Arrows knockout Wits of TKO

Bidvest Wits hosted Lamontville Golden Arrows at Bidvest Stadium on Friday night, October 4.

BACK AGAIN: Bidvest welcoming Golden Arrows in the Telkom Knockout
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The home team looked more dangerous in the first five minutes as they wanted to keep their good home record of not being defeated. They pressed on the visitors defence and they got an early goal from their centre back (Mngonyama), who converted from a set piece on the 6 minutes. 

 

Wits looked more dangerous and played an attacking football after taking a lead. They had control of the game as they had too many chances but failed to use them.

The visiting side got a their first real opportunity and they made use of after they caught Wits defence sleeping.

They did not have much of ball possession but they got their chance beating the offside trap and scored an equalising goal at the 27min, goal scored by Bonginkosi Ntuli.

 

The visiting side were too comfortable after scoring the equalising goal and dropped a bit to slow down the game. In the last few minutes to half time they were caught by surprise as Wits captain Sibusiso Vilakazi scored the second goal to give the home side a lead.

 

Wits came strong in the second half with comfortable lead. The game looked rough as they both battled for the ball all over the pitch. The game changed unexpected as the visiting team threatened Wits defence and had many chances to score the equalising goal.

 .Shange missed one on one with Josephs in the box on the 59minutes.

.Ntuli scored his second of the night and gave Arrows the equalising goal on the 61minutes.

Golden Arrows gained control of the game after scoring the equalizer and they kept the Wits defence as well as the keeper a tough time. Their effects benefited them in the last ten minutes as their substitute (Bester) scored the third goal to book a place for his team in the Telkom Knockout quarter finals.

 

Golden Arrows paid revenge as they lost 1-0 in the league at the home of The Clever Boys.

Europe's transfer winners and losers

Monday the 2nd of September 2013, is a day for many to remember in the football world.

Managers and players were running up and down to seals for their targeted players while players handing transfer requests to move on with their lives.

It’s been a quiet transfer for other managers but they had reacted in the last hour of the closing window transfer.

English teams were active than any other European leagues on the last hours to boost their squads. Deals were done but it was disappointing for big clubs as their bids were turned down.

The English champions [Manchester United] were the biggest loser on the transfer as they only managed to sign one player from Everton [Marouane Fellaini], and they saw their bids for the Spanish international and Barcelona player [Cesc Fabregas] turned down as well as the Athletic Bilbao [Ander Herrera].

The London outfit [Arsenal] took people by surprise and they were seen as the biggest winner on the transfer as they managed to sign Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. The German international joined Arsenal on deadline day for a club record €47 million which was held by the Russian Andrey Arshavin.

Tottenham made a big cash as they sold their 2012/13 season star [Gareth Bale] to the Spanish giants Real Madrid on the world record signing fee €100 million.

Bale's move was the most significant of the transfer window as it took both teams some time to come to an agreement.

Wits collect 3points against Arrows

Bidvest Wits welcomed Golden Arrows yesterday (28 August 2013) evening in their second premier league match at Bidvest Stadium, which they won by a 1goal to nil.

The student went to game bearing in mind of what has happened in their MTN8 semi-final loss against Platinum Stars over the weekend.

The game started very well seeing both sides playing a good football with too much attacking but failing to test the goalkeepers in the first 10 minutes of the game. Both sides displayed good attacking football and it was seen as one of the entertaining game compared to other games played in the night.

On the 22 minutes Wits saw one of their new signings Denver Mukamba got injured and he was replaced by Bongolethu Jayiya. It only took the substitute 11 minutes to make an impact on the game when he chipped the ball to find Robin Ngalande who scored the Wits goal in the 33 minutes.

Wits seemed to dominate the game after scoring and they gave Arrows a hard time, especially on the middle of the park. The home side went to half time leading with Ngalande’s goal and ahead with ball possession.

Both teams came back for the second with strong mentality as Wits wanted to extend their lead and in the other hand Arrows wanted to equalize.

