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We concluded the first half of the season with a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium tonight.
We looked confident from the first whistle tonight and used our ball possession wisely as we created opportunities to score from. What was encouraging was that the team looked like a well drilled unit once again with each player on the field contributing to an outstanding 90 minutes of play.
While Maritzburg had a chance to score in the 12th minute shot stopper Mlungwana parried the attempt away denying the home side the opener. This set the precedent for him for the game as he did well to keep a clean sheet.
As we settled into the game, we had some well constructed advances on target. This saw Fikizolo with a chance just before the 20 minute mark which he put inches wide of target.
It was a cross from the Man of the Match, Ndlovu, that saw us score first as he crossed for Moon who went up for the header and found the mark in the 22nd minute.
Moon then doubled the lead just seconds before the break, heading in his brace to give us a well deserved lead going into the break.
The second half of play saw Maritzburg fighting to get back into the game. Once again, looking consolidated as a team, every effort was put in to defend strongly and deny the home side the ability to score.
A positive result from the team and coaching staff as we head into the international break.
We failed to score tonight as we lost to Orlando Pirates by 2 goals at Princess Magogo Stadium
This is the first time since 2019 that the Sea Robbers have won against us, and it will make the return match in the new year all the more competitive.
We failed to fire on all cylinders in the first half, and allowed the visitors to penetrate our defense with a degree of ease right from the kick off. Their first goal was scored in just the 6th minute when Saleng found the back of the net for the Soweto side.
They then kept pressure on us and in the 24th minute doubled their lead, Saleng once again the scorer.
We made a concerted effort to pull something back, but none of our shots rattled the keeper enough and we went into the break goalless.
Returning to the field, the boys looked more composed and produced some promising plays, but we were just not able to convert any of the chances created and seemed to be playing more defensively than we normally would.
We will need to pull together and produce some points on Tuesday night next week as we take on Royal Am at Chatsworth Stadium.
Another second half fight back from the boys saw us rescue a point tonight against Stellenbosch FC at Princess Magogo Stadium.
The first 45 minutes of play saw us unsettled and not displaying the brand of soccer that we normally dish out. We allowed the visitors to take advantage of their possession and they pushed up and put our goal under pressure at every opportunity given to them.
In the 23rd minute, a well delivered corner from Basadien found Adams in the box who headed in to give the visitors the lead, a position that they held comfortably until the break.
The second 45 saw us get into more of a rhythm of play and the the boys started looking like the unit that have been playing in the last couple of games. While Moon looked dangerous at times tonight he was just not able to penetrate the defense and a tactical move to replace him with Khumalo paid off as he did well to link up with the likes of Sibiya, Mmodi, Ndwandwe and Lunga and create chances to equalise, having a number of shots on target himself.
It was Stephens between the sticks that kept the lead for Stellies though as he made save after save to deny us the opportunity to score.
Zuke had the breakthrough and scored the equaliser in the last minute of additional time to deny the visitors full points and secure the draw and a point from the evenings outing. But once again it was the determination from the entire side that was rewarded with the goal.
We need to build on this now as we have just 3 days until we face Orlando Pirates on Tuesday night at our home stadium.
A determined fight back in the second half from the boys tonight save us share the spoils against Cape Town City at Princess Magogo Stadium.
Both teams looked subdued in the first 15 minutes of play and while each side did well to penetrate the final third, there were no attempts on target that looked threatening from either side. The Citizens then changed their tactic and began pressing a little more with their possession. This paid off for them in the 27th minute as Kajally won the ball of Lunga, played across the face of the goal and struck well, beating Gumede and opening the scoring.
The boys never rested, and fought back but were unable to equalise before the break.
The second half of play was a different affair. We played at the pace and tempo we are known for and took the game to the visitors, looking to penetrate the defence at any given opportunity. Khumalo, who substituted Moon at the break, was instrumental in a number of plays and did well along with Mmodi, Sibiya and Ndwandwe in the attempt to penetrate the defense.
It was Lunga however that ended up scoring the equaliser. We secured a corner and Sibiya curled the ball in from the near side. Keet, between the sticks failed to hold onto the ball and Lunga rifled his shot in for the equaliser.
In the last 5 minutes of play we bombarded The Citizens goals but were unable to find a second and the win against the Cape Town outfit.
Another point in the season campaign, and well deserved for the fight back and determination showed by the team.
We secured 3 points at home this afternoon as we beat Swallows FC in a convincing performance. Credit must go to each and every player who took to the pitch and gave 100% in the 4-0 win. Nduduzo Sibiya, the DStv Premiership man of the match netted twice with Pule Mmodi and Nqubeko Dlamini finishing off the scoring.
All in all we dominated most of the play this afternoon, working well in pushing up and putting the visitors defense under pressure on the hunt to score.
We received our first rewards in the 23th minute as Sibiya was taken down in the box and then converted from the mark to open our account for the afternoon. Just a minute later, Mmodi chipped over the last line of defense and the keeper to double the lead.
Swallows were however not an easy opponent all of the time and had passages of play that had our defensive department hard at work to deny them opportunity.
We extended the lead in the 66th minute with Sibiya shooting from the inside of the ‘D’ and beating Mbanjwa. Continuing on a high, he then played us behind the defense again and crossed to the box where Mmodi shot at target but hit the woodwork. It was Dlamini who, coming up with the attack, struck the ball and scored our 4th for the afternoon.
A well deserved win ahead of our break.
It was a game of two halves today that saw us hold on for the win and 3 points this afternoon at Princess Magogo Stadium.
We did well in the first half, taking the ball up on attack and making the visitors defense work hard to try and slow the game down. The continual press up to the box did well to put the pressure on them and in the process forcing the errors. We received a free kick in the 18th minute and Nxadi opened the scoring with a low level header off a free kick from Ndududzo Sibiya.
We kept pressure on the visitors and just 5 minutes later we extended the lead as Sibiya converted a penalty kick after Mutizwa was pushed in the box.
With the team running on a positive streak of play, we once gain found tha back of the net as Mutizwa drew Chaine out of position, then crossed the ball to an unmarked Mmodi who scored the third.
Coming back onto the pitch for the second 45, the run of play changed for us. We found ourselves on the back foot and playing a defensive game. The visitors sensed the upper hand they had and pulled back 2 quick goals in the 62nd and 67th minute but failed to break the defense once again.
Overall we achieved a positive result for the day but will need to work on maintaining an attacking mode of play.
We will now use the week to prepare for our game against Mamelodi Sundowns at TUKS Stadium next Saturday.
We shared the spoils in our DStv Premiership clash against Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium this afternoon. The final score after the full 90 minutes being 1-1.
This was the first point secured in the championship so far this season, with Velemeseni Ndwandwe scoring his first goal to equalise in the second half after Ngema scored for Bahlabane Ba Ntwa in the 55th minute.
The first stanza of the game saw end to end action with both sides missing chances to open their scoring accounts. Pule Mmodi missed an opportunity in the sixth minute and Sibeko took a number of opportunities afforded to him.
The keepers had some work to do in the first half. Both Nkosingiphile Gumede and Washington Arubi being called on to protect their goal and entertaining with some outstanding saves.
Knox Mutizwa worked hard in the first half linking up well with Mmodi, Moon and Fikizolo to create chances, but was substituted for the fresh legs of Ndwandwe at that break. This change in player and tactic looked to be working well until the hosts scored.
Not being thrown off the game change, we fought back and in the 71st minute an unmarked Ndwandwe headed in for the equaliser.
The boys showed a lot of determination in the last quarter of the game and were denied only by some outstanding keeping from Arubi and unfortunate attempts that found the woodwork.
While it was not a full 3 points taken, it is a small victory in morale as we head back home to face TS Galaxy next Saturday at Princess Magogo Stadium.
We did not have the start to the season that we wanted at Princess Magog Stadium, going down 2-0 to Richards Bay as they debuted in the DStv Premiership.
All in all it was an entertaining game that saw us doing well to keep possession and create scoring opportunities but in the end none of them bore fruit. The closest we came was in the 27th minute when a cross to Mmodi on the near post, saw his header effort hit the upright.
Richards Bay responded with a quick counter play from this and did well to get behind the defense where Ntsundwana opened the scoring.
Coming back after the break we did well once again to use and sread the ball, looking to penetrate the defense but we were just not able to finish with efforts from Moon, Ndwandwe and Khumalo missing target.
The side need to address a couple of things before they head off to play two games on the road, both at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The 2022/23 DStv Premiership season is finally upon us and we kick off the season with a KZN Derby against Richards Bay FC at home.
Our preseason preparations have gone well and Coaches Vusi Vilakazi and Mabhudi Khenyeza along with their support staff have worked hard to get the squad to match fitness level.
They have been able to test out different player combinations in the friendly games that have been played and are pleased with the squads performance and positive attitude ahead of the unfolding season.
While we start with a home game, the team then have to travel for their following two games against Sekhukhune United and Marumo Gallants. With this in mind the aim is to secure 3 points at home to get the teams headspace in a positive place.
Richards Bay FC, are not strangers to the top league teams, having beaten Kaizer Chiefs in the 2021 Nedbank Cup last 32 in 2021. They are a determined squad of players, with Chairman Jomo Biyela and Coach Pitso Dladla bolstering their squad ahead of the Premiership start.
The home season opener should be an exciting and entertaining encounter and we call on the Green and Gold Army to get to Princess Magogo Stadium to get behind the boys as we kick off the season.
Tickets are available at the gates, entrance fee is R40.
We return to Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday afternoon to take on Cape Town City in our first home game of 2022 in the DStv Premiership.
With the second half of the season well underway, this is going to be an important game for both sides as we sit at 9th and 10th on the log at the moment, both eager to break into the top 8. A win for either side would be a considerable step to securing important points in the quest to break into the top half of the log.
We have collected 7 points from our last 5 games, winning one and drawing four and the team is ready to collect full points again at home. The boys have played out of their boots and have been unlucky not to have won more games of late. Sundays game will hopefully be a turning point that will result in 3 points being added to our tally.
The Citizens have had a mixed bag of results lately, drawing to Chiefs earlier this month but only securing one win in their last 5 outings. That was almost 2 months ago against Swallows FC in Cape town, before losing to SuperSport United ahead of the festive break.
They are a team that can prove unpredictable on the field as we experienced in October last year however things could change as we take them on in our own back yard.
The game will be televised on SuperSport 202 and should you not be able to watch, we will be giving you updates throughout the game over our social media platforms.
We finished off 2021 with a draw against The Dube Birds at Dobsonville Stadium tonight in a game that saw us fight back from 2 goals down to secure the point.
The first 45 of the game started off slow for both sides as we attempted to gauge what each others game plan was. This saw some scrappy midfield play before the game came to life. Swallows, with new coach Dylan Kerr on the bench for the first time, opened the scoring in the 21st minute as Mahlatsi slotted a rebound following an initial strike from Musonda.
We attempted to respond quickly and while we had a number of decent attacking plays involving Sibiya, Dlamini, Mmodi and Gumede, we were just not able to find the finish we needed. Ngobeni, the last line of defense for the home side worked hard between the sticks to deny our attempts.
We then went 2 down after a corner from Basadien was slotted in on the near post by Musonda.
Returning to play after the break and making some changes, we seemed immediately more alive and pulled out forst goal back just 4 minutes after the break as Gumede headed past Ngobeni.
We looked more comfortable on the park and began attacking the home side as much as possible in an attempt to first equalise and then find a winner.
Gumede then managed to get a brace off a cut back pass off a free kick from Mtshali in the 76th minute. We created some solid opportunities after that, and had Ngobeni block a potential winner from Mutizwa and later Mmodi hit the post in an attempt to win.
The team will have a break now until Wednesday February 16th when we get back into the action at Orlando Stadium against The Bucanneers.
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We head to Dobsonville Stadium to play Swallows FC in our last game of 2021 before heading into the festive break. This second round encounter will not be a televised match.
When we met up in November at home, we played to a goalless draw in a fast paced and entertaining game from both sides, however, we need to take the win tomorrow night and secure 3 points on the road from the Dube Birds.
Although on an unbeaten streak at present, we have not collected as many points as we would have liked, with draws coming against TS Galaxy, Royal AM, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC. While we took maximum points against Chippa FC and Baroka, there has been at least 4 point dropped in our draws.
A win would also mean a jump to 8th spot on the log for us ahead of the break.
Swallows as always are a formidable side to face, and even though they are going through a transition phase in their coaching department, are not a side that you want to take for granted.
They opened the scoring against Cape Town City in their last encounter before letting the Citizens bounce back for the win. Swallows are a side that can perform as well as any of the the big teams in the country and will looking to prove that with their last home game of the year.
They find themselves at 14th place on the log, with only 13 points accumulated from their 17 games played thus far and will be eager to add to that tally.
The game as mentioned will not be televised, we will however keep you up to date with the action as it happens.
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We shared the spoils once again with TS Galaxy as we drew 1-1 at Princess Magogo Stadium this afternoon.
The first half was a pretty slow affair with neither side seeming to find any sort of rhythm on the field. We had a number of plays that saw us get into the final third, as did The Rockets, but neither side looked threatening in their play.
Only late in the half did Mngomezulu, for TS Gaslaxy, and M.Gumede for us have a real chance at something, with both attempts ending up wide of goal.
The second half saw Coach Seema replace Sibiya and Mantshiyane with Mtshali and Conco in an effort to change things up again, and this did have some effect as we increased tempo on the game and looked like our normal selves.
In the 52nd minute though TS Galaxy managed to secure a lead off a corner with Lekay back heeling the ball past N.Gumede.
The lead was short lived though as Cele equalised off a free kick just 2 minutes later.
We then missed a number of chances that could have seen us take the lead. Mmodi shot over from a cross and then Mutizwa completely blew a chance right over the bar from a prenalty kick.
The closing minutes saw the sides giving it their all to find a winner but it want meant to be.
We prepare for our last game of December now as we travel to Dobsonville Stadium to face Swallows FC before the festive break
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We play our last home game before the festive break against TS Galaxy tomorrow afgternoon at Princess Magogo Stadium. The televised game (SupoerSport Channel 209) kicks off at 15h30.
We will be looking to build on our run of no losses in the tournament as we take on the Rockets at home. Having taken maximum points in 2 of our last 5 games, this encounter gives us a perfect opportunity to collect another 3 at home against our opponents from Mpumalanga.
This will be a second round fixture against TS Galaxy, having met them in September in our first DStv Premiership of the season at Mbombela Stadium where we ended up drawing the game 2-2 with goals from Michael Gumede and Velemseni Ndwandwe.
TS Galaxy can be unpredictable on the day and have had some great encounters in the season, one of them most recently when they drew against Cape Town City. That being said, they have conceded heavily this season and have a negative 10 goal difference so far after 15 games.
The side do have a positive attitude on the field and we will treat them no differently than we would one of the higher placed teams on the log.
As mentioned before the game will be televised and you are able to follow our social media channels for a play-by-play of the game, so tune into the action in whichever way possible tomorrow afternoon.
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We extended our unbeaten streak to 6 games as we played to a goalless draw against Royal AM this afternoon at Chatsworth Stadium.
The tone of the game was set from the first touch of the ball with both teams playing a fast paced attacking plan, countering each other at every move on the field.
This saw the first half being an end to end affair with each side using their possession to push up in an attempt to get behind the defense. We had two early opportunities in the game, with Magubane just not being able to curl in a free kick and then minutes later Mmodi crossed in front of the goal face.
While we attacked we also had to deal with the counter play from Royal AM. Nkosingiphile Gumede did well to stop a shot from Mabena in the first half.
After the break the game seemed to settle a little, and both sides played a more structured game, but still at a fast pace. We looked composed and took the game to the hosts more in the second stanza. While we looked the more likely to score, we were just not able to hit the target with attempts from Dlamini and later Mmodi just unable to beat the Royal AM keeper.
It was not a one sided affair however and defensively we had to work hard with Mabena firing off a number of shots at target.
Although not the three points we would have hoped for, the point from the draw will be well received as we edge closer to the top 8 of the table once again.
The squad now have a week to prepare for our next game which will be played at home against TS Galaxy next Saturday
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We take to the field again tomorrow afternoon with a KZN Derby encounter against Royal AM at Chastworth Stadium. The game will kick off at 15h30, and televised on SuperSports PSL channel.
Asking Coach Seema on his thoughts on the game, he gave us this feedback. ‘We will be facing a very dangerous and spirited team in Royal AM, look where they are on the log. They are determined and we will give them the respect that they deserve.
But, we are Lamontville Golden Arrows and we believe in ourselves and will be looking for back-to-back wins as we take them on. The guys have been working hard and believe in themselves. Preparations for the game have gone well and the squad is focussed and both physically and mentally prepared for the encounter.
Royal AM have been performing well, and lost 3-2 to Mamelodi Sundowns in their most recent encounter. As with any team though they can be beaten on the day. Being a rival Kwa-Zulu Natal team and having a derby status to the game makes the encounter even more unpredictable and we are sure to see some exciting play on Sunday afternoon.
If you are unable to watch the game, follow our social channels for play by play feedback on the action.
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All eyes will be on Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday night as we prepare to take on Kaizer Chiefs in our midweek DStv Premiership encounter.
The team will be looking to take another 3 points after coming off a well-deserved away win against Chippa United last Saturday and a home win against Baroka FC before that.
The boys have the stamina to play our trademark pacey game against Amakhosi and will be wanting to take the game to the Soweto team in our own backyard.
In their last 5 games played Chiefs have lost only 1 encounter, drawn 1 and won 3. They enjoyed wins over both of their Soweto neighbours beating Swallows FC 3-1 and Orlando Pirates 2-1, but have had mixed results against our KwaZulu Natal neighbours with a 1-0 win against Maritzburg and a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu.
With Chiefs experiencing a high Covid-19 outbreak of late, they were unable to honour their weekend fixture against Cape Town City FC. We are however expecting the game to proceed as planned and are well prepared for the midweek clash.
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The team earned a well deserved 3 points on the road this afternoon as they won 2-1 against Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Stadium.
In the first stanza Chippa came out of the gates with some threatening play, with Bienvenu having an attempt at goals in the 3rd minute of play. His header, off a cross was well directed on target, forcing Gumede to make his first save of the game.
Not wanting to be intimidated by the hosts, the boys pulled together and used some well executed combination play to take the game to the Chilli Boys. Dlamini, Mmodi and Sibiya did well to get the ball to the box where the ball deflected off Zulu on defence. M.Gumede following up on play hit the ball well and opened the scoring for us.
