Caught In Bed With Soccer Laduma!
(It's Not What You Think)
I just wanna say kudos to Soccer Laduma for the wonderful work you guys are doing for SA football and long may this publication live on. I can still remember the day I bought my first copy aged just 10, in 2002. Sleep that night became a mission, I tell you. Much like I used to sleep with my new Christmas clothes in my bed, I had a copy of Soccer Laduma keeping me company throughout the evening, for I couldn't get enough of the content inside. I remember I used to save my lunch money just so I could buy a copy every Wednesday and I used to ask my former primary school principal, Mr Morethe, to buy me a copy since he stayed in a town called Lydenburg. Without fail, he would always bring a copy for me and promised that he would give it to me after school when I was done with school work. I have a sneaking feeling my dear headmaster was himself hypnotised by the magic inside those pages. I've since lost contact with Mr Morethe, but wherever he is, I want to say a big thank you to him for everything he has done for me. The last time I saw him was a few years ago in Pretoria. I'm grateful to him because I know that in life you have to appreciate even the little things… including sending your principal on a quick dash to the shops.
Marvin Matseke-Mabula, Burgersfort Leboeng Rutseng
Big Debate Rages On…
I totally agree with the Editor that "Saleng deserved more!" and that "if you say that the Footballer of the Season is judged by all 16 coaches based on individual performance on all fronts, meaning the league and cup games, then Monnapule Saleng, if fairly done, would have simply walked away with the award." My concern is, though the coach cannot vote for own player, how did the other 15 coaches choose? It must have been tight though. Most should have voted for Saleng, unless they thought the criteria was the same as that for Coach of the Season. The two awards' criteria must be the same for them not to confuse the coaches. I am not here now to comment about the Coach of the Season. However, as criteria stands, there must be no nominees. For Coach of the Season, based on current criteria, once a team wins the league, then the coach should also win the award; same as if a player is Golden Boot winner. Back to Saleng. This must serve as a motivation for the 2023/24 season to do even better. Saleng, by the way, was not in the Pirates starting line-up when the season started and only came into the starting XI together with Ndlondlo in the first leg semis of the MTN8. Together with Ndlondlo, he surprised Downs, going on to stamp his authority in the second leg when he mesmerised them and scored two magnificent goals. This time around, he must give it a real go and aim high, play to be bought by Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish or Italian teams. His type of football and wizardry can only be appreciated and improved by Spanish and Italian teams, in particular. In the Premier League, he will be put on the bench and be wasted and then return home having been destroyed. After Saleng killed Sundowns in the MTN8, I wrote a letter to this newspaper that this player is special and that Pirates has finally got a super player… and I still maintain that. Did soccer lovers really see how he accurately passed the ball to Dzvukamanja from Dlamini's diagonal pass for our Nedbank Cup winning goal? That was magic from Lorch, Dlamini, Saleng and Dzvuka. See you in the 2023/24 season, Mo Saleng!
Chrisiph Maodi, Observatory, Jo'burg
Rhulani was always an obvious choice for Coach of the Season, as his team played attractive football and went on to play more than 15 games undefeated. He never lost to his competitor Riveiro in an official game (Correction: Pirates beat Sundowns 3-0 in the MTN8). Those who say Riveiro should have won it are letting their emotions get the better of them. Not to take anything away from Pirates, but how they clinched the Nedbank Cup is questionable. In England, Lorch would have been red-carded for purposely playing the ball into the hands of a player who's lying down. You don't need to win the league to win Coach of the Season. Hunt was rewarded while still in charge of Leopards. Didn't Da Gama win it while at Silver Stars 2005/06? Finally, if Footballer of the Season should be based on the number of goals a player scored or assists made, then what about players like Mashamaite, who won this accolade before? Mokoena is the rightful winner for the work he did at Sundowns, always protecting his back four. Saleng always choked in A-category games. Let's stop being biased. Being a Sundowns supporter, I believe Timm had a better season than Saleng, but because he's not skilful or the position he plays…
Tente "The Brains" Mokoka, Sepharane
Bafana Stifle Atlas Lions At The Calabash
What a beautiful game we witnessed at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening. The amount of goals was not the perfect reflection of the game. Bafana did not show the much-determined Moroccan stars any respect. Our lads never cease to amaze me – they outplayed, outsmarted and outclassed the Atlas Lions. I hate to single out players, but Aubaas and Williams were a marvel to watch. Big up, guys, more especially Aubaas because it was his debut for the country. Congrats to Bafana, you did well for the spirit of Clive "The Dog" Barker. May his soul rest in peace. We will never forget him. However, our boys must stop squandering goalscoring opportunities like that in future. Last but not least, let me take this opportunity to thank supporters who braced the cold weather to support the team. Big up. Your support made a huge difference to our boys, who were cool, calm and collected. I now believe that Bafana are going to the Afcon to participate and not to add numbers. On a personal note, I would like to thank Soccer Laduma readers who were there for me the past two weeks I spent at OR Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg. Your support keeps me alive. Once again, thanks to all the staff at the said hospital, including the cleaners, nurses and doctors who made it possible that I receive the best medical care. You were all amazing.
