Vuvuzela South Africa

Orlando Pirates - Back in Training for 2010 Season

Anyone heard the rumour that the Soweto Derby is going to be played at Soccer City on 20 February?

The match, which is a home game for Orlando Pirates is meant to be played at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, which is the Buccaneers’ home ground, but it could be shifted to Soccer City, which will host the opening and closing matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Possibility of Change of Venue from Ellis Park to Soccer City

According to Soccer Laduma, Bucs spokesperson, Mickey Modisane said that they have not heard anything regarding the change of the venue from the PSL, but also warns of the possibility of a change.

PSL media manager Altaaf Kazi confirmed that there is a possibility that the match will be played at Soccer City. “We are still looking at that and we will let you know if there is a change of that venue,” said Kazi.

Buccaneers Back in Training

Rudi Krol’s charges come into the new year in fifth place (37 points), 10 points behind current log leaders SuperSport United. The Sea Robbers have six games remaining in the season (three home and three away). The first is a clash against defending champions, United, at the Orlando Stadium on February 3, followed by a short trip to the Bidvest Stadium to face Bidvest Wits three days later and then Amazulu at home on February 10.

Sources: soccerladuma, orlandopiratesfc.com

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SOWETO DERBY TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT – Kaizer Chiefs have reiterated this message after being informed that there are fake tickets being sold for Saturday’s match against Orlando Pirates.

“Kaizer Chiefs Football Club has regrettably learnt that there are people who are currently selling fake tickets for the upcoming “sold out” Soweto Derby, for the match to take place at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, October 31.

“The Club would like to put it on record that tickets for the game have been sold out and fans should be cautious of buying tickets from the black market and unscrupulous vendors,” the statement from Chiefs reads.

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Wow, will the excitement never end – another Pirates Chiefs vs Derby!

I’ve hardly gotten over the felling or irritation at the Buccaneers dismal failure in the penalty shootout arena – I mean I’ve seen kids kicking a tennis ball around in Cleremont who could shoot better than that. And I just don’t buy  Coach Ruud Krol’s  “well it was stress – they shoot perfectly in practice” defence either. These guys are professionals, earning a living playing soccer – they are supposed to be able to perform under stress.

Anyway, now my rant is over and my hope is on the Buccaneers once a gain to pull it off

No Friendly between Amakhosi and the Buccaneers

Kaizer Chiefs new coach Vladimir Vermezovic, has quickly learnt there is no such thing as a soccer friendly between Amakhosi and Orlando Pirates.Yesterday he emphasised he would field his strongest team against Buccaneers in the second Telkom Charity Cup semi-final at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium today.

The former Partizan Belgrade defender and coach was last week had a baptism of fire into the intense rivalry between the two clubs and he now has some idea how important it is to win a Soweto Derby.

According to Sports Chirp Vermezovich said:

“We want to play in the final. We are ready despite a couple of worrying injuries and I will start with what is my strongest side and if we make the final, which I hope we do, then I will decide the plan for the final.

“It is tough playing two full games in one afternoon. There is not much time for the winner to rest after the games as the final kicks off at 5pm, but will be ready as we played in a similar tournament (Premier’s Cup in PE) in an earlier pre-season tournament, so I have an idea of what to expect.”

The Kaizer Chiefs coach said he would use a rotation policy this season as he has  27 players who will all get a chance with the rotation policy.

Bafana Bafana Stars

Although Orlando Pirates Coach Ruud Krol is playing it cool, saying he is actually more focused  on next Wednesday night’s MTN8 quarter-final clash against Ajax Cape Town at Ellis Park, he must be hurting seriously after the defeat in Port Elizabeth and wants to set the record straight, so he is sure to be rolling out his big guns in the form of his four Bafana Bafana stars, midfielders Teko Modise, Benson Mhlongo, striker Katlego Mashego and defender Innocent Mdledle.

They started pre-season training later than the rest of the squad due to the fact they helped Bafana Bafana finish fourth in the Confederation Cup last month.

Orlando Pirates' Frank Olivier

Orlando Pirates new signee Frank Olivier, the Cameroonian international, who made his debut in the 2-0 win against Manchester City last month says on the Bucs website:

“Games against Chiefs always have a special significance, hence there’s no way we can take it lightly. We are looking forward to the match with great anticipation and nothing less than a victory will make us happy…besides, we owe it to our supporters,” he added.

Krol  has a talented squad and also has the option of throwing in his two new strikers-  former Chiefs star Gert Schalkwyk and Dennis Masina, who he signed from Supersport United for their debuts.

My Prediction

My personal prediction – besides the disastrous penalty shootout, Orlando Pirates looked stronger in Port Elizabeth, and looking at the squad, I’d say they are going to run out  a stronger team on the day – Up the Buccaneers!

Sundowns vs Platinum All Stars

The other Semi-final between Sundowns v Platinum Stars – kick off 10:00

The final will kick off at 5 pm.

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More than 20 000 spectators are going to set a world record when they blow their Vuvuzelas for 30 seconds before the Orlando Pirates meet Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth this evening.

And it would seem that because of their 2 -0 Victory over Manchester City in Polokwane and their longer rest period after the game, the mighty Buccaneers are tipped to win this game to meet the blues again in the final at Loftus on Saturday.

The Buccaneers have the Edge

According to Kickoff, Orlando Pirates Coach, Ruud Kroll believes his boys have the edge.

“Recuperation is very important in football and the fact that Chiefs played a top team like Manchester City yesterday [Tuesday] does give us an advantage,” Kroll says. “From our side, we have prepared well and are relaxed.”

Pressure is on Chiefs

And when you speak to Amakhosi manager Bobby Motaung he says the pressure is on his team after their defeat to City on Tuesday.

“The game in Durban was almost like a practice match; there was no pressure on us to win,” he says. “But the pressure comes with Thursday’s game because there is no ‘friendly’ match when we play Pirates.

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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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