Chippa had a number of attempts to equalise, but solid goalkeeping and defense denied them until the 34th minute when the hosts played a long ball to the box, well held up by Dickens who layed it off for Bienvenu who scored the equaliser, taking the teams to the changerooms level pegged.
Coming back onto the park after the break, we once again decided to take the game to Chippa. We did well in the opening minute of the half, creating a chance for Sibiya who put the effort over the bar.
A great play from the back by Zuke gave us some advantage as Sibiya then flicked on to Mmodi who struck well and doubled our score in the 52nd minute.
Both sides created chances to score again, and some thrifty keeping between the posts created an exciting game. Chippa United were then denied an Ngele equaliser off a penalty shot in the 89th minute after a hand ball by Cele. N.Gumede read the shot perfectly and made a match winning save for us.
A well deserved win for the boys this afternoon
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We travel this weekend as we take on Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Kick off is scheduled for 15h30.
The coaching staff and team are hoping to build on the win at home last weekend against Baroka while securing another 3 points and edging closer to the Top 8 of the log as we take on the Chilli Boys as home.
A lot of work has been done in pushing up and taking advantages of chances created in our game plans, and this was evident in our last game. The objective of the team will be to continue with this play and to get into a strong position against Chippa at home.
Our hosts have not been achieving the results they would have been wanting to of late, and have drawn their last two home games against Swallows FC and Maritzburg United. The advantage they have though, is that they have been rested since their last outing against Baroka FC on November 20, an encounter that they won.
The game will not be televised but you will be able to follow proceedings on our social media channels as we do a play-by-play for you.
We secured a win this afternoon in a five goal extravaganza against Baroka FC at Princess Magogo Stadium.
The first half of play was a strong half for us as we managed to dominate both position and possession on the field. The boys did well to channel the ball up both wings, looking for and creating space that allowed us to take shots on target.
Our first goal came from Magubane who went on attack with M.Gumede. Gumede took a shot that was blocked by the visitors keeper but he never held onto it. Magubane, following up headed in for the lead. Just fifteen minutes later Mmodi extended the lead with a great finish from a passage of solid team play.
This saw us go into the break with a good lead, but the second half nearly unravelled for us as we let Sithole and then Farmer equalise for the visitors.
While we did well to push up on attack, we have Baroka too much space to come back at us off set pieces. We fell way too far back and this allowed them to push up into our final third with long balls, not giving ourselves space to clear and then conceding.
We were then awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute after substitute Conco was brought down in the box. Sibisi took the penalty and played into the bottom right corner, beating a diving Masuluke.
A well deserved win for the team and a positive to build of before we head off to take on Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday 4th December.
We end off the month with a home game against Baroka FC at Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and it’s a must win contest for us as we start wrapping up the first half of the 2021/22 DStv Premiership.
The encounter will be our twelfth game of the season, and so far we have taken maximum points from only two outings, and shared the spoils in six, with no points being accumulated from three games.
While the team have been playing well both defensively and on attack, we have not converted our chances up front. The coaching staff are expecting our attacking players to raise their hands and take some responsibility up front and find the back of the net.
Baroka FC always pull some big match temperament out of the bag when it comes to playing with us, and after suffering three losses and two draws in their last five outings will be wanting to give their supporters something to look forward to. A win can achieve that for them.
They can play an unpredictable game when under pressure and we need to be prepared for them on the day.
The game is not a televised game, however, we will be posting play-by-play on our social media channels to keep you up to date with the games proceedings.
We shared the spoils once again as we drew 0-0 against Orlando Pirates at Princess Magogo Stadium this afternoon.
It was a well contested game that saw the keepers being kept on their toes as fielded shots at target. We came up short in the early minutes of the game as Sibiya dragged a shot wide after a dummy play by Gumede.
We were lucky not to concede though in the first 45 as Pirates took a number of shots at target. Nkosingiphile Gumede did well to defend his goals, however Makgaka come close, hitting the post from a shot from range.
The second half was a similar affair, with Pirates finding more shots on target than us. We did well on the counter though but just lacked that final finishing to capitalise on our efforts.
In general our defensive play looked more solid than usual, but we never took advantage of the efforts up front and need to find some solid finishing if we want to improve on our point tally.
We return to the field after the international break with a home game against Orlando Pirates at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“This game is do-or-die for us. We are playing against a coach who knows our players very well and the way we play.” Captain Matome Mathiane told the press. ‘So, it is not going to be an easy game and we know how Pirates play. They are not doing well at the moment and we want to take advantage of that to try and win the game.”
He added that the plan was to take advantage of a Orlando Pirates who have been suffering a poor run of results lately. “The guys are well motivated. It is our home game and we need points. We only have two wins so far this season.”
Orlando Pirates have only claimed six points from five away matches so far in the season, and will be looking to improve on those figures as they play us. With Coach Ncikazi being well aware of a lot of our players attributes, they will be confident of being able to counter anything we may throw at them.
The game is set to kick off at 15h30 and will be televised on SuperSports PSL channel (202). As always you can also keep up to date with the games proceedings over our social media channels
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We take on Stellenbosch FC tomorrow evening at Danie Craven Stadium in our 10th DStv Premiership game of the season. Kick off will be at 17h00.
After playing to a goalless draw in our midweek fixture against Swallows FC, the team are looking to collect points on the road against a very confident Stellenbosch side. While we have not converted as many of the chances we created on the field so far this season, the side have been working hard at practice to sharpen their finishing and improve on this aspect our game.
We will be facing a Stellenbosch team that is riding a crest of some outstanding play. They have not lost a game in their last 5 outings, having drawn 2 and won 3. They will be hard to beat at home, and we are aiming to break their streak.
The game is not televised however you will be able to keep up-to-date with the proceedings over our social media channels.
We played to a goalless draw against Swallows FC this evening at Princess Magogo Stadium. Even though no goals were scored it was another high paced entertaining game from both sides.
In the first 45 minutes of play we did well to go on the attack against the Birds, but could not capitalise on the chances created. The team did well to retain ball and made us of it to probe the Swallows defence from all angles. Cele made an attempt at goals in the 7th minute but failed to beat the keeper who collected easily.
The game seemed to be an end to end affair with both teams fighting hard to get behind the defence and taking chances, with both Gumede and February having to work to keep a clean sheet for the night.
Swallows managed to create a number of scoring opportunities themselves but some hard defensive work and Gumede proving to be a formidable last line of defence frustrated them as they were denied the opportunities.
Our best chance of scoring came in the 54th minute as Mutizwa struck a cross. His attempt caught February off guard but hit the cross bar to deny him.
Just one point from the game and a lot of positives to build on as we go on the road to face Stellenbosch FC at Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday evening.
We lost to Cape Town City in a nail biting 7 goal encounter that went down to the wire tonight.
We did not start the game off well, and instead of taking the game to the hosts, allowed them to play us at our own game. City enjoyed the lions share of possession and field advantage in the first 45 and this showed in the score line. We gave them too much space at the back with questionable defensive play and they punished us for that.
Lakay opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, then we allowed Mkhize to double that just 2 minutes later. Being caught on the back foot we battled to get into any rhythm of play and gave the hosts another scoring opportunity in the 39th minute which Mdantsane took full advantage of.
Retuning after the break we looked slightly more composed and started taking the game to the home side. Although they scored again in the 58th minute, we replied by pulling back 3 goals in just over 20 minutes of play as Mmodi scored in the 61st minute, Sibisi converted a penalty in the 81st minute and Dlamini edged us closer to a draw in the 86th.
With extra time looming the boys gave all they had in the hunt for the equaliser, but were just unable to create that last bit of magic to secure a point.
A well fought second half from the boys and a testament to the fighting spirit that the squad has when their backs are against the wall.
We have home side advantage in our next encounter as we face Swallows FC on Tuesday 2nd November at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
We get back into DStv Premiership action tomorrow afternoon as we take on Mamelodi Sundowns at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. The game will be televised on the SuperSport PSL channel and kicks off at 15h30.
We took some time to talk to Coach Seema ahead of the game and get his views on what he expects from the midweek encounter.
“We are expecting a tough game against a team that’s on form, can swap players and replace quality for quality making them unpredictable. They are able to field a strong team and bench.
We have played them twice already this season in the MTN8 competition, so we know what to expect, they are not a completely closed book to us. Sundowns being Sundowns though, you can never be entirely sure of that they will bring on the day”
Switching to our squad and its focus, the coach had the following to say.
“We are focusing on ourselves on the day, we need to ensure we play our way and impose our game on them. It’s our home game, we are not going to wait for them to come to us.
I am happy with the progress of the team and I can’t wait for Wednesday to see how far we have come.
We have a difficult week as we travel right after Wednesday’s game, but the squad is focused ahead of what is in store for us.”
We will look to build on our home form against Sundowns who have had a strong start to the current season.
We will be looking to pick up some points at home tomorrow afternoon as we host Marumo Gallants at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Our previous games so far have not given us the point standing that we would have hoped for and a win against Gallants, and 3 points in the bag is just what the team needs ahead of the international break.
A positive to take back to the practice pitch in preparation for upcoming games would be a solid foundation for Coach Seema and the team to build on.
Coach Seema is hoping that Nkosinathi Sibisi will be fit for the match after receiving a head injury against Mamelodi Sundowns.
“We’re still trying to give them as much game time as we can because the league is a marathon and it’s going to be a difficult one,” Seema said.
“Sunday we have a difficult one again, we have few players that have played, we’ll see how it goes and hopefully the injury of Sibisi is not that bad but we’ll see after a day or two when we arrive at home.”
Gallants remain winless so far in the season. And find themselves lingering at the bottom end of the log.
They will be desperate for a win, and this can give any team added drive on the day. Having drawn two of their four games so far, one being against Kaizer Chiefs, they remain confident of picking up some points against us, even if only 1 for a draw.
The game is not televised but we will be posting our play by play commentary on our social platforms.
We bowed out of the 2021 MTN8 tonight as we went down 3-0 to Masandawana at Lucas Moripe Stadium. The home side opened the scoring in the 4th minute off the boot of Shaluilile as he punished us off a deflection.
Ndwandwe probably had our best opportunity of the night to score just 2 minutes later but was denied by a switched on Pieterse. We allowed Sundowns a lot of space in the midfield and they used it to their advantage, coming up on attack and putting us on the backfoot for the most of the first half.
The home side doubled their lead in the 29th minute as Lunga headed in a well delivered free kick from the near side of the box.
We made changes at the break, bringing on Cele and Mbhele into play. They made somewhat of an impact on our game, creating space and pushing up into the final third, but we could not find the final touches we needed and put our efforts wide of target.
Sundowns got their third goal deep into extra time with Maema slotting a curler into the top corner of goals, further securing their win and going through to the final on a 4-1 aggregate score.
We return to the field on Sunday afternoon as we take on Muramo Gallants in the DStv Premiership at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
#SthendeWay #GreenAndGold #VisitDurban
We played to yet another draw in the DStv Premiership this afternoon, this time against Sekhukhune United at Emirates Airline Park. Both goals of the game were scored in the second half of play.
A win this afternoon would have helped our campaign and pushed us higher on the overall log but sharing the spoils with Sekhukhune means that for now we will stay in the middle of the standings.
The first half of play saw us dominating ball possession, and well executed plays on both flanks of the field between Magawana and Dube on the right and Cele and Mmodi on the left allowed us to play up into our opponents half, but we were unable to create clear scoring opportunities as the hosts defended well.
We missed an opportunity to take the lead on the half hour mark as Mutizwa headed over the bar off a cross from Dube. Sekhukhune responded as Sibanyoni attacked, missing his opportunity to put his side in the lead.
Coming off the break, Coach Seema made three changes, with Sibiya, Ndwandwe and Gumede coming on. All of the players made an immediate impact with Gumede breaking the deadlock in the 52nd minute off a great assist from Sibisi.
The home side equalised after being awarded a penalty for an alleged foul by Gumede in the box. Maart converted and levelled things up for an entertaining last 10 minutes of play that saw both sides fighting hard to score a winner.
The team will need to pull together and build on the positive aspects of our play as we have only a couple of days to prepare for our second round semi final in the MTN8 against Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday evening.
We travel to Johannesburg to take on Sekhukhune United in our fifth DStv Premiership game of the season tomorrow afternoon. Kick off at Emirates Airline Park will be at 15h00.
It will be an early battle for position in the top 8 of the log, with both Sekhukhune and ourselves having only secured full points from one game so far this season it finds us currently sitting at 8th with Sekhukhune just a point and position below us on 9th.
We have performed well on the field and maintained a high intensity game, scoring well but have just failed to retain our lead advantages. This has cost us points against both TS Galaxy and more recently AmaZulu in our Durban Derby game. It is a factor of our game that Coach Sema has identified that we need to improve on to come away with full points.
Sekhukhune on the other hand have lost 2 games so far in the season, drawing one and securing their only win against Maritzburg United. They have not faired well at home, and this could be a positive factor to our game tomorrow.
The game will be televised on SuperSport’s Channel 247 (OTT3) and as always we will be keeping you up to date with the play on all of our social media channels.
It was shared spoils this aftermoon with neither side earning bragging rights as we played to a 2-all draw at Sugar ray Xulu Stadium.
The first half saw Amazulu dominating position and possession for 20 minutes and eventually taking the lead as Mlambo opened the scoring off a far side corner. This was just seconds after some die hard defending from Sibisi and Zuke denied Ntuli.
We seemed to come alive at this point of the game and fired back at the visitors, taking the game to them and looking for opportunities as we pushed deep into their half. We were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute after a hand ball in the box, which Mutizwa converted.
We pushed up again, and forced another error from AmaZulu as Memela pulled Sibisi down in the box. This time Mutizwa played his shot too wide and was denied by the post, the rebound ball was then saved by Mothwa as we took another shot at target.
Heading into the break a goal a piece was an indication of the second half that was to follow.
The second stanza of play was as entertaining as the first. We came back onto the park showing some determination to take the lead in the game and enjoyed more possession of the ball than the first 45. The boys spread the ball well, looking for angles to get behind the defence, and finding them.
Dube had a couple of opportunities but created a tight angle for his attempts and put them over the bar. Our pressure paid off in the 77th minute as Mathiane, on the field for an injured Khumalo, scored a brilliant header to take the lead.
It was short lived though as just 2 minutes later, AmaZulu were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box. Ntuli took the opportunity to equalize and that’s how the score remained for the rest of the game.
Both goal keepers played impressively this afternoon though and had periods of play that put them to the test as they had to make multiple quick saves in a quick paced game.
We head to Emirates Park on the 25th where we face Sekhukhune at 5pm in our next DStv Premiership fixture.
We take on AmaZulu at Sugar Ray Xulu tomorrow afternoon in the DSTv Premiership competition. The game will kick off at 3pm.
We spoke to Coach Seema about his thoughts on the upcoming game and he had the following to say, “We are expecting the game against Amazulu to be a difficult one, a true Derby game against an experienced side.
We know that they will come hard at us. Firstly, it’s a Durban Derby and secondly they are looking for their first win in the Premiership this season.
They will also have some confidence after their win against Bullets in Malawi.
But we are prepared, we are ready and have a good idea of what they will be throwing at us.”
Talking about preparations for the match, the Coach was confident that his charges have it in them to take full points. “We have been working hard at practice, the boys know what’s expected of them, we have worked on our game plan and playing Golden Arrows style football. We have also been working on keeping concentration until the final minute. We have conceded late in our last two games and we need to play to the final whistle.”
“We are working on being clinical and using our chances”
Although we have Ndwandwe out due to suspension, Coach Seema is confident that the youngsters we have in the squad are capable of filling his boots.
The game will be televised on SuperSports PSL Channel. If you’re not able to watch it, we will be keeping you up to date with the games proceedings on our social media platforms.
We get back into action after the international break with an away game against TS Galaxy on Tomorrow afternoon. The scheduled kick off for the match is 15h00 at Mbombela Stadium.
We have accumulated 3 points so far in the DSTv Premiership after a home win against Maritzburg United and then a loss at Lucas Moripe Stadium against SuperSport United.
It has been a promising start to the season and while we have seen some great play from our new signings backed by consistency from the rest of the team, the squad have needed to accumulate game time together to identify strengths to build on as well as weaknesses to remedy. The International break has given us the time now to work on these aspects of our game and Saturdays game against The rockets will allow us to put them into practice.
TS Galaxy would have wanted a better start to the season. They drew their opening game of the season at home and then travelled and lost away to Stellenbosch FC.
They are however a fighting side and can be unpredictable on the day.
The game is not a televised game but we will be keeping you up-to-date with a play by play feed on our social platforms.
It was a game of two halves at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium this afternoon as we drew the first leg of the MTN8 semi final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The first half saw us doing well to use our possession and create some well executed plays and put the visitors under pressure.
In the early minutes we had Onyango under pressure and just seconds after forcing a save out of him, Dlamini struck a grass cutter and found the back of the net to give us the lead.
A late push from Mamelodi Sundowns in the half to try and equalise was an indication of what was to come for us in the second 45.
The second half of the game saw some hard defending from the side. From the first minute after the restart it was Sundowns who heaped pressure onto us in the final third.
Some solid play from the boys saw us deny them a number of times with Mlungwana putting in a tremendous effort between the sticks.
It was Mamelodi Sundowns replacement, Safranko who tapped in a rebound ball in the 85th minute to level things up.
The team will have a month to prepare for the second leg to be played in Pretoria at the end of September
A first half goal and two in the second stanza sealed our fate in Attridgeville this afternoon as we lost 3-1 to SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium
While we did well to keep possession of the ball during the most of the game, we did not use it to our advantage and allowed the home side too many chances and space to be able to take shots on target.
We were fortunate early in the game when SuperSport put an effort over the bar, with Mlungwana being over committed and not able to make the save if he had to. Grobler and Rayners threatened us on the attack a number of times and we seemed unsettled on the back foot.
It was Mokoena who made the break through for the home side on the half hour mark, finding the back of the net off a cross from Rayners.
Coach Seema introduced Mutizwa and Mtshali at the break, hoping to bring some change to the play. While this did have a slight impact on the fluidity of the game, we were just not able to pose a serious threat to United.
While we managed to deliver ball to the box, we were not able to convert the chances, with Ndwandwe missing a header opportunity and Conco putting an effort over the bar and then being denied by Williams.
