to an inspiring performance by Christopher Nkunku. ‘Die Roten Bullen’ overcame Frankfurt by 2 unanswered goals, in yet another dominant performance. Leipzig has shown their talent throughout this season, finishing 3rd in the Bundesliga standings, and questions are being asked if they can challenge Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga Title next season. What seems like an impossible task, has been proven to be achievable, given how Borrusia Dortmund was in the title race until the final match day. The tea, with the 'yellow wall,' dropped the ball when it mattered most, but they proved that Bayern is not ‘untouchable.’
Bayern Munich has had, what some might say, a season to forget. When looking at how Bayern normally performs, a single trophy is almost a failure. Bayern claimed the 2022/23 Bundesliga title on the very last match day of the season, having been in a raucous race with Fierce Rivals, Borrusia Dortmund. Thomas Tuchel and his side were quickly knocked out of all cup competitions but this allowed them to focus on winning the league, which they almost let slip. Tuchel has remained in charge as head coach, but there has been some shuffling up top. The board of directors claimed they had no choice but to fire CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and as it stands, Tuchel will be given some more time to get things right. In terms of shuffling around, some players could be set to leave, with Sadio Mane’ the main player in question
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down RB Leipzig's second consecutive DFB-Pokal (German Cup) viceroy thanks to a heroic performance by Chelsea FC target, Christopher Nkunku. Kres talks about the shuffle within Bayern Munich’s senior management structure, which sees CEO Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic both getting the sack.
The 2022/23 English Premier League has come to a close and the Champions, Manchester City, do not look done just yet. The Citizens have 2 games remaining, both finals, and both are of vital importance to claim their first-ever treble! Manchester City will face off against noisy Neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup Final on Saturday 3 June. The Red Devils will have it all to play for as they are hoping to get the better of Pep Guardiola and his team. City will have a lot of pressure riding on this match as a week later, they will be playing in the UEFA Champions League Final, against a difficult opponent, Inter Milan. City is more than capable of emerging victorious in both fixtures, but will they be able to handle the pressure, the physicality, and the emotions which are ever present in high-stakes matches; especially back-to-back?
Harry Kane has not been the talk of the town this season, considering Erling Haaland has stolen the headline and has broken just about every record. Kane has been a silent assassin, scoring 30 premier league goals, in a poor Tottenham side. At the start of the season, Erling Haaland was scoring a hattrick for what seemed like every week, but Kane was grabbing goals and has proven himself to be a world-class striker. Given the current state of affairs of Tottenham, Kane looks to be on his way out sooner rather than later, as he is desperate to win Silverware. Manchester United is the favourite to sign the 30-year-old, but will Tottenham be open to dealing with a rival?
For what has seemingly been dragging on for months, Lionel Messi's camp is growing frustrated and impatience with the potential return to Barcelona. It is no secret that Messi and Barcelona are both interested in being reunited, however, La Liga's Financial Fair Play Rules require the Catalan giants to make some changes before bringing Messi 'home.'
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Lionel Messi's future is still up in the air and Harry Kane could be on his way out of Tottenham. Manchester City has it all to play for as they seek their first-ever treble and Jose Mourinho has lost his first-ever European final. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Orlando Pirates assigned Jose Riveiro as head coach just under a year ago and many Buccaneer fans were skeptical of this appointment. Some even went as far as calling the Spaniard a 'plumber.' Riveiro can rest easy knowing that he proved Mzansi wrong this season. He helped Pirates to 2 trophies in the 2022/23 season, which include the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup. Riviero also helped Pirates to claim the second spot on the log, behind Mamelodi Sundowns, and secured the club CAF Champions League Football. This is an outstanding start to what could be a fantastic career at Pirates.
Mamelodi Sundowns stole the show at the recent 2022/23 PSL End-Of-Season Awards, with 7 of the individual awards being won by Downs players. These awards included player of the season, manager of the season, defender, midfielder, and young player of the season. Mamelodi Sundowns seemed unstoppable in the league and it does not look as though their dominance will be ending any time soon. Many fans have been left scratching their heads, trying to understand how some of their favourite players missed out on these awards, with some suggesting that the awards ceremony was biased towards the Brazilians.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Orlando Pirates' Nedbank Cup Victory, marking coach Riveiro his second trophy of the season. The fans voice their opinions on the recent PSL Awards which saw Mamelodi Sundowns claim 7 individual accolades on the night! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The English Premier League is all but completed with the Champions, Manchester City, being crowned league winners once again. This comes after Michael Arteta’s Arsenal ‘bottled’ a substantial lead, after spending 91% of the 2022/23 campaign at the top of the table. Arsenal had a healthy 10-point lead, but a few draws and some embarrassing losses allowed Pep Guardiola’s men to march forward and overtook the London-based club. Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was quoted saying “Thinking back to the lead, it almost seems depressing.” Manchester City has a fantastic opportunity to claim a historic treble; they face Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League Final on 10 June, and only a few days before, they face off against their noisy neighbours, Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
Manchester United has had a remarkable season, considering where the Red Devils have been in the last decade. Erik ten Hag has revolutionised the club and has somewhat brought the team back to the days when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge. United have officially claimed a spot in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League after securing victory against Chelsea FC; the Red Devils needed only a single point, but after putting 4 goals past Chelsea’s goalie, Kepa Arrizabalaga, they claimed maximum points. Erik ten Hag has also shockingly been left out of the 6-man shortlist for manager of the season, which means fans have expressed their utmost frustration.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Sean Roberts dives into all things English Premier League with Soccer Laduma international News correspondent Kurt Buckerfield. The gents discuss whether or not Arsenal FC ‘bottled’ winning the title and share their thoughts on Manchester United’s season. Roberts speaks on who he thinks, between Harry Kane and Erling Haaland is more fierce and Kurt discussed Erik ten Hag’s rejection from the EPL Manager of the season www.soccerladuma.co.za
Mamelodi Sundowns have born knocked out of the CAF Champions League, losing by goal difference to Moroccan giants Wydad AC. Masandawana failed to score away from home and then let 2 goals slip on home soil. One of the goals which Ronwen Williams conceded came from one of his teammates, Mothobi Mvala, thus being declared an own goal. Downs head coach, Rhulani Mokwena, insists that he is not upset with Mvala and has given the defender his full support. With Sundowns exiting yet another cup, they have now only claimed victory on local shores, having won the PSL with 7 games to spare. Given the magnitude of this title, this is nothing to look down upon, but when you consider the set expectations, have Sundowns had a successful season? Missing out on the Nedbank Cup, and now the CAF Champions League, Mzansi speaks about Sundowns’ season and question whether or not it can be deemed successful.
Marumo Gallants have been more than impressive in the 2022/23 CAF Confederations Cup. They have taken points from some of Africa’s biggest clubs, in their hunt for Silverware. Gallants showed true honour and valour throughout the tournament and were ultimately knocked out by Tanzanian outfit Young Africans. Losing 4-1 on aggregate, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa can pat themselves on the back for what they have achieved. Contrary to this, Gallants have officially been relegated from South Africa’s top-flight league, the Dstv premiership. Gallants have been far less impressive on the local stage. Accumulating 29 points from 30 games, less than a point a match. Gallants have suffered in the PSL and will soon be plying their trade in the lower division. Speaking on the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi suggests Gallants will struggle to get back into the Dstv premiership, given the competitiveness of the National First Division (NFD). “Look at Cape Town Spurs, how long have they been there for?” Said one fan.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Mamelodi Sundowns’ unfortunate exit from the Car Champions League. Masandawana lost to Moroccan giants Wydad AC on goal difference. Marumo Gallants have officially been relegated from the Dstv Premiership and the fans have discussed their chances of returning to South Africa’s top-flight. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bayern Munich are currently finding themselves in an unwavering position which sees them on the brink of losing out to their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title, this time to their fierce rivals, Borrusia Dortmund. Bayern were recently given a hard time by RB Leipzig which resulted in a 3-1 loss. It is no secret that Bayern Munich is struggling, and reports coming out of the capital city suggest that changes, starting from the top, could be the only possible solution would be a complete overhaul, starting from the top. This implies that the porting director, owner, and head coach Thomas Tuchel should be put under a microscope to investigate what the issues are.
As it stands, Thomas Tuchel currently had the work of pressure on his shoulders, considering he has played a role in Bayern’s exits from the UEFA Champions League, DFB Pokal (German Cup), and potentially, the Bundesliga itself. Tuchel inherited a troubled locker room, which current Bayern Munich defender Matthijs De Ligt has called ‘a graveyard.’ De Ligt describes the locker room, comparing it to the Titanic hitting the iceberg. This surely shows where the issues are originating from.
At the same time, Borussia Dortmund are on the verge of claiming their first title in over a decade and they can do this, by claiming maximum points when they welcome Mainz to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday 27 May. Dortmund has had a phenomenal season, albeit overrun with silly errors and common mistakes. The team from North Rhine-Westphalia will be salivating to grasp the title, but the pressure is mounting as the title is theirs to lose.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the pot of pressure in which Bayern Munich are finding themselves in. With rumours of players and coaches leaving, Bayern is not looking too good. Borussia Dortmund have a chance to claim Bundesliga glory for the first time in over a decade when they face off against Mainz at Signal Iduna Park.
The International News Desk is a SL Podcast exclusive which sees former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts pick the brain fo Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield. The guys talk all things International football from league to country! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs have lost yet another game, making them winless in 4 matches. Their most recent loss, came at the hands of former Kaizer Chiefs Coach Gavin Hunt; as he and his SuperSport United downed Chiefs 1-0 when they met on Saturday 13 May at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace. Khosi Nation is seemingly losing patience with the former Chiefs player-turned coach and the actions shown by a handful of radical supporters bring light to this. Zwane was subjected to an attack by Chiefs fans, having bottles and other objects thrown at him when he was leaving the technical area. Zwane suffered minor injuries, but it would appear as though these fans might suffer major consequences. Acts of hooliganism and anarchy have no place in the sport, let alone our stadiums which is why this incident brings heavy emotions to Mzansi.
The frustration that Khosi Nation is going through is justified and understandable, but the actions are not. Chiefs are trophy-less in 8 years, and they are going to finish yet another season without any silverware since their departure from the Nedbank, at the hands of their noisy neighbours Orlando Pirates. Many fans are suggesting the ‘hooligans’ at fault, need to be prosecuted for their actions.
During this past week, Kaizer Chiefs management have been quoted saying that they will review Wane’s performance come season end, to see if the technical team needs a beef up. Many fans have agreed with this ideology and suggest that Zwane should be demoted to assistant coach, or even a youth coach to gain the invaluable experience needed to coach a team, with a history as big as Chiefs. Mzansi is hoping for a well-versed coach to take the reigns off of Wane’s hands, hoping trophies are going to be around the corner.
What occurred at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace has since brought on a scare for the club, recently announcing stricter safety protocols for Chiefs match against Cape Town City on Saturday 20 May. Stadium Management hanging director has said that the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) will be on duty in full force come Saturday, as well as security, to be ready for whatever these hooligans are potentially planning.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, PSL fans share their thoughts on the incident which transpired after Chiefs lost to SuperSport United. They share their thoughts on whether or not Arthur Zwane is the right man for the job and suggest that acts of this nature, concurrent with anarchy and hooliganism should not be tolerated! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The Bundesliga is officially heading into the business end of the season, with more at stake now, than ever before. Borussia Dortmund trail first placed Bayern by a mere point, which seems like it came from the recent stalemate with 'Der Klassiker.' Union Berlin is in cruise control occupying the third spot, with RB Leipzig and Freiburg making up the fourth, and fifth spots respectively. As it stands, statistically no other team in the league can creep into the top 5. It is very tight at the top, ‘’tight like a can of sardines’ says Kres Harrington on the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection. Bayern will be aiming to protect what historically is theirs. Considering that the Bavarian giants have been booted out of all knockout competitions, they will be doing everything in their power to secure an 11th straight league title. They showed that they mean business this past weekend when they put 6 goals past Schalke. Thomas Touched praised his team after the match but also suggested to not get carried away with the euphoria at hand. Dortmund are itching to reclaim the title, and they showed their fighting straight, beating Borrusia Monchengladbach 5-2.
Match-day 33 brings with it battles like no other, RB Leipzig will be looking to hold down Bayern Munich once again, and with Dortmund traveling to the WWK Arena, they will be hoping to claim all 3 points against Augsburg. Bayern is aware of the strengths behind Marco Rose and his team; they will also be aware of the magnitude of this match and how important it is to clinch the 3 points at stake. Historically, the Bundesliga is most exciting towards the end of the season and with the relegation spots constantly changing, this season is no different!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the league standings from top to bottom. Kres explains what is at stake for the top 5 teams, and suggests the bottom half of the table will change without question. Kres speaks about the UEFA Europa League semi-final and suggests only a handful of teams stand a chance to snatch European football next season.
Lionel Messi's future has been up in the air in recent weeks with the latest reports suggesting that the 2022 Qatar World Cup winner could be heading to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Hilal. The reports claim Messi would earn around €400 million per season during his time. However, similar to the recent 'fake' Ronaldo news, this headline follows suit. Jorge Messi, father to Lionel, has publically said that nothing is confirmed regarding his son's future. "We will only discuss a move at the end of the season," says Jorge. Paris Saint-Germaine fans are understandably upset with the 35-year-old, as his performance has been underwhelming since joining the Parisian outfit. The fans are hoping Messi will leave the club at the end of the season, and Messi shares the sentiment. Lionel and Barcelona have been itching for a reunion ever since he was let go by the Catalonian giants in the summer of 2021.
The UEFA Champions League semi-finals kicked off on Tuesday night which saw Manchester City travel to the Santiago Bernabéu to face off against a deadly Real Madrid outfit. Pep Guardiola and his team have been in great form domestically, and in Europe, so far this season, with the current EPL title holders looking to have their name etched onto the piece of silverware, ahead of 14 times winners Real Madrid. with a scoreline of 1-1, both teams will have it all to play for when the next meet on Wednesday 17 May. The second semi-final saw both clubs from Milan go head to head. The Derby della Madonnina, saw Inter Milan cruise past their fierce rivals AC Milan, winning that match 2-0.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts discusses the UEFA Champions League semi-final results with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield. The gents say farewell to a Barcelona great and break down the squashed 'Messi to Saudi Arabia’ rumors! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kazier Chiefs are to once again finish a season without tasting silverware. For 8 consecutive seasons, Kaizer Chiefs have struggled to write their name on a trophy and the fans are understandably upset. Having a multitude of coaches and opportunities during this time, they still can't seem to claim a title. Something isn't going according to plan and the fans fear the worst when speaking on the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show. One fan suggests it might be a few more years until the Glamour Boys reach success. Amakhosi are currently coached by a legend of the club, Arthur Zwane but unfortunately, his coaching style isn't clicking with the football fraternity. Zwane favours younger stars in bigger games, but many suggest he should be mixing things up with youngsters and veterans. Another fan says "Coach Arthur Zwane is good, the problem is choosing younger stars over experienced players, there are games He needs to rest younger stars and use his experienced players."
After Chiefs lost on Penalties to their noisy neighbours Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup semi-final, Zwane publicly stated that his tenure with the club has been better than his predecessors (Ernst Middendorp, Gavin Hunt, and Stuart Baxter). Many fans speaking on the Fan Reaction Show disagree with this statement and suggest that Zwane has bitten off more than he can chew. "He needs support. He must be assistant and Chiefs must bring in an experienced coach."
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Arthur Zwane's post-match comment after he and Kaizer Chiefs were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup Semi-final at the hands of Orlando Pirates. Mzansi predicts who will win the Nedbank Cup Final between the Buccaneers and Sekhukhune United. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Sadio Mane has not been at his best since he joined Bayern Munich from Liverpool in June 2022 and his recent performance against Hertha Berlin is a perfect example of this. After Bayern’s match against Hertha Berlin, head coach Thomas Tuchel publicly criticised the current African footballer of the year suggesting his first half was sloppy with many technical errors committed. This would have brought Mane’s confidence down even more, which could suggest an opportunity for him to leave the Bavarian giants and perhaps return to the Premier League, where he is known for lighting up the stage. The Bundesliga is not an easy league to perform in, and considering the Senegalese superstar has been riddled with injuries, involved in a dust-up with teammate Leroy Sane and of course has had a few personal struggles off the pitch, the form he is in makes sense. It is important to remember that Thomas Tuchel is not only critical of Mane, but he is with other players too. Tuchel has been benching Thomas Muller for reasons unknown and this has only proved one thing; no matter how much money gets poured into a coach, their futures are never certain
Bayern Munich now only have 1 goal in mind and that is to win the league, claiming their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title, and with Borussia Dortmund being known for throwing away golden opportunities, the Bavarian giants will value their chances of this incredible feat. The next match day sees Bayern have a somewhat easier fixture than Dortmund, as they face off against Schalke who have their feet in the fire of relegation. Dortmund will welcome Borssuia Monchengladbach to the Signal Iduna Park, who are sitting in 10th position.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington dives deep into the continued Sadio Mane sage which has recently seen Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel publicly critic the Senegalese superstar. Kres looks forward to the UEFA Europa League matchup between Bayer Leverkusen and Jose’ Mourinho’s Roma and also looks at the title race in the Bundesliga.
The 2022/23 Dstv Premiership title race is well and truly over, but we have an exciting race for second place on our hands. Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, and Kaizer Chiefs are battling it out to become the second team to represent South Africa in the CAF Champions League. 6 points operate second place Pirates and fourth-placed Chiefs. Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United make up third place with 48 points. When speaking on the Fan Reaction Show, one fan suggests that SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs are making things easy for Pirates with their disappointing results. Pirates will have it all to play for to join Sundowns.
South Africa is home to one of the most magnificent stadiums on the continent, Soccer City. Also known as the FND stadium, many are concerned about the attendance that this stadium sees. With a capacity of over 94 000 (ninety-four thousand), we rarely see a sold-out stadium, unless the Soweto Derby is being played, or if Mamelodi Sundowns are in town to face off against Chiefs or Pirates. One fan thinks it’s because of the size, and when you are the number of tickets sold and place those fans in a smaller stadium, the turnout is actually really good.
When Royal AM traveled to Soweto to face Orlando Pirates, die-hard soccer Fan Mam Joy was denied entry into the match with many suggesting it was because she changed allegiance. Mama Joy was a Pirates fan through and through, but recently made the switch to Royal AM. Videos surfacing on social media suggest her right of entry, with the ticket she purchased, was denied in a calm matter. But the fact remains. Mama Joy eventually goes into the stadium, 57 minutes after kickoff. One cannot forget that this has happened before. It started with Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, then TS Galaxy Chairman Tim Sukazi, and now Mama Joy. Is it time that the PSL and SAFA step in to intervene to stop this barbaric behaviour?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi expresses their opinion on whether or not Orlando Pirates can qualify for the CAF Champions League and claim the second spot on the Dstv Premiership table. The fans discuss the troubling issues of the Soweto Stadium sitting empty during matches and also share their thoughts on Mama Joy being denied entry into the stadium for the Orlando Pirates vs Royal AM match. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
In perhaps the biggest story coming out of the International world of football, Lionel Messi has been suspended by Paris Saint-Germain(PSG) after the Argentine disobeyed club orders and by missing a training session. PSG recently lost 3-1 to Lorient in the Ligue 1 with the Parisians going down to 10 men. PSG head coach, Christophe Galtier insisted that should his team win, they could take 2 days off, but if they were to lose, Messi and Co would only be allowed a single day off. Rumour has it, that Messi had arranged a trip to Saudi Arabia before the fixture against Lorient and even asked for a special exception; which was denied. Galtier and the PSG board have knuckled down on Messi and suspended the World-Cup winner for 2 weeks. This looks to be a power move with the idea of showing the world that they are in control, but in fact, it could not be farther from the truth. It would appear as though Messi is set on leaving the 10-ten Ligue 1 champions with his heart set on Barcelona, for what will surely be dubbed 'the last dance.'
Erling Haaland has stormed onto the English scene and has now broken the record for the most goals scored in the English top flight. The 22-year-old netted his 35th goal on Wednesday night against West Hm, which sees him overtake the likes of Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. Haaland has already accumulated over 50 goals in the 2022/23 season (in all competitions) and with a potential 9 games for the Citizens remaining, he could very well net a handful more. Manchester City has a few tough fixtures coming up; two UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-finals against Real Madrid and the FA Cup Final against local rivals Manchester City. Pep Guardiola would prefer for Haaland to be well-rested and fit for these fixtures, which might see the Norwegian striker being rested for a few games in between.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent, Kurt Buckerfield about Lionel Messi's off-field antics which have come with severe consequences. Die-Hard City Fan Sean Roberts celebrates Erling Haaland's record-breaking strike and the gents also discuss some false rumours about Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Al Nassr! www.soccerladuma.co.za
When Lyle Foster was released by Orlando Pirates to Monaco in 2019, not many would have predicted the path he traveled. The 22-year-old made a few appearances for the french outfit before being sent out on loan to Cercle Brugge. From there, Foster bounced around Europe until he settled in Belgium where he starred for Westerloo. Foster was showing the world what he was capable of and all of the hard work paid off when Burnley FC broke the bank to acquire the striker's signature. Burnley was on the verge of promotion to the English Premier League, but nothing was certain. Foster help Vincent Kompany's men to promotion and from the 2023/24 EPL season, South Africa will be represented in England once again.
The fact that Foster will be the only South African in the league poses a dark question; why will he be the only South African to feature in the EPL? Many experts in South Africa suggest that we have more than enough talent and Mzansi tends to agree. So where is it all going wrong? Thomas 'TK' Kwenaite suggests that local clubs are receiving interest from Europe, but then exorbitant price tags get discussed which in succession, turn the European clubs away; ultimately ruining a chance of a lifetime for these talented players.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, Thomas Kwenaite discuss Lyle Foster's move to Burnely and the club's promotion to Englands top flight With Sean Roberts. The gents discuss the troubling fact of a lack of local talent in European football leagues. Soccer Laduma Radio
Historically speaking, Kaizer Chiefs have cemented themselves to be one of the biggest clubs in the country, perhaps even the continent. Their ever-growing fan base and support clubs flock to the stadiums to watch their team perform. But in recent years, including the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season, the glamour boys seem to be missing their killer instincts. Poor decision-making, soft goals, and silly mistakes are the reasons behind their poor run of form which, unfortunately, doesn't look like it is coming to an end. Kaizer Chiefs have now dropped yet another 3 points to Sekhukhune United, who beat Chiefs for the second time this season and now, Chiefs find themselves sitting in 4 position on the log.
A top 4 might finish not seem so bad, because they will qualify to compete in the Nedbank Cup, but Chiefs have also been known to play CAF football. As it stands, the Glamours boys are 5 points behind their Soweto Rivals Orlando Pirates and the chances of them making it to a CAF competition are looking slimmer than ever. Mzansi and Khosi Nation have expressed their opinions on this matter, with some fans suggesting that Kaizer Chiefs are not who they used to be and that they haven't a single chance to qualify for continental football.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation expresses their concerns about Kaizer Chiefs' performance this season and suggests that the CAF Champions League, and the CAF Confederations Cup, is too far out of reach for the Glamour Boys. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bayern Munich has lost yet another match under the guidance of Thomas Tichel and the fans are getting anxious and annoyed. With the Bavarian giants winning only 1 match during April, being Der Klassiker, Tuchel’s tenure has been questionable, to say the least, and questions need to be asked, not only about Thomas Tuchel but also about senior management higher up. With the likes of Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic playing a massive role in the club's downfall, why are these gentlemen still running the show? It all starts with the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann being poorly explained and ends with Bayern’s poor run of form during April. Something is going wrong within the club, but perhaps these issues stem from authority and not the players.
Bayern Munich suffered this loss to Mainz, who is Thomas Tuchel’s former club, which saw the Bavarian giants have a great first half, After the break, they became lackluster and uninspired to get the victory. Bayern’s ‘Iron Man,’ Joshua Kimmich had circles run around him and the lack of urgency saw Mainz claim all 3 points. At the same time, Borrusia Dortmund proved to be too strong for Eintracht Frankfurt. A brace from Male and a slick turn and shot from Dortmund star Jude Bellingham saw Frankfurt go down. Dortmund is now leading the league table by slender margins but looking at their run of fixtures, the club should claim maximum points.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington claims the Bayern Munich dynasty is coming to an end. Kres speaks on Borrusia Dortmund’s title hopes and the challenges they face and touches on the Sadio Mane saga!
Cristiano Ronaldo has never been shy of intimidating fans, coaches, or even colleagues, but it would appear as though his recent antics have gotten him in hot water. After Al Nassr lost to Saudi Pro-League team Al Hilal, opposition fans were chanting Messi's name as the Portuguese superstar was leaving the field. Amidst this, CR7 was seen grabbing his genitals, in what would at first glance appear, an action directed at the fans. Many have now called for Ronaldo to be deported from Saudi Arabia and a top lawyer has now filed a complaint. Al Nassr was very quick in suggesting that Ronaldo was dealing with an injury in an unsavory area, which is why he was caught clutching his groin area. As it stands, it does not appear as if this issue will be escalated.
Rumour has it, is that Lionel Messi has provisionally reinstated his kids in a school in Barcelona, amidst a possible return back to the Catalan giants. Messi's contract with his current team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is coming to an end and Barcelona is publically expressing its interest. La Liga president Javier Tebas has explained that should Barcelona manage to sort out its financial situation and 'fix the books,' Messi's return will be possible. The issue Barce faces is that they would have to get rid of young, generational talent to 'make way' for a 35-year-old player. We all agree that Messi is one of the greatest of all time, but plans for the future need to be made. This move would bring the masses back to Barcelona with a level of excitement unmatched.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about Lionel Messi's possible return to Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo's 'inappropriate gesture' to Saudi fans and the disastrous effort by Manchester United. The gents also break down the UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixtures and discuss the possible outcome of this season's UCL winner! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Mamelodi Sundowns shockingly exited the 2023 Nedbank Cup thanks to Stellenbosch FC's Iqraam Rayners. The 27-year-old netted a well-deserved brace in 9 minutes against Masandawana. This match ended in the students' favour, 2-1. Downs have now 'dropped' points in their last 4 games and questions of complacency have been asked. Since the Brazilians claimed their 6 consecutive DStv Premiership titles, they haven't looked the same; not being able to score against 10 men, drawing to mid-table teams, what is going on? Many fans think that Sundowns have bigger fish to fry and have set their focus on the CAF Champions League.
Orlando Pirates progressed to the semi-finals when they beat ABC Motsepe League outfit Dondal Stars FC via penalties. Not the most convincing of victories, but it has to be said that Dondal Stars fought to the death. Not only did they force the Bucs to penalties, but they also marched through this cup competition valiantly, beating AmaZulu and Supersport United. The future of this team is looking bright.
With the semi-final draw already decided, we have yet another Soweto Derby to look forward to. Orlando Pirates have been drawn against Kaizer Chiefs with more than bragging rights to play for. Chiefs have beaten the Buccaneers in the last 5 meetings with the hopes of making it 6/6. Pirates will be looking to break this trend, whereas Chiefs will be licking their lips with the chance to get their hands on Silverware for the first time in 8 years
The 2023 Nedbank Cup is coming to an end with only 4 teams left. This competition has arguably been one of the most exciting thus far with shocking results, surprises, and underdog stories. Who is going to emerge victorious?
On the latest episode of Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Mamelodi Sundowns' shocking exited at the hands of Stellenbosch FC with many thinking Masandawana is focusing on CAF. Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will face off in the semi-finals with the Buccaneers hoping to get a Soweto Derby Victory and bragging rights. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bayern Munich, as a club, seems to be in complete turmoil after the incident which unfolded after their humiliating loss to Manchester City when they traveled to the Etihad for their UEFA Champions League for their first Quarter-final leg. Manchester City was dominant from the get-go, and ultimately, put 3 past the Bavarian giants. After the match, in the locker room, tempers were flaring which saw an argument between Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane break out, with the Senegalese superstar throwing a punch toward Sane. This caused the German’s lip to split, and blood was drawn. A shocking event from the least-likely player. Sadio Mane has since been fined over €300 thousand and was benched during Bayern’s match against Hoffenheim. The latest reports out of Munich suggest that the club wants to see Sadio Mane out during the summer transfer window. This could be because of 2 things; the fact that Leroy Sane is German and due to the fact of the long-term plan that Sane has been involved in. It also goes without saying that physical aggression within the German culture does not sit well. Sadio Mane is clearly frustrated due to a lack of playing time and personal losses, but this still doesn’t justify his actions.
Regardless of this dispute, and the 3-goal deficit, Manchester City has coach Pep Guardiola has publicly admitted that this ‘fight’ will fire up Bayern even more for a chance at redemption when the two footballing giants face off against each other, in Munich for leg number 2. A 3-goal deficit is never an easy task to overcome, but Guardiola is worried and will have to make sure that his Citizens do not become complacent. Looking at history, this is few and far between, and not many are giving Bayern a chance. Momentum-wise, they didn’t do anything to help themselves out by dropping points in the league, missing the chance to go 4 points clear at the top, Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel mentioned that during this 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim, there were only a handful of decent minutes played by Bayern.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert break down the issues which transpired in the Bayern Munich locker room after their humiliating defeat to Manchester City. Kres Also provides an in-depth analysis of the second leg of their UCL tie. Borussia Dortmund dropped points in the league and Hertha Berlin has made some managerial changes!
Grant Margeman is very quickly becoming a household name in the PSL where he is currently on loan at Supersport United. Grant began his career at Ajax Cape Town where he found his footing in South African football. After a few years in the Mother City, DStv Premiership giants, Mamelodi Sundowns came knocking and signed the Cape Town-born player. Grant has been on loan for years, where he has grown into a deadly midfielder, with credible dribbling and an eye for defence-splitting passing. His current loan deal with Matsanatsana is on a 1-year deal, with an option to extend for an extra 12 months, should Supersport want to keep the player. Margeman is at the point in his career where game time is a top priority and acquiring minutes is a must. He is a regular starter under Gavin Hunt and his performances have backed this up.
Grant was a part of Mamelodi Sundowns' 2020/21 PSL winning team and even though he tasted DStv victory, he states that a part of him wishes he was able to contribute more. Grant speaks further on Mamelodi Sundowns and explains that because of the structure at the club and the way everything is run, their dominance, squad depth, and talent pool are big reasons for Masandawana's dominance in recent years.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, Supersport United midfielder Grant Margeman talks about his journey in football thus far. Grant discusses Sundowns' dominance in recent years and explains what he thinks is needed to bring the PSL onto an even Playing field. The 24-year-old sheds some light on the current state of the PSL and provides ideas for clubs to incentivise fans to attend matches. Soccer Laduma Radio
European football, in all its glory, returned this week with mouth-watering matches promising to bring excitement. Real Madrid walked over Frank Lampard's Chelsea and AC Milan proved too strong for Napoli. Perhaps the most exciting matchup this week was Manchester City verse Bayern Munich; the citizens have been in red-hot form this season. The Bavarian giants, who have gone through some intense managerial changes of late, traveled to the Etihad with the hope to bury the Citizens' title hopes. This was not how the match turned out as Manchester City put 3 goals past the visitors. After the match, Bayern Munich teammates Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane were involved in a 'bust-up' in the changing room. Reports suggest that Sane was visibly upset with Sane for a poor charging run he made during the match. Allegedly, Sane blurted a racial slur at Mane in the changing room which caused the Senegalese superstar to lash out and punch his teammate (Sane) in the face. This caused a bloodied lip. Mane is currently going through his own personal struggles which without a doubt, caused this extremely uncharacteristic outburst. Mane is set to be fined half a million Euros (R1 Billion) and will serve a 1-match ban.
Christian Ronaldo showed his presence this week when (now) former Al Nassr head coach, Rudi Garcia was sacked with immediate effect. Reports suggest that the 5-time Ballon d'Or winner was unhappy with the coach and the club has to agree with him, given that he alone contributes to over half of the club's wage bill. Some will suggest that this is the exact reason why his contract with Manchester United was terminated and others will say he has a right to influence these types of decisions.
On the latest episode of the International News Des, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts speaks with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about the 'punching match' which occurred between Bayern Munich teammates Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane after their humiliating 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. The gents also spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo's influence in the sacking of former Al Nassr head coach, Rudi Garcia! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs in recent years have not lived up to the standards that Mzansi knows. The glamour boys last tasted silverware during the 2014/15 season when they won the DStv Premiership title. Chiefs, historically, are one of the biggest clubs on the continent, but there have been many challenges that have proven difficult to overcome. With managerial changes, lacking funds, and players not living up to their standards, Chiefs currently find themselves in 4th position on the log, a staggering 20 points behind crowned champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Looking at the statistics, Chiefs have scored the majority of their goals within the first quarter of the match, but then they allow silly mistakes and schoolboy errors to prevent them from claiming all 3 points. This is something that isn't only seen by Mzansi, in fact, Amakhosi defender Siyabonga Ngezana recently stated that the team has been its own worst enemy!
The Nedbank Cup returns to our screens this weekend with some mouthwatering fixtures taking place. The current top 4 teams in the PSL (Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Supersport United, and Kaizer Chiefs) are all taking place with Royal AM, Sekhukhune United, Dondal Stars, and Chippa United making up the other 4 teams. Chiefs will be looking to progress to get their hands on silverware, Sundowns will hope to continue their local dominance and Dondal Stars will be wanting to cause a severe upset when they face off against Orlando Pirates.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has reacted to Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana's statement and also predicted what they think will occur during the quarter-final fixtures of the Nedbank Cup! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Chelsea FC has not had the most ideal season since they changed ownership. American business mogul Todd Boehly has pumped millions of pounds into bringing in players, who quite frankly, have been less than impressive. The likes of Enzo Fernandez, and Mykhailo Mudryk, to name a few, make up a net spend of close to £500 million spent since Boehly took over. The club has also gone through managerial changes like nobody's business. Sacking both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter within 7 months of each other goes to show that the issues at the club could very well be coming from above. Will Chelsea be able to turn their season around and how will they bounce back?
With the English Premier League heading into the business end of the season, the 2022/23 campaign is looking to be the most exciting yet. The battle for European football sees more than a handful of teams with many that have taken the world by surprise. Newcastle currently finds themselves in 3rd spot, with Brighton and Aston Villa making up spots 6 and 7. Liverpool is having a season to forget as the Reds see themselves in the 8th spot. Arsenal is edging ever closer to EPL glory but one cannot forget about Manchester City and the threat they could prove to be. There are also close to 10 teams, who can mathematically be relegated as there is only a 7-point difference between 20th-place Southhampton and 12th-placed Crystal Palace. The last 10 games of the 2022/23 English Premier League will be of vital importance for all teams!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday goalie Sean Roberts joins Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the remaining games of the 2022/23 EPL. The gents dive into the battle for glory and speak on the relegation battle that is currently unfolding. Sean and Kurt discuss the managerial vacancy which has opened up at Chelsea Fc which could see a surprise caretaker coach take over after Graham Potter was recently sacked. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bayern Munich regained the top spot in the table after a 4-2 victory over fierce rivals, Borrusia Dortmund, Bayern now leads the standings by a mere 2 points, with the likes of Dortmund, and Union Berlin applying the pressure. With only 4 points sporting the top 3 teams, Bayern will need to stay focused to win yet another league title.
The Bavarian giants welcomed Borrusia Dortmund to the Allianz Arena in what is known as 'De Klassiker.' Bayern recently sacked Julian Nagelsmann and employed former Dortmund coach, Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel was looking to hit the ground running and he did just that. A convincing 4-2 victory over his former club but Dortmund do have themselves to blame. The first goal from Bayern came as a gift when Dortmund goalie Gregor Kobel swiped and missed the ball, allowing it to roll into the back of the net. Questions were asked about Gregor’s selection, as the Swiss International recently returned from injury and then was put straight back into the first team. This error shifted the tide and Bayern Went on to dominate.
As mentioned, this was Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge for Bayern which is slowly becoming a daunting task. Tuchel inherited a divided locker room which is never a good thing for a coach. Bayern left back, Ben Pavard, dedicated this victory to Julian Nagelsmann which just goes to show the animosity among the players. Tuchel has an incredibly difficult job at hand and considering how ruthless Bayern Munich can be towards coaches, he needs to keep on his toes.
Bayern Munich will slowly start to feel the pressure with all of the matches coming their way. The Bundesliga record holders are facing Freiburg in the German Cup and Manchester City in the UEFA Champion league, at what point will the fatigue come into play?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge and the magnitude of the role he has been handed. Kres Also speaks about the remainder of Bayern’s season and how they need to stay focused and calm if they want to claim silverware. Kres speaks about the German Cup draw which has some interesting fixtures.
Mamelodi Sundowns had a league bye this weekend, but that didn't stop them from winning yet another DStv Premiership League title. Sundowns were playing in the CAF Champions League, but were relying on Chippa United to prevent SuperSport United from beating them. The Chilli Boys are 'owed one' by Sundowns, as they held Supersport to a draw. This is Sundowns' 13th title overall and it is very evident that they are the dominant force in South Africa. Many fans have questioned the legitimacy of Sundown's business antics and cries for the PSL to introduce a form of financial fair play ruling system are still being unheard. Sundowns' dominance poses the burning question; Is the PSL becoming a boring league?
Stellenbosch Fc was reduced to 10 men against Kaizer Chiefs in the 16th minute when goalie Sage Shane Stephens handled the ball outside the box. Not too long after this red card, Kaizer Chiefs were awarded a penalty which Keegan Dolly calmly put away. The Glamour boys emerged victorious but to the utter disgust of Stellies coach Steve Barker. Barker went on to criticise the officiating after this match as he questioned Chiefs' red card and penalty record.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show. Mzansi has reacted to Mamelodi Sundowns winning their 6th consecutive DStv Premiership after Supersport United failed to Beat Chippa. Mzansi also has a say on Kaizer Chiefs' victory over Stellenbosch FC where coach Steve Barker criticised the officials for their poor decisions! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The International break is officially over and the domestic leagues return this weekend. During the break, Lionel Messi claimed his one-hundredth international goal for Argentina which sees the little magician become only the third player to reach this milestone. During this International break, the head coach of Portugal, Roberto Martinez included Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad which saw the Portuguese superstar bag 4 goals in 2 games, albeit against very weak opposition. CR7's inclusion has raised some eyebrows with reports and fans around the world suggesting the 38-year-old is 'washed' and past his sell-by date. Fans are calling for Ronaldo to be dropped to allow younger talent to come through the ranks.
French coach Didier Deschamps announced that 24-year-old Kylian Mbappe would take over the captaincy of the national team, which has ruffled a few feathers. Many players, and fans worldwide have questioned this decision but given the track record of Mbappe, there is a clear plan for the future. Having played in 2 World Cups (2018 Winner), Mbappe is going t be breaking records for years to come and Deschamps has made it clear that Mbappe will be around.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Cristiano Ronaldo's international future is in question and a debate on whether or not he is 'washed' is taking place. Lionel Messi claims 100 International goals and questions about Kylian Mbappe's French captaincy are asked. Domestic leagues return which sees the English Premier League title race heating up! www.soccerladuma.co.za
The Fan Reaction show features your voice! The SL Podcast's fans comment on games, signings and all the happenings in Mzansi Football.
This is the show where we give a voice to the fans and allow them the platform to express their opinions on big games and breaking news. Fans send their thoughts to us through voice notes and Facebook comments, and always bring the banter! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
In a shocking turn of events, Bayern Munich recently parted ways with Nagelsmann, terminating his contract with immediate effect.
Since he joined the Bavarian giants, the German-born coach oversaw 84 games, winning 60 of them and only losing on just 10 occasions. Averaging 2.31 points per match, it is no wonder why his departure came as a surprise. According to reports, the 35-year-old 'lost the locker room', which could be because of one of two reasons for his departure. The first reason is rumoured to be due to his tactical analysis being leaked, which reportedly caused a drop in morale in the dressing room. The other reason stems from Nagelsmann’s personal life. He has allegedly left his wife and is now dating a journalist. Both reasons will cause more than enough damage in the locker room.
Bayern have already hired former Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel as his replacement after the German parted ways with Chelsea early into this season. The former Paris Saint-Germain, BVB, and Blues coach has a known track record of butting heads with senior management, but, as the old saying goes, class is permanent, which is why the Bundesliga champions have moved swiftly in appointing the 49-year-old, whose first match in charge will be against his former side this coming weekend.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down Julian Nagelsmann's sacking from Bayern Munich and the possible appointment of former Borrusia Dortmund and Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel. Kres also speaks about Germany's performance thus far under the guidance of Hansi Flick and what ‘Die Mannschaft’ has in store for the 2024 European Championship.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced his 23-man squad who will face off against Liberia in back-to-back AFCOn qualifier matches. Broos has to include some household names but has also extended wonderful opportunities to some new faces. Broos and his squad have it all to play for as failure to beat Liberia, will most likely result in another AFCON which won't feature Bafana.
The PSL season is heading toward the business end and it is no secret that Mamelodi Sundowns have all but claimed the trophy. The race now is for the second position. Only 2 points separate second-placed SuperSport United (39 Points )and fourth-placed Kaizer Chiefs (37 points). Orlando Pirates sit in third position (37) with only goals against the difference. Considering Sundowns are untouchable, who will join Masandawana in the CAF Champions League?
This past weekend, Dejan 'Malaga' Miladinovic was laid to rest after his shock passing. Football fans from far and wide, football communities, and supporters clubs all joined together and showed their love and offered condolences for the Serbian-born Bucs fan.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi continues to show love for Dejan 'Malaga' Miladinovic after his shocking passing. Supporters react to Hugo Broos' 23-man squad announcement and offer their thoughts on who will finish 2nd in the DStv Premiership, joining Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
This past week saw Bayern Munich receive a shocking defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen. The Bavarian giants were subjected to a 2-1 defeat, thanks to penalty goals by Exequiel Palacios. Both penalties were awarded after Amine Aldi's simulation-infused yellow cards were overturned. Ultimately, this defeat is going to be blamed on the mole incident the Bavarian giants were facing. Prior to kick-off, Bayern Munich's tactical plans, formations, and team info were leaked to the media and without a doubt, former Bayern star Xabi Alonso studied these which could have potentially assisted in the victory. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had no complaints about the penalties, but there is something bigger on the table to focus on - the mole.
