Vuvuzela South Africa

AmaZulu will play Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup final at Soccer City on Saturday after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in a sudden death penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1-1 in extra-time.

The dramatic penalty shootout, which they won 4-3, included three saves by goalkeeper Nicolas Gindre.

Goals Scored bye Mokoena for Downs and Gumede for Usuthu

The goals were scored by Lebogang Mokoena for Downs 74th minute and Sandile Gumede got the equaliser in the 89th minute to take the game to extra-time.

Usuthu had the better of first half exchanges, looking more threatening and energetic in attack.

Big-spending Sundowns dominated possession with their calculated passing, but were not so hot in front of goal and it was AmaZulu who enjoyed the sharper opportunities.

Bafana Bafana vs Thailand

With the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand Match on Sunday 16 May, it was accepted that Sundowns were without six players currently with Bafana Bafana’s World Cup training squad but in their defense, the boys from Durban can point to a string of suspensions that depleted them as well.

In the end, it was left to Litha Ngxabi to seal the game for Usuthu, and he did so, sending the ball past Baloyi’s outstretched hands.

AmaZulu: (4-4-2): Gindre, Biyela, Mkhonza, Chintu (Siboniso Gumede 46’), Ishaka; Mabaso, Sangweni, Sikhakane (Ngxabi 74’), Mokoro; Ngwenya (Sandile Gumede 80’), Dlamini.

Sundowns: (4-4-): Baloyi; Mere, Xulu, Mungomeni, Mayinga; Mmotong, Nyandoro (Ncaca 112’), Pattison, Mokoena; Vilakazi, Katongo (Phala 67’)

Read about the Amazulu vs Mamelodi Sundowns Match

Image: AmaZulu Celebrate. football365.co.za

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Action is heating up in the PSL and the matches being played around South Africa this weekend will certainly make a difference for some of the teams who are on the brink of either moving up to become contenders, or who are losing the plot and dropping way down in the standings.

Kaizer Chiefs v Bloemfontein Celtic

Kaizer Chiefs will be sporting their 40th Anniversary kit when they tackle Bloemfontein Celtic at the Super Stadium on Saturday night.

After a poor start to the Season Amakhosi have consistently been picking up speed and hope to make this encounter with Bloemfontein Celtic four on the trot which could see the team move up to second in the PSL standings.

Santos v Lamontville Golden Arrows

Santos have the chance to close the gap on SuperSport United when they entertain Golden Arrows at the Coetzenburg Stadium on Saturday night.

The People’s Team are seven points behind Matsatsantsa and will be looking to their home matches as a source for the points to catch them.

Abafana Bes’thende head have struggled of late and will look to put their slump behind them when they travel to the Western Cape.

Arrows currently find themselves ninth in the standings, and they head into the match against title-hopefuls Santos on the back of a defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Free State Stars.

SuperSport United v Jomo Cosmos

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is refusing to underestimate Jomo Cosmos when they entertain them at Loftus Versfeld Saturday night.

United currently sit seven points clear at the top, and the team will be looking to Anthony Laffor to continue his fine form following the midfielder’s second brace of the season in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Moroka Swallows.

Jomo Sono’s charges are currently rock bottom of the PSL standings with the defending champions sitting pretty seven points clear at the top of the standings.

Hunt will have a fully fit squad to choose from and will welcome back midfielder Jabu Maluleke, who returns from suspension.

Free State Stars v Mpumalanga Black Aces

Mpumalanga Black Aces will be hoping that the addition of new striker Darrel Smith will inspire them to victory over Free State Stars at Goble Park at the weekend.

The Mpumalanga outfit are currently second-from-bottom in the PSL standings, but a win on Saturday will see them leapfrog Stars in the table.

AmaZulu v Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to keep the pressure on SuperSport United with a win over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Brazilians are currently in fifth position after their 1-0 win against Bidvest Wits, nine points behind log leaders SuperSport United.

Maritzburg United v Ajax Cape Town

Ajax Cape Town will be looking to affirm their place in the top four of the league when they take on a confident Maritzburg United side at Woodburn Stadium.

The Urban Warriors go into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw against AmaZulu but they will be buoyed by the possibility that a win might move them from fourth to second of the league.

Bidvest Wits v Moroka Swallows

BidVest Wits’ run of 12 matches without a win can no longer be descried as a slump. Roger de Sa’s men face a crisis and must attain a result against Moroka Swallows on Saturday.