Gabuza then extended the lead for the home side with just 8 minutes left.
It was only in extra time after Mmodi was pulled down and we were awarded a penalty that we were able to put any score on the bard, with Sabelo converting.
We will need to return to Durban and pull together quickly as we have commitments to deal with this Saturday at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium when we face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8.
We travel to Pretoria to take on SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium in a mid-week 3pm kickoff DSTv Premiership encounter. After coming off a Derby win on the weekend against Maritzburg United, the boys looking to continue an early haul of paints in the season and remaining confident for a win against SuperSport United.
The Coaching staff are happy with the performance so far from the squad, and the way that both the starting eleven as well as the substitutes are playing a positive game and making an impact on the field.
The team is working well as a unit and they are looking to keep up the harmony they have in the squad at present.
SuperSport played against Cape Town City in their season opener and played to a goalless draw against The Citizens in Cape Town. While United seemed to have the upper hand during the game, they failed to convert the chances created, and are sure to be eager to better that at home on tomorrow night.
The afternoons game will be televised on SuperSport 202 (PSL) and we will also be keeping you up to date with posts on our social media platforms.
We secured a win and bragging rights with a 2-1 win over Maritzburg United in our opening game of the DSTv Premiership this afternoon at Princess Magogo Stadium.
It was as expected a highly contested game between both sides, with The Team of choice showing intent at scoring from the opening minutes of the game while we too had an early attempt with a snap shot from Ndwandwe.
It was hard work from our boys at the back as Sibisi, Dlamini and shot stopper Mlungwana dealt with a continual attack from the visitors. Mlungwana made some point blank stops and Sibisi cleared a shot from Graham to keep the visitors from scoring.
With half time approaching we failed to take the lead as Sibiya, with space on the near post blasted his effort over the cross bars.
Returning for the second 45, Coach Seema brought on Zuke and Conco. The change paid off with Conco immediately finding space and posing a threat to the visitors. Conco scored the opening goal as he ran onto a through pass, took his shot from the right and beating Engelhardt.
Sabelo doubled the lead off a well weighted free kick opportunity in the 67th minute after Ndwandwe was bought down just outside the box.
With full time fast approaching the pressure play from Maritzburg increased and paid off for them as replacement Theron pulled one back for them.
It was just not enough for United and after 3 minutes of additional time, we secured the first home win of the season.
We kick off the DSTV Premiership 2021/22 season tomorrow with a home Derby match against Maritzburg United at Princess Magogo Stadium.
After having got the 2021/22 season underway last weekend in the MTN8, Coach Seema has had an opportunity to view and assess his players in pressure situations and stated at the launch of the season this week that the team ‘will continue to work hard’
This is in reference to continuing the form that saw us end last season at 4th on the log. The confidence of the coaching staff and players is high ahead of the opening game while still remaining weary of the pressures they face with the game being a Derby.
After watching the performance of The Team of Choice in The Premiers Cup, it is evident that they are looking to improve on their last season and are going to bring both determination and a fighting attitude to the field come game time.
This will promise to be an entertaining and explosive kick off to the season, and while we are still unable to host spectators at the stadium, you will be able to watch the game of SuperSport 204.
We will also bring you the game live on our social media channels.
#DStvPrem #SthendeWay #GreenAndGold #VisitDurban
We advance to the semi finals of the 2021 MTN8 after penalties decided the game against SuperSport United this afternoon at Princess Magogo Stadium.
We took to the field showing great intention, and took the game to the visitors from the first minute. We dominated both possession and field and looked for gaps to open the scoring for the afternoon. While we pushed SuperSport back into their final third, we were just not able to finish off our plays.
Matsatsantsa worked tirelessly as well, and countered quickly when they had the ball. Grobler was close to scoring with a volley shot, but Mlungwana read the play well and made sure of the save.
A great deal of work was done by Mmodi, Mutizwa and debutant Cele, from the left hand side while M.Dube and Sibiya worked tirelessly on the right, but we ended up going into the break even, with no score on the board.
Our breakthrough came in the 50th minute after Sibiya was dragged down in the box. The referee awarded a penalty and Mutizwa made no mistake in converting, giving us the lead.
SuperSport made changes and it was their replacement Lungu who equalized in the 78th minute. With neither side being able to break the deadlock after full time we went into extra time.
It was then the visitors who took the lead after Rayners scored in the 99th minute of play. Also on the bench for the visiting side, he made quite an impact on their play.
It looked like all was over for us as we edged to the end of additional time, but consistent pressure in the opponents last third from the boys paid off when Gumede was unmarked on the back post and side-footed the equalizer in off a free kick from Sabelo.
Two missed conversions from SuperSport saw us clinch the win 4-3 on penalties.
We finished off the DStv Premiership season with a goalless draw at Sugar Ray Xulu this afternoon.
All in all the game was an equal footed affair with both sides using their possession and field advantage well to try and push up into the final third of the park.
While we created a number of scoring chances form this play, there were no effort that fell on target, and the same was to be said for the visitors.
An uneventful conclusion to what is otherwise a very good season for the club.
A forth place finish is a deserved reward for a coaching staff and squad that put a lot of effort into the season to achieve the result.
We would like to thank all of our supporters, both old and new, for the support and encouragement given this season. Without you, the #StendeNation army backing us, we would not have been able to achieve what we have.
Here is to hoping that we will see you all, at the stadium in the upcoming season.
We dropped important points at FNB Stadium tonight against Kaizer Chiefs in a game that we could have closed off in the first half.
We looked composed at the beginning of the game, working the ball well and creating space and opportunities up front. This paid off in the 21st minute for us as Michael Gumede opened the scoring.
Chiefs responded just after the half hour mark as Manyama scored the first of his hat-trick off a well delivered low cross from Katsande.
We increased the pressure on the home side and just minutes before the break failed to score off two very well orchestrated opportunities.
After the break both sides seemed to be assessing the others change in game plans. Chiefs then started increasing their pressure and Cardoso blazed an opportunity over the bar.
We were gifted the lead once again in the 62nd minute as Mathoho deflected a free kick from Mutizwa into his own nets and once again equalising the score.
Manyama then collected his brace in the 73rd minute, equalising once again for the home side.
Bvuma did well to keep his side in contention for the win from there, making a number of telling saves in the plays that we took shots on target. They then sealed the win for themselves with 11 minutes left as Manyama scored his third for the night.
Even though the boys nver gave up until the final whistle, we were just not able to come back against Chiefs, dropping points in our last away game of the season.
The team will return to Durban and get into some serious preparation for our last game of the season against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday afternoon.
We travel to FNB Stadium tomorrow where we face Kaizer Chiefs in our penultimate game of the 2021 DStv Premiership.
Coach Mandla Ncikazi stated a couple of weeks ago, ‘the last three games of the season will all be cup finals for us’ and this is the second in our fight to stay in 3rd position in the competition.
The squad and coaching staff have been preparing for the mental commitment needed in the next seven days, as well as the physical stamina that we normally produce.
The demand for us to stay focused from now until our last game on Saturday is crucial, and everyone is working at achieving that.
Kaizer Chiefs are also under a variation of pressures presently, and will need 6 points from their final season fixtures should they want to keep any possibility of a Top 8 finish alive.
This will always make your opponent more dangerous than ever, and special attention will need to be given to any change they make in their game plan come kick off.
The game will be televised on SuperSport Variety 4 and as always, play-by-play posts will be available over our social media chanels!
The team would like to thank all of our fans who have already sent wishes of good luck over the past couple of days and all appreciate the backing of the Green and Gold Army!
Three goals sealed a convincing win in our DSTv Premiership game this afternoon against TS Galaxy at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The team showed their intention from the first minute of play, putting pressure on the visitors as soon as we had possession of the ball. The starting 11 had a clear game plan and executed it well, setting up Michael Gumede for the opening goal in the 7th minute of play.
We doubled the lead in the 32nd minute of play as Pule Mmodi had a brilliant shot at goal, finding his mark and receiving a deserved reward for his work on the field.
TS Galaxy did not look too dangerous in the first stanza and were lucky not to have more goals scored against them at the break as we attacked relentlessly until the half time whistle.
Coming back in the second stanza, we carried on play and our game plan from the first half. TS Galaxy found themselves on the back foot more often than not, and the crisp passing and continual attacking play from us saw Makhubela with a brilliant header to give us the 3rd in the 61st minute.
The visitors put up a decent fight in the last 30 minutes, and had a number of opportunities where they could have scored. Goal stopper Mlungwana make a number of amazing saves to keep a clean sheet for the day and deny the visitors attempts.
It was a brilliant outing from the squad today and a positive result as we look to maintain our 3rd position on the log.
We have a couple of weeks break now until we take on Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on June 2.
We play a mid week game in the DStv Premiership against TS Galaxy tomorrow afternoon at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
With games becoming ever more important for each team as we get closer to the end of the 2020/1 season, tomorrows game is no different, with TS Galaxy looking to stay in a Top 8 spot while we fight to contend for a second place finish for the season.
‘Our team looked very focused and prepared in training. We have 3 cup finals to play which will summarize our whole season.
The team is still on course in fulfilling its objectives, finishing at the highest position in the history of the team and they are only 3 games away from writing their own history and doing it with the brand of attractive Arrows style.’ said Coach Mandla Ncikazi when asked to comment on the upcoming game.
‘Galaxy are fighting for the top 8 finish, Coach Owen Da Gama is using a 1-3-5-2 lately which makes them very dangerously in attack as they have 2 strikers and play a lot of crosses and diagonal balls from wingbacks. ‘
With TS Galaxy losing to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns in their last outing, they will be wanting to collect points on the road, which will make them a dangerous opponent come game time.
The game will be televised on the SS PSL channel, and play by play action provided on our social media platforms.
We fought hard in the second half of this afternoons Derby game in an attempt to equalise against Maritzburg United but were unable to in the end.
Maritzburg opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Tlolane volleyed in a loose ball off a long throw in from Rae, giving the home side the only goal in the first half of play. We were unsettled in the first 45 and allowed the home side too much space to create opportunities. We settled late in the half and started creating chances, however could just not finish and Mtshali pushed an attempt over the bar just minutes before the break.
Coach Ncikazi made two tactical changes at the break, bringing on Mmodi and Sibiya in an attempt to bring a more attacking game plan. We looked better and more settled but allowed United to extend their lead in the 58th minute as Kutumela found the back of the net.
We responded immediately with Gumede bagging a goal off a cross from Sibiya. This seemed to add some fire to our game and the boys started playing up on attack with more confidence. Maritzburg were not deterred though and used their opportunities well, once again extending their lead in the 62nd minute by Hlongwane.
The boys persevered though, attacking the home side goals and trying to get another goal and a lifeline on the game. A hand ball in the 82nd minute by Maritzburgs Allie saw us being awarded a penalty which Sibiya converted. This sparked a hard drive in the last minutes of play to equalise.
After a good effort in which we dominated possession and position, in which we had a number of attempts at goal, the final whistle was blown. Unfortunately we ended up losing the game and missing out on points.
We have a week now to prepare for a game at home against TS Galaxy who are in their own fight to remain in the Top 8 for the season.
Tomorrow afternoon we face the Team of Choice at the Harry Gwala Stadium in our mid week fixture of the DStv Premiership. The game is set to kick off at 15h00.
Preparations since our last game have been going well, with focus being on how to counter the unpredictability of the Pietermaritzburg based side. The technical team have also been working closely with the players mental preparedness to try and ensure that the pressures of the last games of the season do not affect performance on the pitch.
We have the potential to collect a maximum of 12 points before we wrap up the 2020/21 campaign and it is a target that we would like to achieve.
Maritzburg United have produced a mixed bag of results this season. This is evident in their last 5 game results where they have won just 1 game, drawn 2 and lost 2. The team has been fighting to stay clear of the relegation zone and have produced some surprising results in their campaign.
They will be wanting to collect full points at home, and this is where their unpredictability can work for them.
The game will be televised on the SS PSL Channel (202) and we will be posting live coverage on our social media channels.
A goal late in the first half secured a win against us for AmaZulu in the Durban Derby this afternoon.
The game delivered on the excitement that was expected from both teams from the initial kick off, and fans should not have been disappointed with the caliber of game.
The fist half was an equal footed affair with teams cancelling out each others attacks and keeping pressure on each other in the final third. It looked as if we would head into the break with no score on the board however a goal in the 2nd minute of optional time from Memela saw Usuthu heading to the changeroom with a one goal lead.
Returning to the park, we made 2 changes, and the introduction of Makhubela and Mtshali injected some much needed fire into our game.
We kept pressure on the AmaZulu goals for the entire half and looked determined to score. Unfortunately decisions on the field did not go our way and no matter what we tried, we were not able to break the defense nor find the back of the net.
The team will need to regroup and get their heads into the next game against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on the 12th May.
An early threat on goal from the home side in the 4th minute looked like we were in for a tough match against Mamelodi Sundowns tonight and the 90 minutes of play were just that.
The first half was one that was played with blistering pace from both sides as we looked to play each other out of position and create spaces.
We looked posed to take the lead just before the break as a through ball from Gumede saw Mutizwa with a chance. He was well marked however and did not have space to get power behind the ball and played a shot direct to Onyango.
The second half saw Sundowns once again threaten early in the half. Sibisi and Zuke did well to handle the pressure however and frustrated the home sides attacking players.
We did create some chances but could just not get a decent finishing touch on the ball.
All in all it was a well executed outing from the entire team tonight, and just the 1 point on the road but another to add to the basket as we continue to fight for a great finish to the season.
We will return home and have some serious preparation ahead of the weekends game against AmaZulu FC on Saturday afternoon.
We were held to a goalless draw this afternoon at Nelson Mandela Bay by a determined Chippa United.
The home side, who have been making a late fight to clear themselves from the relegation zone did well to cancel and counter our attacking plays this afternoon.
The match essentially belonged to the keepers this afternoon with both Mlungwana and Watenga making some beautiful saves to respectively keep a clean sheet in the outing.
Once again we created numerous opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net. There are a lot of positives to take from the game though and we need to build on those and convert them to points.
This was not the result that we were hoping for however it keeps us afloat in our objectives for the season.
We have a tough week ahead of us and the staff and players need to remain positive and focused as we first face Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night and then return home for a home game against AmaZulu FC on Saturday.
The team travel to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium tomorrow to face Chippa United in the DStv Premiership. Kick off will be 15h00.
The teams coaching staff have used the time between Wednesdays encounter, that saw the boys come away with 3 points against SuperSport United, and today to work on instilling a level state of mind in the players.
The team have worked well thus far and need to go into the enconter level headed and focused on the days outcome rather than log position right now. Objectives have been set and those in the match day squad are aware of what will be expected from them.
The Chilli Boys could also feel like they have some wind behind their sails with the appointment of Vladislav Heric as a technical advisor. His arrival could ignite a renewed fight in them and we need to be full aware of the danger they could impose.
The game is not televised, but all of the action can be followed as we post on our social media channels during the 90 minutes.
All eyes will be on Lucas Moripe Stadium as we take on SuperSport United in our midweek DStv Premiership game tomorrow afternoon
This will be an important outing for both teams as we head into the final stages of the competition. We will be wanting to collect full points on the road and will come up against a determined home side who have not collected full points in their last five games.
The team is confident ahead of the game, but are not counting on an easy 90 minutes of play. The objective for the game is points and that is what will be important come the end of the game.
The coaching staff have used the 10 days break to work on a number of areas where they felt we needed to make a marked improvement and will be hoping to bear the fruits of their labour on Wednesday night.
The game will be televised on SuperSport Variety and as always we will also be updating you on the play during the course of the game via our social media channels.
We take on Bloemfontein Celtic at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday in our weekend DSTv Premiership fixture. Kick off will be at 15h00, with the game being televised on SuperSport’s PSL channel.
Each month, the techinical team and players set a target amount of points to accumulate from the allotted games. In April, the target set was 10 points, and after our last outing we have achieved just 1 of those.
With only 9 games remaining until the end of the season, 4 of which are in April alone, Sundays result is very important in helping reach that target. It is the only home advantage we have ahead of a tough 3 games away and a must win for us.
Siwelele will not be taking the fixture lightly either, as points added to their seasons haul thus far will keep them in contention for a Top 8 finish come the end of May.
We will be in for an exciting and entertaining game and as usual will be keeping you up to date with the live plays and score over our social media channels.
Swallows FC equalised in the last minute of extra time this afternoon to deny us a win and full points at Dobsonville Stadium.
It was a game that saw us fight in the first half to stop a barrage of attack from the home side and manage to head into the break with no goals against us.
The boys committed to each and every defensive play in the half, literally putting their bodies on the line as we fought to keep the Birds from netting in the first stanza.
We on the other hand, did not create as many chances as we wanted and this was one of Coach Ncikazi’s points at the break.
We came back with a better fight in the second half, and the commitment showed in our play. A tactical change was made with Mtshali replacing Sibiya, bringing some fluidity to our game.
We started creating better opportunities and we eventually made a breakthrough in the 71st minute as Mutizwa crossed for Mmodi, who missed his shot. Parusnath, backing up the play at the near post, managed to connect and play in behind Vries for the lead.
While we did well to defend against a shaken Swallows for the remainder of the official time, they fought back and managed to score in the last minute of extra time off the boot of Mere.
It’s only a point in our target of 10 from the 5 games this month, but an important one never the less.
We will return home to prepare for a game at Sugar Ray Stadium against Bloemfontein Celtic on the 11th April.
We start our months campaign off with a game against Swallows FC at Dobsonville Stadium tomorrow afternoon. The game is set to kick off at 15h00.
This is going to be an important game for both sides as we start heading into the final stages of the seasons competition. Three points from the encounter will bolster either teams campaign and come game time, both sides will have that in mind.
This will be an important start to the month, one in which we have 5 games in the DSTv Premiership competition, and a win away from home could be a positive one for the teams momentum.
We would maintain a point lead on 3rd and 4th place on the log and still hold a game in hand.
Swallows FC, having only played 19 games so far in their campaign will be well aware that full points could once again see them sitting in contention for 3rd or 4th place.
We will be in for an entertaining game on the afternoon. You will be able to catch the action live on the SuperSport PSL channel as well as being able to follow us on our social media channels for play by play action.
A goal a piece in the first half of the game saw us play to a draw against Cape Town City at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium this afternoon.