Boitumelo Vanrooyen, Schweizer-Reneke
Hats off to all the national teams who have qualified for the Afcon finals. What a sweet revenge for Bafana against Morocco as we beat them with the same score line that they beat us with in the first leg. It was overall an excellent performance and a good send-off for Clive Barker. Since Broos took over, we have witnessed some improvement and the future looks bright for our national team. The coach has a mammoth task to emulate Barker, the only coach to bring home the Afcon and also qualify us for the World Cup. Broos should have given most of our players a run in the game against Morocco to test the strength and quality of his players as we had already qualified. On a different note, I agree with Doctor Khumalo, in his eulogy to Barker, that SAFA has failed the latter by not honouring him and other legends of the Beautiful Game. It's high time that they do something to acknowledge the contributions that our coaches, players and football administrators have made while they are still alive.
Bernard "Bra Ben" Tshukudu, Ga-Maria
Bafana produced one of their greatest performances in a long time on Saturday as they beat 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco. A well-deserved and morale-boosting victory for the boys as the countdown to next year's Afcon in Ivory Coast begins. This was also a great send-off for the late legendary coach Clive Barker, the man who guided the team to their first and only Afcon title, in 1996. I hope SAFA will organise friendlies against strong opposition for the team heading to the African showpiece in a few months' time. Thank you to coach Broos and his technical team, we're happy with the progress made so far.
Bongani Mgubela, Diepkloof
Usually when Bafana play the last World Cup or Afcon qualifier, we use our scientific calculators, but it was not the case this time as they had already qualified. It's been long since I saw such a huge turnout for a Bafana game and the boys did not disappoint. We could have killed off the game in the first stanza had our boys been more clinical. The typically stingy Moroccan defence committed some silly errors and we could not punish them, with Mokoena and Lepasa the main culprits. In the end, I am glad we ended our campaign on a higher note and beating the number one ranked team in Africa will definitely boost our rankings.
Amos "Tiger" Tshukudu, Ga-Maria
The game was played with one expectation: to honour Clive Barker. It was a good send-off to our hero. With both teams having already qualified for the Afcon, we were not expecting flames, even though Broos is still trying out some combinations going into the tournament. Bafana played well judging by how Morocco played in the World Cup. To be the best, you have to beat the best. Congrats to Aubaas on his debut. He played like a seasoned campaigner in a Bafana shirt. I was really happy with his performance. I wish SAFA can organise friendly games against strong teams. We have to work hard on our finishing as we missed a lot of clear-cut chances. It's a game we were supposed to win by a big margin. I think it's also unfair to Mokoena for people to associate his miss with his recent achievements. That's unsporting behaviour! I was thrilled to see supporters turning out in numbers to support the boys, showing them love after so many years of drought. We need more supporters in Bafana games. Big up South Africans, let's boost the boys' confidence. I'm sure Broos now respects "Mshishi" and Rhulani. If not, he must listen to the Morocco coach.
Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher
Congrats to Bafana. Some might called it a dead rubber, but truth is, more was at stake. National pride, for one, not to mention that Morocco were the semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup. This will boost confidence going forward. But only one concern: 23 players were called up, but the coach opted to use only 12. I'm not sure whether Bafana were barred from using substitutions. Some players had to leave their teams in Europe, only to come here and sit on the bench. For sure, no one's guaranteed gametime, but it would have been wise for Broos to give some players that much-needed experience since we'd already qualified. Our coach and his technical team showed signs of cowardice and not trusting all their players. With a 2-0 lead, he should've thrown in other players, especially playing in Europe, like Blom. Lastly, congrats to Pitso for landing the Al Wahda coaching job. To Maritzburg, you've dug your own grave, homies.
Sibusiso Khumalo, Melmoth, KZN
The belief and team spirit won the game for South Africa against Morocco. They all pulled in the same direction and played to win at all costs. There was a sense of nomakanjani siyayenza lento (come rain or shine, we're doing this). They played with pride and undying enthusiasm. It was very refreshing to see Bafana in such a state. Their body language told a story of a soldier that went to battle not to do anything but conquer. I give credit to the boys, the coach, technical staff and, most importantly, the fans who showed up on such a freezing Johannesburg evening. We can build from this victory. May this be the start of even greater performances, which will ultimately lead to that success of '96 being replicated. And even better.