The Clever Boys’ atrocious form has seen them free fall down the table and they now lie 14th, just two points clear of second-from-bottom Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Both sides find themselves in the bottom-half of the standings.

Platinum Stars v Orlando Pirates

Platinum Stars coach Steve Komphela is hoping his side will be on the right end of some well-deserved luck on Saturday when Orlando Pirates are the visitors to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The former Bafana Bafana captain is gaining a reputation for his outbursts against referees. It was his great misfortune therefore when, he was forced to watch as his side went down 3-1 to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday due in large part to a dubious penalty decision. Wednesday night’s result was the second time this season against Amakhosi that Komphela could rightly feel aggrieved.

The Buccaneers will be looking for their first away win in over three months when they travel to Platinum Stars for Saturday’s PSL clash in Rustenburg.

Sources and pics: www.football365.co.za and www.soccerladuma.co.za

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Too much action and exciting matches in the PSL in South Africa this weekend, when the top soccer teams in the country clash in the Premier Soccer League.

Orlando Pirates vs Santos

On Saturday PSL log leaders Orlando Pirates will do all they can to pick up the points from an in-form Santos at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. First place Pirates have an opportunity to keep the chasing pack of Bloemfontein Celtic, BIDVest Wits and SuperSport United at bay if they can defeat The People’s Team over the weekend, while fifth placed Santos look to register their third consecutive victory and reduce the gap between themselves and Pirates to a single point.

Midfield livewire Dikgang Mabalane says that they will be focusing on nothing else but a victory when they host Engen Santos at the Orlando stadium on Saturday night.

Speaking to Orlandopiratesfc.com, Mabalane said that the two back-to-back draws they registered against BIDVest Wits and Free State Stars had fired the team up for a victory.

“We are more spirited by the fact that we played two draws in our last two league matches, and collected only two points from a possible six. The pressure to stay on top is catching-up with us, and thus making this weekend’s match a must-win for the team.”

Kaizer Chiefs vs Mamelodi Sundowns

It is a gigantic battle – Amakhosi vs the Brazilians. Mamelodi Sundowns will host Kaizer Chiefs in the pick of the weekend’s PSL fixtures with both sides desperate to be crowned kings of Gauteng at the Super Stadium.

Although Orlando Pirates is log leader at this point, this Saturday’s fixture will go a long way in determining which of the two sides will threaten the Buccaneers at the top of the table and try to halt SuperSport’s charge for a hat trick of championships.

Just one point separates the sides, with Chiefs on 13 points, while Downs are two positions below Amakhosi in ninth spot.

Amakhosi Fans to Fill the Super Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs Public Relations Manager Thebe Mohatle has urged the Amakhosi fan-base to come out in large numbers for the clash tomorrow against Mamelodi Sundowns. Mohatle added that beating Sundowns on the field would require outnumbering the Brazilians faithful in the stands.

He said on the club’s website, “It is very important that we take over at the Super Stadium as we have done at other stadiums around the country… If we are to beat Sundowns with goals on the field, we have to beat them with numbers on the stands.”

Golden Arrows vs Bidvest Wits

Golden Arrows entertain Bidvest Wits at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday.
Abafana Bes’thende have had to settle for a share of the spoils in seven out of ten league encounters and are now eighth in the standings despite an early-season blitz.

Wits coach Roger De Sa is eager to see his charges close the two-point gap on league leaders Orlando Pirates. The Clever Boys will have to try to gain a maximum haul.

Ajax Cape Town v Bloem Celtic

Ajax Cape Town will be boosted by the news that Foppe de Haan has been appointed as their new head coach ahead of the clash with Bloemfontein Celtic at Newlands Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

However, the Dutch mentor will only take over from November, meaning Jan Pruijn will oversee the first-team until his arrival.

The Urban Warriors have not won a match at home yet this season and will want to end their drought this weekend. However, they face an unbeaten Celtic side who are on a mission to put last season behind them.

Free State Stars v Platinum Stars

Steve Komphela will face his former team Free State Stars for the first time when his Platinum Stars side goes in search of their second win of the season. Languishing in 15th place, the Tycoons who show so much promise, will be looking to find their feet in the PSL after a disappointing start,

The Bethlehem outfit on the other hand, will go into the match confident with a clean bill of health and no suspensions. Captain Duncan Lechesa is confident they can beat Platinum Stars.

Moroka Swallows v Maritzburg

Moroka Swallows meet Maritzburg United at the Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

This was not a good season to follow the Birds. The Beautiful Birds have made a terrible start to the season and really need a victory if they want to avoid a relegation scrap.