In what was an entertaining game, it was Cape Town City who opened the scoring in the 4th minute as Ajagun tapped in a loose ball after Mlungwana was unable to hold onto an initial save.
This fired the boys up and their determination to equalise quickly was evident in their play. We scored in almost the same fashion in the 12th minute. Our initial goal attempt was saved and then Ndwandwe being unmarked on the near post, tapped the ball past Leeuwenburgh to equalise.
The second half was uneventful as far as goals were concerned but both sides put great effort in to try and find the winner for their team.
We will have time to regroup and prepare for our next game which will only be on the 3rd of April as we travel to Dobsonville Stadium to take on Swallows FC
We return to the field on Saturday afternoon with a home game fixture against Cape town City in the DSTv Premiership. Kick off at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium will be at 15h00.
After a 10 day break in games after returning from Limpopo, tomorrows fixture will be an important one as we look to keep our momentum in the 2020/21 competition.
Collecting 3 points at home could keep us at a well fought for position on the table. We would be able to maintain a position in the top 3 and continue a fight to regarded as serious contenders in the seasons competition.
The team will have to maintain their focus on the pitch, and maintain the teamwork shown in their last encounters in order to come out on top come game time.
Cape Town City have also had a two week break and have reportedly been working on ironing out some of their issues that have been plaguing them.
They have not enjoyed the success that they have wanted so far and have slipped to 8th place on the log. A position that they will be fighting hard to improve on.
We should have an interesting game on hand and you can catch the action on the DSTv PSL channel.
Play by play action will also be shared on our social media channels so follow us there if you are unable to catch the game.
We secured another win on the road tonight as we faced off against Tshakhuma FC at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
In what was a disrupted first half as play was suspended due to lightning, we managed to take the lead in the 25th minute after Mutizwa headed in a cross from Makhubela.
We created a number of chances after that but could just not add to our lead before the break.
In the second stanza we once again took the game to the home side. Arubi kept them in the game with some well executed saves between the sticks. This helped them to keep their hopes alive as Ndengane scored in the 48th minute off a free kick.
We had to gather our composure and fight as Tshakhuma attacked with renewed vigor.
The spirit that the boys have shown all season so far kicked in and once again we attacked with intent. Sabelo was pulled down in the box on one of our plays and we were awarded a penalty.
Conco sealed it for us in the 86th minute, converting the penalty and ensuring the 3 points for the night.
We have a bit of a break between games now, but return for service at home on March 20th against Cape Town City.
Thank you for all of your support tonight. Your energy and cheering wherever you may have been carried the team tonight and we are all greatly appreciative for that.
Goals in the second half from Parusnath and Ndwandwe secured an away win and 3 points on the road against Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium this afternoon.
With a tense first half that saw Leopards opening the scoring in the 4th minute as Hlongwane found the back of the net, and a fight back from the team to equalise just under 15 minutes before the break, it was the second stanza that determined the outcome of the game today.
Leopards made 3 substitutions at the break as they looked to break the deadlock by bringing on 3 additional midfielders and weakening their defense.
We took advantage of this, opening up the game more and feeding the ball wide on occasion to penetrate the defense to create scoring opportunities.
While we managed on a number of occasions to play into range, we could just not find the final touches to capitalise on the chances created.
Our breakthrough came in the 78th minute. Parusnath starting and finishing the play as he played up the middle, played wide to Mutizwa who delivered the ball to Conco on the far post. The brilliant finish saw Parusnath run back onto the played back ball and put it past Ndlovu for our second goal.
In the last minute of extra time, we sealed the win as Ndwandwe scored off an assist from Sabelo.
A positive start to our 2 game on their road trip.
The team will be back in action on Wednesday March 10th as they take on Tshakhuma FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
We head to Thohoyandou Stadium tomorrow afternoon as we face off with Black Leopards in our return game for the 2020/21 season. Kick off will be at 15h30.
The team and technical team have been preparing for their Limpopo commitments this month and get on the road with Sundays game. A target number of points have been set and there is a positive feeling that the task at hand is more than possible.
After losing the first leg game to Leopards, we will be looking for redemption while aiming at bolstering our position on the log.
Black Leopards, looking to complete a double on home ground will be a challange, and one that we will be expecting. Adding to this is the fact that they are fighting for every point they can at present.
The game will not be televised. We will however be keeping you up to date on the progression over our social media channels, so follow us on your favourite platform.
We were held to a goalless draw tonight at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium against Baroka FC.
The game was an uneventful one and we did not create the number of scoring opportunities we wanted to. Baroka came to the stadium with a clear plan to unsettle our normal play and this was evident in how they closed down our attack.
The second half was not as disciplined as the first. The frustration from both sides evident in the play.
Once again, both teams played well until the crucial final touches, ending up in missed opportunities to score.
We head off to Limpopo this weekend where we take on Black Leopards in the first of two games on the road. the game will be played on Sunday at 15h30.
We take on Baroka FC at home tomorrow night in our mid week DSTv Premiership commitment. The game kicks off at 17h00, and will be televised on SuperSport PSL channel.
The boys will be looking to get back on track after suffering our first home defeat in the league last week against leopards. Tomorrows game will be a start to an important month where we could collect a decent amount of points both at home and on the road.
A home win would do well as far as log position is concerned as well, and could potentially see us climb a position or two.
While Baroka have not had the results they have been wanting lately, they have just come off a win at home and will be wanting to keep a positive momentum.
We will be posting our play-by-play on our social media channels. So, if you are not able to watch the game, follow us and keep up to date.
We suffered a home defeat against Black Leopards at home tonight. Once again, a goal is extra time was our demise after fighting back to equalise in the second half.
The game did not start well for us after losing Nkosinathi Sibisi to a head injury in the 3rd minute of play. This seemed to have a definite affect on the players who could just not find any rhythm to their game in the first 45 minutes. We allowed Leopards to come up on attack too often and they managed to score in the 33rd minute through Anas.
We managed to contain the score until the break and then returned to play looking completely different. We attacked better in the second stanza, looking more structured and determined in our play. The introduction of fresh legs by bringing Sibiya and Mtshali into play was a great decision for us and we ended up controlling play better.
This saw us score an equaliser in the 68th as Michael Gumede tapped in a squared ball from Mutizwa.
We looked confident and were looking like we could take the game, but then Mmodi was red carded and the game swung again. We were forced to play more defensively, looking to hang onto a point for a draw.
5 minutes of additional time was added and Leopards used it to their advantage. they played up on attack and kept pressure on us in the final third. Once again Anas struck with just a minute to play and secured the win for the visitors.
A tough day on the field for the boys.
We will regroup and look ahead to our next game against Baroka FC at home next Wednesday, March 03.
We return to the field tomorrow night as we take on Black Leopards in a home DSTv Premiership game. The game will kick off at 17h00.
The team remains positive and in a fighting spirit ahead of tomorrow nights game against Lidoda Duvha. Having a positive record at home so far this season, the boys are looking to keep their momentum going as we get into the second half of the League competition.
They are well aware that a wounded team can be a dangerous one, and have been preparing for the visitors to throw all they have into the 90 minutes to secure some much needed points for the season.
Unfortunately, the games are still not open to spectators, however live broadcast of the game will be televised on the SuperSport PSL channel.
You will also be able to follow all of the action on our social media channels.
We came away with maximum points in our encounter against Stellenbosch FC tonight.
The side started the game looking positive and determined to score today and this came true on the 15th minute as Pule Mmodi found the back of the net to open our account.
We dominated play in the first half but missed a number of chances to extend the lead through attempts from Mutizwa, Parusnath and a second from Mmodi.
At the break, this sentiment was extended to the team by Coach Ncikazi, inviting the players to make better use of the chances created.
In the second stanza, some positional changes by Stellenbosch FC saw them play back into the game a bit ,chasing a two goal lead after M.Gumede scored in the 55th minute.
They managed to close the gap in the 62nd minute off a goal from Mendieta and threatened our defense a couple of times.
We sealed the game in the 77th minute, M.Gumede getting his brace off a mistake from the Stellies defense.
The boys pulled together from this point and once again dominated play while retaining the lead until full time.
We return home and prepare for our home game against Black Leopards on the 23rd February.
We travel to Stellenbosch to take on 12th placed Stellenbosch FC in our DSTv Premiership game tomorrow night.
After not getting the result we wanted in our Nedbank Cup game, the team has pulled together and channeled their energy on the seasons goals for the DSTv Premiership.
We are well placed presently on the log and need to accumulate as many points as possible now to ensure we can maintain and grow.
The boys are working well as a unit and every player is keen to step up and do their part should they be called on.
Stellenbosch, in a position on the log that they would want to get out of, will surely be a tough contender at home.
The club would like to thank you for all messages of support sent before, during and after the games. This is encouraging to the team as we continue our journey this season.
We will be giving you play by play coverage of the game, so if you are not yet following us on social media, please do so so that you will not miss any of the action.
Our Nedbank Cup game went to penalties to decide a winner at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium tonight.
After the initial 90 minutes of play, the score was 1-1 after Majoro cancelled out Micheal Gumede’s first half goal in the second minute of referee’s additional time.
This put the game into extra time.
After the two additional halves of 15 minutes, neither side was able to gain an upper hand in the score forcing the game to penalties to decide an outcome.
While Sibisi, Sabelo, Lung and Sibiya converted, it was Phiri on our fourth attempt who fired fractionally high, finding the bar.
AmaZulu managed to convert all of their attempts, winning the match off Memela’s last penalty attempt.
The game in general delivered all that a Derby should and was entertaining from the first whistle to the last.
We will regroup and refocus on the DSTv Premiership this week as we have a game on Friday night against Stellenbosch FC.
We take on Amazulu FC in the last-32 of the Nedbank Cup tomorrow afternoon at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. Kick off will be at 17h00.
It will be an interesting encounter and the second between the sides for the season.
We are expecting a different side to the one we met at Johnsson Kings Park Stadium. Under the guidance of Benni McCarty since then, they have performed well and proved to be a formidable team to beat.
We are confident that our fitness, and the transition game we are playing at the moment will be two factors that could keep our opponents at bay come game time.
With this in mind, both teams will be wanting to progress to the next stage of the knock out competition and we will need to expect the unexpected from Usuthu.
The game will no doubt deliver on all of the expectations of a Durban Derby, so be sure to catch the action live on the SuperSport PSL channel.
If you are unable to do so, follow us on one of our social media platforms for up to the minute posts on the progression of the game.
Image: Steve Haag Sports
A goal in each half of the game from Mmodi secured a win for us over Orlando Pirates tonight at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Pirates looked to instill some pressure in the opening minutes, attacking into our final third and putting some pressure on Mlungwana but we countered their game plan and in the 5th minute had Ofori under pressure between his sticks.
The sides went head to head from there on with Mlungwana doing well to deal with pressure and making a save from an attempt from Hotto.
Quick thinking just before the break saw us take an attacking throw where Lunga put Mmodi in a favourable position in the box. He took his chance and sent Ofori diving for the save, but the ball kept low and beat the keeper.
We went into the break with a well deserved lead.
The second half started with a double substitution from the visiting side as they looked to change formation and game plan to try and obtain an upper hand. They managed to retain better possession and keep us under more pressure than the first half.
In the 60th minute they had an opportunity to equalise after the ball was handled in the box, but the resulting attempt at conversion by Lorch was way over the mark.
We increased our deep passes and restarts which saw us get behind Pirates defence more. In one of these plays Mmodi once again found himself at the end of the ball and played another low shot to beat Ofori and scored his brace for the night.
While Pirates fought to pull something back before full time, they were unable to break a well disciplined defensive team tonight.
An outstanding effort from the squad and a deserved 3 points at home.
The boys will now start preparation for the Nedbank Cup Last 32 game on Saturday against AmaZulu FC at home.
It was a fast paced game this afternoon at Sugar Ray Xulu stadium where we walked away victorious against Maritzburg United.
Neither team took their foot off the gas in a very competitive game that saw the scoreline change between the halves.
In the first half of the game, Maritzburg played the better attacking game and were unlucky not to take an early lead with Claasen missing an opportunity in the 8th minute.
They set some dominance and had us on the back foot with Moseamedi proving to be a danger man with two attempts at goal.
Their break through came in the 35th minute as Moseamedi squared the ball in front of the goal, allowing Kutumela a clear shot and securing the lead going into the break.
In the second stanza we returned to the field fighting. We looked to put pressure on the visitors from the kick off and carried this game plan out well.
Mtshali equalised for us off some persistent pressure in the 55th minute and then we took the lead with similar play in the 68th as Mutizwa found the back of the net.
The remainder of the game was a full out battle. Both teams created opportunities, Maritzburg were once again unlucky not to equalise as a header hit the cross bar and we could have extended the lead from a number of plays created.
A deserved win at home for the team and a positive one as we prepare for Orlando Pirates at home on Tuesday, 2nd February.
We return to our home ground to face Maritzburg United in the DSTv Premiership on Saturday evening. Kick off for the Derby will be 17h00, with the game being televised on the SS PSL channel.
After our game against Cape Town City, the side returned to Durban and began preparation for tomorrows Derby game against Maritzburg United. A collective decision was made to put the weekends game behind us, focus on the positives from the game and build on that in the preparation against our provincials neighbours.
The team aims at keeping a good home record and have been concentrating on righting some defensive errors as well as looking at new plays to capitalise on the attacking strategies come game time.
A win at home will be good for our log standings, but we are also aware of the game hype that comes when facing Maritzburg United
This Derby temperament will be heightened by the fact that Maritzburg are hungry to fight their way up the bottom of the log, and a win could see them jump 3 places.
We will be keeping our loyal fans up to date on social media during game time, or, if you’re able to catch the game on SuperSport, tune into the PSL channel for all of the action.
The squad travel to the Mother City to take on Cape Town City in tomorrows DSTv Premiership game . Kick off is scheduled for 15h30.
Our mid week game against Orlando Pirates has once again been a positive for the team as we continue to show determination and drive on the field. Although Coach Ncikazi is happy with the results, he still feels there is room for improvement and with confidence levels at a good place, this is the time for the team to take more chances when in front of goals.
With a game in hand, we sit level with Cape Town City on 19 points on the log and tomorrows encounter will be an important one for the home side.
Cape Town City have had a mixed bag of results over their last few games but are not a side to take lightly in the competition.
The coaching staff will be looking for the boys to keep level headed, focused on the games objective and to come away with a win from the encounter.
The game will be televised on SuperSport and you can follow us on our social media channels for live updates on the game.
We played to a goalless draw this afternoon against Orlando Pirates in Soweto. The score was a true reflection of the game with the sides sharing stats almost at 50/50 in all aspects.
The Buccaneers started the game at a blistering pace, looking to catch us on the back foot and were disallowed a goal from an offside position in the first minute.
It was the home side who had the second clear cut chance just 10 minutes before the half time break with a header from Lorch coming off the upright from a well placed Sam cross.
Coming back after the break, we managed to change up our game plan and looked more dangerous on the ball creating better opportunities but just not being able to find defining final touches.
We increased pressure in the final 20 minutes of the game and got behind the Pirates defence better. A laid back pass saw Mmodi with an attempt from range which just failed to dip above Ofori.
A great game on the road from the squad and another positive to build from as we head to Cape town to face Cape Town city on Sunday.
We are looking to rock the Buccaneer’s boat tomorrow night at Orlando Stadium as we take them on in the DSTv Premiership.
Coming off a home win, the squad will be travelling to Soweto with some confidence behind them ahead of a tough encounter.
While we have managed to do well so far in the season, there is room for improvement on our finishing in the final third and tomorrows game is one in which we will need to follow through on that in order to come away with a full tally of points.
There is just a point between us and Orlando Pirates on the log table, making the game even more important to either side to win,
The game will be televised on SuperSport’s PSL channel only, but we will provide a play by play encounter of the game on our social media platforms for you to follow should you not be able to catch the game live.
We head to Princess Magogo Stadium on Tomorrow afternoon to take on Tshakhuma FC in the DSTv Premiership. Kick off at 15:00.
The squad is feeling confident ahead of the clash after claiming a 1-0 win over Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium a week ago, but are aware of the need for the battling TTM to gain some points.
Wanting to continue on their positive results, both the technical team and players are working to stay focussed and not become complacent come game time.
The game will be televised on SuperSports Variety 3 channel as well as SABC Sport.
If you unable to catch the game, then follow us for play by play feed come game time.
We host Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium in our weekend DSTv Premiership fixture. The game gets underway at 15h30.
After a disappointing postponement to our midweek fixture against Black Leopards due to heavy rain, the boys are aiming to continue our positive home game point haul against Chippa United.
Although a set back, the squad have bounced back to a positive mind set in their preparation against the Chilli Boys. Both the technical staff and the players are intent on coming away with maximum points and maintain their seasons goal of a top 5 finish.
Chippa are coming off a well fought for home draw against SuperSport United. They fought back and clinched an equaliser just 3 minutes before stoppage time on Wednesday night.
They seem to have found some motivation under the guidance of Dan Malesela and are making a fight from the lower ranks of the log.
Unfortunately the game will not be televised but our normal play-by-play of the action will be available on lur social media channels.
We kick off the New Year with a home game against Black Leopards tomorrow night at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. Kick off will be at 17h00 to allow for Covid restrictions to be upheld.
The team has performed well to date, not having lost a game, and are looking to collect full points against the visitors tomorrow night. Coach Ncikazi and his technical team have been working hard to ensure that the consistent form of the team comes through in the game with a positive result come full time.
In the last 5 matches, the squad has managed to secure 7 points, 3 of them against AmaZulu away while collecting a point for draws against Mamelodi Sundowns, Swallows FC, TS Galaxy and Kaizer Chiefs.
Lidoda Duvha have had a mixed bag of results over their last 5 games. They lost 2-1 at home in their last outing against Swallows FC, drew against TTM and Kaizer Chiefs, lost 1-0 to Bloem Celtic and collected full points against Maritzburg United at home in November.
They are a team who can produce some great play and unsettle any team on the day. Although they are battling to find points, they often open the scoring in their games in the first quarter of the game. They have confident players up front in Anas and Karuru and are able to cause upsets on the right day.
The game will be televised on SuperSport Variety 3 (Channel 208) and we will also be keeping you informed on the games proceedings. So follow us on your preferred social media channel should you not be able to watch the game.
We shared the spoils once again this afternoon against Mamelodi Sundowns and retained our unbeaten record so far for the season.
