PSL WEEKEND RUSH WRAP UP

Absolutely Sensational, two words that best describes this weekend’s footballing action. From the local shore of the PSL, CAFCL to the PL and further on to the La Liga, I guess it safe to say to there was some exciting action and results.

Premier Soccer League (PSL):

Cape Town Derby

It all started on a Friday night in the PSL when the fraternity was blessed with its first Cape Town derby. Newly formed Cape Town City came with a balanced string of results in their opening three fixtures of the PSL, a loss, a win and as well as a draw. Ajax Cape Town came to the party with no win but two draws and a loss. It was two former Orlando Pirates coaches who once worked together, Eric Tinkler was assistant to Roger De Sar. On the night it seemed like Roger was assistant to Eric for Cape Town City looked livelier in both halves. It was City who broke the deadlock after 20 minutes as Thato Mokeke's ball found Judas Moseamedi, who headed into the path of Jayiya to side-foot home from six-yards out. City managed to see off a late surge and claimed the three points.

Kaizer Chiefs picking up the pieces

After going more than 15 games without a win in the league, the Phefeni Glamour boys, Kaizer Chiefs recorded their second victory of the campaign and also keeping a clean sheet against the Team of Choice, Maritzburg United at the FNB stadium. It was a match were the Amakhosi fans were a bit more confident compared to their recent approach to matches after a poor start to their campaign carried on from last season. Lorenzo Gordinho along with William Twala were on the scoresheet as they lead Komphela to his second victory.    

   Could we say the Pressure is easing off on Steve Komphela?

Cavin Johnson beaten by Kgoloko Thobejane

With a coach like Cavin Johnson at your dugout you would expect your team to do justice against a newly promoted team, but it was not the case on Saturday. Baroka FC claimed their first win of the Absa Premiership campaign, as they defeated Platinum Stars 1-0 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Mbongeni Mzimela's rash challenge on Richard Matloga inside the box was penalised to have been a bookable offence and thereby a penalty was awarded. Ndivivhawo Ravhulali stepped up for Baroka and fired his spot-kick past Mazimela from 12 yards, 1-0.  After boldly coming out and saying his would win the league, this was Thobejane’s first win of season.              

Was he way ahead of himself when he made his statement?

 3 out of Four for Clinton’s Arrows

 After a disastrous performance against Orlando Pirates in their opening fixture, Golden Arrows have recorded three straight wins and their third came over the weekend when Clinton Larsson faced his former employers Bloemfontien Celtic. Arrows are the log leaders currently and they were facing a team that has played more games than Mamelodi Sundowns but still they are at the foot of the table. Wayde Jooste handed the visitors the lead after his teammate Nkanyiso Mngwengwe cancelled out Alfred Ndengane opened the scoring in the second half. That was the ultimate goal to put Arrows at the top the league table.

5 Goal Thriller at Peter Mokaba

Polokwane City entertained Ekurhuleni based Highlands at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. It was the highest goal scoring match of the weekend and it was between a newly promoted team and a team once known for their high pressing football. Thobani Mncwango netted his second of the season with a close-range finish as he opened the scoring, the visitors were awarded a penalty after 29 minutes, which Collins Mbesuma took the penalty and managed to convert to level matters. Former Amakhosi and Orlando Pirates striker’s equaliser made his history, as the Zambian became the fifth player to score 99th goals in the PSL. Rodney Ramagalela picked out Sipho Jembula, who slotted home from close range and Polokwane City was in front again. Former Jomo Cosmos striker Charlton Mashumba bagged his second of the season by turning home Jose Garcia's cross and wasted no time to put Highlands on level terms. In the 73rd minute a strike from Jabu Maluleke. His first goal of the season.

Players to watch:

Jayiya: Cape Town City

Mashikinya: Cape Town City

Aubrey Modiba: SuperSport United

Xola Mlambo: Bidvest Wits

By: Vuyolethu Sithatu

Shakes Mashaba and his unknown Selection Criteria

Today national coach Shakes Mashaba announced his WC qualifier sqaud and as usual a lot left for question

WC Qualifier Sqaud

Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane, Itumeleng Khune, Brighton Mhlongo

Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Abbubakar Mobara, Diamond Thopola, Tebogo Langerman, Eric Mathoho, Thabo Matlaba

Midfielders: Dean Furman, May Mahlangu, Thulani Serero, Oupa Manyisa, Ayanda Patosi, Keagan Dolly, Aubrey Modiba, Mpho Makola, Hlompho Kekana

Strikers: Eleazar Rodgers, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Thobani Mncwango, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Tokelo Rantie

What team does Rantie play for, how many minutes has he played, he only made his debut on Sunday for Genclerbirligi he was introduced in the 79th minute with Genclerbirligi and they were leading, but Konyaspor managed to snatch an equaliser in the 80th minute. A minute of Bad Luck..

May Mahlangu, The 27-year-old had been clubless for many several months since leaving Sint-Truidense in July, and after turning down moves to both Dynamo Dresden and Randers. Mahlangu is yet to feature for Dinamo.

Still gets called up..

Jackson Mabokgwane, probably third choice at Orlando Pirates but yet gets the call up ?

Do we still want to be patience with Shakes, the man who said that he uses a criteria of performance and not history for selection. What good have the players I've mentioned above done thus far.

It's not like we don't we don't have quality.