Borrusia Dortmund shot up to the first position in the standings after they dominated FC Köln 6-1 with 2 players scoring braces. Sebastien Haller netted 2 goals as well as captain fantastic, Marco Rues. In doing so, Reus became the clubs leading all-time goalscoring and even hinted at signing a new deal with the club. Bearing in mind that Dortmund is coming off an ejection from the UEFA Champions League, a performance such as this was hugely important for the morale of the team. Once the Bundesliga returns, Borrusia Dortmund will face off against Bayern Munich, in what will almost certainly be a title-deciding match.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down Bayer Munich's shocking defeat to Bater Leverkusen which saw Amine Aldi awarded 2 penalties which were both given after the diving simulation was reversed. Kres Also speaks about the UEFA Champions League quarter finals draw which sees Bayern Munich Face off against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City
VAR has been implemented in leagues around the world and a love-hate relationship has sprouted. The footballing world is split, with many suggesting that the VAR is killing the game whilst the other half argues that introducing technology will only better the game. Even though CAR is indeed technology, it is run by humans which in turn, brings with it human error. 'Schoolboy' mistakes are still being made with much to learn from.
Morocco is one of the only African countries with VAR in their local leagues and so far, it seems to be going according to plan. This now poses the question, of how and when will SAFA and the PSL come to terms with each other and agree on implementing VAR in the PSL. We have seen some shocking decisions being made in recent weeks, goals being ruled offside and cards not being shown. This is a worry to the side of the footballing world who suggests that VAR will only better the quality of officiating.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, renowned football journalist Thomas 'TK' Kwenaite sits down with Sean Roberts to discuss the pros and cons of the implementation of VAR in the PSL. The gents discuss the standard of officiating in South Africa and what needs to be done to rectify this ongoing issue. Soccer Laduma Radio
The CAF Champions League continues this weekend which sees Mamelodi Sundowns take on Al Hilal on Saturday 18 March. Sundowns will be going into this fixture with loads of confidence after they recently walked over Al Ahly 5-2. Masandawana proved their brilliance during this fixture after netting 3 goals within the first half! Mzansi has commented on Sundowns' performance, with one fan saying "Sundowns should replace Bafana Bafana." This is a clear testament to Rulani Mokwena's team and the now solo coach is hoping he can take Downs all the way.
On a more somber note, South African football has lost yet another icon of the game, this time a mega-fan. Serbian-born Dejan 'Malaga' Miladinovic sadly passed away and condolences have been pouring in for his family, and Orlando Pirates. Mzansi has shown unity with one another as we are all connected through football. "Malaga" was a fierce Bucs supporter who would regularly be seen behind the posts, leading the cheers of thousands of supporters.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi shares their thoughts on Mamelodi Sundowns' dominant performance over Al Ahly and offers their condolences to the friends and family of die-hard Pirates fan, Dejan 'Malaga' Miladinovic. SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Erling Haaland helped Manchester City progress to the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League after they beat Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig 7-0 on Tuesday night, ending the legs with an 8-1 aggregate. In the process, Haaland \had a 5-star performance which saw the 22-year-old net a staggering 5 goals, a feat only 2 players other have done before; Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano. Haaland got goal number 5 in the 57th minute, which means he now holds the record for the fastest 5-goal scored by a single player in the UCL. Manchester City proved to be too dominant for the traveling germans, with the citizens now in line to go all the way - a fete they have never done before.
Both teams from Milan also progress to the quarter-finals with Inter Milan beating Porto and AC Milan getting past Tottenham Hotspur. On Wednesday night, a mouth-watering clash takes place between Real Madrid and Liverpool, who sit with a 5-2 deficit to overcome. "If anyone can overcome a 5-2 aggregate, it's Liverpool," says Kurt Buckerfield when discussing the matter at hand. Los Blancos will be at home which makes this task even trickier for the team from Merseyside and the bookies reckon this result is in favour of the home team.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield Wednesday United goalkeeper Sean Roberts picks the brain of Soccer Laduma International News correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about the recent and upcoming UCL fixtures. The gents also speak about Manchester United's star signing Casemiro and his aggressive behaviour and what chances the Red Devils have to progress in the UEFA Europa League! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Bayern Munich has once again proven its European worth after knocking out a full-strength Paris Saint-Germain outfit from the UEFA Champions League. The Bavarians were able to win the first leg 1-0, and now the second leg 2-0. This may be exactly why Kylian Mbappe spoke out after the defeat and suggested that Bayern is built for the Champions League and PSG aren’t. Mbappe was restricted during these matches, he was unable to perform and defensively, Bayern shut the Frenchman down. Thomas Muller has suggested that Bayern always does well against teams with Lionel Messi, thinking back to his Barcelona days and how Bayern used to play around with the Catalonian outfit. Julian Nagelsmanns looks to have plans and Ideas waxed considering his goal was to hold Mbappe down, and his team pulled this off brilliantly. Mbappe was paralyzed on the pitch
Borussia Dortmund has potentially hit a speed bump - first in the UEFA Champions League where they have been booted out of the competition thanks to Kai Haverts, Raheem Sterling, and Chelsea FC. Kres Harrington discusses this and suggests that perhaps the English crowd got the better of the travelers. Dortmund then faced off against a relegation-battling team Schalke in the Bundesliga, which resulted in a 2-2 draw. Dortmund had the upper hand on 2 occasions, but by conceding goals after scoring, Dortmund was only able to secure a single point. Dortmund has a history of digging holes deeper, if history is to repeat itself, Dortmund’s season might be going downhill from here
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the chances of a handful of German sides and their run in European competition. Bayer Munich has solidified a cushion-like lead at the top of the Bundesliga table and Borrusia Dortmund has taken a slight turn for the worst after Chelsea booted them out of the UCL and Schalke held them to a draw. Kres debates whether or not Jude Bellingham will stay at Dortmund, or will the 19-year-old head to Real Madrid and play for Los Blancos!
The UEFA Champions League tends to be a competition that separates the strong from the weak. Giants of Europe face off against one another, with the best team emerging as the Champions of Europe. As the competition heads into the business end, the opponents only get tougher, and winning becomes more challenging. This proved to be the case when Bayern Munich and Paris-Saint Germaine were drawn to face each other. The Bavarian giants are no strangers to matches of this magnitude, and the team from Paris are strangers to the UCL trophy.
Over the 2 legs, Bayern showed their dominance and ultimately, ended PSG's hopes with a 3-0 aggregate. After the match, Kylian Mbappe spoke and mentioned that the team is not built for Champions League victory, whereas Bayern is. This is concerning for the Parisians and the Frenchman suggested that PSG is not good enough. Now that PSG is out of European competitions, questions surrounding Lionel Messi's and Kylian Mbappe's future are asked. What comes next for these two footballing greats?
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, questions about Messi's and Mbappe's future are asked. UEFA Champions League fixtures get reacted to with Europa league matches predicted. Manchester United's embarrassing defeat to Liverpool is discussed! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Manchester United suffered an embarrassing defeat to Liverpool at Anfield this past weekend. The red Devils had 7 goals put past them, with braces from Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, and a single goal by Roberto Firminho, enough to bury the team from Manchester. Reportedly, Eric ten Had has blasted his side for this poor performance and even kept the team behind in the dressing room to hear the Anfield faithful cheering, after the match! MZansi has reacted to this result
Closer to home, Orlando Pirates breezed past Moroka Swallows 3-1 thanks to the help of Monnapule Saleng and the hattrick he scored. Saleng has been in hot form recently and Bucs fans are hoping that he continues to rake in goals for Orlando Pirates. When speaking on the Fan Reaction Show, one compares Saleng with Bafana Bafana legend, Sipiwe Tshabalala and says "He has a strong left foot like Shabba."
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has reacted to Manchester United's embarrassing 7-0 defeat to Liverpool. The fans have also had their say on Monnapule Saleng's form and what he means for Orlando Pirates SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
The Bundesliga title race is heating up with the top 2 teams sitting with 49 points, only being separated by goal difference (GD). It is no secret that Bayern is leading the league having scored a whopping 66 goals in 23 matches. With a goal difference of 44, they sit above second-placed Borrusia Dortmund, leading them by a GD difference of 25. The Bavarian giants are for sure worried about the charge Dortmund see themselves on and Dortmund will be confident that they can overtake their bitter rivals and end their 10-straight league titles to reclaim the league title for the first time since the 2011/12 season
European football continues with scintillating fixtures being the talking point. Borussia Dortmund will face off against Chelsea in London with the Blues having it all to play for after Dortmund emerged victorious 1-0 during the first leg. Bayern Munich welcomes Paris Saint-Germain to the Allianz Arena where the Parisians need to overcome a 1-0 aggregate.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington continues with the title race and how Borrusia Dortmund keeps applying pressure to table-toppers Bayern Munich. Kres breaks down the UEFA Champions League matchup, which sees Bayern face PSg and Dortmund take on Chelsea.
Die-hard supporters, neutral fans, and rival teams are seeing Manchester United edging back to the days of Sir Alex Ferguson. The Red Devils are in red-hot form with the players providing high-quality football for the world to watch. It goes without saying that Eric ten Hag has revolutionised the team and more importantly, regained the trust of the fans. It has been close to a decade since the untied faithful were kissing badges and pumping fists - never before has a team from the Red side of Manchester shown so much passion for the game. Players are pitching up and attitudes have changed. This is all thanks to dutch tactician ten Hag, who as we all know, is not afraid to make some big decisions. First, it was dropping club Captain Harry Maguire and then he stood up to Cristiano Ronaldo and eventually removed the Portuguese superstar from his future plans.
Manchester United has recently won the Carabao Cup after a convincing 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. This form surfaced from a hard-fought battle against Barcelona in the UEFA Europa League where the side of Catalonia exited the competition, losing 4-3 over the 2 legs. The Red Devils have also progressed to the last 8 of the FA Cup and look to still be in the title race for the English Premier League.
Not too long ago, Lionel Messi claimed yet another individual award after he picked up FIFA's best men's player; but not without controversy. Many are saying that Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema was destined to accept this award, however, being a world cup year, there isn't much to argue about it.
CR7 himself is having a stellar time in Saudi Arabia. The 38-year-old has picked up his first player of the month award for Al Nassr, after scoring 8 goals and owning a few assists too.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, praise is given to Eric ten Hag and the role he has had in changing Manchester United. Individual awards have been won by football's greatest rivals, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs emerged victorious over their Soweto Rivals Orlando Pirates this past weekend when they met at the FND stadium for the latest match-up of the Soweto Derby. Pirates were coming into this match on a good run of form, and Chiefs; were the opposite. But in a fixture like this, it is safe to say that form can go out the window; it is all about the day and who wants it more. The match proved to be extremely close, closer than anyone expected and if you look at the stats, the proof is in the pudding. Even when Pirates went down to 10 men, the game proved to be on an even playing field.
The difference in the match came in the 89th minute after Olisa Ndah attempted to clear a floated ball which saw his header loft over the goalkeeper and into the back of his own net. "The own goal shows that Chiefs put the pressure on Pirates," said one fan when talking on the Fan Reaction Show. Some have suggested that Chiefs got lucky and other say that Chiefs were the better team.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has reacted to the recent Soweto Derby and the result that transpired. The fans debate on whether or not Kaizer Chiefs were lucky to win and suggest some outplayed others! SL Radio on SoccerLaduma.co.za
Bayern Munich hasn’t had the best run during the course of 2023. Although they have just about maintained the top spot, other teams such as Borrusia Dortmund and surprisingly Union Berlin are forcing the Bavarian giants to stay on their toes. A mouthwatering clash between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin was enough for Bayern to send the rest of the league a message - Know the pecking order. Bayern put eased to a 3-0 victory over the traveling outfit from the capital sitting, slotting 3 goals in the first half. The loss for Union Berlin means that they now occupy 3rd spot in the standings, with 43 points. Bayern maintained the title as log leaders, now with 46 points. This victory could be thanks to a secret meeting that was called by head coach Julian Nagelsmann, a heart-to-heart if you will. Nagelsmann explained to his team what it meant to play for Bayern and this was clearly moving enough for his team to outplay a dangerous team.
Borussia Dortmund emerged victorious against Hoffenheim, scrapping together a 1-0 win. A stunning free-kick by Julian Brandt was enough for Dortmund to claim all 3 points, and claim second position in the standings. Although Dortmund only occupied the top spot for a short while, they got a feel of what it was like to lead the league, which will for sure prove to be a motivating factor moving forward. Statistically, Dortmund has the most wins in the Bundesliga thus far, more than Bayern Munich too, so this victory came as no surprise. But the real question has been revealed - Can Dortmund keep the pressure on Bayern?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington analysis Bayern’s ferocious performance against Union Berlin and explains that Borrusia Dortmund is still very much in the title race. Kres also looks ahead to the next match day and explains what he thinks will happen!
After a less-than-poor start to the season, Eric ten Hag and Manchester United are looking as if they have returned to the frightening team they once were during Sir Alex Ferguson's days. Teams are now looking clueless when they have the ball against the Red Devil and United is now once again, deadly on the counter. The red half of Manchester is licking their lips seeing the beloved team currently in 3rd place in the league, in a final against Newcastle United, still in the FA Cup, and after schooling Barcelona at the Camp Nou, encouraged for what's next. If you had to speak to a Manchester United fan at the start of the 2022/23 English Premier League, they would go as far as saying "I would bite your hand off if you gave me a top-4 finish." The Red Devils will face Barcelona, at Old Trafford, on Thursday night in the second leg of their UEFA Europa Leg tie and it was just a few days ago, when ten Hag screamed to the fans "come Thursday, it is a big game. Make sure you are there and we are sure we can beat Barcelona together."
Other English clubs in Europe, such as Chelsea and Liverpool got the shorter end of the stick during their UEFA Champions League fixtures, with Liverpool getting thrashed by Real Madrid 5-2. Chelsea suffered yet another defeat under the guidance of Graham Potter, narrowly losing 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund. Questions of both Jurgen Klopp and Graham Potter are being asked, with the futures of these managers up in the air.
Breaking news coming out of Spain, suggests that Lionel Messi COULD return to Barcelona, as long as the financial implications don't negatively impact the club. Leaked news suggests that Messi's father met with Barca's president, to discuss this move, and it would appear as if Messi is not phased with PSG and doesn't care about the club. Could we see the little Argentinian magician return to the club so close to his heart?
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Conversations about Manchester United and how Eric ten Hag has brought the Red Devils out of a slump are had. UEFA Champions League fixtures and results are discussed with some shock surprises, and Lionel Messi’s father has had a meeting with the president of Barcelona! www.soccerladuma.co.za
Kaizer Chiefs suffered yet another loss when they faced off against Golden Arrows. This was Chiefs' second straight loss in all competitions. Chiefs are currently sitting in 5th place on the log, trailing Mamelodi Sundowns by a whopping 27 points. The glamours have gone under scrutiny in recent months after more than a handful of results have been labeled as poor. The Soweto Derby is fresh around the corner and with the likes of an inform Monnapule Saleng, Chiefs will have it all to play for. The fans have been voicing their opinions and on the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has expressed who they think is causing the issues within the team's camp.
The Nedbank Cup round of 16 draw has been finalised with many teams still in the competition, coming from the lower division in South African football. This is a testimony to the nature of the competition and it continues to reiterate how the Nedbank Cup can open doors, for not only teams but individual players. Many clubs from the PSL recruit youngsters who have impressed during a run of form from the Nedbank.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi expressed frustration and voiced who they think is causing issues with the Glamour Boys' camp. Mzansi also speaks about the Nedbank Cup and how it competes with other competitions in the country.
The 2022/23 Bundesliga title race is turning out to be the tightest in all of Europe. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Union Berlin make up the top 3 spots, with only goal difference separating the teams. With all 3 teams having claimed 43 points, Bayern has shown their quality in front of goal, with a goal difference of 40, whereas Dortmund and Union Berlin follow suit with 17 and 12 respectively. There is not much separating these teams. Bayern, who went down to 10 men, dropped more points against Gladbach and Union Berlin failed to claim the top spot after they drew with Schalke.
The Bundesliga will return on the coming weekend, with a clash that has football fans salivating: 1st-placed Bayern Munich against 3rd-placed Union Berlin. Is this the match that will decide the title?
A few Bundesliga teams will be taking part in European competitions again this week, with Eintracht Frankfurt facing Napoli and RB Leipzig taking on a dangerous Manchester City outfit. Union Berlin faces off against Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen tackles Monaco.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the Bundesliga title race and speaks of the Bundesliga teams' chances in European competition.
Lionel Messi's future is up in the air after his father, Jorge Messi, recently spoke out and said the recent World Cup winner will not be heading back to Barcelona. In an interview, he said that he has not spoken with Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta. Keep in mind that Messi was unable to renew his deal with Barcelona due to La Liga's financial fair play rules and it would now appear that a return to his boyhood club, is highly unlikely. There is concrete interest coming from Saudi Arabia, but this move is highly unlikely. As it stands, the only real offer on the table for the 35-year-old is from PSG where it would appear that a 12-month deal could be coming his way. Messi's former team, Barcelona, has come under investigation once again after a report revealed that major heads of the referee association were getting paid off by the club. This information leaked and the refs in question have threatened to blackmail the club!
In recent years, Manchester United has struggled on both the domestic stage and the European stage, with their last trophy coming in 2017 which was the UEFA Europa League. The Red Devils have had severe fallouts with players, coaches, and management staff and fans have been growing frustrated with their beloved United. No one knew where the club was headed. In April 2022, Eric ten Hag took over as manager and with him, he brought a new sense of style, rules, morals, and beliefs. The Dutch tactician began the domestic league dismally with a 4-0 loss, but since then, he has truly turned Manchester United around. He brought former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy in as a forward coach which has revitalized the Red Devils' attack. 25-year-old Marcus Rashford is in hot form and the club is currently third in the English Premier League, only 5 points behind the log leaders. The Red Devils recently traveled to the Camp Nou to face off against Barcelona and showed their dominance, although unlucky to come away with a draw, the team from Manchester was the better team on the night. Just how far will Eric ten Hag take this team?
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, European football is back with Manchester United holding Barcelona out to a draw at home and PSG falling to Bayern. Lionel Messi's future is up in the air and Saudi Arabia is putting itself on the map! Barcelona have once again come under investigation after it has been reported that the Catalonian giants were ‘paying off’ match officials, including major heads of the referee association. These reports suggest that large sums of money. Barcelona paid José María Enríquez Negreira, then the vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), nearly €1.4m from 2016 to 2018.
The Nedbank Cup is very quickly heading to the business end with the round of 16 draw having been completed. The round of 32 brought with it some surprises, none more notable than Dondol Stars FC overcoming SuperSport United 2-1. Kaizer Chiefs fought hard against a 10-man Maritzburg, winning 2-0 and Mamelodi Sundowns managed to scrape a victory over second-placed PSL team Richards Bay FC.
The round of 16 features some mouth-watering fixtures, with many Motsepe league teams progressing. The Nedbank Cup has proved in the past, to have opened doors for these 'non-PSL’ teams with the results to prove it. Many of the current PSL stars began their careers in the lower leagues and are now featuring on the continental stage for a PSL club.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has reacted to the Nedbank Cup round of 32 fixtures. Mzansi speaks on the most surprising results and predict the outcome of the competition!
The Bundesliga title race is heating up with only 3 points separating first-placed Bayern Munich (43 points), and third-placed Borussia Dortmund (40 points). Shock title contenders Union Berlin are currently occupying the second spot with an impressive 42 points. The side from the capital city managed to overcome a strong RB Leipzig outfit, winning that match 2-1. Bayern looks to be back to their winning ways after thrashing VFL Bochum 3-0 and Dortmund showed their class by claiming all 3 points against SV Werder Bremen. With 20 matches completed, there really is no telling how the standings will finish.
When asked about the competitiveness this season, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington explains that Dortmund’s win was a hard-fought victory as Werder Bremen has been known to cause a few upsets. Dortmund scored 2 late goals, which was a fantastic turn of events, as they tend to concede late this season. Dortmund have a good young team and to see them get a victory on the road, as they are typically stronger at home, will most likely prove to be a much-needed moral boost - now they are within striking distance of the title.
When you look at the standings, the league is slowly becoming a three-horse race with fourth-placed Freiburg and fifth-placed RB Leipzig looking strong too. Anything can change considering the European pitch is back. More games will shake the standings up a bit with only the best, and strongest teams maintaining their quality.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the title race within the league and explains that “we are looking at a 3 horse race at the moment.” Bayern is in the driving seat with Union Berlin and Dortmund following closely. With only 3 points the difference between first and third place, the last handful of matches are of vital importance for these teams.
Manchester United has been owned by the Glazers since 2005 when the Red Devils were purchased for £790 million. In these 17 years, the United faithful have been treated to countless trophies, domestic and European, but in recent years. Recently, fans have been visually frustrated with the style of ownership with the brothers dedicating the majority of the profits to themselves and investing little back into the club. Lack of major signings, minimal transfer budgets, and poor management have ultimately led to the Glazers being open to potential bids. Two runners are currently looking to become the new owners, Sir Jim Ratcliff and The emir of Qatar are open to bidding. The Glazers are looking for around £6 billion.
On the blue side of Manchester, the Citizens have now been charged by the league, for over 100 breaches of the financial fair play regulations. Sheikh Mansour took over Manchester City in 2008, and since then, Manchester City's net transfer spending amounts to an eye-watering €1.44 billion. If City were to be found guilty, their punishment could range from a hefty, hefty fine, and title stripping to even being expelled from the league.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Manchester United is up for sale, Manchester City could be punished, Ronaldo is setting the Saudi League alight and Lionel Messi causes a stir in Paris
Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has found himself in hot water after some interviews aired which showed him explaining his frustration towards his club, with the firing of goalkeeper coach Toni Tapalovic. Tapalovic was a close friend of Neuer, so close that he was even the best man at the German’s wedding. Bayern’s sporting director has come out and said he is not impressed with Neuer and suggested that he rather focuses on returning to fitness. This all comes after Bayern returned to winning ways after an impressive 4-2 victory over Wolfsburg. Jamal Musiala was able to overcome his goal drought and Joshua Kimmich picked up 2 yellows.
Borussia Dortmund is back within striking distance of Bayern Munich, after they put 5 goals past Freiburg, with 5 different scorings. Dortmund was all over Freiburg and it almost looked as though everyone was going to grab a goal. One name who was on the score sheet was Sebastien Haller. Dortmund’s record signing grabbed his first goal back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while he was fighting testicular cancer. The Ivorian netted on World cancer day. Haller could very well become e a face bigger than the game.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Manuel Neuer finds himself in hot water after a recent interview, Bayern is back to winning ways after an impressive victory against Wolfsburg , European football returns, and mouth-water clashes are on the cards!
Lyle Foster singing for Burnley Football Club in the English Championship has brought an immense amount of joy to Mzansi. Foster's deal, reportedly worth €10 million, will last for 4.5 years with the youngster hoping to help guide Burnley back into the English Premier League (EPL). Burnley has shown confidence in the 22-year-old and together they are hoping that goals will be aplenty.
Foster's move has also got Mzansi thinking: "Why do so few South Africans make it to Europe?" Many fans have suggested that the development structure in South Africa is not of a higher enough standard, and some have even suggested that the supporters are to blame, by saying "When players are in Europe, we flood their social media which puts pressure on the boys." South Africa will be watching Foster's movements closely with the hope of getting to see him in action, in the EPL.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Lyle Foster making headway in Europe, by signing for English outfit Burnley FC. The fans have commented as to why so few South Africans 'make it to Europe and what issues need to be resolved for more local players to head abroad.
The January transfer window is officially closed for all English Clubs with close to £1 Billion being spent. London-based club Chelsea FC, under new American owner Todd Boehly splashed the cash having brought in 8 new players worth around £300 million. These transfers have ruffled some feathers with the football world questioning the rules of Financial Fair Play. Chelsea has found a loophole by offering players 8-year contracts, meaning their annual spend is substantially less than that of a 5-year contract. Their most expensive signing, Enzo Fernandez, who in recent months has very quickly become one of the brightest young talents in world football, cost the club a staggering £121 million.
Manchester United brought in 2 players on loan, Wout Weghorst from Burnley and Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern. Joao Cancelo shocked the world by signing a loan deal with Bayern Munich and English youngster Anthony Gordon left Everton in tumultuous fashion and has joined European Football contenders, Newcastle United.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Sheffield United goalkeeper Sean Roberts discusses the January transfer window in Europe with International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield.
Bayern Munich is still leading the Bundesliga standings, however, they have dropped 6 points in their last 3 matches, and now only lead the standings by 1 point. 3 straight draws mean that 2nd place Union Berlin is looking ever closer to regaining the lead. Bayern is in a slump right now which could be due to injuries, including their captain and first-choice goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer.
Bayern needs to pick up the pace if they want to progress in the UEFA Champions League against their opponent, PSG. The Parisian outfit is in hot form and with Senegalese superstar, Sadio Mane potentially missing the first leg, Bayern could have some serious issues moving forward.
The German cup resumes and RB Leipzig will be wanting to retain their title. The bulls head off to Hoffenheim, who are known to be difficult to beat at home. Bayern faces off against Mainz which will be mouthwatering considering Bayern hasn’t been scoring many goals and a certain Mainz striker is coming off of a hat trick. Wolfsburg is heading into their match after having their unbeaten run ended.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Bayern Munich has drawn 3 straight games meaning their lead at the top of the table is now only 1 point. The top 4 is as close as it gets with 3 points operating 1st and 4th, and the German cup resumes with some interesting fixtures taking place.
During an expedition fixture between Al Nassr and Paris Saint-Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo took the pitch to face off against Lionel Messi for what could be the last time in History. A team combined of Al Nassr and Al Hilal players saw the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Gustavo, and Anderson Talisca take the field against a full-strength PSG outfit. It was the team from Europe who ended victorious with the scoreline ending 5-4.
Juventus have been deducted 15 points after they were found to have been issuing close to €90 million in differed wages, under the counter. The COVID-19 Pandemic caused massive financial blows, which saw players differing wages. However, it has now come out that 23 players from the Turin team knew about this "scam," including CR7. This deduction sees 'The Old Lady' drop down from 3rd place, to 10th and at the halfway point of the season, this could be detrimental to Juve's top 4 chances. The players that were 'in' on this scam, will most likely receive a 30-day suspension, provided that they are still playing in the Serie A.
Closer to know, Bafana Bafana international Lyle Foster has put pen to paper and has joined English club Burnley FC on a 4.5-year deal. Burnley is currently sitting at the top of the Championship with the likelihood of qualification to the English Premier League being high. Lyle could be the next South African to feature in the English top flight and Mzansi wishes him all the best!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Lyle Foster has signed for Burnley, Messi and Ronaldo met for potentially the last time, and Juventus have cooked the books which sees them drop down the Series A table!
With Manuel Neuer sidelined for a lengthy period, Bayern Munch needed to figure out a quick-fix plan for their goalkeeping department. A massive priority indeed. Fortunately for the Bavarian giants, they managed to acquire the signature of Swiss International Yann Sommer. Sommer is no stranger to the Bundesliga having spent close to a decade with Borussia Mönchengladbach where he made over 270 appearances, which included impressive performances against Bayern. Head coach Julien Nagelsmann stated that a new goalkeeper would only need a short period of time to fit in, and Sommer showed that he was ready to step up to the plate, securing his new club a 1-1 draw against Nagelsmann’s former team, RB Leipzig.
Sebastien Haller finally made his return to the Bundesliga after a hefty stint on the sidelines, receiving treatment for testicular cancer. Dortmund faces Augsburg, who gave them a real run for their money. A match of constant back and forth, which was closed off by USA National Gio Reyna’s wonder strike. A fitting return for the Ivorian international.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Sebastien Haller made his long-awaited return to the league with a win, Bayern Munich draw 1-1 with their new keeper in Yann Sommer and this past match day was an impressive run for the home team!
Mamelodi Sundowns are a force to be reckoned with. They are a team in hot form and are deadly in front of goal. Defensively, they are an extremely tight unit. This is proven by their goal difference which sits at +27 after only conceding 6 and scoring a whopping 33. 4 of those goals came during their match against Kaizer Chiefs, which saw the Glamour Boys face humiliation.
Chiefs are going into this fixture with another 4-0 loss on their minds, this time at the hands of AmaZulu. Confidence levels will be wonky, but the desire to claim 3 points against the Brazilians is rife. Chiefs are welcoming Downs to the FNB stadium which might just be the difference in this matchup.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi debates whether or not Kaizer Chiefs will successfully redeem themselves against Mamelodi Sundowns, and questions about the possibility of Sundowns being stopped from winning the league title again are asked!
Sadio Mane has been out injured for quite some time, which included him missing the 2022 FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar late last year. The Senegalese super-star has already been told that he is set to return when the Bavarian Giants take on Paris-Saint Germain in a mouth-watering UEFA Champions League Clash.
Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller has rejoined the first team after spending the last few months going through cancer treatment. The Ivorian netted a hat trick during a friendly against Basel FC. Dortmund is also getting close with Youssoufa Moukoko and his new deal with the club
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington discussed Bayern's need for a goalkeeper and Sadio Mane's return date. Kres also talks about Borrusia Dortmund's strikeforce.
It is no secret that Cristiano Ronaldo has been a massive talking point in recent weeks, especially since his outrageous interview with British journalist Piers Morgan. CR7's European downfall was due to him not getting game time under United boss Eric ten Hag, as the dutchman stood up to CR7. Ronaldo's off-field antics were frowned upon and the tantrums that he threw were unacceptable. Since both Manchester United and CR7 mutually agreed to terminate his contract, the 37-year-old has put pen to paper and signed for Saudi Arabian outfit, Al Nassr. Ronaldo's contract sees him pull in close to £170 million a season, making him the highest-paid footballer in history.
In December, Lionel Messi helped Argentina win its first world cup since 1986. The little Magician was instrumental in La Albiceleste's win. With the help of a fantastic team and goalkeeping heroics by Emiliano Martínez, Messi was able to finally secure a trophy he has been dreaming of for years.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts discusses CR7's move to Al Nassr, Magical Messi, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and previews the Manchester Derby!
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to cancer treatment, Ivorian striker and Dortmund forward Sebastien Haller has rejoined his club in a 'mini camp' ahead of the season restart. The 28-year-old was diagnosed with testicular cancer in June 2022 and is setting his sights on a return, in January 2023. With Haller's return, another Dortmund striker, in Youssoufa Moukoko, has yet to renew his contract which should bring some concerns to BVB as he is a talent most wanted.
Bayern Munich has done some interesting business with their latest signing. After concerns around Neuer's, Sane's, and L.Hernandez's absence, the Bavarian Giants urgently need to sign a player, and ageing Daley Blind was top on their list. The former Manchester United and Ajax Amsterdam defender signs for Bayern until the summer of 2023 with an option for one additional season. Is this the right move for Bayern?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, concerns are emerging for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich alike. Sebastien Haller rejoins Dortmund and Bayern are YET to find a goalkeeper...
Towards the end of 2022, Kaizer Chiefs star Njabulo Blom handed out a bag of mixed emotions to Mzansi, by signing for Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit St. Louis City SC. The 23-year-old put pen to paper and signed a two-year contract that runs through the end of the 2024 MLS regular season with two option years in 2025 and 2026. Blom now joins a long, coveted list of respectable Africans who have featured in the MLS.
With Blom leaving the Premier Soccer League (PLS), Mzansi has conveyed expressions of excitement, relating to the growth the player will gain, frustration towards Chiefs - for not keeping him until the end of the season, and a sense of desire to bring in new talent angled towards Kaizer Chiefs.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi shares their opinions on former Kaizer Chiefs star Njabulo Blom and his move away from South Africa, to the MLS, and putting pen to paper to join St. Louise City SC.
The New Year has ticked over, opening the Winter transfer window with some big business and money moves being predicted. Bayern is currently without club captain and first-team goalkeeper Manual Neuer, Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane' and French left-back Lucas Hernandez. This leaves head coach Julian Nagelsmann stuck between a rock and a hard place during this transfer window - what should the priority be for Bayern?
British youngster Jude Bellingham had a sensational World cup and is in fine form. Bellingham currently plies his trade for Borussia Dortmund and since joining the club, his market value has skyrocketed to over €100 million! The 19-year-old is on the radars of some of Europe's biggest clubs, and if he is to leave Dortmund, who would be a suitable replacement?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington discusses Bayern's troubles and the way forward, and elaborates on why Jude Bellingham is the man to watch in the Bundesliga!
What could be called a little know fact, is that there are over 100 players, globally who are eligible to repent Bafana Bafana from the youth level to the first team. These players range forage 9 ups until the early twenties. Many are playing for the best youth academies around the world such as Liverpool, Manchester City, Ajax Amsterdam, and many more. The question still remains, why does SAFA still not pay attention to these players?
These youngsters that are captaining sides abroad, are immensely talented, yet they seem to be overlooked and not recognized, how can this be changed? According to player monitor Prince Sobayeni, the best way forward is to have scouts and player monitors pay attention to these players abroad. They need to pay close attention and even go and watch the games - these monitors should be based abroad. Prince also suggests that Bafana Bafana and SAFA should set up academies to utilize the growth already applied by the foreign-based clubs.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, player monitor and analyst Prince Sobayeni discusses his views on South African footballs playing abroad and how they could be included in SAFA and the Bafana setup.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has flown by with Argentina lifting the trophy after a scintillating final against France. Although Bayern Munich produced the most players in the world cup from a single club, yet it was not to be! Bayern center-back Dayot Upamecano could only do so much for France. Argentine showed grit and determination, ultimately being crowned Champions of the world.
The German Football Association has created a task force, in hopes of healing the scars from Qatar, and to stand a chance at the 2024 EUROs. Coach Hansi Flick will be itching to get a national trophy under his belt.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, the footballing world has labeled Germany as the flop of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a task force has been created for the 2024 EUROs, and more!
Bayern Munich is showing its national dominance, still having 6 players in the 2022 FIFA World Cup - with a few for France, one for Croatia, and even one star in Morocco in Mazraoui. The chances are good for Bayern Munich to have a World Cup winner in the locker room.
Manuel Neuer, after Germany got knocked out of the World Cup, went on a skiing trip that ended in disaster for the Bayern Goalkeeper. The 36-year-old shot-stopper posted on his social media that he had an accident that ended in a broken leg. This now means he will be out for the rest of the season and now the big question is, how does Bayern feel about this? The Bavarian giants are said to have rules which stipulate dangerous sports/action sports are not allowed to be played but this I also on a case-by-case basis. So who will now be between the sticks for Bayern?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, the German Football Association has decided to keep Hansi Flick as head coach, Manuel Neuer is out with a broken leg and 6 Bayer stars are still present in Qatar!
With the PSL set to resume matches on December 30th, teams have had some time to filter their squads, analyze the players and decide on starting 11's and this has brought to the surface a big talking point that has always haunted the PSL. Aging players...
In recent days, former Bafana Bafana legend, Siphiwe Tshabalala, has admitted that finding a club after turning 30, is a difficult task. The 38-year-old is now in his second season without a club and many fans around Mzansi believe Shabba still has something to offer.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has responded to the way PSL clubs handle aging players ever since Sipiwe 'Shabba' Tshabalala spoke about the difficulties one faces, after turning 30 years old.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is already heading to the business, with the round of 16 fixtures taking place. This is the second World Cup running where 2014 winners, Germany, have failed to progress out of the group stages and it looks as though a few players are now set to retire, with the likes of İlkay Gündoğan and Thomas Müller having already given hints. Stalwart Joshua Kimmich has also spoken out, however for a different reason, - The Bayern Munich star has said being ejected from this tournament was the worst day of his life and he feels as though he is heading into limbo. Head coach Hansi Flick and his post look to be secure, but how long will that last, only time will tell!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington speaks on Germany’s poor 2022 FIFA World Cup, after the 2014 Winners were knocked out of the group stages. The Bundesliga is still being represented in Qatar, with the likes of Dayot Upamecano for France, Jude Bellingham for England, and Matthijs de Ligt for the Dutch!
The 2022 FIFA World Cup group stages are coming to a close with the majority of qualified teams already through to the next round. Only 4 spots are left. So far, this world cup has brought an immense level of excitement, with results causing shock and surprise throughout - most notably Argentina's loss to Saudi Arabia on match day 1. This could be seen as a blessing as you never want to peak too early in a tournament of this magnitude.
Senegal and Morocco have qualified out of the group stages with Tunisia putting in a valiant effort, having beaten the current title holders France 1-0. Ghana still stands a chance of making it to the knockout stages and Cameroon have a tougher route forward. So far, this world cup has been one of the most entertaining ones to date, what more does the 2022 tournament hold?
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, the 2022 FIFA World Cup continues with only a few group stage fixtures left and Cristiano Ronaldo has once ago been offered a ludicrous deal after the Portuguese super-star became a free agent after he and Manchester United agreed to part ways.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is well underway and there have been some amazing fixtures including African Nations. Ghana, Cameroon, and Senegal are really showing the world what the continent is made of and Tunisia and Morocco are making headway too. As of this moment, Senegal has already qualified and is awaiting to see if any other African nations will join them in the last 16. Fans have expressed the joy behind this world cup so far, with the African teams giving it all on the pitch.
Kaizer Chiefs and Kappa have joined forces once again, much to the delight of Khosi Nation. After almost 2 decades, Nike was no longer the front-runner for Chiefs. Kappa and Chiefs have a wonderful history, which brings back memories for the Amakhosi faithful.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi expressed joy behind Kaizer Chiefs' new deal with Kappa and how far will Africa go in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is well underway and the German Side faced defeat in their opening fixture against Japan. İlkay Gündoğan slotted home a first-half penalty before 2 late goals in the second half by Bundesliga players Asano and Doan buried the Germans 2-1. Hansi FLick's men then took on Spain in a mouthwatering clash, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and now for the Germans to progress, they need to overcome a tricky opponent in Costa Rica and hope that Spain beat Japan as Germany sit at the bottom of the table.
Other Bundesliga players, who are not playing for Germany, have been impressive so far, with the likes of Bayern Alphonso Davies scoring Canada's first-ever World Cup goal when they got manhandled by Croatia, who had Andrej Kramaric, current Hoffenheim star, netted a brace in that match too!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Germany are needing an important victory over Costa Rica, non-German Bundesliga players are starring, and the German Football Association as mentioned what would happen if Germany fails to progress!
Bafana Bafana recently locked horns with two African nations in friendly matches. The first fixture saw Bafana come from behind to defeat Mozambique 2-1, thanks to a 3-minute second-half brace by Bongokuhle Hlongwane. The second fixture against Angolo brought a different result. A penalty in the 29th minute by Zakhele Lepase was enough to seal a draw for Bafana. These results, although not too concerning, a topic of discussion as been raised by the fans - are overseas-based players being overlooked.
We, as a country, have a plethora of players who play in European, the America's and everywhere in between, but yet, not even a select handful get a chance to represent Bafana. The fans have expressed mixed feelings towards this, with one saying "We have to look if they are consistent, if they are, then they should be given a chance."
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has expressed their opinions on the topic of overseas-based players and how they are not given a chance to represent the country. Mzansi suggests that a fair chance should be given, considering the experience brought to the table!
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is officially underway and so far the tournament has put on a spectacle! The opener saw Ecadur bury the hosts Qatar thanks to a brace by Captain Enner Valencia!
The German National team will face Japan on Wednesday and captain Manuel Neuer has spoken about the importance of sticking to a game plan and touched on how he believes that if his team can successfully play out from the back, the Japanese could be in trouble. Neuer, however, did acknowledge Eintracht Frankfurt's Kamada and how big of a threat he could be! Long story short, Japan is no slouch and Germany will have to be careful to not become complacent. Hansi Flick has hinted that 7 Bayern Munich Players could start this match and considering there has been a loud voice of unhappiness from the team about the timing, one would think that this German side could gel quite nicely, considering the short gap between the domestic season and the World Cup!
Neuer and his fellow European Captains have had to halt the breaks on a certain move, regarding the '1Love' captain's armbands. The captains agreed that they would support LGBTQ rights by wearing these armbands, but FIFA has restricted this by threatening point docking, yellow cards, and sanctions! Ovbulsy some regions in the world are more closed-minded than others, but FIFA has always said that no political advances are allowed to be made on the itch!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, the 2022 FIFA World Cup has begun and injuries have already hit some teams! Hansi Flick and his German side have commented on the timing of the tournament and FIFA has threatened punishments!
As we all know, Cristiano Ronaldo has recently been interviewed by an internet troll, Piers Morgan. The Portuguese superstar, unbeknownst to him, shot himself in the foot by unleashing and revealing his hard, and honest opinions on Manchester United and manager Erik ten-Hag. This act of cowardliness has not been well received by fans all over the world and CR7's future in Manchester looks to be over. His mural on Old Trafford has been removed, and Erik ten-Hag wants him out of the club. Part 1 of the interview aired on Wednesday night, and the forward revealed and discussed topics regarding his family, the facilities at Carrington road, and the attitude the team has. Although Ronaldo spoke on topics that were public knowledge already, this interview may very well have ended his career with the Red Devils!
This Sunday, the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off with host nation Qatar taking on Ecuador. This is the first time in the tournament history, that the matches are kicking off in the Winter months due to the extreme temperatures in Qatar. Current holders France have suffered an injury during a training session, which see Christopher Nkunku ruled out of the competition and hot favorites Argentina are looking dangerous! Brazil and Neymar seem to be in fine form and are being tipped to be title challengers too!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Cristiano Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan may very well have ended his Red Devil's career and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicks off in a matter of days! Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts expressed his concern for Ronaldo and says "I am completely baffled as to why he did that."
Qatar 2022 is only a few days away and the German National side has jetted off, hoping to climates quickly before their opening match against Japan. A few big names have missed out due to injury, most notably Marco Reus, however the up-and-coming young star from Borussia Dortmund, Youssoufa Moukoko is with the team after being called up. The 17-year-old became the first player in Bundesliga history to hit double digits with goals scored and has been vital for Dortmund
The NFL has been a talking point after a match was played out at the Allianz Arena, between Tom Brady’s Buccaneers and the Seattle Seahawks. The legend himself threw 2 touchdowns and after the match, considering the pitch was destroyed, the NFL even paid to have it fixed!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Bayern Munich has flexed their dominance once again, this time before the World Cup, Dortmund youngster Youssoufa Moukoko has been called up to the German National Team, and Tom Brady and the NFL make history at the Allianz Arena!
The 2022 Carling Black Label Cup has come and gone, and brought with it immense excitement and disappointment! Unlike previous years, the 2022 edition had 4 participating teams. Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and AmaZulu, as voted by the fans.
In the weekend opener, Mamelodi Sundowns made light work of Amazulu, beating them 3-0, and Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs played out to a goalless draw before the Bucs progressed on penalties. This match was of course without controversy! This match saw both teams have a goal disallowed for offsides, but the controversy surrounds Chiefs as the player was onside, causing mass outrages amongst Khosi Nation. We are all human after all, but yet another mistake by a match official is causing the issue.