This is the sort of game, which the Soweto club simply has to win.

The Team of Choice has made a slightly better start to the PSL campaign this year than the Birds. Coach Gordon Igesund is hoping that his side are able to stop gifting the opposition goals.

Black Aces v SuperSport United

Mpumalanga Black Aces will be looking to continue their unbeaten run at home when they host the reigning league champions SuperSport United.

But it will not be easy, as Matsatsantsa will be looking to close the three-point gap between themselves and leaders Orlando Pirates.

The Tshwane side will be looking to get back to winning ways after their 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows.

Jomo Cosmos v AmaZulu

Jomo Cosmos must be tired of sitting at the bottom and will be looking to move up the PSL table when they host AmaZulu at the Rand Stadium on Saturday.

Cosmos currently lie 16th in the standings, two points behind 14th place Usuthu with both sides enduring a poor start to the season.

Take a look and see Kickoff’s predictions of the scores for this weekend’s PSL fixtures.

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WEll if the big game is the Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the other big game is the one to decide on the winner between Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars to determine who will  be the participants in the third match of the day Telkom Charity Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.

According to 24.com columnist, Tumo Mokone, in the first semi-final, at 10:00, all eyes will be on the Platinum Stars’ pair of Mbulelo “Old John” Mabizela and Jabu “Shuffle” Pule (Mahlangu) and  Mamelodi Sundowns’ new recruits Mabhudi Khenyeza and Lebohang Mokoena.

Downs Coach Gets Work Permit

Down’s are now coached by Hristo Stoichkov, former Barcelona star and they have high hopes for the coming season, especially with new signing Mabhudi Khenyeza in their ranks . Stoichkov must be relieved that his work permit has come through – this means he will be on the bench when the Brazilians take on Platinum Stars. There is every possibility that new signings Papi Zothwane, Lebohang “Cheeseboy” Mokoena, Gareth Ncaca and Mabhudi Khenyeza may make their official debuts for the Brazilians.

Platinum Stars Must Get Past the Brazilians

Platinum Stars have the advantage of playing “at home”, they also have a new coach with Steve Komphela taking charge and they are hoping to reach the Charity Cup final for the first time.  First though, they must get past Sundowns, a club who have been victorious in this competition five times, and the bookmakers have the Brazilians as firm favourites.

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As the pre-season draws to an end,  the main South African teams have revealed their new 2009/10 kit. Let’s take a look at Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and  Mamelodi Sundowns.  New Kit is a big thing, not only for the teams but also for the fans. I agree with Calvin from FOOTBALLfever who says:

“Last night I blogged about how South African clubs fail to brew some kind of hype around their new kits, hence the difference in quality compared to what the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal get.”

Kaizer Chiefs New Kit

Amakhozi revealed their new kit. Nike Launched Kaizer Chiefs team kit for 2009/2010 season. The Glamour Boys’ new home and away kits will continue to be a desired item, capable of inspiring, joyful and brilliant football both on and off-field.

Orlando Pirates New Kit

Adidas South Africa launched the new Orlando Pirates range at Durban City Hall on Friday, July 14.

The apparel features innovative ClimaCool® technology, a dynamic ventilation and moisture management system geared to keep players cool, dry and comfortable.

According to the Bucs’ website,   The Adidas Orlando Pirates partnership goes beyond the field of play. Our supporters – who are snazzy dressers, conscious of

what they wear – have in Adidas found apparel in keeping with the famous saying: You are what you wear” said Orlando Pirates Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza

The range consists of two new designs: the home jersey (black/white) and the away jersey (white/black). Bucs’ red jersey has been carried over from last season and will be used as an alternative jersey. A Tiro design has been adapted for this new range to reflect the tradition of the Soweto giants by emphasising the famous skull and crossbones, which is emblazoned onto the back.

“From now on wherever our supporters go, they will have 72 years of Pirates history and heritage accompanying them every step of the way,” says Pirates marketing manager Nkosana Khoza.

Mamelodi Sundowns

The Brazilians went with Nike and unveiled their new 2009/2010 Mamelodi Sundowns football kit at the club’s headquarters in Chloorkop, Midrand. The new home and away kit was presented by the club’s renowned players including captain Esrom Nyandoro, Siboniso Gaxa, Matthew Booth and Robyn Johannes in a locker-room setting.

While incorporating Nike’s modern innovative technologies, the most prominent feature of the kit is its striking design in the tonal stripe.

Orlando Pirates pic – Footballshirtculture.com

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