Mfuneko Fezi, Paterson, Eastern Cape
Good performance by our national team against the number one ranked country on the continent. I think Broos had a fantastic game plan, which was boosted by the Moroccan keeper with that costly mistake early in the game. That goal helped our players settle and apply the coach's instructions. I also think Bafana should learn to bury their chances because it has shown in the past that missing chances like we did again on Saturday might haunt us as it happened when we drew against Liberia with the last kick of the game. That aspect and the lapse in concentration needs to be taken care of as Morocco also nearly got an equaliser in the last minutes.
Leponesa Chacha, Botshabelo
As football-loving South Africans, we must learn to give credit where it's due. When last did we finish top of the group with the likes of the Atlas Lions in the same group? (Correction: Morocco still have a game to play against Liberia in September, so could finish top of the group). We are talking about a team that finished number four at the 2022 World Cup eliminating some of the tournament favourites in the process. Broos might not be the fan's favourite, but truth be told, he is building something there. Here is a national team with an average age of around 25 that qualifies for Afcon 2024, not intimidated by the number one country in Africa. He has instilled in our boys an element of self-belief, which is a fundamental aspect of psychological superiority over your opponent. I foresee a team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and going beyond the group stages. Hail, Broos! You are doing a sterling job.
Zola Bashin Kati, Zwelitsha
Did anyone out there ever believe that Bafana would do the unthinkable and beat Morocco? Forget about Mohamedi's howler, we still produced a sterling performance on the day. It's true that where there is a will, there's a way. Let's be honest, 90% of our squad would struggle to make the Mauritius national team. It just goes to show that even with lack of quality, motivation can make you prevail. Look at a player like Aubaas, he outdid himself. Now, will Bafana continue with that breathtaking performance or was it merely because we faced number one on the continent? Time will tell.
Mamatonyane Maila, Tshwane
Bafana were simply firing on all cylinders on Saturday and one wonders if this tempo and belligerence will be maintained going forward. We're really sick and tired of the yo-yo type of performances. They have everything they need to make the nation proud consistently. One thing I want to commend the coach about is the selection of young and hungry players. He's silenced all his critics. Another notable contribution was the supporters' attendance. Thank you, Mzansi faithful. Keep it up.
Hofmeyr Kwitshana, Pietermaritzburg
I want to congratulate our national team for beating Morocco on Saturday. They showed no fear for the World Cup semi-finalists. We were on top of them. They thought they were in it to win it, but our lads had other ideas. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Moroccans as they lost to a lowly-ranked team in Africa and the world. The visitors chewed the chillies they had planted. Congrats, Bafana. I want to believe that this is just the start of good things to come. If Bafana could do it on Saturday, then they can still do it again. Tau and Lepasa, thank you, guys, for not showing Morocco any respect.
Moses Mokoena, Ga-Mokwakwaila
Zwane Going, Going, Gone?
Every media house wants to be the one breaking the news about the Chiefs coach, even social media journalists who don't do research. The problem is if the deal fails, it makes the club look bad because it's as if the deal is done when it's not. If reports that Nabi wants his own technical team are true, why don't the management comply? Even Pitso has his own trusted team. They are obviously not going to give him the buying powers, but at least he has to work with the people he trusts. I'm not sure if Nabi prefers young players because he will be under pressure. I'm concerned about the possibility because Zwane may not have player-management skills to continue as a coach, but I believe that he was going to get it right eventually. It's clear he's the one who recommended Ditlhokwe be bought because he prefers a right-footed and left-footed central pairing for balance. The management first made it look like they were looking for a senior coach, only to look for a head coach whom they don't want to give all the tools to succeed. They want Nabi because they are keen to end the trophy drought, so they must either hire Nabi with his team or leave Zwane to steadily stabilise the team while trying to win a cup or two.
Lucky Khunou, Meriting
It was here in my favourite Soccer Laduma where I read that Chiefs were scouting for a new head coach. For the first time ever, I thought this was hogwash coming from my favourite newspaper. Sadly, I am left with egg on my face as my team is currently pursuing Nabi. Yes, he had a great season with Young Africans, but that doesn't mean he'll turn things around for Chiefs. I thought Zwane would be given at least 10 games in the new season to show us if he's learnt something from the previous season. With us looking for another coach, it surely will destabilise what the current coach was already instilling in these players. You can't build a house and keep changing the bricklayers any time you feel like it. This will end up taking us to more than a decade without any silverware.