We enjoyed a strong midfield game and dominated the opposition. This allowed us to create a number of attacking plays from different angles on the field.
This created problems for the visting side. Sundowns however opened the scoring as Mvala headed in off a corner in the 17th minute.
We replied just 5 minutes later with a well executed play that saw an opportunity created for M.Gumede. He went low and headed in for the equaliser.
The second half saw action from both sides but neither us nor Sundowns were able to find the back of the set a second time.
We have a short festive period break now and return to the field on the 5th of January as we play Black Leopards at home in our first game of 2021.
We finish off the 2020 half of the current season with a home game against Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. Kick off at 15h30.
The squad will be heading to the field feeling confident after the midweek win over AmaZulu, but are fully aware of the task they have at hand, and that will be to beat the log leaders. Coach Mandla Ncikazi is serving up some great play through the team and is sure to have his strategy worked out for Saturday ‘s clash.
Masandawana come off a 2-0 win over TS Galaxy and also remain unbeaten so far in the 2020/21 season. They have won five of their encounters and drawn two to date and will be looking to continue their stride before heading into the festive break.
We will be looking to remain a formidable force to beat on home turf on Saturday.
The match will be televised on the PSL channel (202) as well as on SABC1 and action will be reported on during the course of the game over our social media channels.
Tomorrow night We face AmaZulu FC at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in a Reconciliation Day Durban Derby showdown. Game kicks off at 17h30.
The team have put in a lot of hard work and determination in the last week and a half in preparation for the game. While confidence is high with not having lost a game so far in the season, the coaching staff and players are all aware of the extra pressure in a Derby game and have prepared accordingly.
Last week at practice, captain Matome Mathaine said ‘We are building up to Wednesdays game. After our draw against Swallows, practice is about recovery and working on issues, but as we get closer to the game, we intensify all aspects of our prep. We are united as a squad in our objectives of a win on the 16th’
Usuthu always bring their ‘A’ game when we meet and tomrrow will be no different. They have 6 points from 6 games and a home win for them would go a far way in bettering their 11th position on the log.
The game will be televised on SuperSport chanel 202 and we will also keep you covered on the game over social media.
We had to settle for a point this afternoon at home against Swallows FC in the DStv Permiership
Both sides played a hard and fast game, not wanting to let up and give the upper hand from the first whistle.
We allowed Swallows into the game in the twentieth minute after a mix up at the back. Mbokoma was well placed to take advantage of the mishap and easily scored for the visting side after Mlungwana lost his footing trying to make the save.
The sides battled it out and equaled each other play for play in a physical game. We managed to equalise just 11 minutes later after being awarded a free kick just outside of the Swallows box.
Sibiya took the set piece and curled it beautifully around the wall, catching Vries who hardly moved off his spot on the line.
The second half was uneventful as far as goals were concerned. Both sides gave their all but were not able to convert the chances created.
We prepare now for our Derby game against AmaZulu at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium on the 16th December at 17h30.
We host Swallows FC at Sugar Ray Xulu Satdium tomorrow afternoon in what will be a very exciting match to follow up on. The DStv Premiership game kicks off at 15h30 in Clermont.
Both sides are unbeaten after five games so far this season and will be eager to continue this streak come the end of the game. We have performed well but have not collected as many full point results as we have liked.
That being said, the team has managed to show determination on the pitch and have been preparing for a tough encounter against the recently promoted Swallows team. The team have been running some high intensity drills during the week, and Coach Ncikazi believes that taking the right opportunities created through these could give us a positive result.
Swallows will be arriving with elevated confidence after their 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs at the end of November at Dobsonville Stadium. They are looking to prove a point that they are back to stay in the top league.
The game will not be televised, but follow our play by play commentary on our social media platforms over the course of the game.
We played to another draw in the DSTv Premiership this afternoon against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
With TS Galaxy setting an early dominance in the game, it was another tough day at the office for our defenders. Sibisi did well in the 8th minute to clear the ball off the line as Shozi had an attempt on goals.
We then were given an opportunity to work some magic off a free kick in a favourable position. Mutizwa made a clean delivery to the box, but Msimango managed to clear the ball before it could reach Ndwandwe who was waiting to receive.
The remainder of the half was all about our defending and once again Mlungwana did well between the posts for us. The young shot stopper kept us in the game well with his hard work.
After the break we once again missed the opportunty to take the lead as Shitolo found the woodwork off another well placed free kick from Mutizwa.
The stalemate was broken in the 72nd minute as Mmodi took advantage of an error at the back from Modisane, putting the ball past the keeper and putting us in the lead.
the intensity on the park grew after that with TS Galaxy fighting hard to score the equaliser while we tried all we could to kill the game and hold on for a win.
At the death Mogaila managed to equal matters and sure a draw for his side.
We return to Durban where we will prepare for a home game against Moroka Swallows at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on the 5th December.
We played to an action packed draw with Kaizer Chiefs this afternoon at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The first 45 saw no action as far as goals were concerned but it did not lack entertaining play from the boys as they took the game to Chiefs from the first whistle. The attacking play was solid and the determination to score was clear. We had a number of decent plays up the wing, with Conco doing well to get behind the defense and feeding the balls into the box, but we just lacked in the finishing and could not break the final line of the Amakhozi defense. Our best chance came from a Gumede attempt in the 10th minute which went over the bar.
Chiefs had a number of chances to score too, Castro missed a header as it hit the woodwork and then pushed in the final minute of the first half but were denied by a great save from Mlungwana. This saw the teams going to the break with no goals on the scoreboard.
The second half was completely different! We did not seem to have as much of the ball as these did in the first half an had to use our possession well. We were awarded a penalty in the 49th minute after Nkombelo was taken down in the box by Manyama. Conco made no mistake in his conversion and so began the goal scoring for the half.
Billiat and Castro started putting more pressure on the defense and managed to get behind the line a couple of times.
Castro managed a brace for his efforts, scoring witha header in the 58th minute and then finding the back of the net again the 65th, giving the visitors the lead.
We showed great determination and never gave up. Although we did not enjoy the possession we would have liked, we made good decisions when we had the ball on boot. In the 70th minute Sibiya, who had come onto the park just minutes before, curled a great ball in past Khune to equalise.
A great effort from the entire team today, there was not one player who did not give their all.
We go at it again, next week Saturday 28 November when we take on TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium at 15:30
We take to the field again tomorrow afternoon as we face Kaizer Chiefs in our second home game of the season. Kick off is scheduled for 15h30.
The team is confident ahead of the game, having done well in the first three games of the season, but are very aware of Kaizer Chiefs desire to turn their results around. Skipper, Matome Mathiane is determined that this will not be against us on Saturday. “We are well aware that they have not won in a while and that they will be coming at us, it won’t be an easy game. They are still a big team, and we will give them the respect they deserve. But going to play Chiefs, we know that they will want to bounce back to winning ways at our expense. That’s something we don’t want, a team that has not been winning to get back to winning ways against us. So we are well prepared to play against them.”
There is no complacency going into this game, with the whole squad being aware of the wounded Chiefs side.
The game will be televised, and we will as always be sending out play by play updates over our social media channels if you are unable to watch.
A late goal in extra time from Velemseni Ndwandwe ensured a point away from home for us against Baroka FC.
In what was a very tight game from the first whistle, we battled it out until the dying minutes at Peter Mokaba Stadium, eventually getting a decision that favoured us and managing to capitalise on it.
The team once again played a well structured game tonight. Our midfielders did well to secure the ball and this allowed some very expressive play to happen up field as Parusnath, Conco, Mmodi and Gumede pushed into the firing line. Unfortunately, no matter what we did, Chipezeze did well to deny us finishing any play.
We needed to dig deep to pull together and deal with the loss of a player after Lunga received his second yellow and marching orders in the 66th minute. This made it more difficult for us to find an equaliser to Baroka’s 48th minute goal by Masiya.
The team showed some amazing character and never gave up. We were awarded a free kick in the last minute of extra time and it was Mutizwa, playing off the bench, that delivered a well weighter cross to the box where Ndwandwe connected to equal the scores and ensure a point from the game.
We will have a couple of weeks break now and return to the field on the 21st November as we take on Kaizer Chiefs at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Were back at it again tomorrow night as we take on Baroka FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in our third game of the DSTV Premiership . Which Kicks off at 19h30.
Coming off a 3-1 win against SuperSport United at home last week, the team are in a positive space heading into the game. In our first two games of the season, the team has performed well both on attack and defense and we are looking to take this game play to the host team. The techincal team is happy with how the game plans are being carried out, with each player on the field contributing what is needed to create scoring opportunities.
Baroka will be a tough contender at home as always. They have retained full points from their season openers against Maritzburg United and Black Leopards, and have made it clear that they intend scoring goals this season.
The game is not televised, but once again we will be keeping you up to date with a play-by-play feed on our social platforms.
We secured a win in our first home game of the season as we beat SuperSport United 3-1 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium tonight.
Sifiso Mlungwana made a brilliant save to a Grobler snap shot in the fifth minute after both sides got off to a fast paced start to the game. Both teams kept up an intense speed to their play until around the fifteenth minute when everyone seemed to settle on the ball. After the first half water break, we played with more composure and looked confident playing up to the box. The midfielders did well to turn over the ball and feed the likes of Mtshali, Makhubela and M.Gumede up front. Although a number fo opportunities were created, we were just unable to break the last line of defense.
This play led to us securing a number of corners, and it was off one of these that up stepped our captain Matome Mathiane, who scored a header from a corner. The goal gave us confidence going into the break with.
SuperSport were unable to get into the game in the second half. They seemed frustrated and this became evident in their play, allowing us to take charge and look for another scoring opportunity. In the sixty ninth minute after just coming onto the field, Ndwandwe doubled the lead with a low strike,
We paid for some poor discipline after that when Mokoena was able to pull one back off a free kick that deflected on the way into the back of the net.
Makhubela score a well deserved goal in the second minute of extra time to end the hopes of any comeback for the visitors.
A positive start for the side to build off as we prepare to take on Baroka FC next week.
Tomorrow night we host Supersport United at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium for our first home game of the 2020/21 DSTv Premiership.
After travelling to Bloemfontein and coming home with just a point from the trip, the boys are looking to take advantage of a home pitch and secure maximum points in the nights outing. Coach Ncikazi was happy with the performance of the team against Phunya Sele Sele but acknowledged that it was just one error that cost us the additional 2 points, and he will be aiming at reducing errors come game time tomorrow night.
Matsatsantsa on the other hand are coming off a comfortable home game win against Black Leopards on the weekend. Bradley Grobler secured a brace for his side.
The game kicks off at 19h30, and will not be televised, but we will be keeping you informed on the progress of the game over our social media platforms.
A goal in the 59th minute from Sepana Letsoalo equalised the game this afternoon at Dr Molemela Stadium as we faced Bloemfontein Celtic in the first game of the DSTv Premiership.
We had a solid start to the game, and went on the attack from the first whistle, securing an attacking corner and letting the host team know we were there for a result. The pressure we applied, along with enterprising play from Shitolo, Parusnath, Makhubela and debutante Mmodi saw us getting to the strike zone, applying pressure on the Celtic defence.
This paid off for us in the 16th minute as Makhubela opened the scoring for the game after Shitolo won the ball in midfield, fed Mmodi who then layed the ball off to Makhubela who finished off the move by finding th back of the net.
Coming back from the break, Bloem Celtic upped their game plan and put us on the back foot a number of times. We managed to keep our planned formation and remained disciplined in our defence. It was an error at the back that allowed the attacking Celtic players through that we lost the lead.
A good fight for dominance took place in the last 15 minutes of the game with both sides trying hard to score but failing.
A point off the first game of the season and a lot to build on as we return home for our first home game of the season on Wednesday night against SuperSport United.
Our last game of the 2019/2020 season again Chippa United ended with 1-0 loss at Orlando Stadium this afternoon.
The game was a physical one, with both sides not holding back as they looked to set domainance in the game.
We allowed a gap in defence in the 23rd minute and Kwem, who had been threatening in the Chippa plays, found himself with enough space to take an easy shot at target ehich beat the gloves on Mlungwana.
Although we fought back, created a number fo opportunities, we were just not able to find the touches needed in front of goals.
It was not the ending we wanted to the game, nor the season, but we live to fight again next season.
We would like to thank all of our support throughout the season, and can not wait to see our supporters as soon as it will be possible.
It was an intense battle for points tonight at Emirates Airline Park. Both Bloemfontein Celtics and us were wanting to secure maximum points from the outing but ended up settling for a point each after full time.
From the first minute of the game it was clear that both teams were going to try and determine the game plan and then counter that going forward. This ended up in a midfield battle with neither side backing down to allow each other space to attack.
We had a number of shots on target, with Parusnath having a good chance, but he was unable to get enough power into his shot to beat the keeper. Once again, Mlungwana did well between the sticks and had a couple of shot stoppers for us and kept us in the game.
One point keeps us in slim contention for a Top 8, but there are a number fo variables that will need to fall into place for this to happen.
The team will use the next couple of days to prepare for the season finale against Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
We continued our disappointing results in the bio bubble tonight with a loss to Cape Town City at Emirates Airline Park.
The first half saw The Citizens rotating their players well and making solid attacking plays into the final third from early on in the game. Defensively we battled to look solid, with Shitolo not being able to fall back from his midfield position quickly enough and leaving gaps in the defence. On top of this, Lunga seemed off form and this allowed Cape Town City’s Fargie Lakay to secure two early goals.
We battled to come back from these errors, and took a while to shake off the set back and start to look more composed on the ball.
We suffered an injury set back as well with Gumede coming off the field just before the break.
Coming into the second half we had to replace Siyabonga Dube with a back strain and Lunga came off. The two defenders were replaced with Conco and Sibiya, adding some fresh legs and attacking players to the game. This changed our tempo and we looked better on the ball. We created some good attacking chances which were countered well by the City defence. Morris then scored the third for The Citizens against the flow of play, our defence was left wide open and he slotted an easy goal for the visitors.
We pulled one back in the 74th minute when we were awarded a free kick just 10m from the box. Mutizwa curled the ball over the wall well into the bottom left corner.
Although we did well to command the possession in the second half we were just not able to score again. Parusnath has a great full laced shot on target which was saved, but apart from that there was nothing that threatened Cape Town City’s lead.
The cherry on the top for the visiting team was a penalty awarded in extra time, which was converted by Lakay for his hat trick.
A goal in the 90th minute by Sundowns replacement player Zwane secured them the win at Dobsonville Stadium.
After an impressive game that saw us go pound for pound against the Sundowns lads, it took a pair of fresh legs from the Sundowns bench to eventually break our defence and find the back of the net.
The lads played a solid game tonight, and each and every player put all that they had into the 90 minutes on the park. We played well on attack when we needed to and had some shots at goal but none gave us the break so so badly wanted.
Defensively, each man put his heart on his sleeve and we kept the Sundowns attack at bay for most of the game. They did have a couple of opportunities to score early, but the dedication shown from Mlungawana frustrated them as he made some very impressive saves once again.
It is another blow to our aims of finishing in the top 8 for the season, but the target is not yet unreachable for us.
We have the opportunity to pull back points in our last three games of the season, starting with Cape Town City on Saturday night.
We have a tough start to the week on Monday night with a game against, Mamelodi Sundowns at Dobsonville Stadium. It will be an evening kick off at 18h00.
We have had a tough three games so far in the BSE and have only secured 1 point out of a potential 9. This has thrown our fight for a Top 8 finish and we need ot get back on track in order to be able to secure enough points before the end of the season.
With Cape Town City, Highlands Park, Stellenbosch FC and ourselves all sitting with 33 points after 26 games, and Bloem Celtic just a point behind, it’s a five way fight for two spots in the top half of the log.
We will need to find some confidence against Sundowns and believe in ourselves to be able to take the win from them on the night.
Sundowns themselves have not had the results they may have been looking for. They have won 2 game, drawn 3 and lost one in their last 5 games and should they want to keep on the heels of Kaizer Chiefs for the title. They will be looking for full points tomorrow night as well.
The game will be televised, and a play by play available for you on our social media platforms.
Lets send some positive energy to the team building up to the game, send us messages on your preferred social network, and let the boys see that we are behind them.
We play our first home game at the Emirates Airline Park against Black Leopards. Scheduled kick off is at 13h30.
We will be looking to pick up 3 points from the encounter to add to the 1 point we have secured so far from our BSE games.
While our last games have seen us look structured and disciplined, we have failed to convert the opportunities created. The objective in tomorrows encounter will be to capitalize on those and continue our fight for a Top 8 finish.
Black Leopards will not be taking the fixture lightly. The side are fighting to stay in top flight football and will be wanting to take any opportunity to secure points. They would have analysed our play as much as possible and looking to counter from the first whistle of the match.
The game will be televised on Supersport, however, if you are unable to watch we will be doing our normal play by play posting on our social media platforms.
Missed chances from both sides in the first half of the game today saw us play to a goalless draw against Bidvest Wits at the FNB Stadium this afternoon.
The game started off at quite a good pace, with Wits hunting for their first win after returning to the league games. They played the ball to us, and put us on the back foot while looking for space to create scoring chances.
We looked more composed than in our last outing and managed to keep a sound structure both defensively and offensively. This made Wits have to work that little bit harder, and allowed us to defend well against the determined Students.
They delivered some good balls to the box, and were denied off a header attempt from Macuphu that just went over Mlungwana gloves but hit the crossbar.
We were also denied by the woodwork as Gumede took a shot at target in the first half. This would be the only decent opportunity we had at scoring in the first 45.
The second half delivered more missed opportunities for both sides. And this would evntually play out till full time.
Not a full haul of points, but an important one for us in our quest for a Top 8 spot this season.
We turn our attention to our next game tomorrow afternoon at the FNB Stadium, when we take on Bidvest Wits. The scheduled kick off is 15h30.
After Saturdays game where we felt we outplayed Stellenbosch,but were unlucky to concede in the 49th minute and not come back from it. The team has analysed their play and have made points to improve on ahead of tomorrows game. With games coming quickly now, it was encouraging that there were no set backs with injury and this is a point that we would like to maintain as we look to achieve a Top 8 finish.
Bidvest Wits will be a formidable opponent as always and will be looking to secure a double header in the season against us. Their return to the field saw them draw against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, adding a point to their fight for at least a 3rd place finish to their season.