Xola Mlambo, despite spending just six months at Chippa, the 25-year-old proved himself enough to get a coach like Gavin Hunt wanting him in his WIts squad. To some extent I believe he is a better player than Mahlangu despite both players playing in different parts of the world. Even Thamsanqa Sangweni is far better in my opinion

Another prospect to look at is Nathan Pulse who is top South African goalscorer in the league yet he and second placed Rhulani Manzini are overlooked for Gabuza who has featured mostly in the second half for Pirates but yet Shakes said he uses a criteria of performance.

Darren Keet who is now a part of the students has kept three clean sheets in his last three matches better than first choice keeper Itumeleng Khune... now how has that justified coach Shakes Mashaba's criteria?

Amakhosi Redeem Themselves.

Highlands vs. Kaizer Chiefs
Makhulong Stadium, Thembisa
Kick-Off: 19H30 p.m.

FT Score: Highlands 0 (0): (1) (0) Kaizer Chiefs (Lebese 65’)

In what seemed to be one of the most anticipated matches of midweek amongst the PSL fixtures, it
all has been so because of the Kaizer Chiefs’ poor run in form. In a clash against newly promoted
Highlands one could expect Kaizer Chiefs to easily bag the three points, but with a whole a lot of
pandemonium at Naturena it has been a worrying concern whenever Chiefs play.

In the first 45 minutes both teams played well but yet in patches, in the first ten minutes Highlands
looked livelier compared to Chiefs, they pressed and already in the second minute Mphahlele
committed a foul against Mashumba. Minutes after Chiefs were starting to pick themselves up as
Lebese was released by Ekstein and his tame shot resulted in Kaizer Chiefs’ first corner of the half
that too couldn’t bring the first goal of the match.

Highlands with recruits from some of the PSL teams, had Mbesuma have his first attempt at goal
going to high from a Franklin Cale cross. As Chiefs continued with picking themselves up Twala’s
finish from Ekstein and Lebese’s great work of combination went way over to produce a goal. Chiefs
applied the pressure and had Highlands pinned in their half for some moments. On attempt to break
away on a counter Gordinho took one for the team by committing a cynical foul which resulted in
him bagging a yellow card.

It ended 0-0 in the first half and a lot of question to be asked concerning being clinical in the final
third.

Second stanza of the match Chiefs looked the most sharpest in the first ten minutes and caused a
few threats for Highlands. Katsaviro was introduced in place of Manqele that proved to be a more
tactical move by coach Komphela, he add a bit of pace and in the 62 minute Twala missed a lovely
opportunity to put Chiefs ahead when his header in the six yards box glanced wide. Moments after
he was brought down by Leonard and it saw Chiefs being awarded a penalty, George Lebese stood
up and beat Kapini to put Chiefs ahead in the 65th minute.

The men from Naturena introduced Simphiwe Tshabalala for goalscorer Lebese, Tshabalala returns
from a length injury and proved his fitness in the past weekend in the MDC scoring the winning goal
for the MDC side.

Highlands tried to cause a few problems for Chiefs through Theron on the right and successfully
beating Khumalo but that didn’t result to anything much.

In the dying moments of additional time, Itumeleng Khune found himself at fault of collecting the
ball in the air when he stepped his foot out of the 18-yard box with the ball still in his hands, a freekick was awarded to Highlands and Khune took the responsibility in making the save. That happened
to be the last kick off the match as Kaizer Chiefs recorded their first league victory since April.




Starting Line Up:
Highands: Kapini, Leonard, Mbara, Ngalo, Ledwaba, Khuboni, Khwela, Cale (Zwane), Mbesuma
(Mvala), Garcia (Theron), Mashumba
Chiefs: Khune, Mphahlele, Mathoho, Gordinho, Khumalo, Katsande, Twala (Parker), Maluleka,
Lebese (Tshabalala), Ekstein, Manqele (Katsaviro)


By Vuyolethu Sithatu

Manchester derby: The most expensive United v City match-up ever?

This Saturday's Manchester derby is set to be the most expensive match-up in the history of football.

The Old Trafford showdown will not only pit Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola - the most-decorated managers in Europe - against each other, but also 22 players worth over £670m in transfer fees.

Manchester United lead the way with a predicted starting XI costing £350.55m, including the world's most expensive player, Paul Pogba, who returned to the club this summer for £93.25m from Juventus.

Saturday's predicted line-ups would total £672.4m in transfer fees

The hosts are also likely to field Anthony Martial (£57.6m) and Luke Shaw (£28m), who both broke the record for the world's most expensive teenager when they were signed, as well as Juan Mata (£37.1m), Eric Bailly (£30m) Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m) and captain Wayne Rooney (£27m). 

In contrast to those mega sums, star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was signed for free in the summer, after the Swede left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract. 

The Manchester City predicted line-up cost the club £321.85m to assemble, with Kevin de Bruyne (£54.5m), John Stones (£50m), Raheem Sterling (£49m) and Leroy Sane (£37m) among their most expensive additions over the past two years.

Sky Sports have searched through the record books and we believe that the previous most-expensive match-up was November 2015's El Clasico, when Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 at the Bernaebeu.

The Real Madrid v Barcelona line-ups in November 2015 totalled £562m

On show that day, among others, were Gareth Bale (£85.3m), Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m), Luis Suarez (£75m), James Rodriguez (£63m) and Neymar (£48.6m), with the combined transfer totals coming to £562m.

Real Madrid's team of Galacticos actually came to £370.45m - almost £20m more than the cost of the team United are expected to field this weekend. But, between them, the two Manchester clubs are set to break a record…

By Peter Smith and Edward Higgs

Source :  SkySport.com