The final saw Sundowns take on Pirates, which was another bloodbath thanks to the 4 goals Masandawana put past Pirates, allowing Sundowns to claim their first CBL title. This now solidifies Sundowns’ dominance, as they claim a trophy that finishes their cabinet!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, The Carling Black Label Cup has been trialed with its new 4-team format, Mamelodi Sundowns made light work of their opponents and a massive amount of controversy surrounds Chiefs and Pirates!
Mamelodi Sundown Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala sat down with The COSAFA Show to discuss Sunday’s final of the CAF Women’s Champions League where they will take on home team AS FAR in Rabat. Sundowns are seeking back-to-back titles but will be up against an excellent opponent, as Tshabalala describes. “They are a very tricky side,” he said in our exclusive interview. “They are very comfortable on the ball and honestly speaking, one of the best teams. Technically they are very good. They are well organised and know how to defend. “They are very quick going forward, they are quick in transition. We will have to be cautious in how we approach them. But we will have a plan for them. When you press them higher, they tend to panic at the back.” Tshabalala ALSO shares his views on a range of subjects, including the potential for Sundowns to take part in a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup if the global governing body sticks to their pledge to create the tournament.
There are only two more matchdays left before Qatar 2022 kicks off and with the top 4 teams in the Bundesliga only separated by 1 point, the standings are almost certain to change, Bayern faces Bremen who have quality and could provide an upset. Freiburg take on Leipzig and Union Berlin will face Augsburg, who defeated Bayern earlier in the season! Dortmund will tackle Wolfsburg. These matches will bring the tempo and excitement and teams will be eager to collect maximum points.
Bayern Munich Captain Manuel Neuer returned to the pitch after being absent for a while. The German number one has recently come out and said he was being treated for skin cancer and would like to get some minutes in before he travels with team Germany to the World Cup!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, the teams at the top of the table look to be fighting tooth and nail as only 1 point separates the teams. Bayern is looking more dangerous than ever and is Union Berlin's cinderella story over?
The MTN8 final has come and gone in a flash and the result has left one side of Soweto cheering and celebrating! The buccaneers proved to be too strong for Amazulu after Pirates began eating early in the first half thanks to a world-class free kick! Orlando Pirates managed to defend their lead for the rest of the game, allowing them to lift their second MTN8 trophy in a matter of 3 years!
Hugo Broos has announced his 30-man squad to take on Mozambique and Angola later this month. A few stalwarts have kept their place, but on the other hand, a few players, who are performing have been left out!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to the MTN8 final, which saw the Bugs emerge victorious and Hugh Broos has announced his 30-man squad with a few surprises and a few disappointments!
Arguably the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, has been in the tabloids in recent days after a very respected journalist came out and said that the little genius could be making a surprise move to Inter-Miami in the MLS. Inter Miami, the club co-owned by Former Manchester United star David Beckham, states that they are very confident in getting Messi's signature! Messi has once again found his form and he is producing some magic, but considering he hasn't had privacy for close to 20 years, maybe this move will be beneficial for him and his family
The UEFA Champions League group stages have officially been concluded, with massive teams such as Barcelona and Juventus failing to progress - they find themselves in the Europa League. Bayern Munich was doubted of their chances for this season, considering they lost Lewandowski, but the Bavarian giants are showing the world that they still mean business. Benfica managed to thrash Maccabi Haifa 6-1, meaning that PSG sit second in the group and they will have to face a group topper elsewhere!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, the UEFA Champions League has taken a strange turn, seeing Benfica top the group ahead of PSG and Bayern Munich are looking dangerous! Lionel Messi could be making a shock move to the MLS!
Sadio Mane as we all know is a special player, not only on the pitch but off the pitch too. His humility is second to none and that was shown after Bayern’s 6-2 thrashing of Mainz when the 30-year-old came out and said he only wants to do better and learn more each day. His off-the-pitch work was acknowledged during the recent Ballon D'Or ceremony when the Senegalese superstar was handed the Socrates award! Bayer, however, is looking very menacing once again, the train is coming for Union Berlin who still sits atop the table after they got back to winning ways with 2 second-half goals against Gladbach!
RB Leipzig have had an incredible October, not losing a single match and handing Real Madrid their first defeat of the season when they met during their UCL matchup last game week. The bulls will have it all do still if they want to qualify for the next round. Dortmund and Bayern have gained access to the next round
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, The UEFA Champions League sees only 2 Bundesliga sides qualifying for the next round, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Leipzig still needs to win their last group game to secure second place, but Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen sits at the bottom of their group, with no hopes of European football. Jude Bellingham is in hot form and could be the next Dortmund star to leave Germany and Qatar 2022 is around the corner!
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates locked horns once again for the Soweto Derby, with both teams coming off a series of mixed results. Each having a decent run of form! With few wins and losses under their belt, this match would always bring excitement. A sold-out FND stadium was the venue of choice for battle; an occasion like none other.
The stats will show the Orlando Pirates have more of the ball and completed over 100 more passes than Chiefs, but the only stat that counts is the goal tally. A sensational strike by Chiefs’ midfielder Yusuf Maart from within his own half was enough to secure all 3 points for Amakhosi and a contender for the goal of the season.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Kaizer Chiefs supporters express their excitement after a wonderful Soweto derby win against Orland Pirates and celebrate one of the greatest goals in the history of the PSL, scored by Yusuf Maart!
In this episode of The COSAFA Show, General Secretary Sue Destombes gives us the lowdown on the CAF African Schools Championship | COSAFA Qualifier that is being staged in Lilongwe, Malawi from Saturday. It is yet another exciting addition to the COSAFA football calendar but has a twist in that it is for budding young players aged 12-15, so has a unique place among our tournaments. We hear the ethos behind the tournament, as well as sum up the rest of the year so far in what has been a busy few months for football in Southern Africa.
On a similar theme to that, we will hear from Farouk Khan, who is one of the top development coaches in South Africa and has nurtured the career of countless professional players over the years. He tells us the secrets to success and sheds light on his work at his Stars of Africa Academy. Khan has produced several players for Bafana Bafana and into the European market over the years and is highly regarded in local circles for his work in youth development, having been part of SAFA’s technical committee in the past. He shares his views on the critical fundamentals for player development.
We also get the views of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala as his team jets off to Morocco for the African Women’s Champions League finals, where they are the defending champions. They have been drawn against Bayelsa Queens from Nigeria, Egyptian side Wadi Degla and TP Mazembe from DR Congo.
Manchester United Striker and footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo has once again directed the world's attention to him after he stormed out of Old Trafford During the win over Tottenham hotspurs a week ago. The 37-year-old forward admittedly refused to be subbed on by head coach Erik ten-Hag, causing a slight bit of tension within the club, the fans, and former legends of the team. His punishment was being dropped to train with the U21s, and not being considered for the game against Chelsea which saw a result of 1-1. United has said that if they can replace the striker, he will be leaving the club soon. Has CR7 finally come to the end of first-team football?
The UEFA Champions League continues with PSG demolishing Macaab Haifa 7-2, a brace from Lionel Messi sees the little Argentine hit double figures for both goals and assists in the season so far. Benfica has knocked Juventus out of the competition, ending the old lady's campaign with their 4th loss - a dismal performance from a team who's director is still vouching for the Super league, Ironic.
On the latest episode of the International News desk, Cristiano Ronaldo is the hot topic of the week after causing more problems with his entitled behavior. The UCL has continued and brought with it some incredible results!
The semi-finals of the MTN 8 have been completed finely. Kicking off the weekend; Mamelodi Sundowns hosted a motivated Orland Pirates outfit. The score going into this matchup was all square. Bugs youngster M.K Saleng was the standout, scoring two goals and downing Masandawana 3-0, Knocking the Brazilians out of the cup!
Kaizer Chiefs were looking to edge themselves closer to silverware after drawing the first leg with AmaZulu 1-1, in Soweto. Chiefs had it all to do but were dismal in front of the goal. The glamour boys had 11 shots but none went on target. The fans have once again cried out against Amakhosi and their striking abilities. One fan has even commented on the likes of new chiefs strike Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimane saying ‘this boy can only score penalties’. Chiefs will have to look for silverware elsewhere and Arthur Zwane will be backing his team to look at the league. Considering the Soweto Derby is only days away, Chiefs have some work to do if they want to overcome their Soweto neighbours!
The Uefa Champions League returns and all 5 teams from Germany are ready to go. Bayer Leverkusen finds themselves in the worst sot, being at the bottom of their group, having lost 3 games. RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt have some hope to progress, with their respective groups constantly changing. It is Bayern Munich who has expectably already qualified for the last 16, winning 4/4. However, the match of the game week could very well be Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund. Erling Haaland will once again play at Signal-Iduna Park, but this time for the visiting team. Haaland was on the scoresheet during the first leg and the way things are looking, Pep Guardiola might not even play need the Norwegian!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Union Berlin finally tasted defeat in shocking circumstances after losing to relegating battling side Bochum! Bayern Munich has first-team starters return to full fitness and Choupo-Moting is on fire! The UCL sees all 5 German sides take place, with Erling Haaland returning to Signal-Iduna Park!
The 2022 Ballon D'Or ceremony was recently held by the France Football federation and for the first time in the history of the award, the criteria looked slightly different. In the past, the players were judged during the European Seasons, however this time round, the calendar year was the time period. No one deserved the golden ball more than Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema: The Frenchman had close to 60 goal contributions during 2021, a UEFA Champions League trophy, La Liga, and the Spanish cup too. Benzema has been waiting patiently in the shadows and now it is his turn to bask in the glory
Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is once again in the tabloids after he was seen walking down the tunnel 4 minutes before the final whistle during the Red Devils' 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs. Another player who just can't seem to control his attitude is Kylian Mbappe. The 23-year-old claims he was lied to by the PSG board after he was told a world-class number 9 would be signed, never mind that he has Neymar and Messi up front with him.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Sean Roberts asks questions about Cristiano Ronaldo's attitiude and Mbappe's tantrums. Karim Benzema gets the praise he deserves, and is Manchester United on the right path?
The Bundesliga and German Cup are now back in unison after a Super Sunday comes the midweek fixtures - the German Cup. Super Sunday saw Union Berlin's cinderella story continues as they walked over Borussia Dortmund, winning 2-0. This saw a shocking performance from Dortmund's keeper, losing his footing from his own teammate's back-pass, resulting in a simple goal for the Iron. Bayern made lightwork of Frieberg, putting 5 goals in their net, and Augsburg couldn't fight back against FC Köln.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, the German Cup returns with some tasty fixtures, seeing Leipzig tackle Hamburger FC, Bayern take on Augsburg, and Hoffenheim host Schalke. Union Berlin’s cinderella story continues and Marco Reus looks fit for Qatar 2022!
The PSL continued this past weekend with only a handful of matches; three out of the four matches ended in draws, and Chippa United were the only team to acquire points - against Kaizer Chiefs. The match was fairly even when looking at the stats but an unfortunate own goal by Edmilson Dove took the points out of Chiefs' reach.
The own goal wasn't obvious, a deflected header, a ping-pong-like bounce was enough to beat Brandon Peterson at his left post. This was not the birthday Kaizer Motaung was hoping to have, but the MD would like to have his team bounce back
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation has reacted to the 2-1 loss against Chippa United after an unfortunate own goal by Edmilson Dove, took the points away from Kaizer Chiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs fans have had a rollercoaster of a week for a few reasons. It all started with a recurring issue, being the prices of tickets. It seems as if other teams are raising the price from R60 to R100 whenever Chiefs are in town. This is causing outrage among the fans with one saying "They are killing us..." Khosi Nations cries for the PSL to step in and regulate the prices of tickets have continued to go unheard. This is an issue that has been spoken about before by the fans, yet nothing has changed.
Continuing Khosi Nations rollercoaster, their new Burundian striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana netted an 11-minute hatrick, involving 3 penalties! This leaves the man with a total of 6 goals so far this season, joint first with Sundowns' Peter Shalulile. "He's started off well, but he needs to continue this form" says one fan on the Fan Reaction Show.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation has reacted to the price hike implemented to tickets to matches involving Chiefs. The Amakhosi faithful also have their say on newly signed Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana.
Domestically, Der Klassiker is the most attractive matchup which sees Bavarian giants Bayern Munich tackle Borrusia Dortmund. This fixture has been running for over 50 years and quickly became a battle to watch. Both teams this time round were heading into the matchup coming off victories in the UEFA Champions League. Dortmund's Anthon Modest finally showed the Yellow Wall of Signal Iduna Park why he was signed; The 34 - year - old assisted Dortmund's first and scored their equalizer but he also performed throughout the matchup. This match went to show how exciting the league is this season as neither Bayern nor Dortmund sits atop the table!
In Other news surrounding the Bundesliga, former Bayern Munich maestro Xabi Alonso returns to the Bundesliga, but as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen. The Spaniard guided his new team to a 4-0 victory over Schalke
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Der Klassiker lived up to the highest standards, Xabi Alonso wins in his debut, and The UCL returns!
Current PSG Superstar Lionel Messi is having a season to remember; 8 goals and 8 assists including a few spectacular freekicks, It seems as if the little maestro is back at his best. News coming out of France, by a journalist very close to Messi, is that 'Leo' could be making a not-so-shocking return to Barcelona. We can all agree that the way he left Barce was messy and ugly and now that the dust has settled, a return to his boyhood club would be the icing on the cake for his career; to retire at the club that gave him everything, and vice-versa.
The Premier League hasn't seen a player of Erling Haaland's magnitude for some time now, and it is clear that the young Norweigan has set the league alight. 14 goals in 8 games; he is set to break the golden boot record in no time with a predicted over 50 goals to his name, in the league alone!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk; Could Lionel Messi make a return to Barcelona, and Erling Haaland is tearing the EPL apart! The UCL has a review done by the lads with a few big results being discussed!
The first legs of the MTN8 Semi-Finals have come and gone in a flash with the results being nothing less of a surprise! This first matchup saw Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Orlando to take on the Buccaneers in a fixture witnessed by a sold-out stadium! Masandwana uncharacteristically failed to register a single shot on target (9 shots in total); combined with a strong defensive effort from the buccaneers - that match ended in a stalemate!
Kaizer Chiefs hosted AmaZulu on Sunday which saw red cards, goals, and fiery emotions. Gabadinho Mhango opened the scoring for Usuthu early in the first half after a lovely composed finish; Dolly netted in the 61st minute to even things up for Chiefs. A couple of missed chances between and after the goals should've given Chiefs the lead but it wasn't to be for Amakhosi. A second red for AmaZulu late in the game was too little too late for Chiefs to claim the victory.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has given their opinion on the recent MTN8 fixtures - the first legs of the Semi-Finals. The supporters express their frustrations, and excitement and offer praise toward the matches with one fan even saying 'football can kill you!'
Pitso Mosimane is no stranger to challenges and it seems as if Jingles is facing his biggest challenge yet. The serial winner has joined Al Ahli Saudi FC and has recently been relegated from the Saudi Pro League, and the club hopes to be promoted. Al Ahli Saudi FC has lost plenty of finances after being relegated and has splashed the cash on Jingles. People may have questioned this move from Pitso's point of view, and according to football journalist Thomas 'TK' Kewnaite; Coach Pitso knows what he is doing. Pitso is an incredibly intelligent coach and we must back him fully.
The PSL Transfer window has been closed for a few days and the last-minute signings have made their debuts. Both former Mamelodi Sundowns Goalie Sean Roberts and SA footballing journalist Thomas Kwenatie give their two-sense on the latest and the greatest of these transfers. TK gives his top five transfers.
The gents also dive into the first leg round of the MTN8 semi-finals which saw some surprising results. 'It was shocking how Sundowns didn't manage a shot on target, but take nothing away from Pirates and how they played against Masandawana - TK. Chiefs could've won the game but they also could've lost the game and it is evident that Amakhosi arent where they want to be just yet.
In this edition of The COSAFA Show we look ahead to the exciting TotalEnergies AFCON U20 Egypt 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier in Eswatini from October 7-16, where the best young talent in the regional will go head-to-head. They will not only chase the coveted COSAFA trophy, but also attempt to qualify for the continental finals that will be held in Egypt early next year. That competition in turn is the qualification route for the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia, where the leading four sides will head to Asia.
We speak to Mozambique coach Dario Monteiro, who led his side to the title two years ago and will be back to defend the trophy after no competition was possible last year due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant. He gives us a fascinating insight into his team and also speaks about his time with Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League. We also chat with Eswatini coach Mduduzi Nxumalo as he leads the hosts into the competition and seeks a first knockout phase place for his team in 20 years.
Lastly, we get an insight into the COSAFA Beach Soccer Youth Festival that is being held in Durban alongside the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship.
Mzansi has turned their eyes to Pitso Mosimane and and his new coaching job. The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach has made his way to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli Saudi FC. Jingles has taken on a monster task, trying to take a 7th placed team to promotion - if anyone in Africa can do that, Jingles can.
It hasn't been too long ago since Jingles and Al Ahly (Egypt) parted ways due to mutual agreement, and since then, he has become the first South African coach to graduate with a CAF Pro Licence, making him very high in demand!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi debates whether Pitso Mosimane has made a right decision in joining Al Ahli Saudi FC and whether this move is a step forward.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is around the corner and Germany Men's head coach Hansi Flick has no more time to experiment. He's tried his luck and unfortunately, it did not pay off. The clock is ticking. Germany started their qualifiers off with a bang, dominating their group, but then comes along the nations league, and the same team left with too many draws. Hansi Flick has a lot of expectations behind him as he led Bayern to 6 trophies in 1 season before. The honeymoon is over and it is now time to think straight.
Bayern Munich will be looking to gain some momentum when the Bundesliga returns, The Bavarian giants will face Bayern Levuerkusn and on paper, this should be an easier win for Bayern, but both teams are having a poor season, so who's low, is lower?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Germany is looking to improve before the 2022 World Cup, Bayern sits in 5th place and the Balon d'Or organizers have announced a new award!
The UEFA Nations League is back and as per normal, bringing yawns and confusion to football fans around the world. UEFA decided it would be a good idea to take International friendlies, and make them into a competition, much to the demise of footballers who have complained bout the busy schedule already in place. Surprisingly, however, the 2018 FIFA World Cup winners, France, are sitting right at the bottom of their group - this could be thanks to the number of injuries they have, including star players Benzema, Pogba, and Kante.
Hout Bay United Football Community has been on the mind of Andrew Pillay for over 18 months, and it is now official: The UK-based businessman has bought a 50% shareholders stake in the club. Andrew is also the owner of Waterford FC in Ireland, and Fleetwood Town FC in England. This is an exciting time for the Cape Town-based club!
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, the Pogba brothers and the apparent witch doctor debacle are discussed. The UEFA Nations League brings boredom to football fans, and Hout Bay United Football Community has a new stakeholder!
Kaizer Chiefs got back to winning ways after a hard-fought victory over SuperSport United and former Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt. The Glamour boys entered the match needing a win after drawing two games in a row and losing before that. Chiefs haven't had the best of starts so the 3 points was vital not only to their table position but for the confidence of the team. The glamour boys lined up with basically a full-strength team, which included new signing Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana. The Burundian striker was able to net 2 goals on his debut for the club, which included a penalty spot kick. A great way to make your mark on the team.
Bimenyimana, however, was in the headlines for not only his goal-scoring heroics, but for also the way he celebrated one of his goals. The 6ft4 striker appeared to cross his arms in an 'X-Like' formation, which has caused confusion in and around Mzansi; Was the Chiefs player signalling Orlando Pirates or representing his National Flag?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation has offered forgiveness after new signing Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana celebrated in a strange manner that has caused mass confusion!
Bayer Munich is currently 5th in the Bundesliga standings, having drawn three games back to back and suffering a loss at the hands of Augsburg. This loss is devastating to Bayern as Augsburg is the smaller Bavarian brothers! Surprisingly enough, the side from the capital, Union Berlin has passed the litmus test of beating Bayern Munich and remains the only unbeaten team in the league. They sit at the top of the standings and could be a sleeper in the title run. The side has a deadly duo in Theoson Becker and Sheraldo Becker - the pair are causing the league at the moment.
Bayern’s misery will be put on hold as the international break takes effect for the next 2 weeks and unfortunately Borrusia Dortmund’s captain Marco Rues has been ruled out with yet another injury.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Bayern Munich has wounds to lick as the reigning champions sit in 5th place, Union Berlin is looking dangerous and Dortmund overcome Schalke in the Dortmund/Schalke derby!
The HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship is now a thing of the past and we are already looking ahead to two more tournaments on the horizon. Next up is the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship in Durban from September 25-October 1, as well as the and the regional men’s Under-20 championship in Eswatini that goes by the name of the TotalEnergies AFCON U20 Egypt 2023 | COSAFA Qualifier. That tournament serves as a preliminary competition for the continental finals in Egypt next year, which in turn are the qualifiers for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup that will be staged in Indonesia. So the long road to the global finals starts in the Kingdom of Eswatini and we spoke to the country’s football association President Peter Simelane to find out how preparations are going and the general health of football there.
Our second interview for this episode is with Zunaid Mall, who was appointed technical director for the Mauritius Football Association in March 2020 but was dealt a swift blow as the COVID-19 pandemic brought a halt to sporting activities on the island. But they are now back in full swing with extensive plans in place to drive football forward in the country. We spoke to him about Mauritius’ return to the regional Under-20 competition after a hiatus, participation in the COSAFA Beach Soccer event, and much more.
Mihlali Mayambela started his international journey in 2016 when he signed for Swedish first division club Djurgårdens IF Fotboll. At the time, Mihlali was only 20 years old and had left Cape Town All stars to take the world by the horns. Since his first transfer abroad, he has played for clubs in Portugal, Israel, and now his current club, Aris Limassol in Cyprus.
The midfielder takes us on a journey through his career, explaining the different cultural norms, and football styles the respective countries have and explains the challenges of adjusting!
Mihlali gets asked about which players he looked up to as a young baller, and although his answer may not be that surprising, the reasoning behind choosing this player will astound you! “The impact he had was different to others, I can compare him to prime Neymar,” says the 26-year-old
Speaking on the latest episode of the Big Interview, Aris Limassol FC playmaker Mihlali Mayamebela gives an insight into life abroad, and the struggles he’s had to overcome and compares a PSL legend to prime Neymar!
Kaizer Chiefs haven't had the best of starts to the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season, currently sitting in the 14th spot on the log after only managing to claim 7 points from their first 8 games. Having only scored 5 goals so far, this is their second lowest total at this stage of a PSL and lowest since the 2009/10 season (4 goals in seven matches). It is evident that Kaizer Chiefs need to pick their socks up and start winning games, as the fans are growing angrier and more frustrated as the weeks go by. “It is not looking good at all,” one fan says on the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show.
A new coach with new ideas, methods, and programs is bound to take time to produce trophies, but a complete squad overhaul was concluded and the fans expected a much, much better start.
The UEFA Champions League continues on Tuesday night seeing the Bavarian giants take on the Catalonian giants, Barcelona. This fixture has seen some incredible results in the past, with both teams putting handfuls of goals past each other with results being a shock. This time around, in particular, stands out as former Bayern Munich talisman Robert Lewandowski is Barcelona’s new star striker. The Pole made his move during the most recent transfer window.
The question that is making the rounds is how will Lewa be received. Will he be booed upon his return to the Allianz arena or will there be a level of respect? Another corker of a matchup sees Manchester City take on Borussia Dortmund and this fixture sees Erling Haaland take on his former club.
Another week in the PSL has come and gone, with results aplenty, some surprises and some expected, but the biggest surprise came after Mamelodi Sundowns only managed to scrape a victory over Chippa United. After only 7 games in charge, Daine Klate was sacked by the club, thus continuing the trend of not allowing coaches to have sufficient time. The issues will continue to have a snowball effect - the players will now have to adjust to a caretaker coach and then readjust to a permanent coach, and there is now going to be a sense of unsettlement.
The Carling Black Label cup, since its inauguration in 2011, has featured the same 2 teams (Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs) with no other teams having the chance to partake. However for the 2022 edition of the cup, fans are now able to vote for their teams to join the Soweto Giants - this has been met with great excitement by Mzansi!
On the latest episode of the Fan reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Chippa United sacking yet another coach (Daine Klate) after only 7 games. Fans also react to the Carling Black Label Cup potentially adding more teams for the 2022 edition.
South African goalkeeper Jethren Barr made history by becoming the youngest player to make his PSL debut. He was only 17 years old, and very inexperienced when he was called to come on against Orlando Pirates - a daunting task indeed. However, the youngster used this experience to make a name for himself in Europe! Barr talks about this debut and describes it as chaotic and incredible at the same time. He tells stories of how he and Clive Barker made headlines during that match!
On the latest episode of My Starter Pack, Bafana Bafana hopeful Jethren Barr tells tales of his first coach and how he and Mike Makaab got into business. The 26-year-old provides some background into his first paycheck and when he knew he made his momma proud!
For the first time in the history of the UEFA Champions League, the Bundesliga will have 5 teams representing them. The top four from the 2021/22 Season, (Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Leverkusen, and RB Leipzig) gained automatic qualification. 11th on the table, but victors in the UEFA Europa League, the Eagles of Eintracht Frankfurt finish the list. Other leagues over the years have had 5 teams in the UCL, this is a great moment for the Bundesliga!
A rare Bayern Munich draw, Leipzig getting thrashed 4-0 to Frankfurt, and Freiburg overcoming Leverkusen… This past matchday was evident enough to prove that the league isn't as boring as it has been perceived to be. Results have been a plenty and according to DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington, this season is going to bring a lot of excitement!
Manchester United has never been afraid to splash the cash; Pogba for £94 million, Maguire for £80, and Lukaku for £76 million are 3 of the top 4 expensive transfers in the clubs' history. The connection? These three players have flopped for the Red Devils and the worry with that is the new signing from Ajax - Antony. Manchester United has whipped out close to €100 million (R1.7 Billion) for a player that has only spent roughly 2 seasons in a top-flight European team, where his goal contribution (goals and assists) is less than 50. Will Antony live up to the expectations and break the trend, or will Antony join the flops? When asked, International Football expert Liam Becker responds by saying ‘He won't be a flop, but it is incredibly difficult to live up to those kinds of price tags.’
The UEFA Champions League draw has been conducted and the groups have been announced. Without a shadow of a doubt, Group C is the one to watch, the group of death so to say, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan will all face each other, and unfortunately for them, FC Viktoria Plzeň will finish off the group.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Manchester United made headlines by splashing the cash on Antony and the UCL draw brings excitement. Transfer deadline day gets discussed with some big-name transfers!
A matchup between Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach will always bring excitement, action, and raw emotions. This past matchday saw the two sides face each other once again and once again, a shocking result was the outcome, a 0-0 draw. Bayern is coming off a 7-0 drubbing of VFL Bochum and were expected to take all 3 points, however, Julain Nagelsmann just cannot seem to break. Gladbach finished 10th last season, however, they were responsible for knocking Bayern out of the German Cup too, after the Bavarians went on to win their 10th straight title. You have to give credit where it is due, Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was named as the player of the matchday as the Swiss maestro claimed a new Bundesliga record after making a whopping 19 saves against Bayern. If it wasn't for a strike from Leroy Sane, Gladbach would have most likely taken all 3 points.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Bayern Munich cannot get past Gladbach again, Antonoty Modeste opens up about his celebrations and the UEFA Champions League has some exciting fixtures featuring Bundesliga teams!
The PSL is a league we all know and love with the history of the different teams rooted deeply within the fans. Mzansi waits eagerly to make their way to the stadium, from far and wide to watch their beloved team playing the sport we all so enjoy. Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the stadiums sat empty for close to 2 years, with football still being played. Both the teams and fans are still recovering. However, Cape Town City owner and businessman John Comitis came out last week to announce that Cape Town City home matches will have a structured ticket system implemented for different matches; coming as a shock to many. For many, R100 for a ticket is too much. “ We budget enough for our tickets, but R100 is too much,” says one fan on the Fan Reaction show. Many fans are questioning this decision and beg for the PSL to stand in and regulate ticket prices so that every match, for every team, will cost the same amount
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacted to the ticketing structure put in place for Cape Town City Matches; with many suggesting that the PSL should step in and regulate these prices!
Our latest episode of The COSAFA Show comes just days away from the start of the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship on Wednesday, where East African guest nation Tanzania will seek to retain the title they won last year. But there will be any number of challengers for the trophy, not least a strong Zambian side that recently finished third at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and sealed a first-ever qualification for the Women’s FIFA World Cup next year. We chat to their star midfielder Ireen Lungu, who also recently enjoyed COSAFA success in the Women’s Champions League competition with her club Green Buffaloes. Lungu will be a key member of the Copper Queens squad in Nelson Mandela Bay and says they are gunning for a first-ever regional title as she discusses a range of issues.
Natasha Tsichlas has been a pioneer in women’s football for two decades and had a hand in starting the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team that has been so dominant in recent times. She is well placed to talk about the future of the game in the region and what is needed to take it to the next level. She shares her views on how women’s football can accelerate its growth in the region.
For the first time in over 100 years, Manchester United lost their two opening matches of the season, first to Brighton which saw the Seagulls overcome Man Utd 4-1, and then Brentford put another 4 past the red devils. All eyes were fixated on Manchester United vs Liverpool; protests were occurring during the week building up and a result was needed. United boss Erik ten Hag made a bold call by not only benching club captain Harry Maguire but also 5-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo as Anthony Elanga, Jadon Sancho, and Marcus Rashford lead the attack.
The Red Devils were the better side on the day as they managed to grab their first points of the season, winning that match 2-1. CR7 wasn't missed much as the youngsters up front made life incredibly hard for Liverpool's defence!
On the latest episode of The International News Desk, Manchester United is the hot topic with rumours of CR7's future still up in the air. The Red Devils looked to be the better side against Liverpool and the PSG attacking trio butt heads!
After 3 match days of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, only the reigning champions Bayern Munich remain unbeaten. The Bavarian giants walked over Bochum winning that match 7-0 (the worst defeat in Bochum’s history) and of course former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane was on the scoresheet, this time he netted a brace! A result that came as a surprise was Werder Bremen overcoming Borussia Dortmund 3-2 to snatch the souls at Signal Iduna Park. Dortmund was leading the match 2-0 until the 89th minute which saw Bremen net the first of 3 goals in a matter of 5 minutes. The ending of the match proved to be a horrible ending for the home side, an embarrassing defeat at the hands of a newly promoted team…
On the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, Bayern Munich continues to prove their dominance Dortmund fall short again. Dortmund’s CEO had some interesting words to say about his team's 3-2 loss to Werder Bremen!
Since he arrived in South Africa, Gabadinho Mhango has been a constant threat to defenders. He has a special ability that portrays a combination of speed, versatility, and goal-scoring ability. The Malawian has always performed on the international stage, which is why the saga between him and Orlando Pirates raises confusion for some fans. Towards the end of his last season with Orlando Pirates, Mhango wasn’t seeing much game time, leaving many fans frustrated. Mhango has shown his talent since joining AmaZulu (3 goals so far) and many are thinking that he is a perfect fit for Usuthu!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, PSL fans, and Buccaneers in particular express their opinions on the saga between Orlando Pirates and Gabadinho Mhango and why the Malawian wasn’t given game time last season!
Since 2005, the Glazer family has owned the majority stake in Manchester United Football Club. They have invested millions into making the club world-class, however, in recent years, they have played a major role in the club's destruction. Lack of football knowledge, greed, and selfishness have proved to be the characteristics shown by the Glazers. And the fans have officially had enough. Trophyless for seasons on end, wasting money on ‘over-hyped’ players, and pure chaos has driven the United faithful up and the wall and enough is enough.
The latest development circulating the club is that the British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to purchase the stake the Glazers are considering putting on offer - Jim would like to eventually own the club as he is a die-hard Red Devil. This news is coming as a breath of fresh air for all United fans as the last few years have been far from fruitful.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Manchester United is the topic of discussion and its potential sale. Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have had enough and Neymar and Mbappe are bashing heads!
South African-born youngster Katlego Mashigo is quickly becoming a household name and since he last joined the SL Podcast, the 21-year-old represented Bafana Bafana at the recent COSAFA Cup, donning the number 10 jersey. Mashigo explains that this moment was one of the proudest for his family as his dad is his biggest fan and closest mentor. The Portadown FC midfield player tells tales of his first ever live match which was at the Orlando Stadium watching the Buccaneers. Katlego goes on to explain who his biggest idol growing up was, which is an interesting battle between two Stevens who have played in the English Premier League
In the latest episode of My Starter Pack, Bafana Bafana youngster Katlego Mashigo reveals which players he idolised when growing up and also speaks about Benni McCarthy and why the South African legend is such an inspiration!
The rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich began in the 70s and the matchup is now known as Der Klassiker (German Classico). These two titans of German football have been title contenders and leading this race for decades, with the two teams winning 24 out of the last 28 Bundesliga titles. Dortmund, however, unfortunately always seems to play second fiddle to the Bavarian giants; Marco Rues and his team would be looking to dethrone Bayern this season. Dortmund have a talented squad of youngsters and combined with their experience, they might be able to snatch the trophy!
Timo Werner has rejoined RB Leipzig after a horrible spell at Chelsea FC and he was able to score on his first game back for the bulls. DW Sports Correspondent explains that he was in Leipzig during the weekend of Timo’s return and says that there were major celebrations!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Borussia Dortmund’s chances of dethroning Bayern Munich were discussed and Timo Werner made a sensational return to RB Leipzig. CAF men's Player of the year Sadio Mane unfortunately had a blunder!
Kaizer Chiefs had a day to forget after they were thrashed 4-0 by reigning DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Chiefs were without Ashley Du Preez upfront after the new Chiefs signing picked up a niggle. Chiefs defender Ngezana was at fault for Masanadwana’s first goal after a poor back pass was intercepted by Gaston Sirino. The second goal came from another Ngezana mistake after he fouled Shalulile in the box, yet Kwinika was given the yellow card! Chiefs were awarded a penalty yet new Downs' number 1 Ronwen Williams managed to get palm-to-ball and deny Khama Billiat a goal.
Mamelodi Sundowns proved to be too strong for Chiefs, which came as a surprise after Chiefs managed a 3-0 victory during the week and at the same time, Sundowns lost. One fan on the Fan Reaction Show mentions Sundowns being an injured lion, but a massive team!
Former TS Galaxy and current Cape Town City defender Terrence Mashego joins My Starter Pack to take us on a trip down memory lane. He tells us tales of his PSL debut and what it was like. The 24-year-old also elaborates on his upbringing in the beautiful game, from his first coach to his footballing mentor.
In the latest episode of My Starter Pack, Cape Town City defender Terrence Mashego reveals why Doctor Khumalo is not his Goat. The player also mentions which coach played the biggest role in his career, even being a father figure to him!
In this special episode of The COSAFA Show, we sit down with three figures from women’s football in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana to hear their stories and the growth in the game in that country that led to their excellent performances at the recent 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. In celebration of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions league | COSAFA Qualifier that is being played in Durban this week, we have a special set of guests. We are joined on our panel by Angela Kubheka, who is Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Media & Liaison Manager, and who has watched closely the improvement in women’s club football in South Africa.
Our second guest is Gwen Chipasula, who is the Media and Public Relations Officer for Zambian topflight men’s side NAPSA Stars but has also worked as a COSAFA Media Officer. The third member of our panel is Gaone Pearl Kerileng, a former player with Botswana side Double Action Ladies who is now a journalists in that country.
The trio talk us through their own journey in football, the state of the women’s game in their respective countries and some of the challenges they have faced in a sometimes male-dominated environment. Each is very successful in their own right, but that does not mean there hasn’t been obstacles in the path to their success!
Sadio Mane had a Bundesliga debut to remember after he netted in Bayerns' 6-1 drumming of Eintracht Frankfurt in the league opener last week Friday and Mane has his eyes set on some more silverware to add to his trophy cabinet. Mane Showed great camaraderie with the Bayern fans as well. Mane is quickly becoming a fan favourite amongst the Bavarians but the question remains, how long will the romance between Sadio Mane and Bayern Munich fans last?
Keeping with Eintracht Frankfurt, the eagles will be facing Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday 10 August and after a shaking league opener, Frankfurt needs to be hot on their toes to overcome a giant in Los Blancos.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the latest transfer rumours and news circulating the Bundesliga and speaks about Eintracht Frankfurt facing Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup
The moment we have all been waiting for is finally upon us; The start of the new DStv Premiership season! The teams have been busy reforming and reshaping. Many new signings have been made, and a plethora of players have been released - all in the name of strengthening a squad. Only time will tell how the 2022/23 DStv Premiership will turn out, but many are hopeful of their sides with some fans suggesting we could have a new champion!
On a darker side of things, the match between Royal AM and Kaizer chiefs has caught the attention of many, as the accessibility of tickets seems to be reaching a level of unfairness. It seems that tickets for this match are only being sold in KZN with no regard for other provinces. This may be a tactic to get stronger home support, but all is fair in love and war and a little competition has never hurt before!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, PSL fans and football lovers react to the new DStv Premiership season and express concern over the accessibility of tickets for the Kaizer Chiefs/Royal AM match.
The Biggest news coming out of the mother city is Benni McCarthy’s new coaching role. The Cape-Town-born legend has recently joined Manchester United in a forward coach position, under the guidance of Erik ten Hag. The Champions League winner will have a major say and hand in the way the Red Devils move forward in attack, he will be working with not only forwards such as Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo, but Benni will also be working with the fullbacks.
Benni’s coaching journey, more notably, started in 2017 when Cape Town City appointed the former Porto FC striker as head coach. He would complete his UEFA Pro Licence while coaching City, and would win his first silverware as a coach in 2018 when he guided City to the MTN8 cup. 5 years later, McCarthy has made South Africa proud once again.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has joined Manchester United under Erik ten Hag in a striker coach position. What does this mean for the PSL and South African football?
Bayern Munich coasted to victory over RB Leipzig in the recent German Super Cup. A scintillating matchup that saw 8 goals scored in the 90 minutes played. Clever tricks and special tactics are implemented, but Bayern proved too strong for the Bulls! Sadio Mane was on the scoresheet but also had 2 goals ruled out for offside, and the Senegalese forward is looking hot for the start of the new Bundesliga season on Friday 5 Agist which Sees Bayern take on Frankfurt.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga connection, the news of Sebastien Haller gets discussed and congratulations are in order for the Lioness of England as they beat Germany in the Women's European Championship!
A fairytale return that ended up in a sticky situation, Cristiano Ronaldo has not changed his stance on his future. The Portuguese legend returned to Manchester in a move that took the world by storm, however that talking point has taken a turn for the worst. CR7 wants out. He has made this very clear and handed in a transfer request before the Mid-year transfer window. Ronaldo probably thought that he would have his pick of Champions League sides, but instead what he has received is a complete dismantling of his status in world football in the space of these two months. Unfortunately for Ronaldo, being rejected by a handful of clubs has been the case and Manchester United are adamant that the 37-year-old is not for sale. Where will Ronaldo end up? After all, a contract is a contract and it is starting to look like he will have to play out his time at Old Trafford.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts sits down with Soccer Laduma’s International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the latest news hitting the headlines. CR7 and Manchester United seem to be butting heads and not changing their stances on that situation and Joan Laporte has come out and said that he feels like he owes Messi something - maybe a possible return? The lads also discuss some of the transfers that might have slipped through your radar such as Timo Werner to leave and Kasper Schmeichel to Lille in Ligue 1.
Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane has certainly had a memorable week. It all started with the Senegalese international making his debut for his new club Bayern Munich against D.C United in a pre-season friendly. Mane then slotted home a penalty to secure his first goal for the Bavarian giants. Mane was then awarded the CAF Men’s Player of the Year for the second time running (2022 and 2019 as 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to the CoronaVirus). New Bayern signing Matthijs de Ligt was also on the score sheet with Sadio Mane.
Shocking news has surfaced from the Borussia Dortmund Camp after it was announced that newly signed striker Sebastien Haller was diagnosed with a testicular tumor. Both Dortmund and Haller were happy with the medical but the player then made the club aware of some pain after a training season. The good news is that Haller took to social media to announce that the first stage was complete.
Also on the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington praises African Sport after Tobi Amusana made history, and Desiree Ellis and the ladies of Banyana Banyana get spoken about for their WAFCON triumph!
Banyana Banyana have made the county proud by grabbing their first ever WAFCON title. The ladies have managed to make 5 finals in previous competitions, however, they fell short at the final hurdle. This time around, saw dominance from the get-go. 3 clean sheets, goals galore, and perseverance saw the ladies of South Africa overcome every opponent and eventually Morocco in the final. A brace by Hilda Magaia was enough to secure the victory in the final.
What has this victory taught South African football? First and foremost, consistency is key. It goes without saying that Banyana are representing the country proudly, but where does this all come from? Desiree Ellis has been in the hot seat for 6 years and she is constant with the squad she selects. Could this be the secret behind the victory? Mzansi reacts!
On the latest episode of The Fan Reaction SHow, Mzansi reacts to Banyana Banyana winning the 2022 edition of WAFCON, and what the team have taught South African football!
Zambia clinched the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Cup 2022 in fine style in Durban to claim their record-equaling sixth regional title following their 1-0 victory over Namibia in the final. It was a superb tournament with some excellent football, showcasing the rich array of talent in the Southern African region.
In this edition of The COSAFA Show we hear from the coaches of both Zambia and Namibia to get their reflections on the decider, as well as South Africa tactician Helman Mkhalele after his youthful side collected the Plate competition.There is also a fascinating discussion with former Al Ahly assistant coach Cavin Johnson on his role as part of the Technical Study Group at the competition, whose job it is to analyse the tactics and trends among the teams. Johnson reveals their findings and give some wonderful insight into the latest developments in the game in the region. It is not to be missed!
We also hear the view of COSAFA Medical Officer Dr Thulani Ngwenya on how tournaments are moving away from the strict COVID-19 protocols and what this means for all stakeholders. Former Bafana Bafana international Mark Fish explains all about his project Fast Footie which is aimed at giving young players a fun and exhilarating entrance to the game. It is also an interview not to be missed!
And finally, we hear from participants and convenor Ashford Mamelodi at a COSAFA administration workshop that was held in Durban to upskill local budding administrators in the KwaZulu-Natal province, one of COSAFA’s many legacy programs at each tournament.