Wits had a clear chance to extend their lead in the first 10 minutes from the break but saw Benjani’s target went wide from the box. The goal scorer (Ngalande) also had a chance few minutes later after Benjani to extend the lead when Arrows keeper collided against his player but his shot was blocked in the box.

The visiting team looked lost and they ran out of ideas when approaching the Wits keeper which saw them missing chances in the box to equalize. The KZN outfit tried their best but couldn’t get the goal which deserved as the game was theirs too.

Overall it was a good game and both side were on top of their game but goals were not enough to show the true reflection of the game.

Full time score Wits 1-0 Arrows.

Wits starting line-up: Josephs, Pule, Gumede, Pattison, Vilakazi, Faty, Ngalande, Mwaruwari
Kofi, Bilankulu, Mukamba.
Subs: Mabokgwane, Booth, Langwe, Kadi, Jayiya, Chapman, Nhlapo.
Head Coach: Gavin Hunt

Arrows Starting line-up: Mngoma, Tom, Zwane, Mbgwengwe, Zwane, Wadwaba, Ntombayithethi, Mndunge, Nene, Ntuli, Polelo.

Subs: Luthuli, Sikhakhane, Hleleni, Shange, Sithole, Khuboni, Gumede.
Head Coach: Manqoba Mngqithi

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Chiefs held to a draw by Swallows

Kaizer Chiefs welcomed Moroka Swallows yesterday evening at FNB stadium, as they continued their title defence.

Chiefs went to the game with the aim of consoling themselves after losing the first leg of MTN8 to their arch rivals Orlando Pirates on weekend.

The game was open and both sides looked dangerous on the attack which saw both goalkeepers making brilliant saves to keep their teams on the game.

Both sides had intentions to get three points at the end of the day but it was all just a dream as the game ended with a 1 goal all.

Swallows had the better chances in the first half but could not convert their chances. Nomvete gave Chiefs defence a headache as he was attacking them on the left flank and missed clear chances which would have gave the Dube Birds a well deserved lead.

Chiefs had chances too but saw  them missed by Siboniso Gaxa who had a one-on-one opportunity with Swallows goalkeeper. Chiefs went with full force for few minutes and their striker Knowledge Musona missed chances to give the defending champions a lead.

On the second half Chiefs brought in Masango to replace Gorge Lebese who played on the weekend derby against Pirates.

In the first 10 minutes Chiefs had control of the game but caught asleep by Lerato Chabangu who gave Khune no chance to save ball and he gave Swallows a lead in the 55^th minutes.

After the goal Swallows looked lost and they gave away too much possession which saw them got punished. Chiefs was awarded a penalty after Musona was badly pushed by Swallows defender and Parker didn’t waste the chance as he converted the penalty.

Overall  it was a well-balanced game and all the teams gave their best to please their fans but the score got fans angry as they were expecting a win more especially Chiefs fans who saw their team defeated at the same ground.

What really went wrong or what is exactly happening with Chiefs as they look shaky this campaign?

Chiefs starting line-up: Khune (C),Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Parker, Musona, Lebese.

Subs: Pieterse, Ritchie, Mathoho, Majoro, Dladla, Motaung JNR, Masango.

Head coach: Stuart Baxter

Swallows starting line-up: Etafia, Mungomeni, Isaacs, Cohen, Mokgothu, Mbekeli, Nergadze, Mabalane, Tsutsulopa, Chabangu, Nomvete.

Venue: FNB Stadium (PSL game)

Date: 27 August 2013

Time: 19:30 

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The battle of Soweto giants

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates held a joint press conference at FNB stadium yesterday afternoon. Reneilwe Letsholonyane was representing the Glamour Boys while Pirates was represented by their captain Lucky Lekgwathi and midfielder Daine Klate, and they are all looking forward to Saturday's Soweto Derby clash.

