Vuvuzela South Africa

One of the most talked about players in South Africa at the moment is the 24 year old  Botswana midfielder, Phenyo Mongala,who was still playing for AmaTuks  (University of Pretoria ) just a while ago;  he started tongues wagging earlier this year when he told Goal.com he is spoilt for choice.

Five PSL Teams approached Mongala

“There are now five PSL teams after me. It is Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town, Orlando Pirates, Santos and also, Platinum Stars want me back.”

Mongala was one of the players who impressed a number of leading PSL clubs and who helped ‘AmaTuks’ reach the final of the Nedbank Cup.

Phenyo “Mzambhiya” Mongala was contracted to Platinum Stars, who loaned him to AmaTuks. This contact expired in June. That is when he was snapped up by the Buccaneers as one of the first of their five new off-season signings

Début as a Pirate

Mongala did not disappoint in his début as a member of the Buccaneers – according to their website

A sensational second goal by Bucs newcomer Phenyo Mongala in the 56th minute sealed the victory for the Buccaneers. It was the perfect debut for the Botswana born midfielder who was signed in the off-season and came on as a second half substitute.

Botswana coach Stanley Tshosane told Fooball365.co.za. “I sat down with Mongala and I told him that Pirates is a big team and he has to get there and give out his best. I’ve known him for a long time and I believe he has the right attitude.”

Once a Pirate

It may have been an omen that Phenyo Mongala would end up with Orlando Pirates although the speculation was that he was going to stay in Pretoria and play for Sundowns. Looking back at Phenyo’s history, one notes that his first appearance for a team in 2002 was for a team called the Southern Pirates.  And as all Orlando Pirates supporters know… once a pirate, always a pirate

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I was really happy when I saw a tweet from FIFAWorldcupSA of a post by The Real Footie Analyst that confirmed my feelings about this issue, that Fifa would not ban the Vuvuzela from the 2010 Soccer World Cup, in spite of the grumblings about noise from mainly European TV commentator and groupings of local dissenters.

According to this blog, which is regarded as a go-to place for all things football :

FIFA have ruled out any action that would remove the vuvuzela from the stadiums at the 2010 World Cup.

And more

“We approach this in a relaxed manner. I am convinced the vuvuzelas will be a hit at the World Cup. It will be a World Cup with African sound,” Hans Klaus, director of communications at FIFA, told reporters on Friday.

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The new look Orlando Pirates side  scored a stunning 2 -0 victory over English Premiership club Manchester City at a  jam-packed Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday (Saturday) in a Vodacom Challenge Match.

This as an auspicious start to the pre season for coach Ruud  Kroll and the Buccaneers who were without their four Bafana Bafana stars, striker Katlego Mashego, midfield playmaker Teko Modise, plus defenders Innocent Mdledle and midfield anchorman Benson Mhlongo who were rested by Krol after helping Bafana finish fourth in last month Fifa Confederations Cup played in South Africa.

Once a Pirate Always a Pirate

The massive crowd went wild as Bucs’ leading goal scorer from last season, defender Lucas Thwala slotted Pirates into a 1-0 lead 10 minutes from the interval.

Phenyo Mongla Scores a Goal

A sensational second goal by Bucs newcomer, Botswana Midfielder, Phenyo Mongala in the 56th minute sealed the victory for the Buccaneers as their supporters gave the crossed arms salute – once a Pirate, always a Pirate!

The Daily Mail’s story Orlando Pirates 2 Man City 0: Hughes Boys walk the Plank tells the tale from the UK perspective:

“Moneybags Manchester City were made to walk the plank by Orlando Pirates as their South African trip started with a defeat.”

Manchester City face Kaizer Chiefs in their second Challenge match at Durban’s Absa Stadium on Tuesday night.

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The Austrian Professional Football League has banned the Vuvuzela from their stadiums.

No, not because their delicate and cultured ears which are used to the sweet music of Mozart and Haydn and Johann Strauss are outraged by the raucous “blatter” of our Vuvuzelas; The Austrian Football Bundesliga (Österreichische Fußball-Bundesliga)  has imposed a stadium ban on these plastic trumpets because they might be used as missiles.

Vuvuzelas Can Incite Aggressive Behavior

“Vuvuzelas can be used as projectiles. Furthermore, they can incite aggressive behavior among other fans, said Austrian League spokesperson, Christian Kirchner.

According to a Sapa Report in The Citizen, newly promoted Wiener Neustadt had been counting on handing out 150 vuvuzelas to fans to make some noise during the league’s seasonal kick-off at home on Friday against Austria Carinthia.

CIA Factbook

Now my dilemma is this:

According to the CIA Factbook Austria is a well-developed market economy and high standard of living. Austrian citizens have a life expectancy of 79.5 years and only 5, 9 percent lives below the poverty line.

And South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources. Here life expectancy 48.9 years and 50 percent of the population lives below poverty line.

See what I mean?

Vuvus Are Not Used as Projectiles in South Africa

As far as I know vuvus have never caused violence in spite of 70 000 football supporters being packed into stadiums in South Africa at a time and Vuvuzelas are not used as projectiles here – maybe it is because we are poor and we treasure our vuvus.

In rich countries on the other hand, football fans might buy five or six vuvuzelas and take them to a match to throw at other supporters… heaven help everyone it Austrian Football Fans become violent when they see a brightly colored plastic trumpet- I must send a memo to our Minister of Police to tell the boys in blue to watch out for Austrians during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup.

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Kaizer Chiefs one of South Africa’s leading soccer clubs is back home at the Mecca of South African Football – the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The Glamour Boys will play their homes games here this season.

Chiefs will play their first game at Orlando this season against Bidvest Wits University in the quarterfinal of lucrative MTN8 on 4 August 2009.

Chiefs will then play the Absa Premiership opener for 2009/10 season on the 8 August 2009 against unpredictable, Santos. The kick off for that game is at 20h15.

New Home and Away Kits

For the 2009/2010 season, the Glamour Boys’ new home and away kits will continue to be a desired item for fans, capable of inspiring, joyful, and brilliant football both on and off field.

In keeping the authentic football passion alive, Nike and Kaizer Chiefs today officially unveiled their new 2009/2010 home and away kits on field at the revamped Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

The much sought after Gold Jersey has undergone a few changes that will give the new home and away kits will a striking appearance.

Nike’s Stylish Design

“We are excited to launch our new home and away jerseys here at Orlando Stadium today. Nike‘s innovation, stylish design and attention to comfort will allow us to win on and off the field. We look forward to inspiring our supporters in our new jersey and continuing to make history with our partners,” says Jessica Motaung, Marketing Director, Kaizer Chiefs.

Kaizer Chiefs will wear the new kit for their first match against Manchester City, who they play against in the Vodacom Challenge on 21 July 2009 in Durban.

New Nike Home and Away Kits for Kaizer Chiefs

New Nike Kit for Chiefs

The new home kit design features a fuller colour-way on the body and sleeves of the jersey, with black trim on the round collar, sleeves and breathable mesh side panels on the jersey. The authenticity of the jersey lies firstly on the inside collar which has a high quality woven label that reads, ‘Kaizer Chiefs’, while engineered into the side seam is a small black label that reads ‘Amakhosi 4 Life’.

Supporters Can Buy New Kit from 27 July

Supporters will be happy to know that these brand new Kaizer Chiefs’ home and away replica jerseys will be available in leading retail stores from 27 July 2009.

Amakhosi 4 Life!

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