Lucky Lekgwathi is most definitely a household name in the PSL and the former Orlando Pirates captain has joined the SL podcast’s Big Interview to discuss his career. Lucky begins his story by explaining how he started playing football “When I was 8 years old I went with my Uncle to the local pitch.” Lucky then goes on to explain how his professional career got underway, without signing into an academy. From the early day, Lucky was always a hard worker with immense determination. This is how he managed to sign his first contract with the Buccaneers. “We arrived in Soweto and the chairman gave me money to stay in a hotel, we took shifts watching the car because you know..” Lucky received a 3-year contract, which eventually turned into 12 years. He took over the captain's armband and Lekgwathi captained Pirates to two treble-winning seasons, thus making him the most decorated Bucs captain.
On the latest episode of The Big Interview, former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi tells tales of his captaincy at Orlando Pirates and how he was questioned by other players when he first signed for the Buccaneers. Lucky explains the differences between the team he captained and the current Pirates team.
The Lewandowski saga has finally come to an end after Bayern Munich were satisfied with Barcelona’s offer for the Polish striker. The Catalan giants offered €50 million which tickled Bayern’s fancy. This move means Lewa can finally be happy after recent months of spite shown by the Bayern community. Having received death threats from fans and being treated unfairly by the club, he has promised Barcelona that he will help bring them back to the top.
With Lewandowksi’s departure, this begs the question: Will Bayern struggle up front and in front of goal? Sadio Mane has recently joined the Bavarian giants and Serge Gnabry has resigned, but will this be enough?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga connection, Lewandowski to Barcelona Has finally happened leaving a big hole in the offence of Bayern. Mattheus de Ligt to Bayern gets brought up as well.
A Legend, a leader, and an inspiration. Happy Jele and Orlando Pirates have parted ways after spending 16 years together. Jele joined the Soweto giants in 2006 and eventually took over the captain's armband from Lucky Lekgwathi. Jele has played over 400 times for the club and scored close to 18 goals. He is the most capped Pirates player to grace Soweto and his on-field aurora will be sorely missed. This news has come as a shock to many Buccaneers fans and they truly believe more could be done. On the Fan Reaction Show, one fan suggested that a leadership role for the youth could have been organised.
Bucs fans express their gratitude towards the 35-year-old veteran for his dedication and his years of service to the club. Jele leaves pirates with 8 trophies, and a handful of runners-up medals. Jele has undoubtedly left a legacy for future generations and will be forever known as a club legend!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi and fans of Orlando Pirates bid farewell to a club legend in Happy Jele. The fans express sadness seeing their beloved captain leave the coveted black and white jersey.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, and Mpumalanga Black Aces left-back David Kannemeyer joins the SL Podcast’s My Starter Pack and tells tales of his career firsts. The 44-year-old explains who his first coach was and why he didn't get an agent at the start of his career. David takes us on a trip down memory lane, from his PSL debut to his International. He explains who his GOATS are and reveals what his first ever paycheck was!
Since his remarkable return to Manchester, Cristiano Ronaldo continued to show his professionalism and football prowess by continuing to be on the score sheet, grabbing 18 goals for the Red Devils in the league, however, Manchester United finished in a dismal 6th position (the worst placement in their history.) It is evident that changes need to happen and with the likes of Erik ten Hag coming in, changes seem to be happening. Cristiano on the other hand seems as if he wants ‘out’ of the red devils as he wouldn’t play UEFA Champions League football if he stayed, and for Mr. Champions League himself is a big problem. Since he handed in his transfer request, clubs such as PSG, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich have rejected the 37-year-old superstar. The latest to come from the CR7 camp is that Ronaldo has ‘rejected’ a move to an unnamed Saudi Arabia team, on a 2-year deal worth €200 Million, but this could be a clever move by Jorge Mendes (Ronaldo’s agent).
The transfer window is well underway with some massive signings having already been cleared. Sterling to Chelsea, Haaland to City, and Nunez to Liverpool, but many more signings are said to still be ongoing. The biggest one is Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United. There seems to be a wonky line of communication, but the latest is that Barcelona are adamant to get De Jong off their squad list
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, the latest and greatest transfers get broken down and the future of Cristiano Ronaldo gets discussed. Manchester United’s progress seems to be going well under Erik ten Hag.
Morena Ramoreboli very quickly became a household name in 2021 when he led Bafana Bafana to their 5th COSAFA Cup victory, after stepping in as caretaker coach when Helman Mkhalele contracted the coronavirus. However Coach Morena didn't only make a name for himself then, he ‘first emerged’ onto the scene in 2013, when he led Maluti FET College to victory over Orlando Pirates in the 2012/13 Nedbank Cup.
Coach Morena joins the SL Podcast for the latest edition of the Big Interview to tell tales of his career, right from where it all started. “I watched my late brothers coach and that inspired me” Morena continues by saying “I never played professional football, so I had to choose, either continue playing or become a coach.” “I then headed to Bloemfontein where everything started to fall into place.” After joining Bafana and winning the COSAFA Cup, Ramoreboli headed to Botswana where he joined Jwaneng Galaxy FC as head coach and led them to their first-ever CAF Champions League group qualification.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, former Bafana Bafana coach Morena Ramoreboli tells tales of his career, from beating Orlando Pirates, to winning the 2021 COSAFA Cup. Coach also explains his current and future goals in Botswana!
Bayern Munich are no strangers to big-money moves to allow for a better squad and that is why it is no surprise that the Bavarian giants are rumoured to prepare a monster offer of close to €90 million (R1.5 Billion) for former Ajax and current Juventus youngster Matthijs de Ligt. Juventus have said that any offer less than €70 million (R1.2 Billion) will be disregarded, hence the bump up from Bayern. Bayern have recently added to their squad with Sadio Mane, joining from Liverpool, and Ryan Gravenberch who joined from Ajax. De Ligt is only 22 years old so this could be a very worthy investment as the Dutch centre-back has pretty much won everything possible. He is incredibly commanding in defence and a natural-born leader.
The only potential downside to De Ligt joining Bayern would be that the 32-time Bundesliga winners have a plethora of center-backs, with some having only been there for a season (Dayot Upamecano). The quality Bayern possess is no joke, but luckily, the defensive lineup is never set in stone. Julian Nagelsmann loves to switch things up, however, he has mentioned that he wants Ben Pavard to be a chief Captain (to Neuer) on the pitch.
After close to a decade apart, Gavin Hunt and SUperSport will be reunited after the 57-year-old recently penned a 2-year contract with Matsatsantsa. A three-time league winner with SuperSport, Hunt was last in a coaching hot seat last year, before he was shown the door by Chippa United. He has been itching to make a return to top-flight football and will coach a side he knows well, though a lot has changed since he left in 2013.
Also on the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, the fans give their opinions as to which local, or international team would suit Pitso Mosimane best; Jingles and Al Ahly parted ways close to a month ago.
It is no secret that Manchester United have some serious work to do on and off the pitch after finishing in the lowest rank they have in the history of the Premier League. United are desperate to boost their squad with talent and the first signing has been completed in Tyrell Malacia. Christen Erikson could be the second new player to join Carrington, but to add fuel to the fire, one Manchester United star is fed up with the lack of ambition shown by the club and has requested to be sold. Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo, after his highly-anticipated return, has now asked the Manchester United Board to be sold as he is fed up with the club. If the 37-year-old stays with the Red Devils, this would be the first time in 20 years that CR7 won’t play champions league football!
Also on the latest episode of the International News Desk, Raheem Sterling is set to join Chelsea after the blues and Manchester City agreed on terms, Paul Pogba has officially been announced by Juventus and Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent digs deep into the tactics played by Barcelona President Joan Laporta.
In this Big Interview with Clayton Daniels, the 37-year-old speaks about how his career has gone 360 having now recently signed for Cape Town Spurs (formally Ajax Cape Town). Daniels started his professional career with Ajax Cape Town where he was offered his PSL debut and managed to score his first PSL goal in only his second game! Clayton explains the emotion behind making his PSL debut and what it meant to him personally. Since rejoicing with the Mother City, Clayton is making it a goal of his to inspire the younger generation by showing them that anything is possible. “I am so grateful to be where I am considering the circumstances I grew up with,” says Daniels on the SL Podcast. Another goal Daniels is setting for himself is to help Cape Town Spurs challenge for promotion!
Daniels played a good chunk of his career under Pitso Mosimane at Mamelodi Sundowns when he joined Masanadawana in 2011. Daniels was then able to listen to Jingles himself and get first-hand experience working under one of the best coaches on the continent. “Pitso is local and knows the culture of South African Football, his analyzing style separates him from other coaches.” Daniels goes on to say that Pitso has gained invaluable experience coaching internationally (Al Ahly) and now he has more knowledge. “Pitso has opened the door for other coaches.”
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, PSL legend Clayton Daniels tells tales of his career right from the very beginning, all the way to the present day since joining Cape Town Spurs. Daniels tells us what it was like to work under Pitso and explains what makes Pitso different from other coaches!
After weeks of speculation around the sale of Robert Lewandowski, the latest to come out of the Bayern camp is that he isn’t going to be sold just yet. The Polish striker has made it clear that he wants to leave the Bavarian giants after saying ‘I felt like something died within me.’ Bayern have their reservations about selling their player, of course for over-market value.
Lewandowski’s agent promised Barcelona that for €40 million, Lewa would join the Catalan outfit, well 3 offers later and over said price, still nothing. Questions about Barcelona being able to increase the bid are being asked, but thanks to some bizarre business, Barcelona has around €200 million to play with. Could we see Robert Lewandowski don the Catalan fit?
Later in the show, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington explains why new signing Sadio Mane might miss some pre-season matches with Bayern. Kres also presents some exciting news that came across his radar this week!
Nobody knows more about match officials on the continent than legendary COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima, tasked with bringing through a new generation of talent in the coming years.
He has already overseen the careers of some of Africa’s leading match officials, including the man of the moment Victor Gomes.
But with a number set to retire this year, who he names on The COSAFA Show, there is the need to push on and bring through a new group. “We have been ranked number one in Africa as a zone in terms of the development of referees,” Tangawarima says. “You can see on the ground that, for example, the [2021] Afcon final was taken by COSAFA referees, as was the finals of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup this season. “All of these were officiated by COSAFA referees. This is the first time it has happened, so we can see the results of our development plan that has been laid down for some years now. “COSAFA is the only zone in Africa that is taking two ‘trios’ of match officials to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Out of the 16 match officials going to the World Cup from the continent, COSAFA is providing six. That is an amazing compliment to us.”
Also in this episode we hear what Durban has in store for the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA CUP 2022 and get the thoughts of Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali ahead of the start of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Saturday.
After weeks of debate and negotiation, Sadio Mane has officially signed for Bayern Munich, on a contract that sees him earn a staggering €380 000 a week, joining some of the highest-paid players in the world. The Senegalese superstar will don the number 17 jersey and could make his debut in their opening friendly against Manchester City or in the German Super Cup.
More news coming out of Bayern is that Robert Lewandowksi is edging closer and closer to Bayern Munich, a ‘deal’ that has been spoken about in detail for many weeks. The reports out of Spain suggest Bayern are asking €60 million for the Polish striker.
Later in the show, Kres discusses the surprise contract extensions of Christopher Nkunku, who for weeks, looked to be leaving RB Leipzig. The Frenchman has extended his contract by 2 years, meaning he’ll stay with the bulls until 2026.
Danny Jordaan has been re-elected as SAFA President for a third term, to the complete dismay to Bafana Bafana fans around the country. Jordaan will serve a third term as Safa president, beating Ria Ledwaba and Solly Mohlabeng to the position which he has held since 2013. It's understood that Jordaan has won by a landslide victory, with members of the association backing him to lead South African football for another four years. Jordaan took over in 2013, and many fans have agreed with one another in saying that he hasn’t changed anything for Bafana and question what he has planned for the next 4 years. ‘Jordaan is spiraling South African Football into ICU’ claims one angered fan on the Fan Reaction Show.
Bafana Bafana recently suffered a 2-1 loss to Morocco in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, and are set to come up against Liberia on 19 September for their second group game.
Kaizer Chiefs haven’t had the greatest few seasons, there have been coaches who have come and gone, attitudes haven’t been the best and there hasn’t been a structured plan moving forward. Khosi nation became frustrated and agitated with their team. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait because the rebuilding process at Naturena is well underway! It all started with Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard being offered permanent positions and then the mass exodus followed. Chiefs believed in releasing a plethora of players to bring some new faces and new, young talent.
The mass exodus (so far) saw chiefs get rid of a whopping eleven players and the reasons behind this were discussed on the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show. Mzansi discusses the exodus of Orlando Pirates, AmaZulu, and Kaizer Chiefs. “This is long overdue,” says one Chiefs fan.
Kaizer Chiefs have been hitting the news headlines in recent weeks, for a few different reasons; but all relating to a possible rebuild after a few disappointing seasons. It all started with Arthur Zwane being appointed as permanent coach and Dillon Sheppard being assistant. Then the mass exodus came along which saw chiefs get rid of a whopping eleven players, opening up squad space for new recruits. So far the transfer window has treated the Glamour Boys well after Dillon Solomons was announced as a Chiefs player; the 5th new player to the team. Zwane is a big talking point and high hopes have been placed on the former Chiefs player because he knows the culture and what is expected of players and Dillon Sheppard isn’t far behind.
AmaZulu have been in the transfer news as well after announcing a few massive signings. Gabadinho Mhango from Pirates and Zuma from Chiefs to name a few, to put it bluntly, AmaZulu means business this year!
Transfer Business and Financial status are all the talk as former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts sits down with Thomas ‘TK’ Kwenaite to discuss all of the latest transfers and which players are set to leave their mark on the league. Questions about the financial implications get answered and disputes are made; Should there be any form of financial fair play in South Africa?
Seven years ago, Raheem ‘The Dream’ Sterling moved from Merseyside to Manchester in a move that raised a few eyebrows. The 20-year-old at the time left Liverpool in hopes of achieving greater success and silverware and set for Manchester City. Since 2015, The Jamaican-born striker has made over 200 appearances for the Citizens and has scored close to 100 goals; Sterling has also represented the English national team at every level with 77 caps for the men's first team. Manchester City have been extremely busy with transfers, having acquired the signature of 21 - year-old Erling Haaland and in January, River Plate’s Julian Alverez.
City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted he has been impressed with the young Argentine and unfortunately for Sterling, being a squad player isn’t exactly his dream. In a shocking turn of events, the blues of London, Chelsea FC, have shown interest in the Englishman with a fee of roughly £30 Million. This move could come as a shock to many, but for that amount of money, Raheem is definitely worth every penny and even more. He brings goals and assists and an incredible work ethic; a vital cog to any team.
The International transfer window is well underway for some, but Manchester United are quiet and for the first time in a decade, the Red Devils haven't made a June signing. There are copious amounts of reports and rumours, but that's all they are. It seems as if the Ten Gah fever has died down.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, the transfers around Europe are a hot talking point with Raheem Sterling being the main attraction. Romelu Lukaka is set to rejoin Inter Milan on a Season Long loan and questions about Manchester United are asked!
Bayern Munich have hit the headlines once again this past week thanks to the announcement of Sadio Mane for an agreed fee of €32 million. Mane is set to leave Liverpool after spending 7 seasons with the Merseyside outfit, scoring 196 goals and accumulating a fair amount of silverware. This move however has ruffled some feathers of other Bundesliga sides as it seems as if Bayern was the only side that could splash the cash for the 30-year-old Senegalese star.
Thomas Muller has spoken out against the Ballon d’Or award claiming that it is near impossible for a German player to win the award, stating that teamwork is engraved into the players’ minds at a young age, whereas the Ballon d’Or has seen individual brilliance claiming the award. “There will never be another Lothar Matthaus.”
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga connection, DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down Mane’s move to Bayern Munich and speaks about Thomas Muller and the Ballon d’Or.
The 2022 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup is set to be the best yet with top teams and players to take part in the July 5-17 competition in Durban. On this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva after the draw was held this past week as he explains why more corporates from around the Southern Africa region should get involved in the tournament. We also get the view of Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications manager Devin Heffer as he explains why they were so keen to come on board, not just for this tournament but several other COSAFA events in 2022.
Dr. Fikile Ndlovu, who is acting Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, reveals why they are delighted to see the tournament return to Durban after they last staged the event in 2019. And Brilliant Khuzwayo, who is a former goalkeeper for Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana, but saw his career cut short by injury, has his say. He has become involved in football development and will be an ambassador for the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup this year.
Finally, we have an in-depth interview with Seychelles Football Federation President Elvis Chetty on how that organisation is emerging from the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and just what the future holds in the island nation.
The 2023 AFCON qualifiers recently began with Bafana Bafana grouped with African giants Morocco and Liberia. The 4th spot in the group belonged to Zimbabwe, but The Warriors were disqualified before they could set foot on a pitch. Bafana traveled away to face Morocco in their opening fixture, which saw the home team win thanks to a goal in the dying minutes of the match. This sparked outrage amongst Bafana fans, as they began to question the management behind SAFA. Mzansi expresses concern, with some fans asking why legends of Bafana such as the Radebe’s aren't involved in Bafana?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi questions Bafana and SAFA and the management that goes on behind the scenes. This comes after the disappointing loss to Morocco in their opening match of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers
The UEFA Nations League has continued into the second week of the tournament, with draws seeming to be the common denominator amongst the bigger European sides. The sad reality of this competition is that no team that participates in all the other major tournaments cares for the Nations League. Many players such as Kevin de Bruyne have spoken out against the Nations League, questioning its relevance. Germany national coach Hansi Flick mentioned that the format of the league, the games being Back to back to back, and the congestion is too much for the players having just come out of a full Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, and UCL year, being squished into a shorter space of time due to the previous 2 years of the Covid 19 pandemic. The players are fatigued and to make matters worse, the Bundesliga 2022/23 season will start a week earlier to compensate for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Later in the show, the questions circulating Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich get answered and Kres speaks on the eagles of Eintracht Frankfurt (winners of the 2021/22 UEL) facing Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup
With the international scene being fairly quiet, only a few major events have occurred in recent days. To kick things off, the transfer windows around Europe have opened and transfer talks are well underway. The biggest transfer story to come out of England is that Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez could have snubbed Manchester United to join fierce rivals, Liverpool, as he seeks Champions League football. There are still some concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at the Red Devils. Will the Portugues veteran stay at a club that cannot offer him Champions League football, or will he leave Old Trafford? Will a UCL team sign Ronaldo? These are the questions that Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield answers on the latest episode of the International News desk podcast!
The UEFA Nations League kicked off recently with the biggest talking point being Lionel Messi’s 5-star performance against European Outfit Estonia. Magical Messi scored an incredible 5 goals, becoming the first player in history to score 5 goals in a single match at club level and for his country. Right before that match, Kylian Mbappe somewhat disrespected the South American game saying that teams are weaker there than in Europe, so it was fitting for Messi to dominate a European team that the likes of Mbappe would have faced.
During the course of the last 10 days, close to 50 players in the PSL have been released by their clubs which opens up plenty of space in these organisations for new signings. Amazulu have announced that 15 players won’t be continuing with Usuthu and the Glamour Boys have chosen to release players and not renew contracts. These are only two of the many clubs that have taken a similar decision rendering these players jobless and in many cases, hopeless. Where will these players go and how will they support their families if they cannot find a team? These are the hard questions that need answers.
Speaking on the SL Podcast’s The Big Issue, Thomas Kwenaite mentions that this number could increase to over 100 players if something isn’t done. This matter goes deeper than what is currently portrayed on the surface; how does all of this affect the mental health of the players and even their families? What about the livelihoods of the people who rely on these players to bring home the bacon? This leaves a sour taste in many peoples’ mouths
In the latest episode of the Big Issue, former PSL star Sean Roberts explains what he went through as a player and how making a stable switch from career to post-career is so important. Thomas ‘TK’ Kwenaite asks hard questions about the PSL and the clubs.
After joining Orlando Pirates in 2019, and spending close to 3 seasons as an assistant coach, Fadlu Davids will leave the Buccaneers at the end of June 2022 when his contract expires. The 41-year-old will not be signing a new contract and nothing has been agreed upon by the club itself. Davids has performed a stellar job according to a statement released Pirates’ official website. Davids helped take Pirates to the final of the CAF Confederations Cup, unfortunately coming in second place, and a few big wins on the local circuit have put the Cape-Town-born coach in demand. Since this announcement, the fans have been rating Davids’ performance, and there are now talks of Fadlu already looking for a new job!
During the course of the last 10 days, close to 50 players in the PSL have been released by their clubs which opens up plenty of space in these organistions for new signings. Kaizer Chiefs have already announced a few big-name signings, but with the transfer window well underway, more players will be joining clubs with big names circulating the footballing world.
Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu says the team is ready to meet the raised expectations on the side following their stunning performance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon earlier this year.
The Flames reached the second round of the continental showpiece for the first time and took Morocco close in the knockout stages, showing a massive improvement in performance.
Nyamilandu admits the hard part is now to replicate that but believes the side are on a new upward trajectory as they host Ethiopia in Sunday’s opener for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“We needed to showcase how good Malawi is. All those years we were misfiring, but it is great that the Flames brought some good news for Malawi,” Nyamilandu told The COSAFA Show.
“The performance [in Cameroon] was exceptional, beyond the expectations of a lot of people, and we take pride in what we achieved. It was something historical. We are still enjoying the moment and I hope it will last a long time. “Our plan is to start from where we left off. We were on a high and we want to capitalise on that momentum as a springboard. The boys have a lot of confidence that they can excel. We are taking matches very seriously because we want to go to the finals in Ivory Coast. “There is an expectation from Malawians that we will qualify. We need to make a big statement.”
Also in this episode, we speak to Botswana Football Association President Maclean Letshwiti about The Mares’ maiden appearance at the 2022 CAF Women’s Cup of Nations finals in Morocco next month, and the joint bid with Namibia to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Finally, we hear from Eswatini Football Association President Peter Simalane about developments in that country.
After a scintillating UCL final which saw Liverpool fall short to Real Madrid, African star and Senegalese attacker Sadio Mane announced that he wants to leave Anfield. The 30-year-old revealed before the match that he has an announcement and it has since been revealed that the reason behind wanting to leave, all comes down to wages. Mane is currently earning around £100 000 per week; he is currently outside of the Reds' 10 highest earners. According to Sport Bild, the reason for Mane's refusal to extend his stay with Liverpool is because the club were against giving the forward the weekly £393 000 wage package he had requested.
Another hot topic that has been brought up; is Argentina thrashing Italy in the third ever edition of the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of champions. This fixture sees the winners of the COPA America lock horns with the winners of the European Championship. La Albiceleste have now gone a record 32 games unbeaten with an attack that seems to be too menacing for most opponents. This is the second major international trophy that Lionel Messi has lifted.
On the latest episode of The International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts discusses the future of Sadio Mane with Soccer Laduma International News correspondent Kurt Buckerfield. The gents also discuss the latest with Lionel Messi and Argentina emerging victorious over Italy in Thursday night’s Finalissima as well as a few other of the biggest transfer stories.
After an incredible start to the transfer window, (acquiring the signatures of Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard as permanent coaches) Kaizer Chiefs have now confirmed the signings of Stellenbosch FC duo Ashley Du Preez and Zitha Kwinika. Kaizer Chiefs fans are looking forward to the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season with hopes of securing continental football and a trophy or two as well. Amakhosi Nation has expressed their feelings about these two coaches before, with many saying that Zwane is a perfect fit as he understands Chiefs' Culture.
Both Du Preez and Kwinika are fan favourites and have performed well for Stellenbosch FC. Amakhosi nation believes that these signings are the start of good things and there are a few fans who believe that another signing will be the final piece of the puzzle.
At the time of this podcast, Chiefs have confirmed the exit of a few players, with the likes of Samir Nurkovic, Lazarous Kambole, Lebogang Manyama, and Daniel Cardoso all leaving the club (read more on this below).
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Amakhosi NAtion express excitement and joy for the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season after Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard are now permanent. Khosi nation also has their say on Chiefs signing Stellenbosch FC duo Ashley Du Preez and Zitha Kwinika.
Before the UEFA Champions League final, Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane mentioned that a message will be delivered after the match, the winger lived up to this promise with the message being that he wants to leave Liverpool. Liverpool have explained that 2 conditions need to be met for Mane to leave.
DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington has looked into this rumoured move and has explained that 3 things need to happen for this move to be more feasible; Gnabry and Lewandowski need to leave the club (they each have reasons behind wanting a move) and Nagelsmann needs to find a place for the 30-year old.
Let's not forget that top-flight football in England is considered to be the pinnacle of league football, overpowering Germany, meaning that should Sadio Mane leave Liverpool, he will in theory be downgrading his career. But on the contrary, he could be joining a beast of a team on the pitch in Bayern Munich. “One thing that needs to be made clear is that Germany isn’t for everyone,” Harrington explains.
After a season of mixed results and emotional rollercoasters, which includes the sacking of coaches (Stuart Baxter) and players performing well; Amakhosi Nation shares mixed feelings about the 2022/2023 season. Many fans think that the ‘rebuild’ is going to take a long time and many others think that Arthur Zwane is the man for the job! Now that the 48-year-old has officially been announced as the head coach, Chiefs fans will be licking their lips in hopes of performing well next season. A few fans mention that Chiefs could very well be competing for the honours next season.
On the contrary, some fans think that Chiefs need better communication between the coaches and the players; with the players sometimes not getting the clear message set in front of them. One fan even said “to qualify or not to qualify for continental football isn't important”
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Kaizer Chiefs fans shared mixed emotions about the 2022/2023 DStv Premiership Season. Arthur Zwane has just been announced as head coach which will put a spring in the step of some Chiefs fans.
After a season of being called “a plastic club,” the Bulls of RB Leipzig silenced the haters by grabbing the DFB-Pokal trophy after beating SC Freiburg on Penalties this past weekend. The bulls had to fight until the very end, finishing the 120 minutes with only 9 men on the field after both Marcel Halstenberg and Kevin Kampl saw straight reds! The star of the show yet again was 24-year-old French striker Christopher Nkunku. The maestro scored Leipzig’s goal and slotted his penalty. This was the only reason Nkunku was in the tabloids this past week; The striker also won the Bundesliga Player Of The Season, beating the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, and Florian Wirts. Nkunku set the record for the most Player Of The Month awards this season, after winning 4, with 2 being back to back.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington discusses Nkunku’s record-breaking season, Eintracht Frankfurts’ UEFA Europa League Final win over Rangers, and how RB Leipzig silenced the haters.
Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron ‘Mbazo’ Mokoena joins the SL Podcast for the latest episode of the Big Interview. Being the most capped Bafana Bafana player is no easy task and Mbazo goes on to explain how he managed to accomplish that feat. He tells tales of what it was like to take over the captaincy armband from Bafana Bafana legend Lucas Radebe and what he spoke to Lucas about! Mbazo starts by explaining how European leagues and clubs have a higher level/standard of professionalism than South African teams.
The 41-year-old answers telling questions about why local representation in Europe is so weak compared to when he was there. He says “My generation, Fish, Radebe, and the late Philemon Masinga, mentally we were strong. This generation isn’t and they are lost.” Mbazo also says that right now, “looking at the current crop of players, nobody is good enough to play for clubs, like Ajax or Blackburn, the clubs I played for.”
In the latest episode of The Big Interview, former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena discusses his life's journey from the day he left the country. The Axe explains the difference between development structures in South Africa compared to that in Europe. Mbazo describes the opening match of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and why he chose not to celebrate after Siphiwe Tshabalala's incredible goal.
New COSAFA President Artur de Almeida e Silva has said he wants to bring Member Associations closer together to solve their problems internally, rather than have CAF or FIFA get involved. Artur de Almeida was speaking in an exclusive interview with The COSAFA Show podcast following his election at the organisation’s General Assembly in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday. “We need to bring all countries of COSAFA next to each other and next to their governments to help build infrastructure and help the federations. We have to connect our members,” Artur de Almeida said. “In our region, we have so many conflicts in the federations.
One idea is to have each of the seven members of the COSAFA Executive Committee assist two countries. To help them, maybe they visit the countries two or three times a year to meet the federation to know things are going and what assistance they need. “If there are some conflicts, COSAFA can be the first one to go and fix the problem. Before CAF or FIFA. For that, we have to come next to our members.”
Also in this episode we speak to newly-elected COSAFA Vice-President Said Ali Said Athouman on his vision and how he, as his country’s federation president, has masterminded the incredible growth of the Comoros national team in recent years.
After reaching the CAF Confederations Cup final for the fourth time, Orlando Pirates have the chance to acquire silverware, after a disappointing season. The Bucs have shown their quality in the competition, by topping their group scoring 15 goals, and continuing their march for glory to the final. Pirates were too strong in the first leg of the semi-finals after beating Al Ahli Tripoli 2-0 but lost the second leg 1-0 (Aggr 2-1). The buccaneers now travel to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Nigeria to face RSB Berkane in the final on Friday 20 May.
Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi says reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final is a saving grace for the Buccaneers’ disappointing league campaign. Ncikazi continues to say “We did not have the best of seasons, that is the truth. But at least this is a sign that the team exists, the team has this capacity that I’ve always believed [in], and for the supporters and fans just to have hope that Pirates have done it before, and they can do it again,”
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi shows support for Orlando Pirates who face RS Berkane in the final of the CAF Confederations Cup. This is a great chance for the Buccaneers to get their hands on some silverware.
After Scoring on the final matchday of the Bundesliga season, Robert Lewandowski has hinted that Bayern’s draw against Wolfsburg could be his last game for the Bavarian Giants. “Lewa” has been in the talking space for quite some time now amidst conversations regarding his contact and how he has officially confirmed that he will not extend with Bayern. The 33-year-old striker’s contract ends in 2023, but it looks like the Pole doesn’t want to stay with Bayern. Barcelona seem to be leading the race for Lewa's signature with no regard to his age as he has started every game for Bayern in the league this season, showing his durability.
During the final matchday, Stuttgart managed to survive relegation after the winning goal was scored by Wataru Endo in extra time (90 + 2). Hertha Berlin succumbed to a fiery fight back by Borussia Dortmund, which now sees them in the relegation play-off spot; this match was also Erling Haaland’s last match for BVB and he managed to get onto the score sheet yet again.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the Robert Lewandowski transfer rumour and discusses the upcoming UEL Final which sees Eintracht Frankfurt feature against Rangers. This could be the chance for the German outfit to get their hands on some silverware after some 30 years.
The talking point on everybody’s lips from this week’s International scene is the confirmed signing of Erling Haaland. The 21-year-old is set to join Manchester City after his release clause was activated for a measly £60 million. Manchester City of course haven’t had a world-class, out and out number 9 since Sergio Ageruo left them in 2021 and the citizens are looking to bolster up their already world-class squad with some attacking firepower to hopefully win them their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy in the next season.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts and Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent Kurt Bucckerfield also talk about the Erik ten Hag regime at Manchester United with a complete rebuild looking to be the case. It is said that the Dutch tactician wants to get Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt to join the Red Devils. Let us not forget that these two youngsters worked with ten Hag at Ajax and with the likes of Donny van de Beek set to return from his loan spell, the trio could be reunited!
Dino Ndlovu is no small name in South African football and neither is the striker’s story. The 32-year-old forward joins the SL Podcast to share his career story, starting right where it all began. Dino tells stories about how he and his first agent joined forces against his club's ruling and how that club allegedly wanted to confiscate his passport. Dino shares his opinion on the current state of affairs in the Bafana Bafana camp. Dino poses the question “are the people running Bafana Bafana the right people?” He also suggests that the legends of the game, such as Benni McCarthy and Doctor Khumalo, should be given a role to play.
Dino shares personal experiences that he has endured throughout his career, providing never heard before information as to what has been the biggest struggle he’s had during the course of him playing his football overseas. “the hardest part of being a professional athlete, is that you cannot be yourself, you have to live according to how people portray you” Dino continues by saying “Luckily that was only during the early stages of my career.”
Later in the show, Dino gives an insight as to how and why Mamelodi Sundowns rose to power, stating that it didn’t happen overnight. Risk and investment had to be taken and now the rewards are being reaped by the Brazilians.
In the latest episode of The Big Interview, Dino Ndlovu shares his story of his career, starting right at the very beginning. Dino also provides his opinion on the current state of affairs in the Bafana camp, the management that goes along with it, and how Mamelodi Sundowns rose to the top. Dino also shares personal stories about the struggles he has faced over his years of playing abroad.
Cape Town-born youngster Leo Mert is yet another young South African who took a leap of faith to trial in Europe for a team. Leo was successful having recently just signed his first professional contract with Italian side A.S.D Seravezza Pozzi Calcio in the Serie D. Leo is an out and out striker, who is capable of playing anywhere in the attack, as he says “Where there is a chance to score, I’ll be there.” Leo represented the Bidvest Wits Academy as well as SuperSport United in the MDC, before deciding to join International Football scouting agency Socca Dream. From there, he was allowed to be scouted in Europe.
On the latest episode of Player Abroad, Cape Town-born youngster Leo Mert shares his experience having recently signed for Italian outfit Seravezza Pozzi Calcio and how the game there differs from the South African football.
DStv Premiership winners, Mamelodi Sundowns travelled to the FNB stadium to face off against Kaizer Chiefs. All the talk in the week building up to this fixture was whether or not the Glamour Boys would give Sundowns a guard of honour. Tensions were high, but Chiefs did the respectable action and assembled in line to celebrate the leage winners. During the game, Sundowns got the lead early in the second half, but Chiefs equalized in the 79th minute. The biggest talking point of this match was Dolly’s penalty miss that would have secured three points for the home team.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation reacts to the guard of honour, and the missed penalty that would have secured a victory over the DStv Premiership champions.
Last week Manchester City were beaten intensely by Real Madrid to fall short of the UEFA Champions League yet again, but this week it seems as if they’ve stolen the headlines for a different reason. Reports coming out of Manchester is that the citizens have ‘agreed’ personal terms with one of the brightest young talents in the Bundesliga; Erling Haaland. The 21-year-old’s release clause looks like it will kick in during the upcoming transfer window, with Manchester City ready to take action. Should this deal be complete, Haaland would play for the same team as his father did between 2000 and 2003. It looks as though Pep Guardiola has beaten the likes of Real Madrid, Paris-Saint Germain, and Bayern Munich to acquire the efforts of Europe's wunderkind.
In other news, Schalke 04 are set to return to the top flight of German football after beating St Pauli 3-2 in a must-win fixture. Schalke shockingly were relegated last season after a serious string of bad results. Turning to European competitions, the Rangers were too strong for the Bulls of Leipzig; The Scottish outfit beat RB Leipzig 3-2 on aggregate to proceed to the Europa League final. The other semi-final was between West Ham and Eintracht Frankfurt. The Germans were too strong for Declan Rice’s men, seeing out that match 1-0 (3-1 agg); setting up a final with the Rangers.
Ever since Manchester City’s takeover in 2008, they have been a force to be reckoned with. The citizens have spent over £1 Billion since then but yet, the UEFA Champions League trophy is still out of their reach. Their legendary manager Pep Guardiola has failed on multiple occasions to bring them European glory, however as history repeats itself, this time around is not meant to be. Having boasted one of the most impressive squads in this year’s competition, with the likes of De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, one questions how they managed to let a lead slip like they did, allowing 2 goals in a matter of seconds against Real Madrid. There are many opinions as to why this might’ve been the case. Speaking on the SL Podcast. Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield thinks that Pep doesn’t have that much of an emotional connection with his players, such as rival coach Jurgen Klopp. If that is the case, Sean Roberts will have something to say about it!
On The latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts discusses the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield, which saw Pep Guardiola fail to reach the final again.
With only 3 matches left in this year’s UEFA Europa League, (2 semi-finals and the final) the two German sides that are left seem to both have a foot in the final. In the first leg, Frankfurt managed to beat West Ham 2-1 and the bulls of RB Leipzig overcame Rangers 1-0. Both the Hammers and Rangers will be doing everything they can to overturn these deficits, however, this could be an historic day for the Bundesliga as two German sides have never met in the UEL final before. Of course with Bayern Munich having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League, all hope was almost lost for the German faithful.
Breaking news this week is that Super Agent Mino Raiola sadly passed away from illness. Raiola was one of the most powerful sports agents, having players such as Haaland, Zlatan, and Pogba.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the upcoming UEL semi-finals which could see an all-German final with Frankfurt and Leipzig. Kres also pays respect to Mino Raiola and elaborates on another Haaland record.
After securing a man-of-the-match award on his debut for Portadown FC, Katlego Mashigo is very quickly showing that he has the talent necessary to make a career out of playing in Europe. During part one of this two-part interview, Mashigo opened up about how he most likely wouldn’t have played football if he stayed in South Africa. Mashigo spent the first few years of his career in the youth leagues but very quickly made his way to the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) where he signed for Portadown FC, joining fellow South African Jethren Barr. Having represented Ireland at the u15 level, Mashigo, holding a dual-citizenship, explains which national country he would like to represent in the future and why. The 21-year-old explains why he would come back to South Africa and potentially the PSL.
In the final part of this 2-part Players Abroad special, South African-born youngster Katlego Mashigo provides a career-first explanation about which national team he would like to play for. Mashigo also speaks about the chances of him ever joining a club in the PSL.
Botswana coach Mogomotsi Mpote admits his side are in a tough 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification group but is hopeful that with some fresh talent to compliment his established stars, they can return to the continental showpiece for the first time since 2012. The Zebras are in a pool along with Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, and Libya, with the top two teams to advance to the finals in Ivory Coast next year. It is certainly a difficult group with three worthy opponents and some arduous travels, but Mpote is confident his side will compete.
“It’s a tough one, there is no easy group [in the qualifiers],” Mpote says. “You are playing big boys now. You need to prepare well and play those games. We are expecting to work hard and win some matches. “We always think about the advantage of other countries, whereby they have players who are playing in the European leagues, and you have boys who are not in those leagues. “But at least we know the boys are playing week in, week out [in the local league]. We are looking forward to those games.”
Mpote, who led Botswana to the 2019 COSAFA Cup final, where they lost to Zambia, says he would like to introduce some new players into the squad during the campaign. “You have to mix [the squad], because we are looking at 2023 and beyond. You have players from the Under-23s, and then the tried and tested boys. If you mix, and you know you have at least two players in each position, young and senior, you will make it. “The Under-23s will know what we are up against when we play these CAF games. Many of the boys admire the players in Europe, but once you play with them [you learn the level] and find a way to compete with them.”
Also in this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from Petro Atletico coach Alexandre Santos on how they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League, and the co-coach of Orlando Pirates Mandla Ncikazi on their progress in the CAF Confederation Cup.
With current Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag putting pen to paper to become Manchester United’s manager, the Dutchman requested to have full control over which players come into the club and which players leave. This may come as a shock, but putting all of this into the manager's hands and not the people at the top, means he will have full control over the style in the near future. Ten Hag is a super-genius when it comes to tactics and playing style, with a heavy emphasis on youth; hence why he has openly stated that an overhaul is on the cards. Many players such as Pogba and Cavana will be leaving as free agents, but ten Hag is said to sell others such as Mata, Matic, Jones, and Bailey. He will most likely to replace these players (12 in total) with some exciting youth, with a budget of between £100-£120 million but with the sale of 6 players, that budget will no doubt increase.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape town goalie Sean Roberts and Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent Kurt Buckerifeld also talk about the first leg matches of the UEFA Champions League which saw some incredible football being played. The gents also take some time to discuss Neymar and his potential move away from PSG, after it has been said that the Brazilian has lost touch with the club.
For the third consecutive year, Mamelodi Sundowns have been knocked out of the CAF Champions League, having their dreams crushed by Petro de Luanda. The second leg finished in a 1-all draw, however, the Angolan giants sealed the deal in the first leg with a 2-1 victory in Angola. Masandawana will have to wait until next year’s competition to relive their 2016 title-winning tournament. The second leg between these two African giants was filled with more controversy. After the match, Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi was asked about what he felt went wrong, he said he felt VAR played a role. When asked about this, he said “I wouldn’t say they were right or wrong, but I just feel in a game it has an effect when you have too many stoppages and maybe four or five minutes in the issue of Denis (Onyango) and the handball, I think that’s a decision that can be taken very quickly.”
The fans and Sundowns supporters are in agreement with Manqoba, with many fans expressing disgust towards the way VAR is used, and not only on the African continent! Many fans however also expressed their feelings towards the arrogance of Sundowns; Some fans thought that their team went into the second leg ‘having already one.’
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mamelodi Sundowns and soccer fans alike unite in expressing their apprehension about Sundowns’ loss to Petro de Luanda. Masandawana fans explain that their team potentially went into the match being too arrogant and how VAR could be improved.
After yet another dominant display in the Der Klassiker, Bayern Munich were crowned champions of the Bundesliga for a record tenth time in a row. This means that Bayern now hold the record (out of the European Leagues) for the most consecutive title wins. This match result came with many side stories, starting with the issue of Lewandowski leaving the club. It is rather strange and disorientating that Bayern haven’t gotten the Polish talismans' signature when Muller, Neuer, and Gnabry are all having talks with the board about contract extensions. With Barcelona leading the race for Lewa’s signature, it could be too little too late for the Bavarian, considering Barce can afford his asking price.
Another story to come from this weekend is that there is an outcry for the league to be restructured, seeing that Bayern have now won 10 leagues in a row. Bayern’s dominance is something of beauty, but with their ever-growing bank account allowing them to purchase any player they wish, should the league step in and restructure itself? Or should there be tighter financial rules, a sliding scale if you will, relating to how much money teams have in the bank?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Kres Harrington breaks down Bayer’s impressive win over Dortmund, setting yet another record. Kres also examines Lewandowski’s contract and speaks about Erling Haaland joining Manchester City. Kres also discusses who will get the remaining champions league spots and so much more!
Malawi coach Mario Marinica is hoping to take The Flames back to the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2023 after their excellent showing in reaching the second round in Cameroon earlier this year. Malawi have been drawn with Egypt, Guinea, and Ethiopia in Group D of the latest qualifiers that are due to begin in June, and while Marinica admits it is “not easy”, he is hopeful they can continue to show the improvement that served them so well at the last finals. One worry is a lack of game-time at the club level for some of his top stars, including Orlando Pirates forward Gabadinho Mhango, but the Romanian coach says they will just have to manage the situation. “Not too many things have changed, but unfortunately our top player Gabadinho Mhango, like at the AFCON, is still not a regular for his team,” Marinica told The COSAFA Show.
“But we believe in him and every single player we choose. We think that by working hard and being organised, we have a chance. “You rely on selecting players on merit and on form, and when these players are not playing regularly, it is a difficult task. But at the end of the day, we must make do with the best players we have on hand. “At [the 2021] AFCON, we were the team with the most players playing in the local league – 14 out of 28. That will likely not change this time either.”
Also on this episode of The COSAFA Show, we get draw reaction from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, while COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes gives an update on the latest tournament calendar for 2022.
