It has emerged that the experienced goalkeeper is not only a leader on the pitch but also plays a crucial role behind the scenes. Being a leader demands a lot, and sometimes one is forced to play a role that those under them will not like. The Amakhosi coach has now revealed how the former Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper helps in keeping discipline among his teammates.
Despite boasting eight forwards in their squad, Amakhosi have still been found wanting when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net. Alarm bells have rung that, with a truly prolific scorer, the Soweto giants might be much further ahead in their season. Their coach has since responded to the growing concerns over the club’s goalscoring woes.
The Soweto giants are currently on a good run across all competitions, having won four games in a row without conceding. Amakhosi have now been tipped to go all the way and challenge for not only the Premier Soccer League, but the Nedbank Cup and CAF Confederation Cup as well. It explains why the technical team is working hard to get it right on the pitch.
Amakhosi now face the same opponents who knocked them out of the Carling Knockout four months ago. That tightly contested encounter was decided by penalties as both teams struggled to separate each other after extra time. The two teams now meet again in another Cup showdown, with plenty at stake as both have entered a crucial stage of the season.
The Glamour Boys are known for their appetite for youngsters whom they develop and ensure they fit into their system. Amakhosi have been excellent, as opposed to the recent seasons, and are keen to deliver in the Premier Soccer League, the CAF Confederation Cup, as well as the Nedbank Cup. Players from their youth structure have been doing well in helping the club perform.
The football lovers were set to watch their favourite players clash for the bragging rights at stake. However, the organisers have had to make changes, meaning the country will have no option but to wait a little longer. The winner will have a massive chance to face an international team in the next couple of months.
Team Ya Ziko remain winless in their pool after four losses in a row in the annual CAF inter-club competition. The Zambian heavyweights lost twice to an opponent from Egypt before losing both home and away against the Glamour Boys to crash out of the tournament. The Soweto giants have a massive chance to make the knockout phase.
The duo have been criticised since they took over, following the departure of Nasreddine Nabi. However, Kaze and Ben Youssef have steadied the Amakhosi ship and the team looks like PSL title contenders. A Chiefs icon has praised the two tacticians following back-to-back wins over ZECO United.
The Sea Robbers are set for a top-of-the-table clash with Arthur Zwane's Usuthu on Tuesday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. A win for either side takes them to the top of the league standings. We have a look at how Abdeslam Ouaddou might line up his men, hoping to get maximum points.
The 38-year-old has had a relatively good time in Algeria with the People's Club, especially in domestic competitions. However, in his recent interview with the media, the former Masandawana tactician has conceded that something is amiss. He argues that some of his requests to the management were not met.
Although Amakhosi have been winning recent games, their goal output has been incredibly low. This is an issue that the technical bench has noted, and now one of the coaches has addressed how it is being solved as the season proceeds. Chasing the Premier Soccer League, the CAF Confederation Cup and the Nedbank Cup trophies will require a solid team overall but, most importantly, a sharper attacking department.
The player reportedly lost his life on Sunday, throwing the football family into a sombre mood. The defender joined Stellies following the relegation of Cape Town Spurs. His club is, however, yet to comment on the tragic incident that is reported to have occurred in Cape Town.
The 22-year-old midfielder clocked 100 official matches for the Soweto giants when they edged ZESCO United 1-0 in a CAF Confederation Cup tie at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. He came on as a second-half substitute to play the last 32 minutes, but could not score or provide an assist on his career special day. He reached the century milestone when his Orlando Pirates opposite number is now on 108 appearances for the Buccaneers with 20 goals and 26 assists.
With a slot in the quarter-finals looking possible, it means Amakhosi will deal with a more congested calendar going forward. The Glamour Boys are also firmly in the Premier Soccer League title race, meaning their focus is divided as the season hits a crucial stage. The Nedbank Cup campaign also awaits the Soweto giants later, and it is a competition they will not want to lose, but can they withstand the pressure that comes with congested fixtures?
Masandawana are playing catch-up, trying hard to close the gap between them and in-form Bucs. Meanwhile, inconsistent Amakhosi are staring at the prospect of losing the trophy, which was historically won last season.
After they started the group stage campaign with a loss, Amakhosi managed back-to-back victories, massively boosting their chances of reaching the knockout stage. The Glamour Boys completed a double over their continental rivals from Zambia after their last victory in Ndola. For Zega Mambo, the struggle continues as they remain winless, pointless and rooted at the bottom of the group.
In the PSL mid-season transfer, clubs get another chance to strengthen their squads ahead of another gruelling remainder of the campaign. Although many clubs bought new players before the season began, the mid-season window gave them a chance to get the right players to strengthen further until Thursday, January 29, when it came to a close.
The Stellies are determined to get back into the top positions on the Premier Soccer League table. In the off-season transfer window, they lost some big names to top teams in the country, something that weakened them. It got worse when coach Steve Barker dumped them for Tanzanian Premier League heavyweights Simba SC.
The former TS Galaxy tactician saw his side register a crucial win that takes them closer to the knockout stage. For the Maroons, the loss has come just as they start a new journey under the former Amakhosi coach, who was recently appointed to steer the club after the departure of a long-time tactician.
The Sea Robbers were in action against Babina Noko in the South African top-flight football on Saturday at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The Buccaneers have been in good form and were aiming to avenge the initial 1-0 defeat suffered. However, spoils were eventually shared as no team found the back of the net.
The Western Cape team picked up crucial points on Tuesday evening with a victory over Sekhukhune United on their home turf, slowly moving themselves out of the relegation danger zone. The result marked former Kaizer Chiefs coach's first win in charge and a positive start to his tenure, although he was quick to raise fitness concerns regarding the players from Tshwane.
The Buccaneers forward delivered a statement performance on his maiden appearance for the Cape Winelands club. His crucial contribution in the Maroons' shirt on his first game is likely to spark debate about whether the Soweto giants made a mistake in releasing him to spend the rest of the season away from the club.
The 29-year-old started the season in a promising manner and was being touted as a deserving player to be selected for Bafana Bafana duty, but fizzled out and was being frozen out by Buccaneers coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. That sparked transfer rumours and the forward has now moved to the Cape Winelands where he will try to pick up form and end the season on a high.
After signing more than 10 players in the offseason transfer window, the Bucs' squad expanded incredibly, and that meant some players were automatically going to struggle for game time. In the January window, more have been brought on board; consequently, some will be released, while others will be allowed to join other clubs, either permanently or on short-term deals.
The 26-year-old has not been able to settle as anticipated in the last couple of months despite his massive quality and versatile experience. However, he has not yet secured a move to another team after his recent return from abroad, where he was plying his trade with the Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit AVS.
The former Amakhosi tactician is hoping to strengthen his new squad with tried and tested players. Both Mabasa and the winger have faced similar situations this season: reduced playtime, and to get a solution, they need to find new clubs. Now, the experienced South African tactician is reportedly ready to welcome them at his new club.
Stellenbosch FC