Nafie Moloantoa, KwaThema
I fully agree with Kanga Nzenza that Mayele is better than Chivaviro. In previous seasons, Chiefs has lost a number of good players to other teams because they always identify good players but act very slowly to sign them until they are grabbed by Sundowns and Pirates. The club must break the bank and sign Mayele and Fabrice Ngoma.
Neo Mahlangu, Tembisa
Here's to giving the Pirates coach a big round of applause for a job well done, in winning two cups in his very first season in SA. All those who degraded and referred to him as a "plumber" were proved wrong. Meanwhile, as supporters of a respected team on the African continent, Chiefs, we keep hearing our coach singing the very same song of "still building". We are in this dilemma of not knowing whether Zwane is going to vacate the post or not. He failed dismally to produce what was expected from him. He keeps brainwashing us by singing the old song of "still building the team". It is not lost on us that he knows all these youngsters very well as he was in the development ranks with all of them. We are becoming the laughing stock of our archnemesis, Pirates. It is up to the Motaung family to tell us how long we will be in this situation. We are crossing our fingers for the talks between the management and the former Young Africans coach to produce a fruitful result. We lost a coach of Pitso's calibre as he was snatched by a club in United Arab Emirates.
Sipho Robert Mpungose, Eshowe
Chiefs management can't be blamed for everything. Zwane's analytical skills of the game are poor. Struggling teams who do not have quality players always get the better of the Soweto giants. The team's style of play is predictable. Playing players out of position, late and poor judgement when it comes to substitution has cost us. The technical team has delivered nothing. Zwane identified most of the players that were signed and surprisingly, half of them will be offloaded. Amakhosi scouts are earning for doing nothing because they have failed to outsmart SuperSport when it comes to nurturing young talent. Without Matsatsantsa, there is no Sundowns. Chiefs supporters are angry and there is no sign that things will improve even if new players are bought because the same players we have were brought by Zwane.
Nation Mzwakhe Mabaso, Durban
In football, young coaches get promoted from development teams. We, as fans, are so harsh on our own coach, Zwane. We celebrate foreign coaches more than our own. We always point fingers at clubs, saying that they don't hire locals, but when they get given a chance, we start throwing bottles at our own coaches instead of protecting them when the going gets tough. We must learn to protect, build and have faith in our local coaches. If we can't have patience, we are going to have outsiders flocking in.
Danny "Madeenzo" Moreo, Segakwana village, Moruleng
New Name, Same Old Colours – Look Who's Back!
Welcome to the elite league, Cape Town Spurs. Justice has prevailed as we've been crying about this promotional play-offs rule which gives a second chance with an added advantage to a team that failed in the topflight. Scrap the rule, promote two teams and let the other two go down, period! The disadvantage now Spurs are facing is that other teams will be reporting for pre-season soon while they have to get some rest after preparing and playing in these senseless play-offs. They still have to bolster their squad as they were not sure if they were going to make it or not and most of the players they might have targeted are at advanced stages of negotiations with other teams or have been snapped up already. You will never buy experience and it showed when Daniels, Scott, Allie and Morton played a huge role in promoting Spurs. Big up to Bartlett, Marlin, Morris and everyone associated with the club. We are now guaranteed not less than nine visits next season from the Big Three… or should I say 10 as Chiefs will come to play the Citizens in the MTN8. Whoopee!
Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft
What I wished to see happening in the play-offs has been granted. I am very much happy that another Motsepe Foundation Championship team has been promoted and Maritzburg go down. That is a lesson to all the teams in the DStv Premiership that they must work harder during the season and not wait for 'injury time' to stay on top. Cape Town Spurs deserve that promotion and good luck to them in the elite league. Bartlett is becoming a good coach.
Nyambeni Samson Khuphani, Tshiawelo Ext 5
Inside every self-made man, there is a poor child who followed his dream. Winning promotion for Cape Town Spurs is an opportunity for every child in South Africa. They don't look for players in the Western Cape only. Go, Urban Warriors, and show the whole nation that you're a warrior. My old schoolmaster at Malekutu High School, NC Sekwati, used to say, "We mean business here."
Joshua Makaung, Mamone, Ga-Mmela village
Congrats to Polokwane City and Cape Town Spurs for gaining promotion to the topflight. It wasn't an easy journey, but guys, you fought until to the end and came out victorious. Please go to the DStv Premiership and represent your people with pride. Maritzburg and Gallants, go back to the drawing board and fix your errors.
Nghamula Rikhotso-Nkonwana, Mugeva village