The game will be televised on SuperSport4, and as always we will be giving you coverage over our social media platforms. Although we can not play in front of you, the bus are playing for you our faithful supporters, so send messages of encouragement. They will be appreciated!
A single goal in the 49th minute of play was enough to give Stellenbosch FC a win against us this afternoon.
With both sides coming into the game after no competite play since the start of lockdown, the first half saw an equal battle playing out with neither side getting the upper hand. Both sides had shots at goal but nothing that Mlungwana or Langeveldt were not able to easily handle.
After the break, we started looking better on the ball and played with a bit more confidence but some enterprsing play from Skelem saw him unsettle our defence and manage to get a pass through to Du Preez who took his chance and opened the scoring for the home side.
After Ovidy Karuru was shown his marching orders for Stellenbosh in the 72nd minute, the Stellies boys fell back defensively and made little play out of their own half. Phiri made a good shot on target from range, but this was saved by Langeveldt and Mutizwa had a last minute chance to equalise with a header attempt, also saved by the keeper.
Not the result we were looking for today, but an opportunity to get some match fitness in ahead of Tuesdays game against Bidvest Wits at FNB Stadium.
Our return to the beautiful game after the implementation of the national lockdown happens on Saturday afternoon at 13h30 as we face Stellenbosch FC at Tuks Stadium.
The team has been preparing to continue the fight to retain a Top 8 position for the season, and are looking forward to returing to the field and giving all they have in the 90 minutes.
3 points will be the ultimate objective after sharing the spoils in our last two games played against Orlando Pirates and Highlands FC.
Stellenbosch, looking to lift themselves from 11th position on the log, will be wanting to break their 2 game points drought.
With both teams playing their first game in the BSE, and each not having match fitness, the playing field seems pretty equal.
The game will not be televised, however, we will be keeping you up to date with our play-by-play posts over social media.
A classic match where both teams played a similar kind of football. The match was two teams playing possession football looking to build from the back and would be pressed high, thus opt for route one and build from the midfield. The midfield play was also one where whichever team had the ball, they’d be pressed not to play. The team that regained possession would look to go out of the press via one touch and the least number of players. As they attempted to counter attack, they’d be counter pressed. The match officials had to stay in touch with a high pressing game and high physical exertion without recklessness.
We struggled playing against the wind in the first half but we created the better chances except once from a free kick, where Mlungwana was forced to save a free kick from Pule. We had a slight challenge from our right side where Mako and Memela gave us some headache but our right back and right midfielder sorted it out. We went to half time goalless and the match was very quick, technical and lots of tactical detail both in defense and attack.
We resumed the second but had a great boost and benefit from the wind. We played even better than first half and managed to play through in the midfield, played around the opponent and at times went over the opponent defense. We had a great chance when Phiri put Mutizwa through but the keeper pulled a save. Lamola had another chance like he did in the first half but fluffed it. The best chance of the game was when Parusnath broke through and went one on one with the keeper and was hacked by Nyawuza the defender. A penalty was supposed to have been awarded but the officials decided otherwise. The match ended 0:0. We called a point and made 32 pts at position seven.
Our next match is away in Cape Town to Stellenbosch in two weeks. Our fight to consolidate our top 8 position.
Its close to all systems go for our game against Orlando Pirates tomorrow night at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
With kick off set for 18h00, it promises to be an entertaining game between the two sides. Of late, we have preformed well against the Sea Robbers, with only one goal scored in our last three ABSA Premiership encounters.
The coaching staff and players are well prepared for tomorrows game, and have been working on a comprehensive game plan to upset the Soweto team in front of our home crowd.
Again, it will be an important game for us as far as our season objectives are concerned. We are fighting for a top 8 spot in a very competitive log at the moment, and points are vital to obtain.
The Buccaneers are in a log battle too. They could still be in contention for a chase of the title, but a lot depends on securing a win against us.
With 9 points between them an log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, an all out battle can be expected in Clermont as they fight for the slightest chance at the title.
Get your ticket if you have not yet done so. They are available at TicketPro outlets. R40 for Adults, R15 kids U12.
The game will be televised on Supersport, but we encourage you to come watch the action live or follow us on our social media platforms for game updates.
We started the match on a positive note and open the score in the sixth minute when Lamola got to the end of Lunga to make it 1:0. This allowed us to play with less stress and commanded the space and the ball very well though we didn’t create as many chances due to the nature of how the opponent where structured. It was a very physical game and the opponent would always go direct after winning possession. Our defense had to stay switched on to avoid their strikers receiving the long ball. We did not have too many defensive challenges except the long direct balls and the long throw ins. There were too many fouls committed, worsened by rainy conditions as well but both sets of players coped very well. The first half ended 1:0 in our favor with no threat the opponent would overcome our game model.
We didn’t start the second well and we conceded throw ins and corners unnecessarily but survived that spell. We started playing our brand of football though not as fluid as usual. Our midfield lost too much possession and as a result we didn’t create too many chances as well Mathe opponent made a change and brought in Ramagalela and started applying more pressure. In the 64th minute, they got an equalizer from a crosss. A ball that seemed to have gone out of the field as the initial cross was played from their right wing, the ball went over to their left wing who crossed back as well, where the goal got scored by Ramagalela to level matters 1:1. Both teams had started the encounter equal on points and end the encounter equal on points again as both remain in positions seven and eight.
Our next march is against Orlando Pirates the next weekend.
A well played game from both sides today saw the points shared after playing to a 1-1 draw at home this afternoon.
It was a pressurized game for both sides who were looking for full points to bolster positions on the league table.
We started well, and made an early breakthrough as Lamola headed in a cross from Lunga. The boys looked to keep the pressure on Highlands Park and did well to keep pressing and looking for another goal to cement a lead.
Highlands Park were not allowing us any more opportunities and fought hard to try and equalize before the break. Mlungwana did well between the sticks for us once again, and we went into the break with the slightest upper hand.
Coming back, Highlands Park assessed play and decided to introduce Ramagalela to shake things up. This paid off for them as he equalised in the 64th minute.
The teams equaled each other play for play from here on and neither were able to get the upper hand and score.
We will need to prepare for our next game against Orlando Pirates as we look to secure position in the top 8 of the log.
Tomorrow afternoon we have a mid table clash as we play for vital points against Highlands Park at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Both team are sitting with 30 points on the log and will be wanting to secure 3 points in the game and solidify some standing on a very competitive season.
While Highlands Park have played one game more then us, it will put them under slightly more pressure to achieve a win. Should we manage to walk away victors, it would take us up a position on the log, equal in points with Maritzburg United.
Coming off two wins in the ABSA Premiership, the team is confident ahead of the fixture and have been preparing both mentally and on the field for what they know is a crucial match in their season.
The coaching staff are pleased with the preparation that has been put in ahead of the game, as well as the mindset that the players are in. Everyone is on the same page as far as the objectives and goals of the game are concerned.
Highlands Park can be unpredictable on the field, and this is something that needs to be taken into consideration when we face them, and adjust our game plan accordingly.
The game will not be televised, so get to Sugar Ray Xulu and get behind the boys. Should you not be able to attend the game, we will keep you updated on the games proceedings over our social media channels.
A derby played after an embarrassing defeat by VUT in the NEDBANK Cup. The match was meant to be a response match where we needed to redeem ourselves after a poor knockout competition performance. The opponent was fighting for their lives and it showed in the physical nature of the match. We controlled the first half very well and using the whole field in an attempt to find penetration. We played lots of combinations in the middle trying to play through, we would go wide when central options were limited. Each time we overloaded to isolate, we succeeded but only lacked the final penetration by crossing well or playing a cutback. We created a great scoring chance after a great central combination but we were wrongfully ruled offside. The opponent had no answered to our use of the ball and instead opted to kicking our players. We lost Gumede as a result and introduced Lamola. The first half ended 0:0 even though we deserved a lead.
We resumed the second but had a poor start as we saw the opponent hit the cross bar after Dube lost possession in our half. We then picked our game and it wasn’t long and we got our rhythm back again. We had an opportunity to win a penalty when the referee denied Mutizwa a foul after being fouled in the box. In no time, Lamola was fouled in the box on the 67th minute and the referee gave us a penalty and we made it 0:1 via Mutizwa. In the 80th minute Sithebe brought AmaZulu back into the game with the equaliser after firing a low strike into the bottom corner in a scramble inside the box from a corner-kick. Another beautiful passage of play ensured as we played short inter passes in the Centre and unlocked the opponent before Mutizwa got us a winning goal and his second for the night. The match ended 1:2 to us and we collected 3 points and reached the magical 30 points mark with nine matches to play. Our next encounter is Highlands Park at home in two weeks.
Our Nedbank Cup game went to penalties to determine a winner at Dobsonville this afternoon.
After playing a full 90 minutes where we were frustrated by a determined team who played their game in the hopes of going to penalties, they executed their game plan well and came out victorious.
In the first 45 both sides played some decent flowing football and ended up going into the break on an even score.
But the plan for the home side came to light in the second stanza as VUT parked the bus and defended their hearts out to look to force extra time and penalties.
We did manage to score a second goal with 2 minutes of standard time left, but had a lapse in concentration and allowed the host team to equalise just 2 minutes later
Once again, after extra time had been played we were still drawn 2all and it was penalties that would be the decider.
We answered each of the 5 penalties but it was the 6th, taken by Mtshali that missed the target and gave the Vaal team the win for the afternoon
We travel to Dobsonville Stadium this weekend as we kick off our Nedbank Cup campaign against Vaal University of Technology at 15h00 tomorrow.
The coaching staff and team have been preparing well for the game against VUT. While not knowing a great deal about the opposing side, the preparations have taken into consideration that we could come across a squad of players who are hungry to progress to the next round of the competition and could potentially look for that underdog win.
Coach Steve Komphela has put the challenge to the team to go all the way in the Nedbank Cup, knowing that its possible after the form shown in the Telkom Cup competition.
VUT are the only fourth-tier team in the competition, and are looking to make history by beating a PSL team. Stanley Nkoane, coach of the team said “It is 11 players versus 11 and we are not afraid of anything.”
“They can bring whoever they want to‚ we going to compete and not just to play for sake for playing. We know we can win.”
The game will not be televised and therefore will be covered on our social media platforms.
Image courtesy Debiky Images
This match came at the back of a heartbreaking result against KAIZER Chiefs where we lost the match at the very last minute of the match. Similar to KAIZER Chiefs, we put up a great team performance.
Even though we had lost two players in camp due to sickness. We had to replace Venter wit Ndwandwe and Parusnath with Zuke. Both players played a crucial role in the match. Ndwandwe started the match in place of Prusnath and was involved in the build up to the goal that won us the match. Zuke got in later in the match and played a crucial role when he replaced Ndwandwe, who was handling Mbule from SS UTD.
We had good control of the first half. The opponent had no answers to our game plan. We needed just one moment to create a clear chance. We kept good possession and rotated the ball well and only lacked the ability to play over the top because the opponent was narrow and compact with a high line.
We rectified and restructured our attack and beginning second half we created exactly in the same manner we had discussed in the dressing room and we scored to make it 1:0. After we had scored the opponent opted for two strikers in Gabuza and Grobler and we needed to adjust our structure where we took in Shitolo for L. Dube and played 3 Centre backs and dropped Ndwandwe from ten to six to consolidate the midfield and defense.
The opponent tried breaking us down but we defended very resolutely. All we needed was coming out decisively and score the second. We failed to bury the match and had to live anxiously till the end. We won the match 1:0 but great and resolute performance from the team.
We continue our campaign to fight for a top 8 spot tomorrow afternoon as we face SuperSport United at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. Kick off at 15h30.
We have looked good both on attack and defensively and the boys are looking to continue this as we fight to accumulate points as we get into the final half of the season.
SuperSport are always a formidable team.At the moment they have secured 3 wins from their last five outings and are in their own battle for second spot on the table, sitting just a point behind Mamelodi Sundowns.
They have performed well against the KZN sides, with a draw early in 2020 with Maritzburg United, and then beating AmaZulu 2-0 the week after.
The coaching staff have been working hard at preparing a game strategy to upset SuperSport at home on Saturday.
Tickets are on sale at the stadium, and cost just R40 per adult or R15 for kids u12. Come to the stadium and get behind the green and gold in our ABSA Premiership fight.
We played this match at the back of a good turnaround where we won and draw our previous two encounters against Baroka and Polokwane City respectively. The opponent was in great form and had just drawn their previous encounter. It was indeed a very difficult match and we needed to put up a plan in two days to deal with the powerful attack. Our team responded very well to the challenges and great threats known from the opponent. Our defensive work dealt very well with their crossing game and long diagonal balls played to their attackers who were positioned far out wide and the central threat of their two tens. We Med due adjustments in time and nullified the threat. We tried to avoid too many free kick and corners in and around the box but due to the nature of the game, we conceded a lot of those however we dealt with them very well. We needed more conviction in the final third. The lack of courage did affect our final third entry and consistent penetration. The first half was tight, with far and between chances, as a result no goal was scored.
The second half started well though the opponent looked the better right at the beginning of second. We collected our thoughts and got ourselves back in the game. We kept same structure and good tactical discipline and provided all solutions except that we needed to ask them more questions in our final third. A few opportunities started coming through from both sides but they were not as close or clear to be buried or scored. Mutizwa had a few rare moments where he could have opened the score, once the ball played on his back as he was about to break away, the other was a lame to the keeper who made an easy catch before he could later get a free kick at a good position but also sent it straight into the keeper’s hands. We kept the team unchanged for for almost 85 minutes when we started making a change (Venter in for Parusnath, Sibeko for Mtshali). The match 90 minutes regulation time was over and were in 4 minutes additional time. Two minutes were gone already and the match done and great application displayed, the opponent made a cross from the right, we failed to defend as expected, the keeper pulled a safe, on rebound, the opponent scored 0:1 and we lost the match with the last kick of the ball. Great application and resilience, not too much courage in the final third and lapse of concentration, the match was lost.
Tomorrow afternoon we host Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kick off will be 15h30.
After returning after our game against Polokwane City with just a point, the team has been preparing for this clash against the AmaKhozi.
Coach Steve Komphela and assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi are confident that should the team stick to the game plan set out for the afternoons clash, that a win is more than possible at the end of the 90 minutes.
With a solid attacking strategy being prepared, as well as plans to reduce the possibilities of conceding fouls in the last third, then there is a strong chance of a win.
Sitting comfortably at the top of the log, Kaizer Chiefs will be wanting to extend their points buffer against the second and third placed sides.
Kaizer Chiefs showed that they can be vulnerable after drawing their encounter against Black Leopards last weekend.
Tickets are still available at TicketPro outlets. They are R40 for Adults and R15 for kids U12 years old.
This away match was played after a hard fought 1:0 home win against Baroka where Sfiso Mlungwana played his first match and kept a clean sheet. He had yet another good day in the office against a very forceful Polokwane City who were fighting for their lives to survive relegation. We had a good first half and created a few good chances. We took the lead early in the game, 8th minute after a well orchestrated move we generated from training and Mutizwa finished with a header to make it 0:1. We had good control of the match against a difficult opponent. We had another chance in the 44th minute when Mutizwa put Lamola through and with only the keeper to beat, he shot wide. The first half ended 0:1 in our favor.
We resumed the second with more clarity on how to deal with the opponent midfield shape. We started the second half well and kept probing but not as clear. Lamola was put through again by Mutizwa, with only the keeper to beat, he blasted the ball against the keeper and we failed to make it 0:2. In no time after that miss the opponent pulled one twenty minutes into the second half. Sfiso pulled a great save from a Chauke shot, we failed to clear the lines and Anas finished the rebound to make it 1:1. The match became a battle for a winner but it wasn’t to be. The last chance to win the match fell for us when we got a central free kick and Mutizwa went over the wall, beat the keeper but hit the cross bar. The match ended 1:1.
Our next encounter is at home against Kaizer Chiefs
We face off against Pololwane City tomorrow afternoon in the ABSA Premiership, at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. Kick off is scheduled for 15:30.
After breaking our winless run last week after a home win to Baroka FC, the team is looking to continue on that and pick up more points away from home against Polokwane City
Fighting for dominance in a very tight mid log battle, we would relish some more points in the effort to obtain a favourable Top8 finish come end of the season.
While the coach and team are confident of the result after 90 minutes they are fully aware of how dangerous a team is when fighting for their lives in the competition.
Also under consideration would be the fact that Polokwane City are currently under the direction of Clinton Larsen, who is familiar with the playing styles of a number of our players.
Larsen, confident that Polokwane City are capable of upsetting us, are looking to fight from a dangerous position at the bottom of the log.
The team is more than capable of winning, and Larsen is confident the results can start coming sooner than later.
The game will be televised on SuperSport Channel 211, and as always covered on our social media channels will be available
A very difficult encounter we faced with the opponent at the bottom of the log and fighting tooth and nail to get out of the bottom of the log. A crucial match for our confidence due to our bad run recently.
There was a very small margin of points between the teams. They played a very physical game, competing for every ball both in the air and on the ground. They played ore direct and we competed very well. The first half was tightly contested and there were very few chances created by both teams except the high number of corners we conceded and the opponent threatened to score by delivering their balls far post.
We were kept in the game by Mlungwana, playing his first PSL match, when he kept out a close range header from a corner kick. The first half ended 0:0. We resumed the second half with good energy and took off where we left off.
We kept fighting their direct play knowing that soon the match will change face. We got a free kick in the opponent half ad from tat free kick, we scored via Shitolo to make it 1:0. We created two to three chances from counter attack situations and we failed to take advantage.
We needed more composure on our counter attacks so that we could terminate them. The victory puts us at 24 points after 17 matches and position 7 on the log. There’s still a lot of work to be done but so far so good.
We will be looking to break our losing run with a home win tomorrow night against Baroka FC. The game kicks off at 19h30 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The coaches and players have been quick to reflect on the performance against Maritzburg United on Friday night and have worked on game strategies to reduce the possibilities of a repeat performance going forward.
In a season where every point will count going forward, it is going to be crucial to accumulate points at each opportunity. Wednesdays game against a struggling Baroka FC should be one of these opportunities.
Bakgakga have also been struggling of late. They have lost three, and drawn two in their last 5 outings, with their most recent result being a 1-0 loss to Cape Town City.
This has put them in a precaurious position on the log standings and one they will be looking to fight their way out of.