Katlego Mashigo is very quickly becoming a household name in Northern Ireland after the South African-born youngster received the man of the match award after his debut game. Rewind the tape to 2006, Katlego moved to Ireland, after spending the first five years of his life in Shoshanguve. Once in Ireland, Katlego’s mother took him down to the local football club to start playing, but as Katlego says so himself, he was more fascinated with the artificial pitch than the game itself! Speaking on the SL podcast, Katlego confesses that if he was to stay in South Africa, chances are he would never have kicked a ball, or the chances are slim at least.
In Part one of this 2-part Players Abroad interview, Katlego begins to talk about how he started playing the beautiful game we all know and love; he takes us on his journey, starting right from the very beginning.
Having played for Chiefs for a decade and now joining the coaching staff for some time, it is clear that Arthur Zwane is familiar with the club, the culture, and the morals. He is also a fan favourite and the talking point surrounding the Glamour Boys. Many fans believe that Zwane should be the head coach of Chiefs for these reasons, however, it is important to know that no decision regarding this has been made. Stuart Baxter is currently in his second stint with Amakhosi, albeit worse than his first round with the club; and this is something that fans aren’t standing for.
The league is heading towards the business end of the season and it is starting to look as if Sundowns will be crowned Champions. Start striker Peter Shalulile is closing in on Collins Mbesuma’s goal-scoring record and it looks pretty clear that the Namibian-born striker will receive the player of the season award, well at least according to the fans!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction, PSL fans express excitement towards Peter Shalulie and Sundowns as the Brazilians are edging closer to another league title. Khosi nation explains what type of impact Arthur Zwane could make as a head coach.
It is every young footballer’s dream to make it big in Europe and all it takes is one opportunity; that’s exactly what came the way of 21-year-old Kaylen Henwood. The Eswatini-born youngster has recently made his way to Italy thanks to the fine work of Socca Dream. Henwood is set to trial for Serie D clubs Seravezza Pozzi Calcio and US Massese 1919. Speaking on the SL podcast, Henwood says that this has been his lifelong dream since he was six years old.
Henwood started off playing soccer on the wing, with the option to play as a striker and as he developed and matured as a player, he shifted into a holding midfielder, having the ability to control the game with his accurate passing and laser-like vision. Kaylen has been training in the meantime to keep fit before his trials commence in a few weeks.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, Eswatini-born youngster Kaylen Henwood joins the SL Podcast to discuss the trials he is set to have for Italian clubs Seravezza Pozzi Calcio and US Massese 1919. Kaylen speaks about how this opportunity is once in a lifetime.
As the PSL heads towards the business end of the season, it is becoming more and more unlikely the log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns will be caught as they now hold a gap of 14 points. Second Placed Royal AM seems too far behind the Brazilians. Another aspect pot this season that seems unlikely is Peter Shalulile not receiving the Player of the Season Award. The Namibian striker has scored an impressive 21 goals so far this season, after securing a phenomenal record of 2 hatricks in back-to-back matches. The 28-year-old is well on track to overtake Collins Mbesuma’s record of 25 goals in a single season. The Sundowns man has been in fine form for a few seasons now and a question that has run through everyone’s mind, is why isn’t he in Europe? Some would say that the salary at Sundowns is too good to turn down, others would say that he is flourishing in South Africa, why would he play second fiddle in Europe? Ultimately, is he good enough for Europe? Being 28 years old, many European clubs would commit a risk analysis on the player, but maybe a move to North Africa is the right decision. Or he is where he is meant to be?
The UEFA Champions League has reached the semi-finals with 2 Spanish teams and 2 English teams left. All four of these teams had to fight to get into the semi-finals but none more fairytale-like than Villareal after the Yellow-Submarine beat the Bavarian Giants (Bayern Munich) away, to reach this spot. Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield says “this Villareal story is beautiful.”
On the latest episode of the International News Desk Special, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts discusses the levels that Peter Shalulile is reaching. Sean and Kurt chat about the UCL semi-final fixtures and who is next in line for the Manchester United Job!
After a shock defeat in the UEFA Champions League against Spanish outfit Villareal, Bayern Munich have some work to do when they face Unai Emery’s men in the second leg. The Bavarian Giants controlled the first leg having the lion's share of possession, however, Villareal’s single shot on target was enough to down Bayern. The Yellow submarine will be looking to finish things off on Tuesday 12 April, however, Bayern head coach Julian Nagellsmann disagrees. In a recent press conference, Nagelsmann was asked about the recent loss to which his response was: ‘They made one mistake, leaving us alive.’ Bayern are coming off a victory in the league against Ausgberg and any 3 points will provide momentum.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington explains that the upcoming UCL fixture is do or die for Bayern. Kres Also breaks down Dortmund's injury-struck victory and breaks down a very lopsided Berlin derby!
With the 2021/2022 English Premier League season coming to the start of the business end, Manchester United find themselves in a measly 7th position on the league table. Having played 30 games (so far) and not having a 50% winning percentage is the biggest concern for the Red Devils. The 9 draws were wasted points and the losses then came as no surprise. United seems to be incredibly unstable and it seems as though everything started to fall apart when Fergie left-back in 2013. As of right now, Manchester United does not have a concrete coach as Ralf Rangink is merely an interim coach but what happens when his 6-month coaching contract comes to an end? Ralf will then step up to the director of football at the club, but in terms of coaches, there seems to be one man who's on top of United’s list. Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman has had some wonderful success with Ajax Amsterdam (current coaching job).
Reports suggest that the deal to bring the 52-year-old to Old Trafford is ‘almost done' and the release clause in his contract could be a big reason why current PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino isn’t leading the race (amongst other things). Ten Hag is set to bring in some big-name players and with his expertise, hopefully, he can turn things around for the Red Devils.
On the latest episode p\of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts discusses the rumours of PSG already offering Paul Pogba a contract. Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerifeld joins the big man to talk about Bale's contract at Real Madrid and Karim ‘The Dream” Benzema.
After PSL Chairman Irvin Khoza announced that fans will be able to return to stadiums from the 8th of April 2022, soccer fans around the country have been celebrating this news. This news has come with extreme excitement after the last 2 years; which saw stadiums sitting empty. Fans have been itching to get their tickets, to see their favourite teams live in the flesh, and now, it is finally going to happen. Fans speaking on the SL Podcast’s Fan Reaction Show all express positive emotions saying how it's been too long, with one fan even saying that the 12th man helps teams perform better and that this will be a big boost for Chiefs. The 12th man has spoken, however, the Fan Reaction Show features opinions from the likes of Reyaad Pieterse, Willard Katsande, Ruzaigh Gamildien, and many more! These players have each given their own expression towards the fans’ return!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, the 12th man of Mzansi football expresses joy and excitement towards their return to stadiums. PSL stars also get a chance to elaborate on how special this occasion is going to be with one even saying he thinks football in front of an empty stadium is boring!
After nearly two years, football stadiums in Germany saw sold-out matches as the restrictions around how many fans can attend live matches were scrapped. This meant that Dortmund's famous ‘yellow wall’ was back in full swing to see the hosts take on a traveling RB Leipzig. Leipzig have managed to turn things around since the appointment of Domenico Tedesco and things would be no different during this fixture. The bulls seemed to be too strong for the home side and inform midfielder Christopher Nkunu was the man running the show yet again, as the young Frenchman had a foot in most of the goals. Haaland was in the matchday squad for this fixture, however, the Norwegian couldn't find his footing. This victory for Leipzig means that they have beaten Dortmund in both fixtures this season.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down Liepizig' drumming of Borussia Dortmund. Kres also offers a preview of Bayern’s UCL fixture away in Spain against a tough opponent in Villareal.
Nigeria legend Sunday Oliseh believes African football is yet to reach its full potential but says there is one side on the continent that could win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year. Oliseh was a star of the Super Eagles team that excelled at the 1994 World Cup in the United States and won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta two years later. So he is well placed to speak about Africa’s potential and why we have yet to fulfill Pele’s prophecy that a team from the continent would win the World Cup by the year 2000. “There is one team that can win it in Africa and that is Senegal,” Oliseh told The COSAFA Show. “I have been following them for the past few years and watching the players in Europe, and the importance that they bring to their clubs. “Senegal currently has the best goalkeeper in the world [Edouard Mendy], he makes saves, he is calm, and has height. “They also have one of the best central defenders in the world in Kalidou Koulibaly. I am amazed he is still at Napoli! He is solid on the ball, solid on the man, he can even move from the defence to the defensive midfield role.“And then they have Sadio Mane, and I don’t need to say any more about him. They also have an African coach [Aliou Cisse] that has been there for eight years now. “So they have continuity, they have the talent and the exposure, all that is lacking in this team, in my opinion, is that high-level organisation. They need to go there with the view that they can win it.” Also in this episode, we speak to Eswatini coach Dominic Kunene about their progression to the next stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and hear from Bafana Bafana mentor Hugo Broos following their 5-0 loss in France. We also get the view of Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi as they attempt to make CAF Champions League history this weekend.
With the International break almost over, the world cup qualification is just about finished which sees 5 very strong African teams heading to Qatar. The regular European and South American teams will also feature. During this international football break, Bafana Bafana traveled to France to play the world champions in an international friendly. 65 places separated these two teams on the official FIFA rankings and ‘Le Bleus’ made sure they meant business. Unfortunately, there was a clear difference in skill level between the two teams; Bafana captain Ronwen Williams made many outstanding saves, but 5 goals were still conceded. One thing that stood out was the fact that no matter what the scoreline was, Bafana still tried to stick to their game plan. Although a few positives could be taken from the match, questions about Bafana and concerns still remain.
Soccer Laduma International correspondent Kurt Buckerfield sheds light on statements made by Barcelona President Joan Laporta and who he claims has already signed for the Catalan giants for the 2022/23 season. Kurt provides an in-depth review of the latest 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and who will be heading to Qatar.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town Goalie Sean Roberts chats to Soccer Laduma International correspondent Kurt Buckerfield about the recent fixture which saw Bafana get drummed 5-0 to current world champions France. The gents break down the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and chat about the alleged poisoning of soon-to-be former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich!
Breaking New! The chairman of the PSL, Irvin Khoza, has announced that after considering President Ramaphosa's latest address of the nation, soccer fans around the country will be allowed back into stadiums. This news has come with extreme excitement after the last 2 years; which saw stadiums sitting empty. Fans have been itching to get their tickets, to see their favourite teams live in the flesh, and now, starting on the 8th of April 2022, they can do just that! There are of course rules and regulations regarding attendance. Fans speaking on the SL Podcast’s Fan Reaction Show all express positive emotions saying how its been too long, with one fan even saying that the 12th man helps teams perform better and that this will be a big boost for Chiefs
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi expressed thanks to the PSL and Irvin Khoza after the recent announcement stating fans are allowed back into stadiums. Starting on April 8th, 50% capacity is allowed according to the latest Government regulations. Later in the show, fans react to Benni McCarthy’s departure from AmaZulu, Benni’s replacement, and where to next for the former Bafana Bafana striker.
Having scored over 30 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season, Robert Lewandowski doesn’t look like he will be slowing down any time soon, however his time at Bayern Munich could be coming to an end! The 33-year-old Polish striker will most likely not renew his contract with Bayern Munich and on the flip side, the Bavarian giants have not offered a new contract either. Lewandowksi could be setting out to Spain with rumours of Barcelona already offering him some sort of deal, allegedly. If Lewandowksit leaves the Bundesliga, the following question is posed: Will the dynamic of the league change? The answer seems like an obvious yes because where would Bayern be without ‘Lewa’ and his goal-scoring antics? Rumours have it that Bayern are even wanting to introduce a playoff game to make the league more competitive. However only time will tell…
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the consequences to the league should Lewandowski leave Bayern. Kres also touches on the Erling Haaland transfer saga and how Dortmund could catch up to Bayern. Kres also speaks about the German side and Hansi Flick.
After almost a season of ups and downs, Kaizer Chiefs find themselves in 3rd place on the PSL log and knocked out of all other competitions. Chiefs came out victorious in the Soweto Derby 3 weeks ago, but slipped up against Golden Arrows, losing that game 1-0. Chiefs have also been in the tabloids a fair amount this season due to them not honoring 4 fixtures late last year due to a cover-19 outbreak in the training camp, the final verdict on that is yet to be announced after the most exempt developments. It goes without saying the Chiefs have had a rollercoaster ride so far with all of the fans’ eyes looking towards the same person; Stuart Baxter. This is Baxter’s second spell with the glamour boys and unfortunately, things haven’t been going as well as he would’ve hoped for compared to his first spell. Baxter managed to accumulate 2 league titles, 1 MTN8, and 1 Nedbank Cup title back in his first spell and managed to pick up the PSL coach of the season twice as well. The fans have expressed their frustration on multiple occasions, demanding a change in the coaching staff with cries for Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard to take the reigns.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has their say on whether Stuart Baxter has left a positive impression on Chefs this season and if his second sting with the glamour boys has been a fruitful one. Mzansi expresses their irritations towards Baxter’s playing style and explains how and why they think the 68-year-old is stuck in his ways. Later on the show, Mzansi debates on wether or not Orlando Pirates could go all the way and lift the CAF CONFED Cup after a fine run of form!
With the final ten African nations set to battle things out to claim one of 5 spots available at Qatar in November, the two most notable fixtures set to be played see a rematch of the recent AFCON final in Senegal and Egypt. The Lions of Teranga would be looking to continue their fine form over the Pharaohs of Egypt. Bayern Munich defender Bouna Sarr looks to be set and ready for the fixture. Another mouth-watering clash coming up sees Nigeria take on The Black stars in what promises to be a monster battle. Former Bundesliga star Leon Balogun has been recalled to the national team, joining current Union Berlin stalwart Taiwo Awoniyi. The mind games have already started with Ghana only recently announcing their 23-man squad.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert, Kres Harrington joins the SL Podcast to discuss the upcoming African FIFA World Cup Qualifiers which sees a few Bundesliga stars featuring in the 2 matchups of the round. Kres also breaks down Bayern's hammering of Union Berlin as well as Bayern’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final matchup against Spanish giants Villareal!
New Zambia coach Aljosa Asanovic says there is no reason why his side cannot qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast … or even the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Croatian Asanovic has recently taken over the side and will lead them in friendly games this month, starting with a trip for locally-based players to Iraq on Friday, before they tackle Guinea and maybe one other team in France. Chipolopolo did not qualify for the 2021 Cup of Nations, a wake-up call for the side, but Asanovic is adamant that they will be in Ivory Coast. “We have the target to go to the CHAN [African Nations Championship], and I have the target to prepare the team for the COSAFA Cup. I have many targets, but the first one is to qualify the team for the next Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast,” Asanovic told The COSAFA Show. “This is an obligation for myself and my players to the Zambian people. We have 18-million people who expect that we will be at Afcon.” He says he is aware of what needs to change within the team and says raising the level of performance and being more consistent in games is the place to start. “I know how I need to make my team the best [it can be],” he said. “I have a very good team, but what I want to try to change is the discipline in the game. The mentality of the players. “The game is 90 minutes, and the whole time the performance must be on the same level. The discipline in the game and the quality of each player. This is what I am thinking all the time. “If you are disciplined in training, that will translate into the discipline in the game.” We also speak to Lesotho Football Association secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi about the appointment of Veselin Jelusic as that country's new coach ahead of their 2023 Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles starting next week.
After a crucial victory in the UEFA Champions League against RB Salzburg (7-1) which saw Robert Lewandowski scoring the fasting hatrick in UCL history, The Bavarian giants returned to Germany to play against Hoffenheim. Bayern went down 1-0 in the 32nd minute but of course, Lewandowski found the back of the net, towards the end of the first half leveling things out at 1-1. That is how the match finished, thus leaving a smaller gap for second-placed Dortmund to catch up to. Dortmund, with an extra game in hand, will be looking to close the gap even further when they come up against Mainz.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harrington reeks down the disappointment that Bayern felt after their draw to Hoffenheim. Kres also praises Christopher Nkunku and provides an update on Erling Haaland.
With the CAF Champions League heading towards the business end of the competition, Mamelodi Sundowns are hot favourites for this year's title after coming out victorious twice against the reigning champions in Al Ahly. Both games in Group A were won by the Brazilians 1-0 with nothing for Pitso to show. Sundowns top Group A with 10 points where AL Ahly sit in second place, way down on 4 points. It is starting to look as if Sundowns will qualify for the next round, however, Pitso and Al Ahly must win their next game to stand a chance of progressing and not exiting the cup.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, supporters of Mamelodi Sundowns react to their side's recent victory of Al Ahly and Ptso Mosimane, while answering the question of can Sundowns win the CAFCL this time round. Mzansi also shared their opinion on whether ‘Jungles’ can qualify for the next round after Al Ahly were beaten once again by his former club, Mamelodi Sundowns.
After a humiliating defeat to bitter rivals Manchester City, Manchester United find themselves in even hotter water than before. A dismal defensive effort saw the Citizens crush the Red Devils 4-1. After reports suggested that Ronaldo would be benched and used as an ‘impact sub’ more information developed stating that the 5 time Ballon d’Or winner was yet again suffering from his hip flexor injury which eventually saw the player not feature on the team sheet at all. When current caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick took over, he proceeded to explain that players should stay at the club when recovering from any injuries and not fly back to their home country and it looks like Cristian Ronaldo didn’t quite get the memo. CR7 flew back to his home country in Portugal to recover, thus not even attending the Manchester Derby. Insider reports suggest that his teammates weren’t even aware of this and have expressed disappointment in the Portuguese star. CR7 recently returned to training at Carrington, with a team of security…
Later in the show, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts and Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield break down the latest UEFA Champions League fixtures and results with the match of the week coming in favour of Real Madrid as Los Blancos powered through to beat the kings of France, PSG.
With only one year left on his current deal, Robert Lewandowski's future with Bayern Munich looks to be up in the air. The Polish striker has admitted that he hasn’t made a decision regarding his future with the Bavarian giants. Amidst all the speculation as to where the 33-year-old may feature, the English Premier League seems to be leading the races with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle United, and both Manchester clubs. Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick is a huge fan of the 2021 Ballon d”Or runner up and has been since his time in the Bundesliga. Since United signed the 5-time Ballon d”or winner, Ronaldo hasn’t made a big enough impact which is affecting him personally and it looks like he will leave at the end of the season and provided things go according to plan, Lewandowski could be the ideal replacement
With Bayern Munich keeping a keen eye on Norwegian 'Wunderkind' Erling Haaland, Lewa may be feeling disrespected as it is evident Bayern’s number 9 is in the form of his life having scored 39 goals this season already. If The Haaland deal is successful, we could see Lewa make his move across the Atlantic Ocean to England.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connecting, German Football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington clears the air regarding the future of Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski. Kres also elaborates on how football has been affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and how some top teams recently shared the spoils!
After yet another fantastic weekend of PSL Football, thrills and upsets was the trend of the matchday with all eyes focused on the Soweto Derby. Orlando Pirates hosted the glamour boys in the 175th edition of the derby (52nd in the PSL era). Both the Buccaneers and Amakhosi were searching for the 3 points and the bragging rights, with the ultimatum of closing the gap on Mamelodi Sundowns. After a thrilling 90 minutes, it was Kaizer Chiefs who emerged victorious after a stunning 2-1 victory over their fierce rivals. Goals by Frosler and Mathoho secured all 3 points for the glamour boys, which now sees them 16 points behind league leaders Sundowns.
On the latest episode of the fan reaction show, Mzansi comments on the recent Soweto Derby result with questions being asked about not only the officiating, but the chances pirates missed and the defensive efforts of Kaizer Chiefs.
Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will take the battlefield once again on Saturday 5th March in the 52nd Soweto Derby in the PSL era. Many fans of the beautiful game believe that the youngsters are going to “make” this fixture after both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs won their recent games, with youngsters on the pitch. Closing the gap on league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, claiming second spot and the bragging rights is ultimately the goal for this match. With both teams starting to find their form more, this match is going to be a mouth-watering clash from the first whistle, right until the final play of the game.
On the latest episode of the Fan reaction Show, Mnzasi debates who will emerge victorious in the latest Soweto Derby. Amakhosi Nation is glowing with confidence after a win against Baroka whereas the Buc’s fans are frothing after their team recently demolished their CAF CONFED Cup opponents 6-2.
Towards the end of February 2022, Vladimir Putin and his Russian armed forces began their invasion of the bordering country Ukraine, starting the biggest European state on state conflict since World War 2. This has taken the world by complete shock, causing sanctions and a severe sense of condemnation from all angels. It goes without saying that humanitarian issues are extremely important, however on the latest episode of the SL Podcast, we wanted to look into the effects this war has on football around the world. Throughout the last 10 days, news circulating this issue has been rife, with current (soon to be former) owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich set to sell the club after rumours emerged of the Russian having ties with Putin himself. Although the 55-year-old businessman is denying a few of these claims, he is stepping down ‘in the best interest of the club and fans.’
Another big talking point is that not only Ukrainian civilians, but also high profile celebrities have taken up arms to fight for their country and unfortunately many have lost their lives, including 2 professional footballers; The names of the two players who passed away are Vitalii Sapylo and Dmytro Martynenko. While the latter represented Karpaty Lviv's youth team, Martynenko played for FC Gostomel. Thousands of other sportsmen and footballers are taking a no-nonsense stand towards Vladimir Putin and clubs all around the world are joining forces in a band of unity to boycott, sanction, and condemn Russia in every way possible
On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s Big Issue, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts sits down with international football expert Kurt Buckerfied to discuss how Ukraine being invaded by Russia has affected world football. The gents discuss the upcoming sale of Chelsea FC, what clubs have done to their Ukrainian stars and how the world has reacted to this monstrosity.
Since his big move to the Bundesliga 2 years ago, Norwegian 'wunderkind' Erling Haaland has been in the tabloids ever since and is no stranger to publicity. The 21-year old has been in the news for all sorts of reasons, with the most common being his goal-scoring heroics for Borussia Dortmund. However, the secondary reason is the fact that Haaland is potentially the most sought out player in football right now. The son of Alf-Inge Håland has been linked to the biggest clubs in Europe such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and now Manchester City. The Citizens have opened interest in signing the current Dortmund star as they failed to acquire an out-and-out striker in Harry Kane last season.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down some transfer rumours circulating around Erling Haaland, saying that Haaland’s days at Dortmund are numbered. Kres even goes as far as saying; “I wouldn’t be surprised if Haaland is holding out and won’t be seen in a Dortmund kit again.” Let's also not forget that a few weeks ago, Haaland said to the media that he feels as if Dortmund are pressuring him into making a decision.
There is great football talent all around the world, but the key is how to develop young players with raw ability into the finished article for professional football. That is the view of LaLiga Senior Specialist in Football Projects Development Saul Vazquez, who tells The COSAFA Show finding players with talent in different countries is not the problem, but the deciding factor in whether they make it in the game is often the environment they are in. There might be a potential global great in Southern Africa as we speak, but if they do not get the right training and opportunities to reach their potential, they never will, according to Vazquez. “Talent is everywhere, you can see good players in different countries. The difference is the way to develop them or the chances to develop them,” Vazquez says, adding that is a message they drive home in their LaLiga Masterclass coaching workshops. “Sometimes the difficulty is to understand the context. That is why we can adapt our philosophy and methodology to the real context. It does not matter if we are in America, India, China or South Africa, if we can adapt our content and methodology to those players, and adapt a little bit to the environment, then everywhere we can build good players.” LaLiga has been hosting workshops for Southern African coaches this month and Sports Projects Coordinator Carlos Casal echoes Vazquez’s views. “For us, it is a wonderful opportunity because we believe there is huge talent in Southern Africa – not only with players but also coaches,” Casal says. “We believe they have interest in the methodology and how they can go one step further, and the good thing is that in this coaching series with COSAFA, we were analysing what we did in the past. Vazquez and Casal discuss a whole range of issues on this episode of The COSAFA Show, including what makes Spain such a successful footballing country. We also hear from the coaches of Zambia and South Africa Womens teams.
Having spent a decade representing clubs in the top flight of South African football, season veteran Ruzaigh Gamildien joins the SL Podcast’s Big Interview to discuss his career right from the beginning in 2010. Gamildien tells us his story from how he first fell in love with the beautiful game, to finding an agent to making his PSL Debut. The Swallows FC talisman takes the SL Podcast on a journey through his mind; he lets us know how he managed to stay in the top flight and constantly perform for close to 10 years. Ruzaigh also answers a few burning questions relating to the current DStv Premiership season and how league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns can be beaten. The 32-year-old also breaks down the changes that newly appointed Swallows coach Dylan Kerr has implemented.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, Swallows FC and PSL Veteran striker Ruzaigh Gamildien joins the SL Podcast to discuss how his career started, to present, to his goals for the future. The 32-year-old gives his insight on how Dylan Kerr is changing things up at the club and the striker also explains that Mamelodi Sundowns can be beaten!
Over the last 18 months or so, Covid has destroyed so many different parts of life that it is almost impossible to remember what it was like before the initial outbreak. Having been in strict lockdowns for the majority of these months, the biggest tragedy to the sport we all love is the fact that fans weren’t allowed in the stadiums due to safety concerns. Now, almost 2 years since the virus started, more than half the population has been vaccinated; other sports such as cricket and rugby have started to allow fans back into stadiums to watch live matches, and the question that is being asked by Mzansi is; when will the PSL start opening stadium to fans? With the Soweto Derby right around the corner, a salivating fixture is on the cards, however, on the latest episode of the fan reaction show, Mzansi expressed frustration about not being able to attend. One fan even says “The derby will be boring without fans watching live.” The fans are the 12th man f and they are itching to get behind their beloved teams to show support.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi has their say about still not being able to attend live matches; especially with the Soweto Derby around the corner. The fans expressed frustration towards the PSL and also had a say on the future of Orlando Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango, debating whether or not the Malawian should stay with the Buccaneers or not.
Although Bayern have retained their top spot in the Bundesliga, their performance in recent weeks hasn’t been all too convincing. In some cases, it takes the reigning champions the entirety of the first half to ‘gain traction’ and this could very well be the sound of opening doors to some teams. Their form in the champions league is an example of what's going on at the club with the Bavarian Giants only managing a draw against RB Salzburg. German football expert and DW Sports Kres Harrington says that ‘ with Bayer showing weakness, this is exciting for other teams!’
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports Kres Harrington breaks down the potential cause for Bayern’s poor form in recent weeks, Kres also talks about Captain fantastic Marco Rues rejoining the starting lineup, the future of Erling Haaland, and how the UEFA Champions League standings could look in the future.
With the second half of the PSL underway, we wanted to take a trip down memory lane to our conversations with a few South Africans who are flying the flag high abroad! This is a very special highlights episode that features snippets from Luke Le Roux, Kgotso Masangane, and Bantu Mzwakal. The three South African stars representing Mzansi in Scandinavia talk about the different playing styles in their respective clubs compared to that of the PSL.
On the latest episode of Players Abroad, Luke Le Roux, Kgotso Masangane, and Bantu Mzwakal reveal what it’s like playing abroad compared to what it’s like playing in the DStv Premiership!
After league leaders, Bayern Munich got slain by 11th placed Bochum 4-2, the door for Borussia Dortmund has opened up ever so slightly. The Bavarian giants conceded 4 goals within the first half’ Lewandowski's brace was nothing more than a consolation. Second played Dortmund are now only 6 points behind their arch-rivals and with captain Marco Rues back from injury, things are only heating up!
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington discusses Bayern Munichs’ poor performance against Bochum and how Dortmund can sneak past the Bavarian giants. Kres also discuss the upcoming knockout round of the UCL and why Thomas Mueller has come under some very notable scrutiny.
With the first round of the Nedbank Cup completed, the most noticeable result was a 1-0 victory for TS Galaxy over Kaizer Chiefs. This match (and result) is a direct reflection of the 2019 final, which saw the rockets win via a 90+2 minute penalty. Kaizer Chiefs were looking the business before the long break, having worked their way up to 4th pace on the DStv Premiership table, however as the old saying goes ‘anything can happen in football.’ The score remained even until the 54th minute when TS Galaxy striker Augustine Chidi Kwem netted. Without stating the obvious, Amakhosi Nation are incredibly frustrated and have been angered by this result, with many fans demanding change. Many supporters have been caught saying that the team has been playing the same football for years.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Kaizer Chiefs fans express their anger and frustration as the Glamour Boys crashed out of the Nedbank Cup at the hands of TS Galaxy, many fans stated that change is needed and the question of ‘what's next for Kaizer Chiefs’ gets answered!
With the return of the Nedbank Cup, a few PSL teams have already solidified their position in the round of 16, with most noticeably Mamelodi Sundowns who continued to show their dominance after a 4-0 victory over Richards Bay. Other teams such as Orlando Pirates, and Moroka Swallows also progressed. This weekend sees a rematch of the 2019 final between TS Galaxy and Kaizer Chiefs; Amakhosi will be looking for revenge after that final 3 years ago didn’t go according to plan. Chiefs have been in good form, having won 3 out of their last 4 games before the long break; and with Samir Nurkovic set for a return, things could work out in the Glamour Boys’ favor!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Kaizer Chiefs fans are confident that their team will beat TS Galaxy and progress to the next round in the Nedbank Cup. Khosi Nation show confidence in the Glamour Boys, with one fan stating that “Galaxy Have No Chance!”
When it comes to financial strength, no team is as strong as Mamelodi Sundowns, especially after they splashed out over R15M on Teboho Mokoena. Does this pose the question, are Mamelodi Sundowns inflating the market? The irony? Whenever Kaizer Chiefs approach clubs to sign players, those players’ price tag gets put up astronomically, which then disadvantages the player, and also brings a sense of unfairness to Chiefs. All of this relates to the recent transfer window! Speaking on the 100th episode of the Carwash, special guest and former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana defender Matthew Booth compares this current Orlando Pirates team with the Downs team he played for during his second stint at Naturena. The White Knight explains that during his time there, 14 players were signed and this can cause the players to feel a major sense of 'uncomfortability.'
On the 100th episode of the Carwash, former Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie Sean Roberts is joined by former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana defender Matthew Booth to discuss the recent transfer window which saw some surprising decisions being made. The former teammates also discuss the issues between Baxter and Chiefs, which came to light during the same transfer window. Later in the show, Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield joins the show to chat about the recent AFCON Final which saw Sadio Mane’s Senegal emerge victorious!
COSAFA Referees Manager Felix Tangawarima has hailed the performance of his protégé, Victor Gomes, in the Africa Cup of Nations final as a huge success and a victory for the whole of the Southern African region. Gomes took charge of the deciding match between winners Senegal and Egypt and did not put a foot wrong in an exemplary display of officiating along with his assistants, Zakhele Siwela from South Africa and Lesotho's Souru Phatsoane. Gomes was groomed through the COSAFA age-group tournaments and began refereeing on the international stage under the guidance of Tangawarima. “It was a big, big honour for the COSAFA zone and Victor did not disappoint,” Tangawarima told The COSAFA Show. “We are very happy with his performance. “Officiating in a Afcon final, with the whole world watching … he represented himself and South Africa very well. “Gomes is a very intelligent referee and he listens. He did everything that he was advised to do on this big stage and he is very mature. He is a very good man-manager. He manages the players very well and has a sense of responsibility. That has helped him a lot. “The three match officials who were officiating, they are all products of our Under-17 competition. They have been through our age-group tournaments and now onto the world.” Also on this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi ahead of their CAF Champions League pool stage opener against Al-Hilal on Friday, and Teko Modise tells us about the documentary on his career, DONA. Finally, we also get the views from club bosses in the Zambian Super League as they look to de-link from the country’s football association.
As the 2021 AFCON drew to a close on Sunday night, it was Senegal who lifted the trophy for the first time in their history. However, stretching back to the quarter-final matchups, Bayern Munich forward and Cameroon star, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, started to feel a tad on edge and as recent;y revealed that he felt disrespected by his international coach António Conceição da Silva Oliveira. The 32-year old forward explained that he wasn’t happy about his playing time, or lack thereof rather; and considering the background of Choupo-Moting and the teams he has played for, he has every right to be disappointed. Speaking on the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington explains that “When you look at who he is playing for, it’s understandable as to why he’s upset. Playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world deserves game time.”
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington dives deep into the return of the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich the only team in the top 5 who picked up points. Why Erling Haaland’s Borussia Dortmund got booed by their 12th man and explains why a Bayern Munich star felt disrespected after the recent AFCON!
With the winter transfer window now closed, some of the transfers and signings that took place throughout the 31 day-period will leave some wide eyes and dropped jaws. Teams from the BPL stole the show with Tottenham Hotspur signing Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus; Liverpool signed a bright talent from Porto in Luis Diaz. However, newly taken-over billionaires Newcastle, in no surprise, stole the show, with a whopping 5 players, with Bruno Guimaraes being the most notable. The Brazilian international is good enough to play for any team in the top 5 leagues and comfortably make the starting lineup. This singing goes to show how serious Newcastle are and how they mean business.
On the latest episode of the International News Desk, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts welcomes Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the biggest and most exciting transfer of the winter transfer window. Mason Greenwood has been the biggest topic of discussion over the past week, and an in-depth analysis into the 20-year-old situation takes place
Former Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu midfielder Michael Morton joins the SL Podcast for the latest episode of My Starter Pack to take a trip down memory lane. Morton spent 10 years in the PSL, playing over 50 times. Michael reveals how he scored his first goal in the PSL, his debut which comes as a major shock, and how he proposed to his wife!
On the latest episode of My Starter Pack, former Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu midfielder Michael Morton reveals how he scored his first PSL goal and how it coincides with his proposal to his wife!
With the DStv Premiership transfer window closed for business, many mouth-watering signings have taken place, with Teboho Mokoena transferring to Mamelodi Sundowns being the most notable. On the contrary, something else that has notably been unsuccessful is Kaizer Chiefs’ transfer window.. The glamour boys failed to sign any players, although they extended the contracts of 7 current Amakhosi stars. This lack of business seems to come at a cause not from Kaizer Chiefs according to some fans; “When Chiefs want to sign players, the clubs raise the price tag putting Chiefs off.” This is an issue that seems to only affect the Glamour boys, whereas other clubs such as Pirates and Sundowns don’t seem to get the same treatment; thus posing the question, are Kaizer Chiefs being disrespected?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi reacts to Kaizer Chiefs’ ‘unsuccessful’ transfer window having not acquired any new signatures. The fans express frustration to other PSL clubs, saying that price tags get raised when Chiefs show interest in players.
With the Bundesliga returning with some mouth-watering fixtures on matchday 21, all eyes will be on Bayern Munich who are hosting the Bulls of RB Leipzig. With 18 points separating the two teams, Bayern will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table, whilst the Bulls could spring into a European placement spot. The most interesting part of his fixture is the fact that former RB Leipzig star, Dayot Upamecano returns to the matchday squad. The Frenchman isn't the only former Bulls member, of course, there is Marcel Sabitzer, and current Bayern Coach, Julian Nagelsmann.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington highlights the top fixtures of matchday 21. Kres also talks about the rumoured links between Erling Haaland and Manchester United thanks to German Genius Ralf Rangnick. Kres also speaks about a few ‘shocking’ transfers.
Orlando Pirates and Malawi striker Gabadinho Mhango is good enough to play in top European leagues if he can bring consistency to his game, according to respected journalist Peter Kanjere. Mhango was a revelation at the Africa Cup of Nations and his strike against Morocco in the round of 16 is a strong contender for Goal of the Tournament. Kanjere, who has watched the forward since he was 15, says it is an indication of the player’s abilities, even if it has come late in his career. “I have covered Gabadinho Mhango since he was 15 years old and playing in the second-tier of Malawian football with Gerald Phiri Jnr at Brave Warriors. That boy… I remember he came off the bench in the second half of a game and scored four goals,” Kanjere tells The COSAFA Show. “The goal he scored against Morocco, I have seen that same type of strike from Mhango when he was playing in Malawi. So I am not surprised because he is a boy for the big occasion. He turns up when it matters. “In terms of the skill, work-rate, and football intelligence, he should be at a world-class level. But I think he is oftentimes betrayed by his temperament and consistency. “What he has shown in the last few games is the Mhango that we knew before he left Malawi. But maybe because he has not been through the developmental stages, he is not consistent. “Unfortunately this is happening when he is at the age of 29. I wish he went to Afcon when he was 23 because I believe, on his day, he is unplayable and good enough for teams in top European leagues.”
Also on this edition of the podcast, we get the views of respected French journalist Frank Simon on how the COSAFA nations fared in Cameroon, and hear an inspirational speech from Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu.
Pitso Mosimane’s future at Al Ahly has taken an unexpected twist after the latest comments by the club’s director of football. For the last few months, ‘Jingles’ has been negotiating a new contract with the Egyptian giants, which would see a healthy rise in pay for the South African. However, the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach’s comments on this matter have angered Al Ahly. “Regarding my contract with Al Ahly, I am not sure where we are at, we negotiated before the CAF Champions League finale against Kaizer Chiefs, before the Super Cup against Raja Casablanca, and we are negotiating now ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup,” Pitso told the Egyptian media. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash,” former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko ‘The General’ Modise says that A Big Club Like Al Ahly, Deserves A Great Coach Like Pitso.
On the latest episode of the Carwash, featuring former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko ‘The General’ Modise, conversations around two of the PSL’s most impressive attackers, Samir Nurkovic and Gaston Sirino are on the table; debates about their respective futures and current teams make the rounds. The drama surrounding Pitso Mosimane and Al Ahly come into the show and later, Soccer Laduma International Correspondent Kurt Buckerfield takes the gents on a trip through Italy, where Mario Balotelli has been recalled to the Azzurri for the first time since 2018.
During his first 2 and a half seasons at Mamelodi Sundowns, Uruguayan midfielder Gaston Sirino made a serious impact, having played 102 matches, scoring 26 goals, and providing 35 assists. Downs’s number 10 has achieved numerous memorable moments at Mamelodi Sundowns, most notably scoring a winner for the club in the 2019/2020 Nedbank Cup final, however since Pitso ‘Jingles’ Mosimane left for Al Ahly, Sirino has only managed 37 matches, 6 goals, and 3 appearances; he struggles to get any match time and rarely features during game day. Gaston Sirino has serious talent and according to Sundowns fans, he should find a new club in the PSL; with one fan even suggesting how well he could fit in at Orlando Pirates and even Kaizer Chiefs!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction, Sundowns fans join the conversation to debate the future of Gaston Sirino. Amakhosi Fans debate the likelihood of 15-year old sensation Mfundo ‘ Obrigado’ Vilakazi being the PSL's next big thing, with some fans even comparing him to Jabu Pule!
Bayern Munich and breaking records go hand in hand and seems to be a story we’ve seen countless times in recent years. This past weekend saw the reigning Bundesliga Champions rewrite history yet again after their 4-1 landslide win over Hertha BSC which meant that Munich have now scored 65 goals in only 20 matches; the most goals at this stage of the league for any team. Ironically enough, Lewandowski was missing from the score sheet against the side from the capital, however, Thomas Muller netted his 135 Bundesliga goal. According to DW Sports correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harrington calculations, if Bayern continues this goal-scoring form, they could reach over a century of goals by the end of the season.
On the latest episode of Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harrington speaks about Bayern Munich’s record-breaking performance, Dortmund's shock German Cup ejection, and the gear shift implemented by RB Leipzig.
With the DStv Premiership transfer window wide open, all eyes are focused on Kaizer Chiefs and what their next move is. Amakhosi have been publicly vocal about the dire need to sign an out and out striker, with Victor Letsoalo high up on the Glamour Boys’ list. However, looking at the problems Chiefs are facing, forming Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana legend Teko Modise disagrees with Chiefs’ need for a striker. Speaking on the SL Podcast, The General states; “ [Stuart] Baxter must look at what he has already, he has really talented strikers, he must utilise them properly.” Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts agrees with Teko, with both suggesting that Chiefs need a defender and not a striker. However, with Samir Nurkovic returning from a lengthy injury, hopefully, the Serbian striker can add some venom into the Sowetan Giants’ attack!
On the latest episode of the Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts and forming Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana legend Teko Modise discuss all the latest in the PSL; from fans marching to be allowed into stadiums, to the latest transfers. The boys also discuss the latest news behind Kaizer Chiefs and the PSL finding them guilty for not honouring 2 fixtures in December 2021. Later in the show, Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent Kurt Buckerfield Joins Sean and Teko to discuss the latest rumours involving Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, Mbappe’s future, and more! 10 Quick-Fire questions makes a returen, this time with South African goalie , playing in Northern Ireland, Jehtren Barr!
Towards the end of 2021, Kaizer Chiefs started to experience a Covid-19 outbreak with cases rising daily. The Sowetan giants became crippled, with no less than 52 players, staff, and coaches testing positive for COVID. This caused the club to write proposal letters to the PSL and SAFA, requesting 4 fixtures to be postponed as Amakhosi could not field a team. This came as quite a shock to the Southern African footballing world, as this had never been done before. But if you look into the matter deeper, you could say that Chiefs had good intentions behind this request. Amakhosi were “no-shows” for the matches against Cape Town City and AmaZulu.
However, the PSL seems to see no good intentions, as on the 12th of Jan 2022, the PSL officially charged the Sowetan Giants for failing to honour 2 of these fixtures, and on Friday 21 January 2022, the PSL will decide what punishment Kaizer Chiefs will receive. I think it is obvious to say the Chiefs will be fighting this case with guns blazing!
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Amakhosi Fans debate whether their beloved outfit deserves to be punished after merely ‘following the law’ because they failed to honour 2 fixtures due to a mass COVID outbreak. Fans express their outrage as they believe that Chiefs should be praised for protecting other teams and their respective families.
After a superb 5-1 victory over Freiburg SC, Borussia Dortmund have closed the gap on log leaders Bayern Munich to a measly 6 points. Erling Haaland was on the score sheet again after he netted a brace. Thomas Munier added 2 goals and Mahmoud Dahoud finished off the 5-star performance. However, all good things tend to have a negative counterpart as Erling Haaland has revealed! The 21-year has recently come out and said that Dortmund and the club are putting pressure on him to decide on his future “all I want to do is play football,” said Haaland during his interview.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington joins the SL Podcast to discuss the latest news surrounding Borussia Dortmund and star-striker Erling Haaland. Kres also breaks down the title race and links the Bundeliga to the 2022 AFCON!