The derby has always attracted lot of people and it has great expectations from the fans. This might seem as a tiring match because both teams are meeting for the second time in a very short space of time after playing the Carling Black Label Cup on the 27th of July 2013.

Kaizer Chiefs have been in fine form while Pirates have been doing well in CAF and this will make the fans to expect a tough and entertaining football between the two giants.

They all want to win and make their fans happy which will be the case when they meet on weekend. History or past performance does not count, a derby has always been different and players want to do well.

Will we see a different approach this time and goals or it will just for fun for players to be on field?

Wits confident to overcome Platinum Stars

PSL held the MTN8 media conference at their offices on the 20th August 2013, Park town, Johannesburg, involving two Wits players (Musa Bilankulu and Ryan Chapman).

NEW SIGNING: Musa Bilankulu
image: www.google.co.za

The new assembled Bidvest Wits will take on Platinum Stars on the MTN8 semi-final first leg at Royal Bafokeng stadium on Saturday.

The Wits players seemed confident that they will overcome the North West side, Platinum Stars when they meet on weekend.

Bilankulu is one of the new signings for Wits and seems to be gelling in team. During the media conference he said that he is prepared together with their coach to go and win the game. "I believe that the guys will help the team to do well"he said, referring to the new signings Wits made.

COMMITMENT: Bidvest Wits strike Ryan Chapman

Chapman also answered questions that were directed

to him as a striker and how he is doing to remain the main man  for the team. One of his main objectives is remain fit and play for the team to stand a chance to don Bafana jersey. Chapman has found it hard to break to the starting lineup ever since new coach (Gavin Hunt) took over.

Both teams are in a fine form and anything is possible at this point because at the end of the day there will be one winner.

Will Bidvest Wits overcome Platinum Stars with their new assembled squad?

Is time for Bafana to shine

"Bafana Bafana returned to training on Monday, after a day off on Sunday - in preparation for the all-important Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifying match against Group A leaders Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

BRAZIL IS AROUND: Gordon Igesund lecturing his boys.

National team coach Gordon Igesund believes that only victory in the remaining two matches against Ethiopia and Botswana will keep Bafana in contention for the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

With two rounds of matches remaining, South Africa and Ethiopia are neck and neck in the race for top spot in Group A. The Ethiopians lead the group with 10 points, two ahead of South Africa.

The team that finishes top of the group will proceed to the play-offs – to be played on home and away basis. The winners will secure a place to the World Cup scheduled for 2014 in Brazil.

Sunday’s match will take place at the National Stadium, on the same day Central African Republic (CAR) face Botswana in another Group A encounter which has little meaning.

Both Botswana and CAR have been eliminated from the race following their respective losses at the weekend. Botswana only has one point with CAR sitting on three, South Africa is third with eight points, two adrift of Ethiopia.

“The situation is self-explanatory; you do not need to be a rocket scientist to see what needs to be done. We both have two games left, so for us only a win will keep us in contention. We needed to get the three points from CAR, and all along I have been saying the key game will be against Ethiopia,” said Bafana head coach Igesund.

“But the nice thing is that it is in our hands. We need to win this game and then beat Botswana and qualify for the next and final round of qualifiers. We have to take each game as it comes but a draw is not good for us. I am confident we will be well-prepared for this match.”

Midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane and defender Anele Ngcongca were rested from training as a precautionary measure.

“The boys are fine, we just didn’t want to take chances and have them train when resting would serve them better. Letsholonyane has a minor groin strain while Anele is suffering from slight thigh muscles. Tomorrow they will train with the rest of the team,” added Igesund.

The Bafana Bafana mentor is well aware that another solid game plan and execution will see his side through.

“We are studying the video of the match between Botswana and Ethiopia, and I will have a good game plan for Sunday. What I do know is that they don’t have to win the match, a draw will suit them fine so I don’t expect them to attack a lot, but we will have to attack them,” he said.

South Africa will leave Cameroon for Addis Ababa on Friday, 14 June''.