The game will not be televised so get to the Stadium to catch the game. Tickets will be on sale at the stadium on match day, R40 adults and R15 kids U12
Should you not be able to get there, follow us on one of our social network platforms for a play-by-play feed on the game
The first match in the year of 2020 and the first of the second round. It had to be a derby where the opponent ended the first round on a high and lost in the Telkom final against Sundowns.
Their strategy clearly to play on counter attack. Something we prepared very well for and managed without problems. We had been working on our own quick transitions. We scored first through a quick counter attack when Venter finished a brilliant pass from Lamola.
We ended first half leading 1:0 with no threat at all, a good game plan and well executed. The second half resumed but we had a slow start and grew with the match. The game went on till late when we literally surrendered our lead. We conceded two goals in two minutes in the dying minutes.
We did not pickup the opponent tight enough and got punished. The opponent made it 1:1. They further got a lucky goal when we conceded an own goal and they made it 2:1. A difficult defeat to take considering that we had three clear cut chances, two from Mutizwa and one from Venter, when the opponent never had any clear cut chances.
It is so devastating because the matches we lost are ones we never deserved to.
Last minute drama decided the game against Maritzburg United tonight as we ended up losing the 3 points on offer at Harry Gwala Stadium.
While dominating the greater deal of the game and displaying some impressive linking play, we failed to convert the opportunities that were created and sealing the game when we should have,
Opening the scoring in the 38th minute off a quick counter play from N.Gumede, it was Venter who put the ball in the back of the net and putting the home side on the back foot going into the break.
Maritzburg returned to the field, showing determination to pull something back with a change in positional play. They made well thought of substitutions to keep the pressure on the defence and eventually managed to score their equlaiser in the 88th minute.
This seemed to rally them together, and they kept pressure on us in the 5 minutes of extra time. This paid off for them when Jappie crossed to the near post, the ball was played to the middle again and Sibisi looked to clear as Moseamedi was coming up on attack. Unfortunately his attempted clearance played into the top right corner of the goal an sealed our fate for the night.
We have a number of days to regroup before we face Baroka FC at home on the 8th January.
We get the new year underway with a Derby game against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala stadium tomorrow night.
After achieving a number of goals in the first half of the season, Coach Komphela has made it clear that the team need to carry on with their positive journey, but will need to up their determination in order to achieve the goals for the second part of the season.
Just 10 points separates positions 2 to 8 on the league table, and Winning the Derby game can keep the club in contention for a Top 4 position.
But The Team of Choice have also kept themselves in contention for a Top 8 spot so far, and have lost just one game in their last 5 while securing points of a win and three draws.
Both sides will be the wanting maximum points at the end of the 90 minutes. A setting for an exciting game of football to kick the second part of the season off.
The game will be televised live on SS4 and we will have our usual play-by-play on our social media channels.
This was the last match for the year 2019 and the last for the first round. The heat was on and the grass dry which affected the rhythm of our game. The opponent was always first on the ball and we were always a second late.
Our midfield press was to loose and we never fought for first ball nor second balls against a very physical team with good work ethic but very limited technical ability except long balls played to Shalulile who proved to be handful to our defenders. The opponent got themselves ahead by snatching a goal from a corner kick when Rae headed unchallenged.
The score was 1:0. We kept trying but our players rook long to listen to a basic instruction where we needed to hold our full backs lower so that we created the space behind opponent wingbacks. As soon as we did that, we created enough opportunities. Makhubela had his chance hit the cross when there was only goalkeeper to beat. Teams went to the break at 1;0. The officials really made our job difficult through their incompetence.
The second half resumed and we looked more dangerous and Sibeko missed an open net and got another two chances but failed to convert. Mutizwa also had two chances, Shitolo, Makhubela had chances as well but we were blunt in front of goal. The opponent were awarded a very dubious penalty and they made it 2:0.
We tried but nothing came through and the match ended 2:0.
Our next encounter, which would mark the start of the second round is on the 3rd January 2020.
We end off the first half of the season tomorrow with an away game to Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium.
The team is looking to finish the 2019 leg of the season with an away win against the Johannesburg based side, and maintain a positive log position heading into the second half of the season.
Last season, we shared results with The Lions of the North, losing 2-1 to them away and then winning 2-1 in February at home.
After losing our home game against Bidvest Wits, a win is what we are targetting to climb up the log standings again after dropping points.
Highlands Park will be pushing for a win. They have not got maximum points from a game in the last 5, having lost 2 and drawn 3 of their fixtures.
A home win would give their fans some confidence ahead of the second part of the competition in 2020.
The match was played on Thursday due to BIDVEST continental duties. The weather conditions were similar to the Mamelodi Sundowns Telkom cup match where we played good football under rain and won.
We played exactly the same good football under rainy conditions, especially second half. The first half was a cagey affair where we were denied space and we needed to impose ourselves, which we did second half. The least said about the officiating the better.
The opponent was aggressive and we had no protection from officials. The worst was when we conceded a goal from a dubious Mothupa penalty where the goalkeeper was penalized when in fact the tackle was legitimate. We went to half time trailing by a goal to zero.
We had a better second half even though we lost too much possession from our left side with Lunga the main culprit. We dominated the second half completely and had a few clear cut chances to equalize and we failed to score. The biggest chance in the match was when Dube was fouled inside the box and we got a penalty. Mutizwa missed the kick and the opponent survived.
We kept pushing till the last minute of the match but we just could not equalize. The second match we lost under circumstances unexplainable where we dominated completely and created clear chances and ended on the losing side. We had hoped to make 3 points and consolidate our third position on the log but unfortunately we could not and are still no. 4 on the log with 20 points.
Our next encounter to wrap the first round is against Highlands park on the 21st December.
We will start wrapping up the first round of the season with our last home game of 2019 against Bidvest Wits tomorrow night at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Steve Komphela and his boys will be looking to continue with their positive results achieved at home this season so far with a win against The Students.
With the two sides having met 33 times in the PSL, it is The Clever Boys who have dominated the fixture statistically, having claimed 19 wins compared to Lamontville Golden Arrow’s 8. However, with the current home form at Sugar Ray Xulu, Abafana Bes’thende are looking to get a positive result against the odds.
The team is determined to come back from their disappointing loss against Black Leopards in November and maintain a very positive position on the log standings.
The Clever Boys, having played their last League game against Highlands Park, were held to a 1-1 draw against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium after a late equaliser by Thabang Monare.
They have not secured a win in four matches in all of the competitions they have played and will be looking to turn their results around in Clermont tomorrow night.
Tickets are available at the stadium for the game, and we would encourage our supporters to come and catch the last home game before the festive season.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport4, and we will cover the game over our social media platforms should you be unable to watch it.
The match was played just two days after the Baroka win. The team had had enough rest and we showed in our overall performance which was fresh. We dominated the match from the first whistle till the last except the period in the second half, where the opponent had a ten minute spell of good play and managed to score two goals in succession. Something we never saw happening based on how we played. The two goals happened in the second when the opponent overloaded our wingbacks. We didn’t respond promptly and we suffered a huge setback. Our compelling moments where we were supposed to win the match was in the first half. We played a good game with fluidity and created good chances but only took one from the penalty. Mutizwa converted to make it 0:1 and kept playing and the opponent had no solutions. Our greatest downfall on the day was lack of a killer instinct to bury the match. We went to half time leading 0:1 and with no real problems encountered except scoring more. This is our third undeserved defeat this season. Something we fail to learn from. When stakes are high, we fail to rise to the occasion. This calls for a stronger mindset, more concentration and focus to team goals than individual goals. We always play better when we are trailing from behind. There seems to be a heightened level of concentration when we chasing the match.
A very tough match away to an opponent, with a good squad but who’s been struggling to get results. This match was played after we lost to MSFC in the semifinals of the Telkom Cup. The level of our moral was at our lowest but we quickly needed to restore it. We had a fairly balanced match with far and few chances. We struggled to find our playing rhythm. We lost too many balls in possession. We couldn’t dominate the match as we used to. Each time we fail to hit our rhythm of play, it affects our confidence. We were threatened several times by the opponent but managed to defend well. We had deployed two strikers and it was clear, it did affect our midfield fluidity. The suspension to Phiri also posed a threat in midfield dominance. We ended the first half 0:0 and we had to resolve and reorganize our attack. We introduced Chonco for Gumede and we looked better. The opponent was threatening during corner kicks and we survived the scare. Deep in the second the referee awarded a penalty against us, through insistence from the first assistant. The opponent missed the chance. We scored in the 84th minute when Venter struck a brilliant in swinging free kick from a wide position. The balls went directly into the net untouched and it was 0:1 with five minutes to go. The opponent also missed a last minute chance as we defended with our lives. We won the match 0:1 and kept our position 3 on the log after 12 matches, having collected 10 points out of twelve. Our next mission is in Thohoyandou against B. Leopards in two days.
On the road again
We continue our time on the road with another away game against Black Leopards tomorrow night at the Thohoyandou Stadium.
Coming off a last minute win in our mid-week game against Baroka FC, the team is looking to continue their collection of points come game time on Saturday.
Some work has been done on both the offensive and defensive aspects of our game after Wednesdays nights game, when we should have converted more of the chances that we created, and slipped a bit on our defensive game.
All that being said, the team is confident of being able to secure a further 3 points on the road come game time.
Black Leopards, currently sitting at 13th on the log have won two of their last 5 encounters, lost 2 and drawn 1. They are hungry for points that would give them a boost to a possible 8th place standing before the festive break.
They will be feeling wounded after their 3-0 loss to Chippa FC earlier in the week and this could make them dangerous at home as they seek some retribution.
Once again, we will not have the game televised but urge you to follow us on our social media channels for updates on the game.
Both the technical team and players will swing their focus back towards the league in securing as many points as possible before the festive break. This will start with an away game to Baroka FC tomorrow night.
Lamontville Golden Arrows have the opportunity to climb up the log from 4th place should the team maintain their positive play and unsettle Baroka at home.
With the League table being very close, with just 5 points separating 2nd and 8th position, every point will count. This is a very important point to take in mind as we head to the break and aim to keep a favourable position on the log.
Baroka can be an unpredictable side, and having won only one of their last 5 games, will be wanting to take advantage of playing at home and giving their supporters a positive result.
The side have managed to secure just 12 points so far, but a win could catapult them up to 6th place on the standings, so they have everything to fight for come tomorrow night.
The game will not be televised, but we will be keeping you up to date on the proceedings over our social media channels.
This was the second match in a row against the opponent after beating them 3:2 In the previous encounter. Clearly the opponent had learned from their previous encounter against us. They pressed us higher and targeted certain players and press target and worked for them.
We could not build with fluidity and still insisted on building with risk. We lost too many balls in our attack and that knocked our confidence to play. We then went on and conceded an early goal when we failed to defend a set play from wide. Kekana jumped the highest and our goalkeeper was caught between and we suffered. The opponent then went on and scored their second deep into first half where we failed to stop their wingback, Morena and the score was 2:0 at half time.
Our second half was completely different. We played the arrows way and gave a great performance. Our turnovers were quicker, our build up play was also fluid and we took control of the match. E scored late in the second half when Sibiya connected with a Mutizwa cross. We kept pressing but pity we could not get an equalizer. We did get behind the opponent and created enough chances to at least draw the match but unfortunately on the day, we had no luck and got knocked out of the Telkom semi final. Our next match is a league match in three days in Polokwane against Baroka and immediate followed by Black Leopards in Thohoyandou on Saturday.
All eyes will be on Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium tomorrow afternoon as we take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the first Telkom Knockout semi final of the weekend.
The game, set to kick off at 3pm, promises to be action packed as we look to defend an unbeaten home streak this season, as well as ending the Brazilians run in the TKO Tournament.
The team is well prepared for the encounter, both physically and mentally. They are confident and determined to take on Masandawana and secure a double win on Saturday.
Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking for revenge after losing at Sugar Ray Stadium just 2 weeks ago. They could be bolstered by the return of some of their previously sidelined players, and this may increase their confidence of having some sort of advantage.
Coach Steve Komphela and his technical team will have taken all of this into consideration in preparing for the cup fixture an will have a plan to counter the possible inclusion of Kekana and Sirino.
Tickets are still available for the game from TicketPro outlets, so make sure to get yours as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. No tickets will be sold at the stadium
The game will be televised on both SuperSport an SABC if you are unable to attend, or follow us on social media for play-by-play coverage.
This match was played after four difficult matches where we played PLK City, SS UTD all twice in a row in Telkom Cup and ABSA Premier League. We’ll be playing MSFC twice as well.
The approach to the match was similar where we defended very well and was courageous enough to impose our offensive play. We had a fairly balanced first half where both teams had to deal with rainy weather conditions. The opponent had an advantage of playing with the rain and wind and we were against. The opponent broke wide from their left and a soft cross was made and we conceded a very soft goal. The score was 0:1 and the first half came to an end. We had a good first half except the mistake that led to the goal.
We started the second half with the wind and the rain. We then opted to press the opponent high up. We dominated the second half. Had a great team performance and scored three goal in the process. The equalizer came in the 60th minute when Phiri took a shot and the goalkeeper fluffed the shot due to wet wether and lack of grip from gloves. Ten minutes later we made it 2:0 when Lunga played a diagonal ball and Mutizwa finished the chance, far post. In the 80th minute we made it 3:1 after a great short interplay leading to the opponent box where Parusnath was fouled inside the box. Mutizwa stepped up and hit the third one to make it 3:1. All looked well and the match was nearing its end, the opponent scored their second from bad defending and lapse in concentration. The score was 3:2 and the match ended with tension and Excitement.
We meeting the same opponent again in our next match on the 23/11/2019 in the Telkom Cup.
After a successful trip away, we return home this weekend to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in an ABSA Premiership game tomorrow
With the team coming off a demanding trip, they will be happy to be facing Masandawana at home on Sunday.
Under the guidance of Steve Komphela, the team is doing well to achieve the goals set out for them regarding point accumulation, and Sundays home game is 3 points that will not want to be missed out on.
Sundowns coach, Pitso Mosimane, has said that they may be under a bit of pressure with injuries with Mahlambi, Sirino and Zwane out due to injury, That being said, they will want a win after their midweek draw to Baroka FC.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketpro and will also be available at the stadium, But please make your purchases before getting to the stadium to avoid disappointment.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport4 (SS4) and as usual, you can follow us for play-by-play updates should you not be able to get to the game.
We played this match just two days after beating the opponent and knocking them out of the Telkom Cup.
It was always going to be difficult to beat an opponent that was wounded. They played 4:3:3 and stuck to their system. We played a much much better game compared to the first one. We kept the ball longer and we defended our areas very well in areas where we preferred the opponent to have the ball, we were successful and there were no real threats.
Our defenders dealt with Gabuza very well. The opponent opted for a very dynamic ITC wing play where they created a wide midfield trio of wingback, the wide striker and box midfielder on both sides, consistently. We managed to deal with them and fifteen minutes to the end of the match, our team showed great hunger and desire to win the match.
We missed three clear cut chances. Venter had two chances, Mutizwa had his near post shot saved and Lunga’s header was stopped at the far post. Our performance on the night was confirmed when the opponent keeper was chosen as man of the match. It was a successful outing to Mbombela as we wrapped it with a draw after we won the TKO match two days ago.
We are on again in preparation against Mamelodi Sundonws in 4 days to complete the third match in eight days.
We are back at Mbombela Stadium and take on SuperSport United in our mid-week ABSA Premiership clash tonight.
Both teams sit on 13 points on the log after 9 games, making the result tonight an important one for the coaches and their teams. There is not a lot separating the top 8 teams at the moment, and losing 3 points could put mid season targets at risk.
We have had a good run of late, and been unlucky not to convert more chances. But the call from Coach Komphela for the players to be more aggressive seems to have rung home and the squad is carrying out the call.
This has given us favourable results, and one that we look to continue in tonight’s clash.
SuperSport will be looking for the win and some redemption from the weekends result. We will need to be aware of this from the first whistle and deal with their attacking play sensibly.
The game will be televised on SS11, with coverage starting from 19h20.
Follow us on our social platforms for game coverage if you are unable to watch the game.
G. ARR V SS UTD
We came to Mbombela knowing that we were going to play a very well-structured team playing a 4:3:3 with discipline and fluidity. Right from the Kickoff the intentions from both teams were clear that they were prepared to fight to go to Semi-finals.
We held our ground and were rewarded as we were awarded a free kick around the box. Mtshali made it 1:0. Something he got accustomed to from training. After we scored, we tried to play but the opponent was clear on pressing us high thus nullifying our free flowing game. We opted to go direct and our game was not as fluid as a result. The opponent kept playing crosses using their wingbacks and occasionally penetrating through the Centre using Mbule and Mokoena. We opted to close the Centre and rather deal with crosses and Gabuza. We resolved to suffer to win the match. We ended the first half 0:1 and went to the dressing to reorganize ourselves.
The second half was going to be very difficult and indeed we spent the better half defending. Nothing wrong with defending, our only problem was our lack of not connecting with attackers after regaining possession. We could have defended higher but we were too deep and possibilities are we were going to make mistakes. We conceded a penalty deep in referee’s optional time but the opponent missed.
We won the quarter final match 0:1 to advance to the semis.
It was bound to be a very difficult match after knocking them out of the TELKOM Cup. We had a very good start and scored first in the second minute when Mutizwa headed a MTSHALI free kick. The score was 1:0 and it helped us a lot. We continued playing our way even under pressure.
The opponent strategy was to press us high so that we do not get the rhythm to play. All we needed to do more often was to play beyond the line of press into the midfield and start playing from there. In a few moments where we bypassed the first line of press we looked dangerous and we could manage to create more opportunities.
There were moments where we risked possession especially from our left side but we managed to control and survived the threat. We created more chances and our problem was finishing. Mutizwa was the main culprit where he squandered two great chances. We went to the dressing 1:0.
We started the second half well but the opponent kept piling pressure and we lost a bit of confidence. As they were to make a double sub we conceded a goal through the Centre when we didn’t press the ball in the Centre. The score was 1:1. The opponent made their changes and opted for three man defence. We were under pressure for the better part of the second half but we resisted well.
The match got even more physical as both teams were looking to break away and win. Our mental strength showed when we forced the opponent to concede a free kick. Phiri line up the free kick, took a shot, the ball rebounded from the keeper and Makhubela made it 2:1 right at the end. That was to be the last kick of the match and we won the match.
We are up against Polokwane City once again this weekend, but it’s a league game this time.