In this special edition of The COSAFA Show, we hear from COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes, who reflects on the last 12 months for the organization and looks ahead to what is in store for 2022. The last year was a tumultuous one with the COVID-19 pandemic, but COSAFA still managed to host six tournaments, giving junior and senior players a precious taste of international football. It was not without its challenges, and as Destombes explains there was the hope that there would be more events, but for a variety of reasons, it was not possible. There is one brand new competition proposed for 2022 that will add an extra dimension to the COSAFA calendar and open up yet more opportunities for players from the region. That was also the case with the inaugural COSAFA Women’s Champions League and the return of the beach soccer event last year. Destombes runs through the proposed calendar for 2022, and where and when the events are penciled to take place, including the flagship COSAFA Cup. She also shares her experiences so far of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon as part of the Confederation of African Football’s delegation.
When Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in August of 2021, emotions started pouring out amongst United fans; there was a split. Many believed that signing the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner would mean that Manchester United could challenge for the league, and evening European glory. However the other half of the fans kept scratching their head asking themselves, is this actually the right signing for the club? Since CR7’s return to the Red Devils, the Portuguese has netted 14 goals in 22 appearances, whilst providing 3 assists. This looks like he is doing his job, and although that might be true, what's happening behind the scenes has caused more of an effect, in a negative manner. Rumors are that many of the United players are angry with the fact that Ronaldo has an ‘Undroppable nature’ about him, and other stars just haven’t been able to kick into gear since CR7 made his highly anticipated return to Manchester. Interestingly enough, at this stage of the season last year, Bruno Fernades and Marcus Rashford had a combined goal tally of 26, whereas currently, their tally sits at a measly 8. Ronaldo recently held “crises talks” with his agents saying that if things at the club do not improve, he will leave.
On the first International News desk special of 2022 former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts is joined by Soccer Laduma’s International New Correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the drama behind CR7 himself. The boys also talk about Philippe Coutinho’s exciting move back to England. Sean and Kurt also react to the latest El Classico which saw Los Blancos continue their fine run of form, beating the Catalonians 2-1; while discussing the prospects of newly appointed Barcelona managed Xavi Hernandez!
With the transfer window well underway, some surprise signings could be on the cards, with Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams, being on the radars of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. Thabo Nodada could be leaving Cape Town City for Orlando Pirates and Shane Roberts has signed a loan deal. However, Kaizer Chiefs have been wanting and needing to sign an out-and-out striker, which has become evident since the injury and absence of Samir Nurkovic. Amakhosi fans believe that Khama Billiat has been a great help, but what is to happen if the Zimbabwean star picks up an injury himself? One fan even went on to say that ‘Chiefs don’t need to sign players, just offer the job to Zwane.’
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Khosi Nation discusses who they think their team should sign this transfer window, with the likes of Bongani Zungu and Victor Letsoalo being the top priorities.
As we see the return of the Bundesliga, many have been met with complete and utter shock to see the defending champions, Bayern Munich, start off their year with a defeat to 12th placed Gladbach. Although Bayern is currently experiencing a breakout of COVID, which sees them having a somewhat depleted roster, a star-studded lineup was still the order of the day. Although Gladbach were clearly dominated, luck was on their side as Stefan Lainer struck Gladbach in front in the 31st minute. A strong defensive effort was shown by the away side in the second half, seeing that match out 2-1.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington provides some insight to a rumor regarding Bayern Munich’s match against Gladbach. Kres also breaks down Dortmunds’ victory over Frankfurt and explains why Erling Haaland was speaking Spanish!
With the PSL set to return in February, many are wondering if the season can be dubbed as “over” with Mamelodi Sundowns opening a lead at the top of the table that gets more challenging to compete with each week. Sundowns are 14 points clear at the top of the table and are currently in fine form. Some fans claim that Sundowns cannot be caught and that “the other teams” are fighting for second place. Although there could be truth behind that statement, anything can happen in soccer and we will have to wait and see what the second half of the season brings.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, soccer fans debate the matter of the PSL league table and who (if any) can catch sundowns. Many fans believe that the league is over and the ‘other teams’ are currently fighting for second place. A few fans commented on the matter and claimed that if Chiefs give Zwane a chance as head coach, ‘’The Glamour Boys’ could see themselves climb the table.
With the transfer markets officially opened, all eyes will be watching any news relating to Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. Haaland has constantly been in the tabloids in recent months for not only his goal-scoring heroics but for the fact that he is a very wanted player in the world of football. During the seasonal break, Haaland was enjoying his time off in Spain when he hinted at a potential move via a social media post. Is this the transfer window in which we see Erling Haaland leave Dortmund?
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington dives deep into the COVID-19 problems that reigning Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, are currently facing. Kres also talks about the tightness of the log table between spots 3-7 and how a single point could shift things around.
During his early years as a footballer in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Jethren became the youngest goalkeeper in PSL History to make his debut, at the age of 17. Barr started his career in 2012 when he signed for Bidvest Wits. he spent the 2016/2017 PSL season on loan at Stellenbosch FC before signing for Maritzburg United, where he made history (and currently still holds that record.) Barr managed to secure a move to Portadown FC; the team plays in the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL). Barr has managed to claim a few personal accolades since joining ‘The Ports.’
On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s ‘Players Abroad’ Barr discusses his early career in the PSL, how it felt to make his professional debut for Maritzburg United and how he managed to secure a move to Northern Ireland after being held back on a few occasions. The 26-year-old goalie speaks candidly about how changing football agents helped him with his move to Europe. In the full show, Barr talks about the difference between playing in NIFL compared to the PSL and how he managed to adjust to the culture and playing styles.
As the first half of the PSL season comes to a close, Mamelodi Sundowns top the table with 44 points (14 points above second-placed Orlando Pirates), and at this stage of the 2021/2022 season, Sundowns are looking like they will retain their PSL crown. Peter Shalulile seems to be in fine form as the Namibian sees his name topping the goal-scoring list. Sundowns have managed to score 33 goals while only conceding 9. The stat that has everyone talking about, is the fact that the Brazilians have only lost 1 game out of the 19 that they have played. The question that is running through everybody’s mind is, can Sundowns be caught? In a recent announcement from the PSL, a program will begin to ‘help’ players once they have retired. The program aims to prepare these players for the reality of retirement post-career. The program .sets to educate players in a positive way
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, soccer fans of South Africa have their say on whether Mamelodi Sundowns are walking away with the title this season and if they can be caught. Fans also expressed their opinions on the latest announcement from the PSL stating that a program to assist players post-career will be launched.
With all eyes focused on the UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw, some mouth-watering fixtures have been announced; most notably Paris-Saint Germain vs Real Madrid. This fixture sees former Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos come up against his former club, Mbappe will feature against his potential future club, and of course Lionel Messi against his former rival. The draw didn’t come without drama as the ‘ball’ belonging to Manchester United was misplaced resulting in an ‘unrealistic draw.’ Many clubs showed their unhappiness due to the redraw, issuing tougher fixtures for certain clubs, such as Real Madrid who originally were drawn against Christiano Ronaldo’s first club, Sporting Lisbon. Speaking on the SL Podcast, Soccer Laduma’s International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield claims that every UCL knockout round comes with at least a single upset and it looks like Juventus vs Villareal could be this year's upset.
On the latest episode of the Carwash (International News Desk Special), former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts is joined by Soccer Laduma’s International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the dramatic UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw which has caused an uproar with certain clubs. The gents also discuss the possibility of the Corona Virus halting the English Premier League, after they recorded the most daily positive infections (42) this week.
At roughly the halfway mark of the season, it is the reigning champions of The Bundesliga, Bayern Munich, who will be heading into the December break at the top of the table with 37 points. Their fiercest rivals in Borussia Dortmund are currently in second place, with 31 points. Bayern extended this gap this past weekend after a 2-1 victory over Mainz, whereas Dortmund drew 1-1 with newly-promoted Bochum. That game was dominated by Dortmund, but it was Erling Haaland who provided the assist for a Julian Brandt goal in the 85th minute that secured a singular point for Dortmund. During the match, Dortmund came under the subject of Schadenfreude (a German word meaning “finding joy in others despise”) from the Bochum fans, after they were celebrating getting a point against Dortmund, and allowing Bayern to extend their lead at the top of the table. Bayern Munich continued their fine form against Mainz, thanks to goals by Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala.
On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s The Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German Football Kres Harrington, breaks down the title race, claiming that there are 2 horses in this race, and it isn’t over yet. Kres also praised Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku after he spearheaded the Bulls to a 4-1 win over Gladbach.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently spoke to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo where he outlined his vision for the global game and where Africa fits into it. Infantino went through a range of topics, but one of the main points he wanted to get across was the benefit of hosting a FIFA World Cup every two years, or in the case of junior competitions, every year. He believes it will provide an opportunity to players and for African countries especially, be a platform to drive improvements in their football. “Those who don’t qualify [for Qatar 2022] will have to wait another four years for the chance to play at the World Cup,” Infantino said. “We need to give more opportunities to all the teams to play against each other. “Whether it be the World Cup, or in another way, we have to study all of those. We need to offer more opportunities and chances for world football, for African football to shine on the world stage. “This is valid for men’s and women’s football, as well as youth football, which is also part of the reform process. We really believe we need to have youth competitions every year and not every two years. “Because with competitions every two years, if you are not born in the right month of the right year, you may have no opportunities to compete.” Infantino also spoke about the African Super League among various other topics. On this episode of The COSAFA Show, we also speak to former Bafana Bafana international Mark Fish to find out what he is up, while we track down ex-Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Matty Pattison to hear his story and what his future plans are.
Following Bayern Munich’s victory in ‘Der Klassiker’ over fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund, it is evident that the fixture lived up to the high standards the footballing world set. Dortmund got the scoring underway early in the first half thanks to a Julian Brandt goal with Kingsly Coman equalizing for Bayern late in the half. Erling Haaland continued to make history by scoring in the 48th minute, meaning the Norwegian has now scored 56 goals in 53 Bundesliga appearances, in the last stretch of the game, a late penalty by Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski the Bavarians ahead, 3-2, and was enough to claim all 3 points. The Bavarian’s victory means that they have grown their lead on the table to 4 points, however, this doesn't mean that the title race is over according to DW Sports correspondent and German Football Kres Harrington. After the game, Dortmund wonderkid, Jude Bellingham, spoke out against the match officials claiming that a ref that has been known for fixing matches should not be involved in the biggest football match in Germany.
On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s The Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German Football Kres Harrington breaks down 'Der Klassiker' and all the incidents that went along with it, specifically the post-match-outburst from Jude Bellingham, saying that “He’s mature in his playing style, but he shouldn’t have spoken out like that.”
Following Part 1 of the Big Interview with the CEO and Director of Socca Dream, Aris and Sduduzo reunited with the SL Podcast team to dig deeper into the reasoning behind Bafana Bafana’s failure Internationally. It goes without saying the once novel Corona-Virus has affected teams and players around the continent as our beloved stadiums have sat ‘fan-less for 20 months [and counting]. When asked about it, CEO of Socca Dream, Aris Albetti says ‘we need to develop a better relationship with the fans.’ Aris Continues by saying ‘’We always speak about the team, players, and coaches, we need to re-establish a connection with the fans. The team plays on their own without the fans, we need to support the team more.’ Ultimately, the relationship between the fans, local clubs, the football federations, and Bafana Bafana needs to be greater. Director of Socca Dream, Sduduzo Masuku says “there hasn’t been an effective way that the fans, local clubs, federations and Bafafa Bafana have worked together.”
In part 2 of the Big Interview with Socca Dream, Aris Albetti discusses what Socca Dream philosophies could be used beneficially by Bafana Bafana and SAFA. Sduduzo (and Aris) speak about the best way that Bafana Bafana’s performances could be improved.
Although the start of the season wasn't exactly what Kaizer Chiefs were looking for, they have picked up 9 points from their last 5 games, and they’re sitting in second place on the log, only behind a dominant Mamelodi Sundowns. Picking up a vital win [and bragging rights] against Orlando Pirates (before the International break), PSL fans were wary of the fact that Amakhosi could lose momentum upon the return of the league. However, that was not the case; picking up wins against Maritzburg United and Swallows FC. It cannot go unnoticed that Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly have been the driving force behind Chiefs’ seasonal turnaround, with the duo linking up the midfield to the attack. Speaking on the SL Podcast, former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise says that ‘Chief’s season cannot be based on that victory.’ In another turn of events, Kaizer Chiefs are looking to bolster their midfield by signing former Rangers FC and current Amiens FC midfielder Bongani Zungu. Zungu represented Mamelodi Sundowns during the years 2013-2016, where he made 58 appearances. Chiefs fans will be licking their lips to get Zungu’s signature, but former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts is scratching his head. Roberts says “You’re in Europe, you’ve done all the hard work to get there, why on earth would you come back?”
On the latest episode of The Carwash” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise discuss the recent interest Kaizer Chiefs have expressed towards Bongani Zungu. The crew also react to the departure of Brandon Truter and co from Swallows FC. Later in the show, Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfiled joins the show to talk about the 2021 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which saw Lionel Messi win a record 7th golden ball. Kurt also breaks down the interim coach that Manchester United have signed.
With Robert Lewandowski failing to make history to become the first Pole to win the Ballon D’or, his rival striker made history this past weekend against Wolfsburg. Erling Haaland, who has been out injured for some time now, came on in the second half and netted his 50th Bundesliga goal in the 80th, thus becoming the youngest player to reach the 50 goal mark in the Bundesliga. Haaland has made history by also achieving these 50 goals in 50 appearances; the Norwegian has also grabbed himself a cool 9 assists. Speaking on the SLPodcast’s ‘The Bundesliga Connection’ DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington says that he didn’t expect Haaland to even feature on the game day as the club had kept his return under wraps, “Haaland himself might have pushed for a return.”
On the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington speaks about how Union Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen had the chance to join the top 4 in the League. Kres also talks about the derby between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund taking place this weekend and says “If Haaland is in the lineup, it’s a problem for Bayern.”
With SAFA disputing Bafana Bafana’s loss to Ghana earlier this month, questions are being asked about the team and why they are failing on the International stage. Although it does seem as though the referee played a major role in the failed qualification, why is it going to come down to a potential replay for Bafana Bafana to progress to the next round of qualifiers? International footballing scouting agency Socca Dream joins the SL Podcast to discuss the dynamics around Bafana and why they are failing on the International stage. CEO, Aris Albetti says “The talent is there, the skills are there, you won’t find raw talent anywhere else in the world, but something is always missing.” Aris also gets asked about why, as the years go by, fewer and fewer South Africans ‘make it’ in Europe and actually make the cut. He gets asked about who currently playing in the DStv Premiership is good enough to play in Europe.
On the latest episode of the Big Interview, CEO, Aris Albetti and Director Sduduzo Masuku from Socca Dream joins the SL Podcast to answer the telling questions about the local and international game we all love. Sduduzo talks about the ‘scouting process’ that Socca Dream follows, to allow young talent to head off overseas to follow a career in football.
It has been just over a month since Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena addressed the media in a rage of fury; directed towards Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos. Coach Rulani claimed that several of their first-team regulars have returned from national team duty either injured or burnt-out, and there appears to have been no warning from the Bafana medical team. Rulani stood by his actions, stating “There is no data!” After Coach Rulani made these comments, another DStv Premiership coach came forward about a similar issue, this time in Stuart Baxter. The Kaizer Chiefs coach admitted that his gripe towards Broos was that the Bafana Bafana coach made comments about using Njabulo Ngcobo as a defender, much to Baxter’s disgust (who uses Ngcobo as a midfielder!) SAFA has now joined the party and has commented on the matter, asking Broos to ‘hash’ out these public spats with the respective coaches. Speaking on the matter, former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Bafana star Teko Modise sides with the player in question saying “this is unfair and an insult.”
Later in the show, Roberts and Modise are joined by Soccer Laduma’s International News correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss all things Manchester United after the (now) former man in charge Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked from the top position earlier in the week. Kurt also brings world-class analysis to chat about the latest round of UEFA Champions League fixtures.
On the latest episode of the Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana star Teko Modise discuss the latest media brawl between coaches and the reasoning behind it. The crew also chat about the calls from fans for Truter's job at Swallows.
A strong Bayern Munich were left stunned by FC Augsburg this past weekend as the reigning Bundesliga Champions failed to claim points, losing 2-1. Pads Pederson opened the scoring for the home side in the 23rd minute, with his teammate Andre Hahn doubling the score in the 35th. Bayern’s Lewandowski brought one back for Munich in the 38th minute, however, that is how the score stayed for the rest of the match. Bayern Munich clearly dominated the stats with 80% ball possession and they managed to string together well over 700 passes, however they could find the final ball to provide Augsburg with a setback. Speaking on the SL Podcast, DW Sports Correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harringtons questions the fee the Bayern Coach Julian Naggelsman requested to join the champions of Germany, saying “They’ve been booted out of the German Cup and now this…” Kres also goes to speak about how Marcel Sabitzer hasn’t found his feet yet, which comes as a worry as he and Nagelsmann spent years at RB Leipzig together.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harringtons breaks down Bayern Munich’s embarrassing defeat to bottom-half table side FC Augsburg. Speaking on the SL Podcast, Kres questions the fee the Bayern Coach Julian Nagelsmann requested to join the champions of Germany, saying “They’ve been booted out of the German Cup and now this…”
With 10 league games concluded in the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season, only Mamelodi Sundowns can say that they have kept a clean sheet in all matches played. This triumph is somewhat of a huge success, but in recent weeks, the Sundowns’ defence has seemed to be a bit shaky at times. This poses the question; how long can Downs go without conceding? We put this question to the fans of the beautiful game with many saying that it’s only a matter of time until the Chloorkop outfit conceded, ‘although they’d still win’ said one fan.
Soweto Giants Kaizer Chiefs haven’t had the best start to the season, with the Amakhosi faithful sitting in 6th place, having only won 5 games out of the 11 they’ve played. However, things could be heating up in Soweto, as Kaizer Chiefs beat their neighbors in the derby, and after the international break, they continued their run of form by securing all 3 points against Maritzburg United at home. Is this the turning point this season for Chiefs? On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction, questions about Sundowns' defence get asked and the fans have their say on the future of Kaizer Chiefs!
COSAFA qualifiers Mamelodi Sundowns will fly the flag for the Southern African region when they take on Ghanaian side Hasaacas Ladies in the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Cairo on Friday night. Sundowns won the title in the COSAFA region and are now hoping to conquer Africa too, with just one team remaining to beat on their path to glory. The team have yet to concede a goal at the continental finals in Egypt but do come up against their toughest opponent to date in the form of Hasaacas. Experienced striker Rhoda Mulaudzi will likely spearhead their attack in the game, and she says they are confident they can bring the trophy home. “The preparations have gone really well, everyone is so excited,” Mulaudzi told The COSAFA Show from Cairo. “We know how big the game will be and how big it is to us as players, and for South African women’s football. “The previous games we were not playing our best football, but our last match, the semifinal, was one of the best matches we have played since we arrived here. So we should take that confidence forward into the final. “We do need to focus more on scoring. Since we arrived here, we have struggled to score, but defensively we have played very well.” Also on this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from South African Football Association President Dr Danny Jordaan on why his organisation have asked FIFA to investigate their 1-0 loss to Ghana in the 2022 World Cup qualifier in Cape Coast last Sunday.
In light of all of the football drama that has occurred over the past week, a story that may have slipped people's minds is that of Hlompho Kekena and Mamelodi Sundowns reaching an amicable agreement for the former captain to leave the Tswana club. Kekena first joined Sundowns in 2011, leaving Bloemfontein Celtic. Out of all of Hlompho’s appearances, none stand out more than his performance in the Sundowns vs Powerlines game, where the former Mamelodi Sundowns captain helped himself to a remarkable 7 goals; Sundowns won that game 24-0! “Kekena has shown his professionalism for years and he has been a true ambassador to the game,” says Sean Roberts. “Kekena has won 12 trophies in his ten-year spell with the Brazilians, he has been a stalwart in the team.” Included in those 12 trophies are 6 league titles and a CAF Champions League, but recently Hlompho has revealed the only regret he has: “I’m willing to trade one of my medals if anyone has. It's important for me because I have a five-year-old son who is always telling me about the MTN, so now I need to understand the feeling, I don’t know the feeling,” Hlompho quirked. Speaking on the matter, former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star, Teko Modise (current Mamelodi Sundowns ambassador) says “myself and Hlompho had conversations [that cannot be mentioned] well before anything.”
On the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Bafana Bafana Star Teko Modise analyze the recent drama surrounding Bafana Bafana and Ghana after the black stars top their group in controversial fashion. Since the fixture, FIFA has responded to the formal complaint that SAFA has issued regarding the match officials. The crew also discuss the latest news with Gavin Hunts’ suspension from Chippa United and the new ‘caretaker coach.’ Only on the #SLPodcast
With the transfer window around the corner, the question that is on everyone’s mind is where will Erling Haaland go if he chooses to leave. The Norwegian has been spearheading Borussia Dortmund’s attack for the last 2 seasons having scored over 50 goals since joining Dortmund. Every club that is looking for an out-and-out striker, has Haaland on their radar. Recent reports show that Liverpool have expressed interest in signing “The Terminator;” yet another English side that could be willing to pay top dollar for a top player. Could we see the son of Alf-Inge Håland in England? Let’s not forget last year, Chelsea FC showed interest in Haaland, as well as both clubs from Manchester. However, Haaland has a clause in his contract that would allow him to activate his release clause for 75-100 million euros. Reports also suggest that Dortmund are on the verge of offering Haaland a new contact which could see him earn over 18 million Euros per year, making him the highest-paid player in his team.
On the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down some transfer rumors circulating around Erling Haaland. Kres also talks about Germany’s chances in next year's FIFA World Cup, saying “Germany could be a problem for other teams, they were humbled in Russia in 2018 and they have it all to prove.”
Bafana Bafana’s World Cup dream has come to an end after a controversial decision by Senegalese referee Ndiaye Maguette which saw Ghana be awarded a penalty after an extremely soft foul in the box. The foul initially came from a corner kick, which evidently saw the ball come off a Ghanaian player, meaning that the corner was given incorrectly, to begin with. Then, when the ball entered the box from said corner kick, Leicester City defender, Daniel Amarty, collapsed onto the ground in front of Rushine De Rueck; a dubious decision indeed. Video replays show that De Reuck made little to no contact with the Ghanaian player, but the penalty was still awarded, leaving the footballing world shocked. SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe has laid an official complaint to FIFA and CAF, with an investigation on the cards.
On the latest episode of The Fan Reaction Show, a heartbroken Mzansi reacts to the shocking decision that left Bafana and the footballing world in total bemusement after a controversial penalty was awarded to Ghana, kicking Bafana out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds.
A former Orlando Pirates striker has reportedly lost all of his assets to his wife, who has also kicked him out of their home. This has come as a shock to the footballing world as we see yet another PSL player, not having the basic financial education needed to live life, post-career. This seems to be an ongoing trend that decimates players left, right, and center, leading them down dark paths which, as we’ve seen, is detrimental to their livelihoods. Former Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie, Sean Roberts has been speaking about this issue for years, being an advocate for the PSL to offer financial education and structure to the players. As a former player, Roberts was fortunate enough to receive this education, allowing him to pass on his knowledge to other players with a business he started that is similar to those in Europe which allows players to put a certain percentage of their monthly salary into a fund that can only be accessed after retirement. This ultimately means that once a player has retired, they will still be able to be financially stable, just as they were when playing. Thomas Kewnaite brought up the following question: “What forces players to live flashy lives during their careers?” Roberts replied with “peer pressure, misinformation and ultimately, a lack of education”
On the latest episode of The Big Interview With Thomas Kwenaite, TK sits down with former Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie, Sean Roberts to discuss the background of why players live like paupers post their career. The hard questions that need to be asked, get answered. Sound advice is given and evidently, something needs to change to prevent this painful trend from continuing.
Last Friday saw an intense Cairo Derby take place between the two footballing giants of Egypt, Al Ahly and Zamalek. Given the importance and intensity of the rivalry between the two capital based sides, the match progressed from start to finish rather smoothly, except for a few minor incidents which has now seen former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and his Al Ahly team issued fines by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA); Al Ahly came out victorious during the matchup, thrashing Zamalek 5-3. Although the fines may not seem that important, they were issued to Pitso and his coaching staff for entering the field of play while celebrating certain goals during the clash. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s ‘The Carwash,’ former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star, Teko Modise (who of course played under coach Pitso) has come out and said “If Pitso goes a season without a fine, it was a bad season.” This fine is a testimony to the passion that coach Pitso has, the drive and the will to succeed. Football comes first for Pitso and he is able to draw his team and coaching staff into his own ideologies of the game, which evidently proves to be rather successful. The fact of the matter is, Pitso doesn’t care about the fine, he cares about winning and doing well.
On the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie, Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star, Teko Modise discuss the latest news from the local game, with rumors of Gavin Hunt’s job being on the line after a run of poor results. The guys also talk about some advice that a former Downs coach has issued to Mokwena and his co-coaches. Later in the show, Soccer Laduma’s International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield links up to discuss the return of Xavi Hernandez and the latest with Ole Gunner Solskjaer.
Bayern Munich’s hot run of form seems to be a recurring trend after they beat Benfica in the UEFA Champions League 5-2, with star striker Robert Lewandowski netting a hattrick and almost a fourth. The reigning Bundesliga champions came up against Freiburg SC in a League match this past weekend with no one knowing what the outcome would be, as Freiburg were the only unbeaten team in the league before this Bayern match-up. However, Robert Lewandowski's formidable form continued as he netted a goal in the 75th minute to give Bayern maximum points. Freiburg managed a consolation goal in the 93rd minute and Leon Goretzka scored his goal in the 30th. Bayern emerged victorious, as Freiburg suffered their first defeat of the League, 2-1.
On the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the matchup between Bayern Munich and Freiburg SC. Kres goes on to explain that right now, Lewandowski is the best striker in the world. Later in the show, Kres talks about Borrusio Dortmund and how their season could be a little shaky for the time being without Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and where Critopher Nkunku could end up after Leipzig.
The first Soweto Derby of the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season has come and gone with Kaizer Chiefs claiming the bragging rights, and gaining maximum points. Although some are saying the Amakhosi’s performance was mediocre, 3 points is 3 points and the Glamour Boys now sit in 6th place, one spot above their Sowetan neighbors. Speaking on the Fan Reaction Show, one Chiefs fan rated the performance as a 6 out of 10, another fan mentioned that the only thing he is happy about is the 3 points. Other fans mentioned that Chiefs played incredibly well and the victory was well deserved. A very mixed bag of opinions, but one thing stays in common, a victory against your rivals will always be sweet. Keagan Dolly managed a brace during the match, thanks to two penalties awarded to Chiefs.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Amakhosi Fans from around the county rate Chiefs’ performance against Pirates in the Soweto Derby, where Chiefs emerged victorious thanks to a brace by Keagan Dolly.
Malawi national team coach Meke Mwase admits South Africa’s Premier Soccer League played a leading role in his side qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations that will take place in Cameroon from January. The likes of Orlando Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango, AmaZulu defender Limbikani Mzava and the Baroka FC duo of midfielder Gerald Phiri Jnr and striker Richard Mbulu were all key elements of The Flames’ success. With Malawi’s domestic league suspended, the fact that those players were able to keep playing and stay match fit was a major plus, says former Jomo Cosmos defender Mwase. “Most of our foreign-based players are in South Africa, so when COVID-19 came on us, it was only South Africa’s Premier Soccer League that still had some games being played,” he told The COSAFA Show. “It really contributed a lot to our qualification, but I am a bit worried because a lot of them don’t have game-time [at their clubs] now.” Malawi have been drawn in a tough pool in Cameroon along with Senegal, Guinea and COSAFA rivals Zimbabwe. They have two previous visits to the finals but have yet to get out of the pool stage. “All the teams are very strong, in football you don’t know what will happen. But what we are going to do is fight for ourselves and see how far we can go,” Mwase says. “We are still a young team and still learning, but we are very confident that we are going to do well in the finals in Cameroon. We hope the boys will give their all, for themselves and for Malawi as well. “Since we have been there twice before, we have not qualified for the quarterfinals and this is what we are fighting for. But as well, we would like to finish in the semifinals or the final even. You never know in football.” Also on this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from South African-born winger DeAndre Vollenhoven, who is just starting his career at New Zealand side Auckland City.
After a mouth-watering MTN8 final, which saw Mamelodi Sundowns get their hands on the trophy for the first time, the weekend directly after will bring arguably the biggest match in Africa to our screens, the Soweto Derby. This fixture is draped in history and pride with the two teams from Soweto looking to claim bragging rights. Earlier this year, it was the Buccaneers who emerged victorious after beating their neighbors 2-1 at the Orlando Stadium which means Chiefs will be itching to come out on top. The Amakhosi faithful have seen a slight turnaround in their performances with a key linkup coming into fruition with Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat, however, a loss to a well ironed-out Stellenbosch FC this past matchday means that Chiefs will need to bounce back to the best of their ability against a Pirates side who managed to overcome Sekhukhune United 2-1.
Rumours of Rulani being offered jobs not only locally, but also out of South Africa have been circulating in the media and the Mamelodi Sundowns coach and his agent have come out and said “ Coach Rulani is focused on Sundowns''.” Speaking on the SL Podcast’s The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise says that “I Know Rulani’s Ambitions, he wants to win trophies.” Modise goes on to say “With Mokwena currently playing CAF football weekly, why would he go play games on astroturf and no shoes?”
On the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise discuss the upcoming Soweto Derby after analyzing this past weekend’s MTN8 final. The gents also discuss Rulani Mokwena and the job offers he has received, on AND off our shores.
Bayern recently suffered an embarrassing, yet historic 5-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in the DFB-Pokal cup. A newspaper publication released an article stating that a few players from Munich managed to receive the worst ratings in history. However, the reigning Bundesliga champions showed their winning mentality and turned the heat on against Union Berlin, winning that game 5-2, to show that they still mean business. Their next fixture isn’t going to be a walk in the park as they welcome the only unbeaten team in the league in SC Freiburg. Breisgau-Brasilianer are currently sitting in 3rd on the log, having scored a cool 17 goals with only 7 conceded. Speaking on the SL Podcast, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington goes on to say that “Bayern have blood in the water” after their defeat to Gladbach. Harrington explains that this could be a ‘mouth-watering’ fixture as log leaders take on third place.
On the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington analyses Bayern Munich’s recent loss to Gladbach and how they managed to turn things around against Union Berlin. Harrington also goes on to review Borussia Dortmund’s matches, without Erling Haaland, saying “There is potential talent untouched.”
With the return of international football, the players returning from the Bafana camps seem to be overplayed, rundown and exhausted. This is a cause for concern as these players cannot perform to the best of their abilities when representing their respective clubs. Current head coach of current DStv Premiership log leaders and title holders Mamelodi Sundowns Rulani Mokwena recently came out and claimed that several of his first-team regulars returned from International duties being burnt-out or injured with no warning from the Bafana medical team. In a direct quote, Mokwena says “ With the Bafana players, it’s a very difficult situation. We can’t even communicate with the medical department, we don’t know the itinerary of Bafana, we don’t know the training program.” Speaking on the Sl Podcast’s The Carwash, former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Bafana Bafana star, Teko Modise agrees with Rulani Mokwena and expresses confusion towards the Bafana camp. “Why are the players doing fitness tests when on International duty?” He continues to go on by saying that “Surely if you’ve been selected for the International team, you should be fit?”
Staying local, but venturing out of South Africa into Egypt, former Mamelodi Sundowns coach, and serial title winner, Pitso Mosimane has recently come out and spoke to the press about Al Ahly’s decision ti allow him to see out his R54million-a-season contract. By remaining at the Egyptian giants for as long as he has, coach Pitso has become the first coach in five years to be in the hot seat for longer than a year.
On the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts sits down with former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise to discuss the current state of footballers who return to their clubs after international duties. The crew also speak about coach Pitso’s contract with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, and what financial costs are involved in not
As The 2021/2022 Bundesliga season continues, Bayern Munich are proving their dominance once again, have scored 9 goals in two league matches, and 13 goals in their last 3 including their match in the UEFA Champions League against Benfica. However, Borussia Dortmund are also showing that they mean business having won 4 out of their last 5 league games, and sitting second on the table only one point behind Bayern Munich. But things may turn nasty for Dortmund as their star striker, Erling Haaland is going to be sidelined for a few weeks after the Norwegian picked up a hip flexor injury. Haaland has scored 9 out of Dortmund’s 25 league goals, and not having him play for the next few weeks may see Dortmund struggle a little bit.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, Bayern Munich’s continued dominance is discussed. DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down Borussia Dortmund’s injury problems and praises a certain Nigerian striker currently plying his trade in Germany!
This upcoming weekend sees the 14th edition of the MTN8 take place between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City at the Moses Mabhida stadium. The last time the Citizens had their hands on the trophy was during the 2018/19 season whereas Sundowns haven’t won an official MTN8 trophy. Sundowns last won this trophy in 2007, but the competition was still known as the SAA Supa Eight cup. When it comes to the head-to-head stats, these two teams have faced off against each other 23 times, with the Citizens winning 8 games, losing 12, and drawing 3. Masandawana have won 12 and lost 8. Cape Town City have been in fine form in recent weeks having won 7 home games, where sundowns have had a mixed bag of performances, however clean sheets and scoring goals seem to be a trend with the Brazilians, winning 10 of the recent home games. The outcome will not be known until the fine kick of the ball, but one thing is for certain, a mouthwatering fixture is on the cards. With the game being filled with uncertainty, many fans believe this match is going to be one of the toughest with one fan even saying ‘I don’t know who is going to win.’
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, soccer fans around the country preview the 2021/2022 MTN8 final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City. This is the 14th edition of the competition and Masandawana fans are hopeful that their team will have their name on the trophy.
This past matchday in the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season, saw Norwegian Wonderkid Erling Haaland score a brace, putting Dortmund at the top of the standings, however that top spot was quickly reclaimed by reigning champions Bayern Munich after they cruised past Bayern Leverkusen 5-1 thanks to braces by Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry and a single goal by Thomas Muller. Bayern showed to the other Bundesliga teams just what it means to be champions and how much it means to retain the Bundesliga Crown. Speaking on the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German football Expert Kres Harrington describes Bayerns’ performance as an offensive avalanche, having scored a handful of goals in a matter of minutes, the champions embarrassed Leverkusen in front of their home fans. Defensively Bayern were strong and new signing Dayot Upamecano showed that he can provide more than just defending as the Frenchman assisted Robert Lewandowski.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German Football Expert Kres Harrington breaks down Bayerns’ performance this past week and explains why Bayern are Bayern. Kres also explains the legal situation involving Bayer Munich and French player Lucas Hernandez after he was told he has to appear at Madrid court.
After a shaky start to the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season, Kaizer Chiefs seemed to be struggling a fair amount. Dropping points seemed to be a trend, mixed with the team not finding their feet, evidently something needed to change. Chief’s fixture against Chippa United was always going to be an interesting matchup, as Gavin Hunt (former Chiefs coach) returned to the FNB stadium, but this time in the away teams technical area. Chiefs managed an early goal after Billiat broke down the left flank and crossed the ball into the box, which was calmly finished off by Keegan Dolly. After that, the flood gates opened. Chiefs played with more determination and confidence, running another 3 goals past Gavin Hunts’ Chippa United. The match ended 4-0 in the favor of Amakhosi, a well-deserved 3 points. One can’t help but think that this is the break that Chiefs ever so needed.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, soccer fans debate whether this is the turning point in the season for Chiefs. Amakhosi Fans offer praise to their beloved team after showing a valiant display of courage and team play.
Veteran French coach Claude LeRoy has worked in Africa for the last 36 years and is among the most celebrated tacticians the continent has ever seen. A former Africa Cup of Nations winner with Cameroon, he has never held a position in the COSAFA region but knows African football inside out and is bullish about the rising quality of the game. He has recently completed a five-year spell with Togo, having also previously worked with Senegal, DR Congo and Ghana, who he took to a team record 14th position on the FIFA World Rankings in 2008. “The average level of African football is improving every year,” LeRoy tells The COSAFA Show. “And when you have a coach in charge of a national team for a long time, the results are good, like we see now in Senegal and Algeria.” He has expressed bitter disappointment that only two African players, Mo Salah from Egypt and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria, have been named as nominees for the FIFA Ballon d’Or this year and says this is the continued disrespect Africa has to endure. “What we need for African football is more than two players nominated for the Ballon d’Or. When you see, for example, the goalkeeper of Chelsea [Edouard] Mendy is not in the 30 best players in the world. It seems unbelievable. “The way the world is looking at Africa, it is still not enough. When people in Europe look at Africa, they don’t remember that the three top scorers in the English Premier League in the 2018-19 season were from the continent. “Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, and that is in what many people say is the best championship in the world. Therefore, how can you not recognise the level of African football? “Sure, we need to rise at the World Cup and have a team that gets to the semifinals, but it will happen. The level of football in Africa is definitely growing every year.” Also in this episode we hear from Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, and the coaches who led their teams in the final of the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship!
With the South African Government vaccination roll-out plan well underway with over 19 million jabs administered, questions are being asked about fans attending live soccer matches and when they will be allowed into stadiums. Under the current adjusted level 1 lockdown regulations, 2000 people are allowed to attend outdoor gatherings, however, our stadiums still sit empty, and clubs continue to lose ticket sales. During the second leg between Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia, 2000 vaccinated spectators were permitted to enter the FNB stadium, but since then, the PSL board have discussed this match and have reduced said number of vaccinated fans right down to 165 people. During the MTN8 final, which is only a matter of days away, the PSL will attempt this new strategy to get a better understanding of ticket allocations, and protocol safety. During the latest episode of The Carwash, former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise, elaborates on the current format of allowing fans into stadiums, asking “are teams doing anything about this?” The general continues by saying that “teams should be advocating and promoting vaccinations to get their fans back into stadiums.” This poses the question, why aren't teams doing anything to get their fans into stadiums?
On the latest episode of the Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise sit down to discuss the government's regulations of allowing fans back into stadiums. The crew also discuss the position of head coach at Moroka Swallows and who could be the best fit with some big names being on the cards. Later in the show, the gents discuss what can be done with the Kaizer Chiefs lineup and Kurt Buckerfield, Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent joins the chat to talk about a huge financial takeover that has commenced in the premier league
With the South African Government vaccination roll-out plan well underway with over 19 million jabs administered, questions are being asked about fans attending live soccer matches and when they will be allowed into stadiums. Under the current adjusted level 1 lockdown regulations, 2000 people are allowed to attend outdoor gatherings, however, our stadiums still sit empty, and clubs continue to lose ticket sales. During the second leg between Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia, 2000 vaccinated spectators were permitted to enter the FNB stadium, but since then, the PSL board have discussed this match and have reduced said number of vaccinated fans right down to 165 people. During the MTN8 final, which is only a matter of days away, the PSL will attempt this new strategy to get a better understanding of ticket allocations, and protocol safety. During the latest episode of The Carwash, former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise, elaborates on the current format of allowing fans into stadiums, asking “are teams doing anything about this?” The general continues by saying that “teams should be advocating and promoting vaccinations to get their fans back into stadiums.” This poses the question, why aren't teams doing anything to get their fans into stadiums?
On the latest episode of the Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise sit down to discuss the government's regulations of allowing fans back into stadiums. The crew also discuss the position of head coach at Moroka Swallows and who could be the best fit with some big names being on the cards. Later in the show, the gents discuss what can be done with the Kaizer Chiefs lineup and Kurt Buckerfield, Soccer Laduma International News Correspondent joins the chat to talk about a huge financial takeover that has commenced in the premier league as well as Neymar hanging up his internatio
With France Football having recently announced their official 30-man shortlist of nominees for the 2021 Ballon D’or award, it has come as no surprise that Bayern Munich and Poland superstar Robert Lewandowski has been included in said shortlist. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 Ballon D’or awards ceremony was canceled and many around the world believed that Lewandowski was hard done by the most as he was clearly the deserved winner. However, one cannot forget everything that the Bavarian number 9 has accomplished; to name a few, voted the 2020 FIFA Men’s player of the year, broke Gerd Mullers’ Bundesliga goal scoring record of 40 goals (Lewandowski managed to grab 41 goals to his name during 2019/2020 Bundesliga season.) Robert Lewandowski is one of two players currently plying their trade in German, with Erling Haaland being the other player. Although Erling Haaland may not come across as a favorite, we cannot forget what the young Norwegian has accomplished in such a short space of time and to be shortlisted in the top 30, is a fantastic achievement.
On the latest episode of the SL Podcasts’ Fan Reaction Show, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert, Kres Harrington, breaks down the upcoming Bundesliga fixtures with Leverkusen hosting the reigning champions Bayern Munich. Kres also goes into the 2021 Ballon D’or shortlist and provides an in-depth analysis on Bayern striker Lewandowski's chances of grabbing the accolade.
Mamelodi Sundowns are proving to everyone that they are the team to beat, having not conceded a single goal in 6 matches. The Brazilians have scored a total of 11 goals and have accumulated a total of 16 points from a possible 18, clearly they mean business! However, many of the fans believe that their teams can end this impressive run of form, but the question remains; who will end Sundowns’ dominance?
Let’s pay attention to Bafana Bafana as they continue their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying journey this weekend with the first of 2 back-to-back matches against Ethiopia. Bafana were impressive against African Giants Ghana, as Bafana emerged victorious. Currently, Bafana are sitting at the top of their group with Ethiopia in third. If Bafana can secure points in these fixtures, they stand a much better chance of making it to Qatar next year!
On the latest episode of the SL Podcasts’ Fan Reaction Show, the fans and supporters have their say regarding who could end Sundowns’ run of form; they provide analysis into the matter. The Fans also give their two cents on Bafanas fixtures against Ethiopia with hopes running high!
With 3 out of 4 German sides representing the Bundesliga in the 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League picking up points on matchday 2, only the Bulls of RB Leipzig failed to show anything for their efforts after losing 2-1 to Percy Tau’s former club, Club Brugge. Although the Bulls controlled a healthy amount of the ball possession and strung together more than double the amount of passes than the traveling Belgian outfit, it wasn’t meant to be. When looking for stand-out performances, one has to look at Christopher Nkunku. The French youngster has been the only performer for Leipzig this season according to DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington. Leipzig currently sits in eighth place on the Bundesliga log and fourth in their UCL table, is this the same Leipzig as last season?
On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s ‘The Bundesliga Connection,’ DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington explains the downfall of RB Leipzig throughout the 2021/2022 season thus far. Kres goes on to explain that this season, The Bulls are nowhere near the same as last season.
South African coach Shilene Booysen has embarked in a unique adventure in South Sudan, hoping to develop the women’s national team into a competitive unit in the coming years having started essentially from scratch. South Sudan only played their first international fixture in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic has, to a certain extent, curtailed their international opportunities since then. But Booysen, who forged an excellent reputation as an analyst with Banyana Banyana and Houston Dash in the United States, sees it as a calling and says that while the road ahead may be bumpy, it is exciting times for the country. “There is huge potential in South Sudan, I am convinced of that,” she told The COSAFA Show. “There is the talent, but it is about putting in place the right structures for the national team to grow. “That will take time, we are under no illusions of that, but we have seen progress already in just a few months and it is exciting for the future.” The team is competing at the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay and lost their opener 7-0 to Botswana. But Booysen says it is not so much about results at this stage of their development, but more gaining experience for a team that have played just a handful of internationals. “We do not look so much at the results right now, but I was very happy with the fight from my team against Botswana (after being 6-0 down at halftime). “It is about the players working to the plan and showing that they can implement the things we want them too. This will not happen overnight, but in the years ahead.”
The newest member of the Soccer Laduma team, Thomas Kwenaite joins the SL Podcast’s most analytic showcase, The Big Interview. TK is joined by former Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Bafana Bafana legend, Teko ‘The General’ Modise to discuss his latest ambassadorial role. Teko reveals that his new position was going to be announced over a year ago, but due to the passing of former Sundowns player Motjeka Madisha, that announcement was delayed out of respect.
TK asks Teko to break down what it means to rejoin his former club and what roles are there to be played as an ambassador. Teko goes on to say that ‘Ambassadorial roles are fairly new in South Africa and we are wanting to open new doors with a Sundowns Series to explain the untold stories of this club.’ Another eye-catching question asked by TK was about the youth talent in this country, more specifically, why Teko was only scouted for the PSL when he was 24 years old. The General goes on to open up with never-heard-before information regarding his circumstances of ‘making it' in the PSL and why it never happened sooner. ‘I have never told anyone this’ says Teko before explaining.
Later in the show, TK gets Teko’s opinion on Bafana Bafana’s chances against Ethiopia and breaks down the upcoming fixtures and what Bafana needs to do to gain maximum points against Ethiopia in the back-to-back clashes.
Mamelodi Sundowns faced off against Orlando Pirates in a derby that was sure the bring excitement. Looking at the post-match stats, one could say that Sundowns weren’t messing about, controlling the ball possession, total shots, and the number of passes. This proved correct as Masandawana eased past Pirates thanks to a brace from Namibian striker Peter Shalulile. Kaizer Chiefs have struggled all season to put the ball in the back of the net and the struggles continued to show as Chiefs remained stagnant in 13th position on the log after they drew to Gallants 0-0. With only 7 shots throughout the game and news that striker Samir Nurkovic will have to undergo surgery, Chiefs will need to make a plan.
In the most talked about event of this past week, Percy Tau will not be representing Bafana Bafana this weekend against Ethiopia in the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Al Ahly have come forward and announced that they will not be releasing the South African as he is nursing an injury. This has been met with great shock and disappointment by the fans as Percy is the talisman striker.
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi nation voice and express their feelings towards the Sundowns vs Pirates match, they rate Chief’s performance against Gallants and express concern for how big of an impact Tau’s absence will cause this weekend as Bafana Bafana are set to play back-to-back 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Borussia Dortmund were on the losing end this past weekend against Borussia Mönchengladbach, after a 37th minute strike from Denis Zakaria. Things went from bad to worse for the traveling outfit, after Mahmoud Dahoud received a straight red in the 40th minute. Dortmund coach Marco Rose said after the match “Once we went down, I knew it was over.” Uncharacteristically, Dortmund left Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland off of the team sheet for the match day, and one cant help but think he would have made some sort of impact upfront for Dortmund with their 8 target-missing shots at goal.
On the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington discusses the recent loss Borussia Dortmund suffered away to Gladbach. Kres also brings up the fact that Robert Lewandowski was unable to score in Bayern’s 3-1 victory over Furth. Later in the show, Kres speaks about the 4 German sides featuring in this week’s UEFA Champions League match days, with all 4 German sides having the home advantage.
With the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season well underway, it is no surprise to see reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns sitting at the top of the log, with SuperSport United, Stellenbosch FC, and Orlando Pirates finishing off the top 4. Shockingly enough, Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs find themselves in 13th position and have only managed to secure four points from a possible twelve; winning and having drawn one game, with two back-to-back losses. Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter has been criticized in the media for being too defensive-minded, often fielding defensive players over offensive players. Yes, defensive players are needed, but a balance between the two is crucial for certain playing styles. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise both dive deep into the problems Chiefs are facing and ask the big questions. Both Sean and Teko agree that things need to be switched up a bit, ‘players are out of position which then brings on frustration’ says Teko Modise, who continues to say ‘we’ve seen this movie before” when discussing the matter of the defensive line-up Chiefs have chosen to go with. All of this comes after Chiefs were embarrassed by newly promoted side Royal AM, losing 4-1 over the weekend. ‘Chiefs had control up until the 20th minute or so’ says Teko. Both Sean and Teko agree that if experience is proving to bring issues, then go to youth and bring in youngsters, especially in defense.
On the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise discuss the ongoing problems Kaizer Chiefs are facing, offering a neutral perspective. The crew also gives thanks to Bongani Khumalo for his service to the game after hearing about the Bafana Bafana legends' retirement.
As we see the continuation of the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season, as expected Bayern Munich are sitting at the top of the table after a 7-0 thrashing of newly promoted Bochum. Borussia Dortmund are currently in 3rd in the league standings, and things continue to go their way. Narrow wins and broken records seem to be a trend for Marco Rose’ team as Dortmund beat Bisiktis during their latest UEFA Champions League fixture. A Special mention has to be made about 18 year old, England Born Jude Bellingham as he continues to make history.
On the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington joins the SL Podcast to discuss the rampage of victories Bayern Munich seem to be on. Kres also praised Jude Bellingham and provides an in-depth analysis of Borussia Dortmund’s season so far.
As we see the continuation of the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season, Mamelodi Sundowns have reclaimed the top spot, with Orlando Pirates sitting in 4th and Kaizer Chiefs find themselves in the bottom half of the table, sitting in 12th position after claiming 4 points from a possible 12. After an embarrassing defeat to newly-promoted side Royal AM, questions are being asked about the style of play that Chiefs are entering matches with. One fan even says ‘ this is the same playing style that chiefs played when Baxter first coached them years ago.’ With Chiefs stuck in the same problematic situation as last season, it is evident that changes are needing to be made, but the ever-lasting question remains… What needs to change?
On the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show, Amakhosi Fans voice their opinions on the current state of the Chiefs camp, anger and frustration seem to come to mind. Changes have to be made soon if Chiefs wish to see silverware this season.
Former Zambia coach Patrice Beaumelle believes Africa should have more teams at the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and says the only way to take national teams on the continent to the next level is to have them play regularly at the global showpiece. Africa will have just five representatives from their 54 member associations in Qatar next year, while Europe, for example, which has 55 members, will have 13 slots, almost triple the number. Beaumelle, who is now in charge of Ivory Coast, says this uneven split is holding back the African continent, with the likes of South America to also have as many as five slots despite having only 10 members. “Africa has good football and good players, and I feel like sometimes Europe underrates African football,” Beaumelle says on The COSAFA Show. “I would like to pass a message to FIFA to say we don’t respect African football, when out of 54 federations in Africa, only five can qualify for the World Cup. It is not even 10%.“How can we represent the continent when you don’t have one team in each group [at the finals]. When you look at Europe, I think they have 13 teams in the group stages. Sometimes you have two teams from Europe in one group at the World Cup.“We have 32 teams [at Qatar 2022] and we have eight groups, but only five [African teams], meaning we are missing a minimum three teams.” No African team has reached the semifinals and it was a poor showing from the five representatives in 2018, who each went out in the first round. But Beaumelle says this will continue while African teams have limited exposure to the global showpiece competition.“To go to the semifinals, you have to get experience. If you put more teams into the competition, more will get out of the first round,” he says.“If you look at the last World Cup [Russia 2018], we were Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria and Senegal. That meant Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, they stayed home. And I think such teams deserve to go to every World Cup.
Hlompho Kekena is a player that is very special to the local game, having spent 10 years with Mamelodi Sundowns, the serial winner’s time at Masandawana came to an end on 31 August, after the club released the player, however, Hlompo feels that he isn’t ready to move on and retire from the beautiful game. It has been reported that Sundowns has offered Kekana an Ambassadorial role at the club, which could continue his ever-growing legacy. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s ‘The Carwash,’ former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Teko Modise (also a former teammate of Kekana) speaks on the matter of Hlompo’s retirement, Teko of course has more than enough knowledge behind him and experience; so for ‘the General’ to comment with real-life situations that he faced during the end of his playing career will come at no surprise. Teko continues to say that ‘Hlompho should retire when he is satisfied.’ ‘ When it comes to Hlompho, he still has a lot to offer,’ says Teko Modise. Modise goes on to explain his personal experience with retirement, and what he wanted to achieve before hanging up his boots.
In the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Bafana Bafana Star Teko Modise break down the situation that Hlompho Kekana finds himself in. The crew also discusses the striker issue that Kaizer Chiefs are facing. Later in the show, Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfiled joins the show to provide a UEFA Champions League week one round-up; Kurt also brings more knowledge to the forefront surrounding South Africa's bid to host the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup!
As we have seen the return of the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season after a fortnight of international fixtures, all attention was drawn to the 7-goal thriller between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. Surprisingly, only one brace was scored, but unsurprisingly, that brace belongs to Erling Haaland. Speaking on the SL Podcast, DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington goes on to explain that” Dortmund can continue to score, they have a stellar offence.” He continues by saying “Dortmund haven't done it for a while, but they can now start striking fear into the league.”
In the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, Kres breaks down the latest Bundesliga fixtures, giving praise to the wonderkid of The Bundesliga in Erling Haaland. Kres also previews the upcoming UEFA Champions League fixtures which sees a few German sides taking part.
With the return of the DStv Premiership, this past weekend saw some mouth-watering encounters, will all eyes looking towards Mamelodi Sundowns vs Kaizer Chiefs. Masandawana welcomed a traveling AMakhosi to Loftus Versfeld. From the get-go, we all knew how important this match was for both teams, as each is facing their own set of technical issues, albeit staff or teams. Grant Kekena got the scoring underway for Sundowns in the 8th minute, and Peter Shalulile put the nail in the coffin in the 63rd minute, edging Kaizer Chiefs 2-0. Many fans around the country have come forward to express their confusion surrounding Stuart Baxter’s team selection, fielding 5 players, and putting Samir Nurkovic, a natural striker, on the wing.
In the latest edition of The Fan Reaction Show, Mzansi relay their feelings towards this match, focusing on Kaizer Chiefs. Some fans expressed emotion towards Baxter saying “why is Nurkovic on the wing, he is out of position!”
With the first half of Round 1 in the African Conference done and dusted, it is Bafana Bafana who are leading Group G thanks to tallying 4 points from a possible 6 after drawing with Zimbabwe and beating Ghana 1-0. For years, Bafana Bafana has struggled to build up a team for the future, and things are finally looking like they’re getting back on track. However, this form needs to continue for Bafana to reach Qatar 2022. A balancing act of youth and experience is taking place, with Hugo Broos at the reigns, posing the question, is Hugo Broos surrounded by the right people? Speaking on the SL podcast’s “The Carwash,” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts dives deep into Bafana's most recent performances, even saying that this team could be the start of the future!
On the latest episode of The Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie, Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise sit down to discuss the most recent performances of Bafana during their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The guys also get down and dirty with the sales of football clubs in “The Money Minute” segment; later in the show, Soccer Laduma International News correspondent Kurt Buckerfield joins the show to discuss the drama that occurred between Brazil and Argentina and predicts whether Cristiano Ronaldo will make his second debut for Manchester United this coming weekend.
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on hold for a moment, we look back at how Bafana Bafana fared in their two most recent games against Zimbabwe and Ghana. Both of these fixtures were tough matches to come out on top, however, the boys from South Africa did exceptionally well, getting 4 points from a possible 6. After a stalemate against Zimbabwe, Bafana turned things up a notch against Ghana, emerging victorious 1-0 thanks to a Bongokhule Hlongwane strike.
In the latest episode of ‘The Fan Reaction Show,’ Mzansi praises the efforts of Hugo Broos and his Bafana squad, with one fan even saying that ‘the boys have more freedom.’
The Hansi Flick era of German football has started off on the highest note after getting two wins from 2, albeit against weaker opponents. This can suggest that German football has turned over a new leaf and is starting a new chapter indefinitely. Hansi Flick has concocted a mixture of youth and experience in a heightened gamble, which seems to be paying off thanks to the likes of Jamal Musiala and Karim Adeyemi. German face off against Iceland in their next fixture, which should be a walk in the park according to Kres Harrington, after the board of Icelandic football stepped down due to legal circumstances.
In the latest episode of the Bundesliga Connection, DW Sports Correspondent and German Football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the current German football squad and how the Hansi Flick Era has taken off!
The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) have effectively given new coach Hugo Broos a free pass and said qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup is not a requirement in his mandate. It comes as Broos starts his tenure with a completely new team from that which failed to reach the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, with a number of young and inexperienced players that it is hoped will be peaking in their careers around the time of the 2026 World Cup. SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan explains the organization’s vision in the latest episode of the COSAFA Show, and exactly why they brought Broos on board. “I think we have hope again,” he said. “This is a new beginning, we have a new coach, new assistant coach, new technical staff, new medical staff, new goalkeeper coach. And young players, you look at their faces, some are still babies that have been thrown into international football. “So it's a fresh start, a new vision, new path, new direction. And the first match against Zimbabwe, in Harare on an uneven pitch, is going to be a huge test for this team. And if they can get positive results, I think we are on the way of the renewal of Bafana. "We've tried to qualify for the World Cup and AFCON with '30 something' players and we didn't make it. And therefore, when we called Broos, it was because he was previously the coach of Cameroon and when he started, he had to also bring an end to all of those great players there who were over their 30s. "Nobody gave that team a chance, in Cameroon or outside of it. And he brought those young boys and they won the [2017] AFCON. “And suddenly there was a new generation of players. This is what we said to him. His contract is until 2026, which means it's to the next World Cup. And so what we will demand from him is qualification for the next AFCON [in 2023] and the next World Cup [in 2026].”
It is no secret the Percy Tau’s move to Al Ahly came as a shock to the continent, however, being reunited with Pitso will bring great joy to Percy as we all know the relationship between the two South Africans is a very special one. But the question remains, why would Percy leave arguably the best league in the world in the English Premier League? One can only speculate that this move came from a place of hope of playing the beautiful game again, as Tau has seen minimal game time during his spell with Brighton and Hove Albion. With Percy reaching the age where a big contract becomes slim, this move to Al Ahly may be exactly what he needs in his career, not only at club level but also at an International level. Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates Star Teko Modise wishes Percy well for the future in the latest episode of the Carwash.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’ “The Carwash,” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates Star Teko Modise discuss this transfer in great depth. The Carwash crew also dive into the latest news coming from the Bafana Bafana camp; Hugo Broos has announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which sees Ronwen Williams brace the captain's armband against a strong set of opponents in Zimbabwe and Ghana respectively.
Later in the show, Soccer Laduma international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfiled joins the show to discuss the latest in international transfer business!
With the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season well underway, it is Wolfsburg who are leading the league table on 9 points with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich sitting in 2nd and third respectively. But after a few dominant performances by the current Bundesliga champions, are we finally seeing Bayern Munich shape into place? Robert Lewandowski continues to prove his excellence after a phenomenal hat trick against Hertha Berlin.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection,” DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harringtons breaks down the recent run of form shown by Bayern Munich. Kres also explains that Erling Haaland is definitely still one to watch.
Percy Tau has made headlines once again, however this time it is related to a shock move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly from English side Brighton and Hove Albion. The former Mamelodi Sundowns and current Bafana Bafana star has spent 4 years playing in Europe, having featured for Belgian outfit Club Brugge, playing in the UEFA Champions League, and making a handful of appearances for English topflight side Brighton and Hove Albion. Tau hasn’t seen much of the starting 11 team sheet whilst playing under Graham Potter, perhaps forcing a move. Tau will be reunited with former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane at Al Ahly, a connection that runs deep.
The MTN8 Semi-Finals took place this past weekend with all 4 teams experiencing draws. Sundowns, Arrows, Swallows and Cape Town City will have it all to do in the second leg to secure a spot in the final. Who will prevail?
After a fantastic start to his Al Ahly career, fans of the club expressed anger towards Pitso Mosimane after the African champions failed to be crowned domestic champions for the 6th consecutive year after fierce rivals Zamalek FC defeated Al Entang Al Harby 2-0 to become champions. After Pitso and Al Ahly received abuse from fans, club president Mahmoud El Khatib, has defended the South African-born coach, as well as the staff and management team. "We fully trust coach Pitso Mosimane, captain Sayed Abdelhafiz, and our coaching, medical, administrative staffs," he said, according to the club's social media platforms. "You deserve to be honoured for what you did in the last period and we are working on that."
With only 6 days left, the European transfer window will soon be shut until the Winter months and there are still many transfer rumours that have been tossed into the pot; with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane featuring on this week's episode of The Carwash: International News Desk Special. It has been reported that Harry Kane will be staying at Tottenham, however, things may turn out differently for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has publicly said that he wants to leave The old lady in Juventus. Reports suggest that Manchester City are leading the race to acquire the signature from the Portuguese winger, however, can they afford him after the Mancunian outfit splashed £100 million on English superstar Jack Grealish?.
French wonderkid Kylian Mbappe has also come out to the public by saying he wants to leave the PSG, but the club recently rejected an offer from Real Madrid of around €160 million. Mbappe has always dreamed of playing for Los Blancos, and with less than 10 months left on his current contract, could we see PSG kicking themselves for rejecting this offer?
With the 2021/2022 German football season well underway, It was Bayern Munich who tasted silverware first after defeating Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in the German Supercup final. Robert Lewandowski was on the scoresheet yet again after netting a brace, alongside a single goal by Thomas Müller. After this defeat, Dortmund traveled to Freiburg for their matchday 2 encounter. Dortmund fell yet again, this time being defeated 2-1. You’d think the score sheet, being 2-1, looks like a tight matchup, but Freiburg scored an own goal in that match.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’ ‘The Bundesliga Connection,’ DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington dives deep in analyzing the current situation with Borussia Dortmund, evening saying that ‘Dortmund need to convince star player Erling Haaland to stay.’ Let’s not forget that for over a year, big clubs from all leagues have been salivating over the Norweigan, but Dortmund set a price tag that was deemed as astronomical. When the winter transfer window opens in January, Haaland will have a €60-odd million release clause, which will be more appealing if he is set to leave.
In this episode of The COSAFA Show we hear from Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi on the champions’ chances ahead of the new season in South Africa, and explore the three-year partnership between COSAFA, the KwaZulu-Natal Government and eThekwini Municipality that was announced this week. The latter will see the COSAFA Cup staged in Durban for the next two editions, while the COSAFA Women’s Championship and COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship will be played in the coastal city for the next three years. Starting next week, Durban will host the 2021 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier to kick-off the partnership.
But all eyes will be on the DStv Premiership this weekend as Sundowns open the defence of their title at home to AmaZulu on Friday. Mngqithi knows it will be a long season for them, as they battle on the domestic front as well as the CAF Champions League. Finding the right number for the squad is tricky, especially with COVID-19 still a factor. “We are in a very unfortunate situation because we happen to play more matches than any other team in the league, but one big issue is how to manage the squad,” Mngqithi says on The COSAFA Show. “Last season we had a rife COVID-19 situation that forced us to play almost every member of the squad [at some stage in the season], but this season we think the situation is getting better, based on the tests we are doing over time. “It is not always proper to have a big squad, you have maybe 8-10 players on the outside when we are doing our tactical work and you have to try and bring everybody to give them all a chance. “But as coaches, with what is happening at the moment, we are around 30-32 players that we have within the team and the possibility of settling on that number. But with COVID-19 hovering about you, we don’t know if that is the right number.”
As The start of the 2021/2022 DStv Premiership season creeps ever so close, it has come as a major shock seeing the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic as well as Royal AM. It has been announced the Bloem Celtic will participate in the DStv Premiership as Royal Am, and Royal AM will take part in the Glad Africa Championship as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC. ‘Royal AM is a place right now with a lot of headaches’ says Teko Modise when speaking on the SL Podcast; ‘The players are going to have to recoup at a new venue, find accommodation, and what about their families? The players don’t even know if they are going to make the squad currently, everything happened so quickly.’ Sean and Teko also discuss the situation at Orlando Pirates, with former head coach JZ leaving the club, as well as provide an analysis on the past weekend’s MTN8 fixtures.
Later in the show, the Carwash crew is joined by Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to talk about the future of Christano Ronaldo, what’s going on with Kylian Mbappe and provide reactions to a few international league games from this past weekend.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’ ‘The Carwash,’ former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town Goalie Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise discuss the consequences of Football clubs being sold and pose the question, should there be stricter rules in place to prevent these things from happening? The crew also discusses Joseph Zinnbauer’ departure from Orlando Pirates and much more!
With the first round of the 2021/2022 MTN8 done and dusted, it was Golden Arrows, Moroka Swallows, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Cape Town City who progressed from the quarter-finals and find themselves in the semi-finals. These fixtures were nothing short of exciting, drama-filled, and entertaining. Two out of the four games had to be decided on penalties. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s ‘Fan Reaction Show’, one fan was saying how “there are no big teams anymore.”
Also making headlines this week is former Orlando Pirates coach Joseph Zinnbauer. The German-born coach has left Orlando Pirates with immediate effect. This news came out after his side lost to Swallows 2-1. And now the age-old question remains… Who should replace him as the head coach of Orlando Pirates?
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’ ‘The Fan Reaction,’ DStv Premiership fans provide their analysis and opinions on the quarter-final round of the MTN8. The fans also debate who should replace Joseph Zinnbauer at Orlando Pirates after the German left the club with immediate effect.
With the German Super Cup Final set to take place on Tuesday 17 August, Borussia Dortmund are going into the final with a home advantage against German Champions, Bayern Munich. The club from the th Bavarian Region haven't had the greatest run of form regarding their pre-season, having played four, losing two and drawing the other two. Whereas Borussia Dortmund finished their pre-season winning two from three, and of course wonderkind Erling Haaland was the star of the show, along with club captain Marco Reus.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’ ‘The Bundesliga Connection,’ DW Sports correspondent and German football expert joins the show to discuss the upcoming German Super Cup final, as well as the recent game day.
With the 2021/2022 PSL Season around the corner, the first order of business for the top 8 finishers of last season is the MTN8. The competition kicks off on Saturday with Golden Arrows taking on Supersport United. Pirates play Swallows to finish off the games on Saturday. Sunday sees AmaZulu face off against Cape Town; however, all eyes will be on Sunday's fixture of Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. The crew discusses the latest in local football, Orlando Pirates’ transfer window, and the possibility of Percy Tau (currently playing for Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League) being reunited with coach Pitso if he signs for Al Ahly.
On the latest episode of the SL Podcast's “The Carwash” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town Sean Roberts and former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Teko Modise are joined by former Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana start Stanton Fredericks, who is this week’s mystery guest. ‘Stigga’ gives his insights on this year's MTN8 competition, and says ‘we judge teams on consistency’ when speaking on the matter. Fredericks also provides an analysis of the upcoming 2021/2022 PSL season.
Later in the show, the latest in International football gets discussed with the main talking point being Lionel Messi and his transfer to PSG after spending a glorious 18 years with Catalan giants Barcelona.
With the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season commencing on Friday 13 August, the question that is on everyone’s minds, is will things be the same? Will the same clubs finish in the Champions League spots, or will this year bring some differentiation? Speaking on the SL Podcast’ The Bundesliga Connection, Kres Harrington explains that ‘typically the Bundesliga is wash and repeat with the same clubs coming to mind.’
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast, DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down the upcoming Bundesliga season. Kres also provides an in depth analysis on the past matchday results coming from the German Cup, as well as offering condolences to the passing of German football legend Michael Ballack’s son.
With the 2021/2022 PSL season around the corner, transfer business has been rife amongst clubs to formulate the best team possible with hopes of being crowned champions of South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs seem to be the talking point of this transfer window, with the Glamour Boys welcoming Keagan Dolly, Cole Alexander, and Austin Dube to name a few. However, One transfer that seems to have people scratching their heads, is Willard Katsande joining Sekhukhune United, after being with Kaizer Chiefs for the last decade. Speaking on the SL Podcast’ “The Carwash,” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Teko Modise explains that “ these things happen in football all of the time.”
In other news, it has been announced that RocNation has partnered with Mamelodi Sundowns. Rocnation, owned by famous American rapper, Shawn Carter (better known as Jay-Z) is an entertainment company, focusing on elevating athletes’ careers on a global scale, both on and off the field. Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts says “Sundowns are hoping to bring the brand to more of a global level”
In the latest episode of the SL Podcasts’ “The Carwash,” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Teko Modise and former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts sit down together to talk all things local football, with transfers, a review of Bafana’s Olympic performance, a review of the Carling Black Label Cup as well as Willard Katsande leaving Chiefs making waves this week!
With the start of the 2021/2022 Bundesliga season around the corner, teams are gearing up to produce high quality football, but with ongoing pressure. Certain individuals are facing this pressure for many different reasons, some are facing it to win games and some are waiting for new contracts. DW Sports Correspondent and German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down these pressure blocks and provides an in-depth analysis on the situation.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcasts’ “Bundesliga Connection,” DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down Bayerns’ poor form in their pre-season friendlies, he explains the pressure that is building in and around the league and more!
The TOTALENERGIES CAF Women’s Champions League l COSAFA Qualifier from August 26 to September 4 is an exciting new entry into the calendar for the region and will raise the standard of club football in more ways than one. The draw on Thursday saw South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies seeded in Group A, where they will take on Lesotho Defence Force, Double Action Ladies from Botswana, and Eswatini’s Manzini Wanderers.
Zambian side Green Buffaloes are the seeds in the three-team Group B and have been drawn alongside Black Rhinos Queens of Zimbabwe and TURA Magic from Namibia. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals. But aside from the action on the pitch, COSAFA has also been raising the bar by introducing club licensing that means teams have to meet a minimum standard. It forced Mozambican club Costa do Sol to have to pull out. “Quite a few of the participants here are the ladies’ section of the men’s teams, so the club as a whole will have knowledge of the club licensing regulations,” COSAFA General Secretary Sue Destombes told The COSAFA Show. “Being a first time for women’s clubs, the regulations have been lowered because we do have to give ladies stand-alone teams time to get themselves there.” Destombes says the regulations have been approved by the Confederation of African Football to raise the standards of the women’s game. “Every club should have access to their own stadium, not necessarily to own it, but have access for training and matches. “This year CAF have been very lenient with the coaching licenses to give an opportunity for the clubs to catch up, so the head coach this year must have a CAF A, B or C license. By next year that will change. “The assistant coaches this year have no requirements, but that will also change next year. So it is forcing clubs who have ladies’ sections to get their house in order across the sporting, technical and administrative criteria. It is good, it protects the stature of the competition.”
It is no secret that the Corona Virus is still around and it looks like it is here to stay, period. SAFA and the South African Government have decided to keep fans out of stadiums to prevent ‘super spreaders,’ however what does this mean for football and football clubs? This weekend marks the ninth edition of the Carling Black Label Cup, however with no fans attending the match, one can only speculate how this will impact the participating teams, albeit positive or negative. Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the Soweto Derby, this match is sure to bring an action-packed 90 minutes, with both teams having very different ‘advantages.’ Chiefs have just finished their season after playing Champions League football, so they have momentum and form but Pirates have enjoyed some time off so they could be more rested. One thing is for sure though, excitement is in the air.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcasts’ “Fan Reaction,” football lovers across all ages have expressed their opinions on the 2021 edition of the Carling Black Label Cup.
With the reigning Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munichs’ pre-season not going according to plan, one can only think about the future and what’s next for the Bavarian club. Newly-appointed head coach, Julian Nagelsmann is yet to get a win under his belt and expressed his worry of complacency from his players against Ajax. After 2 poor performances in pre-season friendlies, it is very evident that Nagelsmann has his work cut out for him.
In the latest episode of “The Bundesliga Connection,” DW Sports correspondent and German football expert Kres Harington joins Soccer Laduma to discuss all things Bundesliga; this episode highlights the struggles Bayern Munich are currently facing in their pre-season friendlies.
With The Bundesliga getting some friendly matches underway, a few shock results came from this past weekend, with Bayern Munich losing to FC Koln 3-2, with Bayern not fielding a full-strength team. Another shock result was the newly promoted VfL Bochum overpowered Borussia Dortmund 3-1. Dortmund were without Jadon Sancho who has been signed by Manchester United, as well as Erling Haaland.
In the latest episode of The SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection,’ German football expert and DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the pre-season friendlies and poses the question, ‘does this mean that the playing field is becoming even?’ Kres also talks about the racial abuse hurled towards the German National team which saw them leave the pitch in protest.
With the CAF Champions League officially over, it was Pitso Mosimane and his Egyptian giants who emerged victorious after Al Ahly beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 to lift the cup for a record tenth time; this was Pitso's third CAF Champions League trophy. Looking at how the match was played, the focus has shifted to not the score, but rather the 45th+3 minute, a moment in the game that was the deciding factor according to Amakhosi fans. This was the moment where Happy Mashiane committed a foul, resulting in a red card. “Playing against Al Ahly is difficult, but when you play with 10 men, it almost becomes impossible,” said one CHiefs fan when speaking on the SL Podcast’s Fan Reaction Show. Above and beyond the result, plaudits need to go to Kaizer Chiefs for representing the country in the final, in their first CAFCL appearance, this is a remarkable feat that deserves high recognition, regardless of the result. Another fan has said that Red Cards are a part of the game and Chiefs must hold their heads up high for progressing as far as they did
In the latest episode of The SL Podcast’s Fan Reaction, Amakhosi nation have their say over the ‘turning point’ in the CAF Champions League Final, being Happy Mashiane’s red card at the end of the first half.
With the CAF Champions League coming to a close, all eyes will be watching Kaizer Chiefs as they appear in their first-ever Champions League final, during a season that has been an emotional rollercoaster for fans. Football matches don’t get bigger than this, Chiefs vs Al Ahly, Chiefs vs Pitso, who will prevail as Champions of Africa? Speaking on the SL Podcast’s ‘The Carwash’ former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise states that “This match, is David vs Goliath.” With Al Ahly being the favorites, a true underdog story can be made from Chiefs’ season if they can just add the cherry on top; only 90 minutes separate these two teams from continental victory.
With Pitso ‘Jingles’ Mosimane having coached in South Africa, more specifically Sundowns, he will be well aware of the dangers that Kaizer Chiefs pose, and with the starting line-up Al Ahly have announced, the awareness of those dangers is prominent. “He knows how to trigger Nurkovic,” says Teko Modise during the conversation and analysis of the CAF Champions League Final.
In the latest episode of The SL Podcasts’ “The Carwash,” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Teko Modise joins former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts to discuss, breakdown and preview the CAF Champions League final which features Kaizer Chiefs for the first time in history, with a staggering reputation in the competition, Al Ahly will be incredibly tough to beat, but never say never. Later in the show, the crew is joined by Soccer Laduma International news Correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to talk about Magical Messi, a breakdown of the European Championship final, as well as international transfer ‘Bizniz.’ The gents also give thanks to Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyana for being such a magnificent servant of the game, the COSAFA Cup semi-final draw as well as the return of Gavin Hunt.
The COSAFA Cup reaches the semifinal stage on Friday with South Africa to tackle Mozambique and west African guest national Senegal up against Eswatini for a place in Sunday’s decider. It has been a hectic road for the teams to get to this point, but they now stand 180 minutes away from glory. In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we hear from the South Africa stand-in coach Morena Ramoreboli, Horacio Goncalves from Mozambique and Eswatini tactician Dominic Kunene ahead of the Last 4 clashes. But while some teams celebrate, for others there was bitter disappointment, not least defending champions Zambia and six-times winners Zimbabwe. We will hear from Chipolopolo coach Micho Sredojevic about his team’s surprise early exit, and what that may mean for the future, and also from Zimbabwe tactician Zdravko Logarušić, who admits he “expected better” from his team. Saturday will also see the final of the CAF Champions League played as Kaizer Chiefs take on giants Al Ahly in Casablanca. Chiefs forward Khama Billiat could come up against his former coach Pitso Mosimane, who he won the Champions League with in 2016 while in the colours of Mamelodi Sundowns. “We have to be perfect in the final and make sure we stick to the plan the coach [Stuart Baxter] is showing us in training,” Billiat says. “We believe it will give us the right result. “But at the same time we need to not forgot what the coach is saying, that it will not be easy, we are facing a good side, we can only give it away if we don’t apply certain things that can make a difference in a game. “Which is being in the right place and managing the space [they give to Ahly]. We know we are just 90 minutes away from the glory.
With the European Championships officially done and dusted, it was Italy who proved too strong for the rest of the continent as the Azzurri were crowned champions over Gareth Southgates’ Three Lions, and with many Bundesliga players featuring in the tournament, German football expert Kres Harrington breaks down certain players' performances. In other news, the transfer window is wide open, with Jadon Sancho, former Borussia Dortmund star, already making his way to the red side of Manchester to join the Red Devils; another Dortmund star in Erling Haaland is rumoured to be moving to the EPL.
In the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, German football expert Kres Harrington expresses his disgust towards the situation involving three England players and their ‘so-called’ fans delivering vile racial abuse over social media. Kres also speaks about the star Bundesliga players who featured in the EURO’s 2020, as well as a rumour circulating about Erling Haaland making a transfer to the EPL!
In the inaugural episode of ‘The Carwash Extras’ series, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts sits down with Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the latest news revolving around the International game. As we are all well aware, the European Championships have officially reached the business end with one fixture left to play, being the final. England have reached a final in a major tournament for the first time in three decades. Gareth Southgate and his ‘Three Lions’ will come up against a very determined Italian outfit. The Azzurri are currently unbeaten in 33 matches, having not lost a game since September 2018. England proved to be too dominant against Denmark, whereas Italy were strong defensively, yet shaky up front. This is the moment that the world has been waiting for and the question remains, who will conquer Europe? Only time will tell.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Sean Roberts and Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield also dive deep into the mind of Barcelona as the club faces a massive financial crisis; Until they pay off their debt and lower their wage bill, the likes of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay MAY NOT be registered as official Barcelona players and therefore not being able to play. The guys also discuss the COPA America final, featuring Brazil and Argentina, could this be Messi’s first major trophy with La Albiceleste?
With the CAF Champions League final fast approaching, 90 minutes separate Kaizer Chiefs from continental glory. However, standing in their path are the dangerous Egyptian Giants, Al Ahly. Chiefs have put on some valiant displays throughout the tournament, defensively being rock solid at the back; as the old saying goes ‘ defense is the best attack.’ But will that be the case for the upcoming battle against Al Ahly? Only time will tell.
In the latest episode of SL Podcast’s “ Fan Reaction Show,” Amalhosi fans have their say in the way their beloved Kaizer Chiefs should approach the match.
With the transfer season well underway, arguably the most noticeable transfer that has happened is Manchester United confirming the signature of English 'wonderkid', Jadon Sancho. The red Devils have had to wait over 12 months to confirm this signing, with negotiations going back and forth between them and Borussia Dortmund. You could say that it was worth the wait as United managed to secure the deal this past week for 30 million Euros less than Dortmunds’ original asking price they laid down over a year ago. The English Football League, is arguably the most difficult league to prosper in, so the question remains, is Sancho ready for this leap?
DW Sports correspondent, Kres Harrington states that Sancho is more than ready, eager too, for this move. Harrington explains that Sancho had a fall out with United rivals Manchester City a few years ago and has been wanting to come back to English football.
Senegal will feature in the 2021 COSAFA Cup as a guest nation but are determined to take home the trophy when the tournament is played in Nelson Mandela Bay from July 6-18. The west Africans have been drawn in Group C along with six-time winners Zimbabwe, Mozambique and 2015 champions Namibia, with only the top team guaranteed a place in the semifinals. There will be no Sadio Mane or Idrissa Gueye in their side, but instead a group a young, hungry players from the Senegalese domestic league, and their Head of Delegation for the trip, Sam Diatta, says they have just one goal in mind for their visit to South Africa. "A guest should be hungry when they come to your place and we are definitely hungry," Diatta tells The COSAFA Show. "We like these kinds of situations, being invited and then to go and take the trophy. We are not coming as tourists, we are coming to fight and play. "We want to show that no matter the players we bring, we will show the image of Senegal. And in Senegal, talent is not a question, we have so many talented players (in the local league). "You could bring even four teams to South Africa and each would represent the country (well) in that tournament. We are going as a hungry team to show people we can do something good. "We are going to play good football and fight to take the trophy." In this episode of The COSAFA Show, we also chat to Dr Thulani Ngwenya, who is head of the medical department at the South African Football Association and a driving force in implementing world-class ‘return to play’ COVID-19 regulations for tournaments. He explains how a competition like the COSAFA Cup can safely be staged during the third wave of infections South Africa is experiencing. We also hear from Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Mayor Luxolo Namette as he shares his thoughts on the competition and what it means for the Friendly City to host major sporting events such as this one.
With the COSAFA Cup only a few days away, all eyes will be on the National team, as Bafana Bafana finds themselves in a group with Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini. Recent news has shown that Orlando Pirates have refused to release 3 plays from club duty, to represent their country as the club wants these players to be well-rested for the start of the new PSL season, as heading off for international duty promotes risk to injuries and fatigue. Orlando Pirates have been competing in the PSL as well as the Confederations Cup, sometimes playing 3 games a week. “This is way more than the normal amount of games for a team,” said Orlando Pirates Spokesperson. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash” Sean Roberts and Teko Modise agreed with the Buccaneers’ decision regarding the matter of the COSAFA Cup.
In the latest episode of “The Carwash” former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, and former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star Teko Modise, dive deep in conversation about the upcoming COSAFA Cup. The crew also discuss the latest news in transfer business, inclusive of Kaizer Chiefs offering short-term contracts to allow a full-strength team to face Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League Final. Later in the show, Soccer Laduma International news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield joins the show to discuss the latest news and drama surrounding the EURO 2020, Messi being a free agent, and the current situation with Kylian Mbappe!
The round of 16 matches are nearing completion and with Germany managing to progress out of the group stages of the European Championships, albeit with a struggle, they are set to face England, at Wembley, in their last 16 fixture. With the majority of the quarter-final places already occupied, Die Mannschaft will want to make light work of the Three Lions, who have not been scoring as many goals as they would have liked. Germany are the favorites to win and progress, however, a determined English team stands before them.
DW Sports correspondent Kres Harrington explains that “History is on Germany’s side,” however, with fans being allowed into the stadium, it’s self-explanatory to realise that the majority of the fans will be supporting the lions, so Germany will have their work cut out for them.
Kaizer Chiefs have done the impossible and have qualified for the CAF Champions League Final after coming out on top over 2 legs against Wydad AC. The first leg (which took place in Morocco) saw Kaizer Chiefs winning 1-0, thanks to a Samir Nurkovic strike. The Moroccan giants could not return the favor, as a huge defensive display saw Kaizer Chiefs keep yet another clean sheet in the return leg, at the FNB Stadium.
The Final for the CAF Champions League will take place on Saturday 17 July 2021, at the Stade Mohammed V, in Morocco. Chiefs vs Al Ahly, Chiefs vs Pitso, this final will surely be one to remember. A Huge battle of the titans, competing for African glory will soon commence, but one thing is for sure. Kaizer Chiefs have surpassed expectations by making the final. Coach Pitso has even been quoted saying “A very strong team in terms of organisation, they don’t give away goals easily” Pitso continued to say that Chiefs are a very good team, but they can be awkward at times, you cannot describe them easily.”
This week has had some interesting outbreaks of news revolving around the local game. Royal AM and Cippa United were set to partake in a PSL Playoff fixture, however, a few moments before the game was set to commence, Royal AM started boycotting and eventually left the stadium, forcing forfeit. Causing huge controversy, it has now come out that Royal AM owner, Shauwn Mkhize, has said that she and the team will honour the playoff against Chippa. Speaking on the Carwash, Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates star, Teko Modise says “Will they be punished and pay for damages?” This news has caused many mixed feelings around South Africa, with some agreeing with Mkhiizes’ decision and some not so much. “It’s good to see people standing up for what they believe in,” says Teko Modise. Another big talking point coming out of the last week is that Helman Mkhalele has announced his selected team for the upcoming COSAFA Cup, set to begin in Gqeberha, in July. Bafana Bafana has been drawn in a group with Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini, when speaking on the matter, former Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns goalie, Sean Roberts expresses that “although the group may seem easy, it puts pressure on Bafana and we all know what happens to Bafana under pressure.”
In the latest episode of SL Podcast’s “The Carwash” Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise and former Ajax Cape Town & Downs goalie Sean Roberts discuss the CAF Champions League Semi-finals second leg fixtures with Kaizer Chiefs sitting in a somewhat comfortable position, the selected squad for Bafana, who will feature at the COSAFA Cup in July, as well as the boycotting that was done by Shauwn Mkhize and Royal AM. Later in the show, the Carwash crew is joined by Soccer Laduma international news correspondent, Kurt Buckerfield to talk about all things EURO 2020, as well as an in-depth breakdown of the game of the week!
With no Bundesliga football going on, the EURO’s are well underway with many Bundesliga players representing their respective countries. Although England has played some mouth-watering football, the one thing that is for sure is that the three lions have failed to score goals, and with Jadon Sancho sitting on the bench having not played a single minute at this year's competition, heads are being scratched with Gareth Southgates’ decision. Sancho has had a fantastic few seasons in the Bundesliga, scoring plenty of goals and assisting many more. Sancho is targeting by Manchester United for what could be the record signing for any English player, everyone is thinking the same thing, when will Sancho get to play?
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection” DW Sports correspondent and German football expert, Kres Harrington provides an in-depth breakdown of the Sancho-Southgate situation. “I don’t believe what he said” explains Kres after quoting Gareth Southgate.
With the first legs of the CAF Semi-Finals done and dusted, Kaizer Chiefs managed to come out on top after beating Moroccan giants Wydad AC 1-0 away in Morocco. The second leg will take place on Saturday 26 June at the FNB Stadium. With Kaizer Chiefs having the home ground advantage, as well as an away goal advantage, the Amakhosi will need to be smart about the way they turn up for the game. Tactics surrounding offense and defense will need to be thought out to the T, as anything can happen in football! Speaking on the Fan Reaction Show, one fan was quoted saying “don’t fix what isn’t broken” and considering the huge defensive effort Chiefs put in during the first leg, they would want to build on said efforts.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Fan Reaction Show” Amakhosi fans discuss what Kaizer Chiefs need to do in the second leg, with the debate of tactics coming to the forefront, do they play attacking football, or do they apply defensive measures and find an early goal from a counter attack?
The draw for the historic 20th edition of the COSAFA Cup that will be staged in Nelson Mandela Bay from July 7-18 has thrown up plenty of intriguing ties as the competition takes on a new format and added significance. The big news is the appearance of west African giants Senegal, who will be guests at the tournament and will certainly add some star quality to what is already a strong field. They have been drawn alongside record six-time winners Zimbabwe in a Group of Death that also includes Mozambique and 2015 COSAFA Cup winners Namibia. Zimbabwe are planning to use the competition to blood youngsters and give fringe players an opportunity with one eye on the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that starts in September, and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon in January next year. "It is an interesting draw, so let's see how things go," Zimbabwe coach Zdravko Logarusic tells The COSAFA Show On this episode we also hear from the technical teams of Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi as they share their thoughts on the draw. Hosts South Africa also have an intriguing group that includes neighbours Lesotho, Botswana and Eswatini.
With the Semi-Finals of the CAF Champions League around the corner, all eyes will be on Kaizer Chiefs as they take on Moroccon giants, Wydad AC. Amakhosi came up against Wydad in the group stages, spoils were shared as both teams were victorious on one occasion. Will things be different this time around? Only time will time. Speaking on the Carwash, Former Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper, Sean Roberts said “They look like a different team, they look like they want to play under Stuart Baxter!” It will be all to play for as this is the first CAF Champions League tournament for the Amakhosi Faithful, and getting to the SemiFinals is highly impressive. Kaizer Chiefs will come up against Wydad AC in the CAF Champions League semi-finals, with the first leg being a home game for the Moroccon Giants, it will be extremely vital for Amakhosi to cause prevention in terms of conceding goals. Former Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, and Bafana Bafana star, Teko Modise, analyses the current situation in the Chief's camp and said “Chiefs don’t need to lose.”
In the latest episode of SL Podcast’s “The Carwash” Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise and former Ajax Cape Town & Downs goalie Sean Roberts discuss the CAF Champions League Semi-finals, what’s next for George Maluleka after a season of minimal appearances,as well as the news that Keagan Buchanon has signed for a new team! Later in the show, the Carwash crew is joined by Soccer Laduma international news correspondent, Kurt Buckerfield to talk about all things EURO 2020, as well as an in-depth breakdown of the game of the week!
With The European Championship 2020 well into matchday one, all eyes will be focusing on arguably the match of the week. The current FIFA World Cup champions France, take on Germany in a Group F clash. Right now, the Germans are currently the underdogs with France having speed, skill, and power all over the pitch.
Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection,” Germany football expert Kres Harrington, talks about the ‘Group Of Death ’ clash between Germany and current FIFA World Champions, France. Harrington also analyses the performances of Bundesliga players representing their respective Nations, why Jadon Sancho needs to perform when given the opportunity, as well as a certain African Bundesliga player who has been banned for 3 months thanks to his agents' wrongdoing!
With the news that Stuart Baxter and Kaizer Chiefs are being reunited after 6 years causing a wavelength in the local game, everyone is thinking about how he will make a difference in Naturena. The answer is simple, Baxter understands the culture in the Amakhosi camp as well as the culture of South African football. Let's not forget that as of July 2021, Kaizer Chiefs and Stuart Baxter will no longer be constrained by the transfer ban that FIFA had issued, “I seriously hope Baxter gets given an open checkbook,” Roberts commented on the topic, continuing to say that if Baxter is able to sign who he wants, we will see a very different Chiefs outfit come next season. Speaking on this matter, Teko Modise provides an in-depth analysis of the current situation with Kaizer Chiefs, saying “Chiefs know what to do.”
In The latest episode of SL Podcast’s “The Carwash,'' featuring Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise and former Ajax Cape Town & Downs goalie Sean Roberts, the crew come together to talk about the positives of Kaizer Chiefs’ future. Teko and Sean also hold discussions about the recent PSL awards. Later in the show, we are joined by Kurt Buckerfield, Soccer Laduma international news correspondent to talk about all things EURO 2020.
With the European Championships only a few days around the corner, Germany find themselves in the proverbial group of death. Joining the Germans in this group are Hungary, Portugal, and current FIFA World Cup holders, France. Germany will come up against France in their first game of the tournament which will surely prove to be a daunting task. However, what Germany does have in their favour, is the fact that 14 000 fans will be allowed to watch the match, live in the Allianz Arena, potentially giving Germany the upper hand.
In the latest episode of SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection,” German football expert Kres Harrington provides an analysis on European Championships, a Bayern star penning a new deal, and more!
After Kazier Chiefs and Gavin Hunt parted ways, Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard stepped up as caretakers. Now the race is on for Amakhosi to find a replacement coach and it has been revealed that the leader of the metaphorical race is Stuart Baxter. It is understood that the Englishman and Amakhosi have reached advanced talks, and he is expected to make his way to Mzansi, should the two parties agree terms. Stuart Baxter spent 3 fantastic years with Chiefs from 2013-2015, winning the PSL twice, claiming a Nedbank Cup title as well as an MTN8 title. It goes without saying that Baxter knows how to win trophies! “He understands South African Football and more importantly, the culture at Chiefs,” said one excited fan on this week's episode of the Fan Reaction Show. However, a few concerned fans have said that the current Chiefs players won’t be able to adjust to Baxter’s style of play.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Fan Reaction Show,” Amakhosi fans express joy and excitement as Stuart Baxter makes his way to Mzansi to further the discussions with Chiefs.
With Kaizer Chiefs and Gavin Hunt parting ways, after the club decided to terminate Hunts’ contract with immediate effect, the future of Gavin Hunt is hanging in the air and only time will tell where the former Bidvest Wits coach will go. Speaking on the Carwash, former Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise says “He won’t be without a job longer than 2 months.” The future coach of Kaizer Chiefs has not yet been decided, as Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard are acting coaches in the interim, however, rumours are that Stuart Baxter may make a surprise return to Amakhosi.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash” with former Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise and former Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, the crew discuss if Baxter is the right man for the job; “He is respected amongst many” says Sean Roberts when discussing the matter.
With The European Championship 2020 finally around the corner, Germany find themselves in a fairly tough group, with the likes of Hungary, Portugal, and their first game, France. Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection”, Harrington explains that “the expectations are low for this German Side,” with the likes of seasoned veterans Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels being included in the German team. Harrington also expressed joy with Kai Havertz. The former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker scored the sole goal in the UEFA Champions League Final, leading Chelsea to European glory!.
In the full show, Harrington also breaks down Robert Lewandowski’s future and provides analysis for the recent UEFA Champions League Final.
This past week saw some major changes happening in the Amakhosi team camp. Gavin Hunt’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect. Chiefs are heading towards their worst season in the club's history, currently sitting in 11th place, and having only won 6 out of 28 games.https://iono.fm/browse Suffering yet another defeat against Black Leopards, was surely the cherry on top.
In the interim, Hunts’ assistances, Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard will be taking over as joint head coaches. This news comes as a shock to a lot of fans, as they believe Hunt was hard done by considering the transfer ban issued by FIFA is still in play, counting towards Chiefs’ inconsistent season. Zwane and Sheppard will have the weight of the world on their shoulders as Amakhosi head into the CAF Semi-Finals as they face Wydad AC. “We have faith in Arthur,'' said one hopeful Chief’s fan.
In the latest episode of The COSAFA Show, we delve into the world of Futsal, the little brother of association football that is fast growing around the world and about to get a massive boost in Southern Africa. We speak to Junior Roberti, who along with current Brazil national team coach Marquinhos Xavier is leading a charge to provide training to aspiring Futsal tacticians around the world. It will be the turn of the COSAFA region from next month, with a course that will run from June 16 to August 25, ahead of the inaugural COSAFA Futsal Championships later in the year. Roberti explains the aim of the course, as well as just what makes Futsal so relevant to the 11-a-side game, especially in the training of young players. “The fact that the space in Futsal is so tight, you have to make decisions in a very short period of time,” Roberti told The COSAFA Show. “You don’t have space and you don’t have time, so that means you need to develop your decision-making process to deal with that constraint. “Naturally, because of that process you start developing the technical elements and skills to deal with that. The ‘problem’, which we say in a positive way, that kids have playing Futsal is the lack of space and time. “It starts in their heads, because they have to perceive the situation and the environment. Then it goes to the leg because they need to solve that problem. It is a combination of the decision-making process in a Futsal game, that transfers to the skills they will develop. “They will then transfer that to [association] football on the grass. So it is a combination of factors that is interesting. We develop the technical aspects of the player because ultimately they need to solve a tactical problem. It is beautiful because you can see the kids thinking.” Also on this episode we speak to South African junior international Rowan Human, who has just completed an excellent season on loan at Israeli second-tier side Beitar Tel Aviv.
In light of recent events revolving around Mamelodi Sundowns fans, the Carwash crew reacts to the disappointing scenes that occurred in Pretoria, where an angry ‘mob’ of Sundowns fans were verbally and visually abusing coach Pitso in the Al Ahly Team bus. “It is a total embarrassment for football,” Roberts said when discussing this huge matter.
Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash,” Teko Modise and Sean Roberts express their feelings of disgust towards the incident involving an angry mob of Mamelodi Sundowns fans and how they treat former coach Pitso Mosimane. “How can this behaviour be condoned?” expresses Teko, shaking his head to this matter. The Carwash crew also react to a recent interview with Molefi Ntseki and how the former Bafana Bafana coach feels he was mistreated when being told he would be the assistant
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash” with former Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise and former Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, the guys discuss the latest of South African football, including the PSL Awards Nominations as the list has been revealed which features Mamelodi Sundowns in just about every applicable category. “They are going to dominate the next 5 years of the PSL” says Sean Roberts as he talks about Downs winning a 4th PSL title in 5 years. The crew also predicts the UEFA Champions League Final, with Manchester City being crowned heavy favourites against an inconsistent Chelsea.
With the CAF Champions League coming closer and closer to the final, the semi-final draw has been concluded and the teams have been notified. Kaizer Chiefs will face off against Wydad AC after beating Simba 4-3 on aggregate over the course of two legs and Al Ahly will come up against ES Tunis after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 and drawing the second leg fixture 1-1.
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have been the two major talking points all week as the second leg fixtures of the CAF Champions League Quarter-Finals took place on Saturday. Kaizer Chiefs were sitting in the driver's seat, leading 4-0 on aggregate after the first round, however, Amakhosi were greeted with a scare as Simba managed to win the second leg 3-0. Thus Kaizer Chiefs progressed to the Semi-Finals 4-3 on aggregate. Mamelodi Sundowns, however, failed to overcome a dominant Al Ahly in their respective games, losing 2-0 in the first leg and drawing the second leg 1-1, leaving the two matches with a 3-1 aggregate in favour of Al Ahly.
With The quarter finals of the CAF Champions League well underway, Kaizer Chiefs have already placed one foot into the semi-finals after beating Simba 4-0 in the first leg. However, Mamelodi Sundowns were not met with the same fate as they came up against their former coach Pitso Mosimane and Al Ahly. Sundowns were beaten 2-0 leaving it all to play for in the second leg scheduled to take place on 22 May in Pretoria. Teko Modise says “An away goal would’ve made a huge difference” when discussing Downs’ chances of going through to the semi finals. “It’s actually Pitso vs Sundowns,” said Sean Roberts when giving his opinion on the match. On the latest episode of the Carwash(Proudly brought to you by Heineken), Roberts and Modise also discuss the current coaching situation that is happening at Chippa United have fired Vladislav Heric with a mere two games to go in the DStv Premiership season. Sean and Teko also share their opinions on the rumours of SuperSport United having been sold with Teko saying “The PSL needs to step in and do something about the buying and selling of clubs.” Both Sean and Teko agree with the fact that more background checks need to be done in order for clubs to be bought.
In the full podcast, the crew also make predictions for the second leg fixtures of the CAF Champions League, reacts to the first leg results as well as talk about the return of Karim Benzema to international football!
The DFB Pokal Final took place this past weekend with RB Leipzig facing Borussia Dortmund. The Bulls are sitting in second place in the Bundesliga, whereas Dortmund are in third. Dortmund have won their last 5 games which would have surely brought some worry to the Leipzig outfit. Dortmunds’ dynamic duo of Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho stole the show, each netting a brace in the DFB Pokal final, allowing Dortmund to win that match 4-1 and get their hands on silverware. In the latest episode of The Bundesliga Connection, Kres Harrington speaks about Jadon Sancho and his agent putting a deal together with Manchester United and another potential player who could leave Dortmund, Erling Haaland.
In his analysis, Harrington also discusses Robert Lewandowski equalling Gerd Muller’s record of 40 goals in a season with 1 game to go as well as the relegation battle that is happening at the bottom of the table.
This past weekend saw the first leg fixtures of the quarter final stages in the CAF Champions league, MC Alger and Wydad AC played out a 1-all draw and CR Belouizdad beat ES Tunis 2-0. Kaizer Chiefs put one foot into the semi-finals by beating Simba 4-0, but all eyes were on Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns as Pitso was reunited with his old team. After being dominant in the local game and the CAFCL up until now, Downs were always going to be put to the test playing the Egyptian giants
After a dominant DStv Premiership season Mamelodi Sundowns faced off against Al Ahly in the first leg of their CAF Champions League Quarter finals. The Brazilians came off second best losing that game 2-0. “Pitso knows Downs’ weakness” was said by a fan which may prove to be true as that result means Sundowns have it all to do in the return leg in Pretoria. Are Downs able to turn the fixture around? Only time will tell...
Hugo Broos has been appointed the new coach of Bafana Bafana and had a number of interesting things to say in his first meeting with the media this week. The experienced Belgian tactician has been tasked with rebuilding the Bafana Bafana brand after their failure to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He has cautioned that patience will be needed, and seemed to suggest it was unlikely the side would qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but that if the team did not reach the 2023 and 2025 Nations Cups, and the 2026 World Cup, then the media “can kill me”. He also introduced his new assistant coach, the Macedonian Cedo Janevski, who is currently working with Olympiakos Nicosia in Cyprus but will link up with the side next week. “He played for Club Brugge in Belgium‚ is married to a Belgian‚ so he’s Belgian. He talks English‚ French and Dutch‚ so there will be no problem with languages,” Broos revealed. “There will be no problem with experience. He was the coach of Brugge I think nearly 20 years ago‚ won the cup with Brugge‚ was a coach in Greece‚ a coach of the national team of Macedonia. “So I think he’s an experienced coach. And I have to say and be honest he’s a friend of mine‚ so think the working together will be 100%. “I know him a very long time and I’m very happy that the [SAFA technical] committee agreed that I bring this Belgian coach with me. I think he will arrive by the end of next week.” You can listen to Broos on this subject and a whole lot more In this week’s episode of The COSAFA Show, including what his plans for the team are. We will also chat to new Botswana Football Association CEO Goabaone Taylor, who is the first woman to fill the position. She has set her sights on improving the fortunes of the organisation and tells us how she will go about doing that.
With Mamelodi Sundowns now one victory away from being confirmed as DStv Premiership champions for the fourth season running, supporters and football pundits have begun their season retrospective, picking who the player and coach of the season candidates are. In the latest episode of the SL Podcast's "The Carwash" (brought to you by Heineken), the crew debates who will win honours once the season concludes in just under a month's time.
Former Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts backs Amazulu coach Benni McCarthy to win Coach of the Year, stating that his achievements this season have been "miraculous". Former Sundowns star Teko Modise argues that Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi should capture the honour on behalf of Downs coaching trio (including Rulani Mokwena & Steve Komphela). Both Roberts and Modise back Masandawana striker Peter Shalulile to win Player of the Season.
In the full podcast, the Carwash Crew also react to TTM FC's Nedbank Cup triumph, Pep Guardiola's impact at Manchester City and more!
South African football legend Steven Pienaar's playing career was illustrious, having played in the Eredivisie, Bundesliga, Premier League & UEFA Champions League amongst others, but now the former Bafana Bafana star is on a new path as he discusses in the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Big Interview" (Proudly Brought To You By Heineken) in a career retrospective and in-depth interview you don't want to miss.
Pienaar has turned his attention to coaching and breaks down what he's learned so far from coaching both amateur and academy teams and discusses Benni McCarthy's impact at Amazulu, and the importance of giving young coaches more opportunities. In the full podcast, Pienaar also discusses his initial reaction to Bafana Bafana's 2010 FIFA World Cup group stage draw and makes his 2021 UCL final prediction.
Bayern Munich were recently crowned Bundesliga champions for the ninth season in a row after thrashing Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 on the back of a Robert Lewandowski hat-trick. The result means that coach Hansi Flick will leave the club on high, as he is set to leave the club and be replaced by current RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann. In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Bundesliga Connection", DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington discusses how Bayern could line-up next season under their new coach.
In his analysis, Harrington breaks down rumours linking Lewandowski with a move away from the team, the upcoming arrival of star Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano and how Nagelsmann can solve Bayern's defensive instabilities. In the full podcast, Harrington also discusses Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 triumph over RB Leipzig, which helped strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four
After the disappointment of missing out on the next Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON), former national team head coach Molefi Ntseki was sacked from his position, raising questions as to which direction the South African Football Association (SAFA) would go next. With SAFA having selected Hugo Broos as Ntseki's successor, questions have been raised as to whether Bafana should've gone with someone local.
In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Fan Reaction Show", national team supporters question how Broos will relate to our players, with one fan stating, "Nobody understands our local players like local coaches". In the full podcast, supporters also react to Mamelodi Sundowns' 1-0 win over TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership and the Nedbank Cup final, which saw TTM FC defeat Chippa United 1-0.
Belgian football manager Hugo Broos has been announced as the South African national team head coach, replacing Molefi Ntseki who was sacked following Bafana Bafana's failure to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON). This news follows weeks of speculation linking Amazulu coach Benni McCarthy & former Bafana coach Carlos Queiroz with the role. In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Carwash" (brought to you by Heineken), the Carwash crew give their breakdown and criticism of the decision.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns & Bafana star Teko Modise criticised the decision, being of the opinion that a younger, local coach should've gotten the job if South Africa is looking to rebuild the national team over the next decade. Fellow Carwash host & former Sundowns goalie Sean Roberts also states that he's happy Amazulu coach Benni McCarthy turned down the job, as he is hoping to see him find more success with 'Usuthu'.
In the full podcast, the crew also give their thoughts on the state of SAFA, discuss Oupa Manyisa's struggles and preview the Nedbank Cup final between TTM & Chippa United.
With Bayern Munich sitting pretty atop the Bundesliga table, the focus is now on the race for the last two UEFA Champions League qualifying spots, with Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt & Borussia Dortmund all competing for third and fourth on the log. In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Bundesliga Connection", DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the hunt for UCL spots.
In the full podcast, Harrington also provides analysis for the German Cup semi-finals with RB Leipzig & Borussia Dortmund set to clash in the final. Harrington also discusses Julian Nagelsmann's appointment as Bayern Munich new head coach from July 1st and more
Kaizer Chiefs' recent run of form has left a lot to be desired, and with a spot in the DStv Premiership top eight and a spot in next season's MTN8 quarter-finals up for grabs, Amakhosi need every point they can get. In the latest episode of the SL Podcast's "Fan Reaction Show", Khosi supporters criticise their side's inconsistency and give their thoughts on how Chiefs can finish in the top half of the table despite their recent struggles.
Following their recent 2-2 draw with Bloemfontein Celtic, one Chiefs fan said "They're not consistent, they only beat Sundowns and get excited, next game they are losing, other game they play a draw. All they need to do is pull up their socks and work hard". Another fan argued, "I don't think there's much the coach can do, now it's about the players showing commitment to the team. It won't be easy but they can finish in the Top Eight."
In the full podcast, supporters also react to Amazulu's 1-0 win over Golden Arrows, and Sundowns 3-0 victory away at Orlando Pirates.
While Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has reportedly rejected an offer from the South African Football Association (SAFA) to replace Molefi Ntseki as the national team coach, according to one of his former star players, Mosimane is not done with international football just yet. Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise, who played under 'Jingles' throughout his stay at Chloorkop, has opened up about a conversation they had years ago in which the 56-Year-Old mentor revealed one of his football dreams.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast's "The Carwash" (brought to you by Heineken), Modise states, "I remember having a conversation with coach Pitso a long time ago. He said he wants to coach at the World Cup. He's now coaching in Egypt, and in the champions league and the biggest tournaments, but [in future] I see that happening. With Bafana Bafana, we know it's not gonna happen, if he had to come back, it would be the same people that he fought with when he was Bafana coach. I still see Pitso coaching at the World Cup, whether it's [2026] or whatever."
In the full podcast, the Carwash crew give their breakdowns of Kaizer Chiefs' recent form, grade Orlando Pirates' season so far and give analysis for the first legs of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals
South African-born rising star Ricardo Schutte hopes to be donning the colours of Bafana Bafana in the near future, though a foot injury looks to have ended his hopes of appearing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the national Under-23 side. His has been a fascinating journey having been born in Zeerust, and later moving to the Portuguese island of Madeira, where he idolised another local in Cristiano Ronaldo. He tells The COSAFA Show of the massive impact the Portuguese star has had on the island. “Coming from Madeira we always watched Cristiano Ronaldo,” Schutte says. “I liked Manchester United a lot because of him, then Real Madrid and now Juventus. I am always studying how he plays and he was like a role-model. “You don’t realise it until you are on the island, but the best thing that ever happened to Madeira was Cristiano Ronaldo … and for Portugal too. Coming from a small, small island, it is just a great impact that he has had on the local community. “Everybody talks about him, everybody loves him. All the young kids on the island who want to be football players, they are inspired by Ronaldo. You look at where he came from, what he did [to be successful], how difficult was his life in Madeira, because he did not come from a stable background in terms of money and so on. “So seeing his career and the great player he had become, it is an inspiration for everyone.” Schutte is on loan at Spanish LaLiga 2 side Mirandes this season from Portuguese top-flight outfit Rio Ave, and admits it has been a tough campaign with injuries. “I have had a few injuries, but in the beginning I was doing very, very well,” he says. “I had adapted quickly to the team and was playing 90 minutes every game. Then I had a little injury, then another one and another one. But now I am coming back and much stronger again.
The past week has seen some of the most controversial news to ever come out of European football. The announcement of the European Super League was met with widespread disdain from fans and pundits alike, with some even going as far as saying it is a "war on football".
In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Big Issue", Sloo is joined by Soccer Laduma's international news correspondent Kurt Buckerfield to discuss the story, and banter about whether the Super League is truly over, now that ten of the 12 founding clubs have pulled out.
Last week, for the first time in 33 years, Schalke 04 have been relegated to Germany's second division. This led to frustrated fans throwing eggs at Schalke's team bus, as supporters confronted players after their loss to Arminia Bielefeld, which sealed their fate.
In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Bundesliga Connection", DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the latest news surrounding the team affectionately known as 'Königsblauen' (Royal Blues), and gives analysis on how the club has regressed so quickly in recent years.
In the full show, Harrington also breaks down Robert Lewandownski's return to Bayern Munich starting XI, Bayer Leverkusen's UCL hopes & more.
While Mamelodi Sundowns have rightfully earned praise for their record-setting unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership, Amazulu have been on a tear of their own, which has seen them improve drastically from their disappointing 2019/20 campaign. Coach Benni McCarthy has delivered results ever since taking over as 'Usuthu' coach, with the club now third in the league, tied on 41 points with Golden Arrows.
In the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Carwash" with former Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise & former Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, Modise heaps praise on McCarthy's impact as Amazulu, following the team's impressive display against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Modise stated, "If you look at what Benni's done, last season Amazulu relied on Ntuli. This season, we don't even speak about Ntuli. Amazulu has qualities, and under Benni they work so well together. As a coach he's young, but he has the players working hard. We need many a Benni [in the PSL]."
Hansi Flick recently announced that he'll his post as head coach of Bayern Munich at the end of this season. The decision came as a surprise to football pundits, fans, and even Bayern themselves who were recently stated that they are disappointed that Flick chose to tell the press so soon.
On the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Bundesliga Connection", DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down who Flick's replacement could be, suggesting RB Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann as a candidate. Harrington also discusses whether Flick could be in line to be the next German national team coach once Joachim "Jogi" Louw vacates his post after the next UEFA European Football Championship.
After Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Orlando Pirates 4-1 in last week’s delayed Nedbank Cup quarter-final, they immediately became the favourites to win the trophy. But in their semi-final tie against TTM, who are in a relegation battle in the DStv Premiership, the magic of the cup was not in Downs’ favour, with TTM snatching victory 6-5 on penalties after the sides went goalless in regulation.
After the match, The SL Podcast asked supporters to send voice notes through for "The Fan Reaction Show". One supporter stated, "It wasn't Downs' day. They could play that match for 5 more days and still not scored. TTM did well in defense". Another fan chimed in, "It's good to see a turnround happening at TTM after the way they started".
In the full podcast, supporters also make their suggestions for who the new Bafana Bafana coach should be. Use the player above to stream or download the full show.
Cape Town City midfielder Thabo Nodada feels for former national team coach Molefi Ntseki and says he wishes the tactician had “one more chance” to prove he was the right man for the job. Nodada was an unused squad member as Bafana Bafana crashed out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals contention with a 2-0 loss to Sudan in their last preliminary match. Ntseki has since been relieved of his duties, but Nodada feels it is hard on the coach. “I wish Molefi Ntseki had another chance,” he told The COSAFA Show. “Him being a teacher meant a lot in that national team, to be able to process so much information in just seven or eight days. He was so detailed in how the team should play and how the set-up should be. “I don’t think there was any player who went onto that field not knowing what to do. It is just that when you cross the line it is not the coach, it is you and your own readiness. “I had prepared a note when I was going to the national team. I was going to thank the coach for everything, he took me and planted me on very fertile land. He gave me the chance to play [in the national team over the last 12 months]. Even when things weren’t going well at my club, he had the courage to call me back to the national team.” Nodada admits he was disappointed not to get a chance to play in Sudan as he felt he was ready to contribute to the team effort. “In the latter stages of the camp in Sudan I thought I came into my own and I was very disappointed I didn’t get the chance [to play]. Where I was mentally, I felt I was just one kick away from doing something I have not even thought about.” Also on The COSAFA Show, we speak to former Namibia international Sandro de Gouveia about that country’s first COSAFA Cup experience in 1997 and how the tournament helped to develop a Golden Generation for the Brave Warriors. And the feature interview is with Mayrilian Cruz Blanco, who is the co-founder and chair of the Sports Equity+ International Foundation.
Kaizer Chiefs earned their spot in the CAF Champions League quarter-final, thanks in large part to goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune's second half heroics against Horoya AC. The 2-2 scoreline doesn't do his performance justice, but his trademark acrobatic shot-stopping has earned 'Itu' shining praise this week, which he's needed in a difficult campaign.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast's "The Carwash" with former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise & former Ajax Cape Town goalie Sean Roberts, both Modise and Roberts back Khune to secure a new deal, with the only question being his wages. In the full show, the crew also break down the latest Chiefs transfer news and debate whether VAR is necessary for the modern game.
Bayern Munich face an uphill when they take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Tuesday night. PSG have three away goals to defend, and Bayern are still without star striker Robert Lewandowski. The current holders will need to win by at least two goals or score four away goals to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Bayern will also be without highly rated Serge Gnabry, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week. PSG on the other hand will be missing defenders Marquinhos and Kurzawa which will leave them short-staffed in defense. PSG's attack will miss Mauro Icardi, but with Neymar & Mbappe fit, they will still cause problems for Bayern's defence.
Stream or download the latest episode of The SL Podcast's "The Bundesliga Connection" to catch DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington's breakdown.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) are at a crossroads following Bafana Bafana's failure to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, the recent sacking of former national team head coach Molefi Ntseki and Neil Tovey vacating his role as technical director in July 2020. The organisation is left with an internal leadership crisis ahead of the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and appears to be struggling to find individuals suited for the job.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast's "The Carwash", former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise & former Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper Sean Roberts raise concerns over SAFA's inability to find suitable candidates for the vacant positions, suggesting that nobody with the ability and qualifications to handle the role actually wants to take the job. In the full show, Modise & Roberts also discuss the controversial situation unfolding at Chippa United, with the recent dismissal of former coach Dan Maselela, the hiring, and sacking of under-fire coach Luc Eymeal and poor form in the DStv Premiership.
With Bafana Bafana's recent failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, failing to earn a point against Sudan, who earned their spot with a 2-0 win over RSA, questions have been raised over the national team setup. SAFA have already fired coach Molefi Ntseki, but many believe that problems run far deeper than that, with some suggesting that the root issue exists in Bafana's administration, development, and overall vision.
Former Bafana Bafana star Teko Modise, who has represented the national team at the 2008 AFCON and 2010 FIFA World Cup among other competitions, has called for a complete overhaul of the national team setup. Speaking on the SL Podcast's "The Carwash", Modise stated, "We can't have quick fixes with coaches when the problems are still there behind the scenes. We have ghosts in the Bafana setup, and guys who have been there since Mandela was in jail. We need to change the system and think of the future 5-10 years from now, not just the 2022 World Cup."
It’s been four years since Germany last lifted a title, beating Chile at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. And while it’s been seven years since their last major title (The 2014 FIFA World Cup), it’s been even longer since they’ve won the UEFA Euro Championships, having last lifted the title in 1996. This tournament will also serve as German coach Joachim Löw last tournament in charge, who has already announced that he’ll be stepping down from the role regardless of the tournament’s outcome.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection”, German football expert & DW Sports Correspondent Kres Harrington breaks down the national side’s chances at the next Euros in June, where they’ll face stiff competition from the likes of the current world champions France, Belgium & more. In the full show, Harrington also discusses the rumoured reports of Borussia Dortmund placing a €180 Million price tag on star striker Erling Haaland.
Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the next Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) after losing to Sudan 2-0 this past Sunday, and local supporters have voiced their frustrations in the latest episode of the Fan Reaction Show. Due to their 1-1 draw against Ghana, Bafana left themselves needing at least a draw to guarantee qualification from Group C of the AFCON qualifying round, but goals from Saifeldin Bakhit & Mohamed Abdel Raman sent Sudan through.
Fans are understandably very upset, with many people unsure how to fix Bafana’s problems, with some calling for coach Molefi Ntseki to resign, and others expressing their sadness in the latest episode on the SL Podcast. “It disappointing and very painful for us”, one fan stated. “It seems like we don’t know tactics, or we don’t have a game plan” another chimed in.
Thembi Kgatlana has had her scoring boots on this season in Spain with 10 goals so far for Eibar in the Primera División Femenina, but the Banyana Banyana star has set her sights on much bigger things in the future. The 2018 CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year has shown all her incredible skill, blistering pace, and eye for goal, and has been a stand-out performer in one of the toughest leagues in Europe. “Each match I am more confident and more focused and ready to play. I want to be a team player, that is a side of my game that I have been wanting to grow,” Kgatlana told The COSAFA Show. “For me, it is not just the goals that I score, but the assists that I get the crucial penalties that I win for the club. I feel I am ticking that aspect of being a team player and getting better.” Kgatlana has played in the United States, China, and Portugal before joining Eibar, where she is enjoying life on and off the pitch. “It is a small city, everyone is fanatical about the club because it is the only one here. It is not like Soweto where you have Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Swallows, here there is just one team. “Everywhere you walk in the city, people in their homes, on school bags for kids, they are flying the flag of Eibar.” She says she has learnt a lot in her short stay so far in the Primera División, where the standard is very high. “Spain is more about technique and intelligence. I have been in the US, which is a bit of both, technique and experience. About 80-90% of the girls that play for the US national team play in the NWSL [National Women’s Soccer League] so it makes it one of the strongest leagues in the world. “Like I said, they are big on technique and video analysis, that kind of thing.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has an unfortunate history of players going broke after retirement, due to poor financial planning during their careers and the expensive lifestyles that many former stars struggled to maintain. There have been waves of calls over the years for the PSL and individual clubs to make more of an effort to prepare players for life after football, with many calling for more focus on financial literacy and education for footballers. Former Mamelodi Sundowns & Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise has now echoed this sentiment.
Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash”, Modise argued that players face an uphill battle because of the way wages are negotiated in the league. He states “The system is designed for us to fail. Players only start to earn proper salaries when they start to peak around 27-28. Then they tell you to retire at 32. That’s not enough to sustain you through retirement.” In the full show, ‘The General’ and former Ajax Cape Town & Downs goalie Sean Roberts also break down Kaizer Chiefs’ expiring contracts and discuss local coaches flourishing in local football this season.
The draw for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals has set up some mouth-watering fixtures, with two of them featuring German sides. Current holders Bayern Munich will take on PSG in a rematch of last season’s final, while Borussia Dortmund will face Premier League title favourites Manchester City. Both fixtures are highly anticipated, as both PSG & Man City have never lifted the UCL trophy despite having a wealth of talent. Man City will be considered favourites in their tie against Borussia Dortmund, and Bundesliga expert Kres Harrington broke down why ‘BVB’ aren’t ready for the challenge based on current form.
Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection”, Harrington explains, “As far as Dortmund and Premier League leaders Manchester City, I think Dortmund are dead in the water. They make way too many mistakes to compete with the best. They haven’t shown, at least domestically, that they have the quality to compete with a team of that caliber.” In the full show, Harrington also breaks down Bayern’s tie with PSG and provides analysis for the latest round of Bundesliga fixtures. To stream or download the episode, use the player above.
Another eventful weekend of DStv Premiership fixtures has come and gone with several games causing a few surprises. Mamelodi Sundowns were involved in the biggest surprise of the weekend matches after they drew 1-1 with bottom of the table Black Leopards. Moroka Swallos dropped points after they drew 2-2 with Chippa United. However, in the match of the week, saw Orlando Pirates take on Kaizer Chiefs in the 100th Soweto Derby. Orlando Pirates were keen to inflict a fourth defeat on Kaizer Chiefs this season but Amakhosi proved to be up for the challenge. The game ended with Chiefs winning 1-0 thanks to a superb goal from Samir Nurkovic which saw him end his goal drought.
Samir Nurkovic’ strike saw Kaizer Chiefs down Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the 100th Soweto Derby. Kaizer Chiefs seemed to be missing a few players but Pirates were without their star striker Thembinkos Lorch.
After the game we asked our fans ‘How important was winning the Soweto Derby for Chiefs?’ and if Orlando Pirates missed Thembinkosi Lorch?
Former Mamelodi Sundowns & Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise enjoyed a legendary Premier Soccer League (PSL) career, winning back-to-back PSL Player of the Season awards with the ‘Bucaneers’ and capturing two league titles with ‘Masandawana’. The only ‘Big Three’ club which Modise hasn’t played for is Kaizer Chiefs, although there had been rumours linking ‘The General’ with a move to Naturena over the years. In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash”, Modise confirms that he had various opportunities to join Amakhosi, but they never materialised.
Discussing the failed transfer during the show, Modise reveals “The first time I had the chance to play for [Chiefs] was when I was still with City Pillars. I had been in contact with Bobby. Chiefs is the only club that I can say I waited for. I ended up joining SuperSport United. There are actually three times when I had opportunities to play for Chiefs.” In the full show, the former Bafana Bafana star discusses each time he could’ve moved to Naturena, and the crew debate Kaizer Chiefs’ termination of Siphelele Nthangase, preview the Soweto Derby, and more!
With the recent announcement that Joachim Löw will resign from his role as Germany’s National Team Head Coach after the upcoming Euro Championships, there has been speculation as to who will take over from him. ‘Jogi’ Löw will bow out as a World Cup winner thanks to his side’s 2014 heroics and leaves with the best win percentage of any coach, emerging victorious 68.75% of the time. With Germany in need of a replacement after ‘Jogi’ steps down, several top German coaches have emerged as potential replacements including Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp & Bayern Munich’s Hansi Flick.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Bundesliga Connection”, DW Sports Correspondent & German football expert Kres Harrington highlights the major problem with the candidates which have been named, “All of the best German coaches have jobs already. Why would Hansi Flick leave Bayern Munich for a project? Jurgen Klopp is at Liverpool. Julian Nagelsman is at RB Leipzig. The one thing that’s on Germany’s side is time. Jogi Low only leaves after Euros.” In the full podcast, Harrington reacts to the latest round of Bundesliga action and more.
Last Friday, Kaizer Chiefs announced the termination of midfielder Siphelele Nthangase’s contract, three years after his arrival from Baroka FC. ‘Stash’ appeared to have earned a lifeline last year when he signed a one-year contract extension, and with Amakhosi short-staffed following their two-window FIFA transfer ban, the 2020/21 season left him the perfect chance to break into the first team. However, with Chiefs entering the final third of the campaign, Nthangase has only made two appearances for Gavin Hunt’s side this season, and fans claim he only has himself to blame.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Fan Reaction Show”, Chiefs’ supporters question Nthangase’s determination to turn his Amakhosi career around, with one fan stating “when it comes to Nthangase, there is nobody who is to blame except himself. He was given a chance to play, he was lazy.” Nthangase departs Naturena with a disappointing 38 appearances contributing 0 goals & 2 assists. In the full podcast, Sundowns supporters react to their side’s impressive come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC.
To stream or download the full show, use the player above.
With Mamelodi Sundowns owner & mining businessman Patrice Motsepe set to take over as Confederation of African Football (CAF) president on Friday, South African football pundits and commentators have been debating how his rapid ascent to power could change the landscape of football on the continent. CAF has earned infamy for corruption, and with a changing of the guard, many have found hope in Motsepe’s vision for African football which includes rooting out mismanagement and attracting interest from all corners of the globe.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash”, former Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper gave his thoughts on Motsepe’s imminent unopposed election stating “This is going to change African football. If you look at what he’s done with Mamelodi Sundowns, we can only wait and see what he can do as CAF president.” Motsepe reportedly has the backing of former presidential candidates such as Senegal FA boss Augustin Senghor, Jacques Anouma from the Ivory Coast as well as Ahmed Yahya from Mauritania. It has even been reported that the aforementioned candidates were convinced to back Motsepe by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The race for the CAF presidency seems to be drawing to a close with South African billionaire and Mamelodi Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe looking all set to take the reigns of the controlling body for African association football unopposed on Friday. South African football fans are rightfully very excited about the news, but what does this mean for the local and continental football landscape? Local football supporters believe that the highly respected mining magnate can usher in a new era for African football, which has been negatively impacted by corruption and mismanagement for decades.
Last month, Motsepe presented his manifesto ahead of the CAF elective congress which included a ten-point action plan for improving CAF’s governance and attracting global interest in African football. This plan includes improve the efficiency and professionalism of CAF competitions and staff, Implementation and adherence to governance and auditing global best practices as well as investment in youth development and women’s football. Listen to the SL Podcast analysis and hear from supporters themselves about what they think he should do in this position.
Last week, national team coach Molefi Ntseki announced his 26-man squad for Bafana Bafana’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Ghana & Sudan. There are some new faces and some surprise selections, out of favour Chiefs’ keeper Itumeleng Khune made the cut despite his struggles with Amakhosi, while Veli Mothwa, Thibang 'Cafu' Phete, Craig Martin, Ben Motshwari, and Ruzaigh Gamildien all earned their first call-ups. The selection has been a topic of debate with many national team regulars have struggled with form and injuries.
In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Fan Reaction Show”, supporters debate the latest selection, with one fan stating “I’m surprised by the inclusion of Bongani Zungu and Itumeleng Khune”. Zungu has struggled to break into his club Rangers’ starting XI, while Khune’s only made a handful of appearances for Kaizer Chiefs, as Daniel Akpeyi has cemented his spot in the line-up. Another fan stated, "The Bafana squad should be selected on form and merit, the coach is selecting on favouritism.”
In the full podcast, supporters also react to Kaizer Chiefs’ and Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League group stage victory. Use the player above to stream or download the show.
South Africa and Zambia will head off to the 2021 Africa Under-17 Cup of Nations this week in search of continental glory after qualifying for the event through the COSAFA Men’s Under-17 Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay last November. South Africa have been placed in the proverbial Group of Death along with defending champions Cameroon, and the west African duo of Senegal and Mali. Despite the daunting task, coach Vela Khumalo says they will be well-prepared and the contrasting styles with their three opponents could work in their favour. “This has been our theme, we are well aware of the powerhouse football countries that we are faced with. But we just said to ourselves that we can create history and we are looking forward to this group,” Khumalo tells The COSAFA Show. “It is a plus to say they are big [in stature], we are a little bit smaller. It means we will use our speed more than anything. For me, that is a plus and what will work for the team. “Tactically we are superior and we understand what is expected. The boys understand everything and I am happy with where we are at the moment.” Khumalo adds they have kept the bulk of the squad that helped them to the COSAFA title, but have lost some players to illness. “We have kept 85% of those boys. Because of some illness, we had to let go four of our players, which are in key positions, but we have substituted them with equally good players as well.” Also in this episode, the CAF elective congress looms large on Friday, and having heard from the male nominees for the various FIFA Council and CAF Exco seats last time out, we catch up with the two candidates contesting the seat that is open to a women’s representative. Patricia Rajeriarison from Madagascar and Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros are hopeful of winning a place on the exco and outline their vision should they be elected.
With the recent announcement of the Bafana Bafana squad which is set to face Ghana & Sudan in crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the selection of out-of-favour Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, as well as a host of debutants has come under question. Ntseki has been left with a difficult task in his preparation for the fixtures, as many of his usual choices have struggled for playing time and injuries throughout the 2020/21 season. Star players such as Brighton forward Percy Tau & Rangers midfielder Bongani Zungu haven’t been at their best this season, but former national team star Teko Modise believes that Ntseki should stick with the same key players that helped Bafana to victories against Sudan & Sao Tome.
Speaking on the SL Podcast’s “The Carwash”, Modise argued “As a national team coach, after six games you should have an idea of your core team, you can’t be chopping and changing every time you’re playing a different team. You can’t [always] have a different selection just because somebody’s on form. If you have a core for the team, then you add on wherever you can, if you have a gap. That’s the mentality of a team that wants to win and progress. A team that wants to please everybody changes every time someone’s on form. So if you score against Kaizer Chiefs, next week you’re in the Bafana team, we’ve seen this happening so many times.”
In the full podcast, the Carwash crew discuss Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns’ contrasting form in the CAF Champions League, fans still being barred from stadiums under level 1 lockdown regulations, and more. Use the player above to stream and download.