They return to the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Kick-off will be 15h30.
It will be an important 3 points to secure, as we sit 7th on the log presently, but a game ahead of 4 of the other sides. So, to be able to maintain the position, the side are going to have to play a solid 90 minutes for the win.
Coach Steve Komphela has set objectives for every 5 league games with an objective of achieving a certain number of points. A home win would go a long way in achieving this and the team will be well prepared for the game plan for the weekend.
Sitting 3 positions above us, at 4th, Polokwane City will also be wanting a favourable result from the game. They have lost their last two outings in the ABSA Premiership which have both been away games.
Breaking this would prove to be a positive turn in their mind set, and the team will be playing for the points on offer.
The game will not be televised, so get down to the stadium to catch the action. Tickets will be on sale at the gate at R40 for adults and R15 for children under 12.
We will be posting regular updates on the games progression over our social media platforms as well, so follow us if you are unable to watch it live.
This was our first knockout competition for this match. It showed in the temperament of the match where there was a great physical contest that lasted 120 minutes. We played a good game all round and dominated the game comfortably.
We created numerous chances as always but our biggest challenge is converting the chances. Most of our offensive patterns were clear and prevalent in the match. Our build attack continued to appear structured. Our midfield linked well both in defending and joining attack at the right time. Our final third entries both wide and central were very clear and strong but the finishing was poor. There were countless chances throughout the 120 minutes.
Our biggest threat from the opponent was their direct approach where Chigova the goalkeeper was aiming for Anas the striker and they looked to play through second balls. We managed their approach very well. There were no goals until end of 90 minutes. We got our goal and only goal of the match in the extra time.
A hard fought victory and qualification to the next round of the tournament. We’ll be meeting the same opponent again in our next league fixture in seven days. Another physical battle looming but this time over three points.
G. ARR (1) et vs PLK CITY (0)
We get our 2019 Telkom knockout campaign underway tomorrow as we take on Polokwane City at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Kick off, scheduled for 3pm, promises 90 minutes of action packed play as we take on the visitors from Polokwane in this seasons knockout competition.
The team is confident with the home fixture, and have had some time off to prepare well for the game. The squad have played a consistent game over their past three PSL fixtures, and are looking for an elusive win.
The Cup competition allows for a bit of a change in their game, an Saturday is an opportunity to give their all in the hunt for some silverware.
With the next PSL fixture again being against Rise and Shine, both teams will be looking to play a different game plan from normal, and this in itself should be grounds for an action packed game.
Polokwane City will be looking to secure a win and advance in the competition too. They have had mixed results in their last few games, and an opportunity to push forward in the Cup competition would be welcomed.
They can be unpredictable at times, and a change in their normal play could be on the cards as they look to unsettle us.
The game will be televised on SuperSport10 (SS10) and we will provide a play-by-play during the game, but we would like to call on our home support to get to the stadium and get behind the side.
We have dropped 3 points this evening at FNB Stadium against Kaizer Chiefs.
In what looked to be an equal footed game in the first 10 minutes, we gave the hosts their first opportunity to score as Billiat dragged a shot wide from the right.
The Glamour Boys were then awarded a penalty as Billiat took a shot into the box. Dube, defending, had an arm out and the referee blew against him awarding the hosts an opportunity to take the lead.
Cardoso stepped to the spot and put the home side into the lead.
We had a number of well executed attacking plays. Lunga, Sibeko and Mutizwa did well linking up on attack but the chances we created were just not good enough to create the gaps to score before the break.
Coming back onto the pitch in the second 45, we once again countered well against a confident home side. we created better chances to score but it was Chiefs who were gifted their second goal after Sibisi scored an own goal in the 60th minute.
The boys fought back hard, and did create a number of good chances, however it was just not to be our night. Mutizwa had a good chance to pull one back, but put the sitter over the bar.
The team have a couple of weeks to pull together and work on the part of the game where we are lacking before we face Polokwane City at home on the 26th October.
We knew it was going to be a tricky match. It needed a sober mind and clear thinking. We started very well and scored two goals on transition from Mutizwa to make it 2:0.
The opponent tried to sit in a block but we managed to unlock them by playing over the top using our speed in attack. There was little problems in the first half and went to half time leading 2:0, playing a good possession and pressing game.
The second half started and we still kept our structure. The opponent introduced another striker with aerial prowess and we decided to add a central defender. It was at that moment of switch when we lost concentration and conceded the first goal to be 2:1.
We could not settle and a long diagonal ball in the center of the defense was missed by the keeper and the striker (Moon) scored their second goal to make it 2:2.
We had committed two basic errors and surrendered our lead. We then changed and played 3:3:4 to chase the game. We played our usual possession and attacking football, created a few more chances but lacked the killer instinct.
We drew the match 2:2 and dropped 2 valuable points. One of the key areas to improve with our team is a better mindset and also attitude of remaining respectful throughout the match till we win.
Our next assignment is in two days against KAIZER Chiefs in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
It was a game of two halves this afternoon at Sugar Ray Xulu stadium as we played to a draw with Stellenbosch FC.
Coming into the game and playing a strong attacking game in the first half,we kept the visitors on the back foot.
This saw Mutizwa getting his brace off two similar goals after being played into position off long balls. This forced Dr Jong off his line in defence and opened up his goals, allowing us to take full advantage of the situation.
Going into the break 2 goals up looked promising for us. This however was not the case in the second half.
Stellenbosch FC came out of the break looking fired up. They attacked from kick off and were not allowing us time on the ball.
Their attacking play payed off in the 60th minute with their first goal and then the equaliser just 3 minutes later.
We pulled together and attacked more in the last 15 minutes, creating chances, but just not being given space to capitalise on them.
Not the result we were hoping for as we head off to play Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday, however still a point to add to the seasons tally.
We host newcomers Stellenbosch FC at the Sugar Ray Xulu tomorrow afternoon in our weekends ABSA Premiership game.
With having had positive results at home so far, we will be looking at collect 3 points against Stellenbosh.
While the visitors have yet to secure a victory this season, no assumptions can be made that they will be an easy defeat come 3pm kick off.
Our attacking play has seen us come back from some close defeats, and should we continue this style of play, could see us with a decent goal haul.
Stellenbosch have played some close encounters this season. They have drawn against Chippa United, Maritzburg United and most recently Black Leopards, while losing narrowly to Cape Town City. Their two biggest defeats have come against Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic.
The game will be televised on SS10 and covered on our social media channels. We would however like to have our supporters in the stands to get behind the team for the game.
A very difficult match to a CTC team that always wants to play from the back with lots of capable technical players. Their profile of is not far from our profile. Both teams showed lots of similarities. The glaring one was the high pressing game where the team in possession lost the ball and immediately applied pressure to stop possible counter attacks. We were more aggressive in our pressing game. We pressed till the last minute. A sign that our team is well conditioned.
In moments where we needed to play, we played good attacking football. We finished the first half with no problems except composure in our finishing. We also lacked the ability to counter efficiency where possible and we were too forgiving when we had a good opportunity to counter. We ended the first half 0:0.
The second half started very well and we had two great opportunities the first five minutes but failed to score. The opponent had a rare opportunity when a cross got delivered in the box and Erasmus converted to make 1:0. We kept playing our way without panic and looked convincing.
We made changes to effect the game, Venter for Sibiya, Sibeko for Lamola and Mutizwa for Gumede. We managed to pull an equalizer when Sibeko pulled wide on the left and left defenders behind, only to be fouled inside the box for penalty. Mutizwa made it 1:1.
The team showed great mental fortitude, good physical condition.
We played good football and created enough chances to win the match but wasn’t to be.
We travel to Cape Town this weekend to face Cape Town City in our 6th ABSA premiership League game of the season. Kick off is on Sunday afternoon at 15h00.
Head Coach, Steve Komphela will be keen to secure points away from home and maintain a positive point haul. His first objective for the season was to secure 10 points from the first 5 games, and while not pleased about coming up short, has set the same objectives for the next five games.
This will bolster a solid foundation to work from while keeping the club in contention for a Top 8 finish come the end of the season.
Cape Town City, under the guidance of Benni McCarthy, will be wanting to secure home points. They currently sit just 10th on the log and have secured just a single win so far this season. The remainder of their points come from 3 draws.
The Citizens will be wanting to take advantage of their home advantage, and will not be serving points on a platter come Sunday afternoon.
The game will be televised on SS4 and we will be posting on the game on our social media channels.
The match, a derby as it was had all the ingredients of it. Due to the international break, Lunga and Mutizwa were rested and Lamola and Nkombelo got the start. We had good control of the first half. We dominated play and created the most chances. Most of the entries were from our right and all we needed was a good final pass and and clinical finishing. Our build up play was cohesive and were solid in defense. We took the lead in the 36th minute through a Sibiya penalty after Lamola was fouled from entry from the right. The score was 1:0. We were comfortable in all departments and proceedings till end of first half. We could have increased the lead to 2:0 but Lamola lacked composure to finish.
The second half was not as comfortable as the first even though there was more energy and physical exertion to die the Amazulu change of game plan. There were more explosive actions and fact that we were not in good control the opponent got a penalty in the 58th minute. The score was 1:1. Both teams were clearly eager to play for a result but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We had a few chances in the second half as well but we wasted them. Phiri had a great strike at goal and the keeper was alert to concede a corner.
The match ended 1:1. We had a target of ten points out of five matches. We short of two points and are starting another group of five where we need ten. Our next opponent is Cape Town City in Cape Town.
We shared the spoils with AmaZulu in this afternoons Durban Derby at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
In what was a game of two halves, we dominated the first 45 minutes, keeping our opponents on the back foot and pressing up on the wings to get attacking ball into the last third.
This game plan worked well, with Sibiya and S.Dube pushing up well and feeding some clean balls to the box. We were unfortunate on a number of occasions not to benefit from the play.
It was off one of these attacking moves that Lamola was bought down in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty to us.
Sibiya converted the opportunity to give a lead heading into the break.
The second half of the game was dominated by AmaZulu who seemed to be determined to claw back the lead from us. They managed to retain a lot of ball and made a number of attacking plays.
We too defended a little to hard, and conceded a penalty as Ntuli was taken down in the box.
He made no mistake in converting and equaled the score with just 15 minutes of play left.
With neither teams managing to convert chances created in the last quarter of the game, we had to be content with a draw and a point from the afternoons action.
The team will return to training in preparation for our away game against Cape Town City next Sunday being their top priority.
We were playing a good opponent who unfortunately had not been getting results even though playing good fast paced football. We needed to deny them the space in wide areas and also control their two holding midfielders. Our defensive structure was very solid and only needed us to connect well after regaining possession. We had a good chance to take the lead when Sibisi missed a header. The opponent had very little chance to get behind our defense. Our midfield worked extremely hard to protect the defence and we went to half time at 0:0.
The second continued in the same way except more clarity given at half time regarding the second layer of attack positioning. We also didn’t take full advantage of the free kicks we got. We had yet another opportunity to take the lead when we successfully came out and Phiri crosses for Sibiya who wasted the opportunity to finish a swift counter attacking move. A few changes that were made were purely to freshen the team because structurally, we looked very good throughout the match. At the end the match was drawn 0:0 even though we had the better chances. Our next opponent is Amazulu in 14 days.
We head to Orlando Stadium tomorrow night for our last fixture of the month as we take on Orlando Pirates at 19h30.
After a confidence boost with the win on Saturday against Chippa United, the team are looking forward to facing off in their mid-week game in Soweto.
The performance over the weekend was a turn around both defensively and on attack from the second round of the competition and should the boys keep up the level of game, they have a great chance of returning home with another three points.
Orlando Pirates will want to secure the home win. They have secured just four points from the first three games of the season.
The Buccaneers started the season with a win against Bloem Celtic but have since lost to Highlands Park, and in their last outing drew with AmaZulu at King Zwelithini Stadium.
The game should be an interesting one to watch, and support will be welcomed at Orlando Stadium.
We will be doing a play-by-play on the game, so follow us on social media for updates on the game. The game will also be live on SuperSport 4 (channel 204)
We played this match under difficult circumstances after the 5:0 away accidental loss to Celtic. We had ten days to work on the players moral and confidence. We also paid more attention to our defensive organization and it showed in the Chippa match.
We tried different central pairings at the back and we settled for Mathiane and Sibisi. We defended the opponent very well and scored the opening goal via Sibiya after a good combination with Makhubela. The score was 1:0. Even though we didn’t start as good as we wished. After the goal, we grew in confidence and finished the first half very strong.
In the dressing room we declared that the worse result in the second half should be to draw the half but our desire was to win it as well. The opponent started by bringing in two wide players and pushed us deeper into our half. We adapted quickly and regained our superiority.
As we were in ascendency with seven minutes to go, the opponent were awarded a dubious penalty and equalized from there. After the opponent goal, we had a chance when Mutizwa went one on one with the goalkeeper but missed. Within a minute, a second chance was created when Sabelo crosses from the left and Mutizwa headed the ball goal bound but hit the upright, quickly reacted to finish the chance and made it 2:1.
The opponent had no chance to bounce back and we won the match 2:1. This was our second win at home. A confidence boost after the CELTICS disaster.
We preparing to face a wounded Orlando Pirates away at Orlando Stadium in four days.
We get our weekend underway tomorrow afternoon with our third ABSA Premiership game against Chippa United. Kick off at 3pm, Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
After a break in the league games for the MTN8, we have had some time to pull together and work on our game plan for tomorrows fixture.
The technical staff and players have been working closely together as they look to bounce back in the 2019/20 campaign.
We will be looking for 3 points at home and to add to the foundation of the campaign.
Chippa United will be looking to secure their first win of the season after playing to two draws so far this season.
Clinton Larsen has been reported to be expecting ‘his players to fight for every inch’ on the field, and is not expecting the game to be an easy one.
The game should be an action packed encounter, so get to the stadium to experience it live.
Tickets will be available at the stadium at R40 for adults and R15 for kids under 12. Gates open at 12:00
The Diski team take on SuperSport United at home on Sunday 25 August in the third game of the Multichoice Diski Challenge.
The team has grown in confidence since kicking off their season and after losing to Kaizer Chiefs in their first outing, did well to fight back against Bloem Celtic last weekend, but eventually losing 3-1 after equalising.
The home game could give the side the added confidence they need as they look for their first win for the season.
SuperSport United have not yet lost a game, and will be looking to continue on their positive road on Sunday.
In their first game they did well against Maritzburg United, with a convincing win at Harry Gwala Stadium. Their second encounter saw them draw against Stellenbosch FC.
Entry to the game is free, so get to the stadium and come and watch the youngsters in action at Sugar Ray Stadium at 12pm on Sunday.
The Diski team take to the field again on Sunday with an away game against Bloem Celtic at Dr Molemela Stadium.
After having a shaky start to the season last weekend against Kaizer Chiefs, the team has been working on a number of different aspects to improve their game ahead of Sundays encounter.
It was a pressurised baptism into the folds of professional football for the youngsters, and one compacted by the fact that it was a Festival that they played their first game.
This weekends game will be a more intimate affair and should be better handled when it comes to nerves.
Bloemfontein Celtic will also be looking for their first win of the season after losing 3-0 in their opening game. Having home advantage could give them an upper hand but our players and technical team will hopefully have prepared for this in their game plan.
We look forward to a positive result and wish the youngsters well in the weekends game.
One of the most difficult and embarrassing matches to understand because of the outcome. The team performed very well creating numerous opportunities only to be denied by the goalkeeper.
We had the worst start, almost similar to Sundowns last season in Pretoria. We concede a goal in 45” after start of the match, when Dube played the ball behind our midfield in build attack and the opponent went straight to our goals and Mabena scored to make it 1:0.
The second goal was yet another mistake where we failed to guard the near post and were punished to a 2:0. We then took a decision to make a sub and chase the game. Indeed after the replacement of S.Dube by Mutizwa, another striker we immediately got three clear cut opportunities from Venter, the deflected shot, keeper made a brilliant save.
Mutizwa had two one on ones with the keeper. Yet again the keeper made great saves. A game of football is cruel. You miss your chances, the opponent is ruthless, you pay the price. We did in this match. All the goals we conceded were pure elementary defensive errors and we failed to convert our own clear cut chances.
We had better chances than the opponent but the opponent took their half chances and we failed. The errors were the same even in goal four and five.
The center of our defense made the worse error in the fourth and fifth we could not deal with defending the far post. We played a great game but committed cardinal mistake and the opponent on the day was precise while their goalkeeper had a man of the match performance.
The biggest challenge is to learn from this result and work on the players’ confidence and moral. Our next match is CHIPPA Utd at home.
We did not have the desired start to the Multichoice Diski season this afternoon with a 4-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs at King Zwelithini Stadium.
The game plan for us was to try and retain possession and put pressure on the visitors. Kaizer Chiefs game plan countered this from the beginning as they pushed the ball long and high over our defence, creating gaps and chances to score.
We managed to open the scoring however in the 38th minute after a failed header from Dube was lobbed back into the box and Nala headered the ball into the back of the net.
Amakhosi responded just two minutes later as Milazi nudged the ball into the back of the net. Team mate Hoala then scored from the opposite side only three minutes after that to go into the break a goal ahead.
Returning after the break, we tried to change our method of attack, but could just not get into a position to cause any major threat. Nala almost had a second chance to score and Dube pushed into the box behind the Chiefs defence, but was closed down quickly.
The game was over for us after Milazi got his brace and then Bunting converted a penalty in the 65th minute. The inexperienced players were just not able to turn the game around from this.
There is a lot to build on from the game, and the technical staff have a bit of work to do ahead of next weekends game against Bloem Celtic next weekend at Dr. Molemela Stadium
Our second round of ABSA Premiership action takes place on Sunday as we face Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr Molemela Stadium at 15h00.
After a 3 point win in the opening weekend of the competition against Maritzburg United, Coach Steve Komphela could be looking at using the new players in the side again after promising performances from the debutantes.
The players executed the game plan well in the season opener, but there was room for improvement on converting the chances created.
The team look positive ahead of Sundays clash and are looking to bag another 3 points in the competition and build up steam for the seasons objectives.
Bloemfontein Celtic started off with a tough fixture against Orlando Pirates, and battled to perform against the Soweto Powerhouse. After 90 minutes they went down 3-1 with Mahashe scoring their lone goal just minutes before the half time break.
They will be looking to secure some points, and will be hoping to walk away the victors at home on Sunday.
The game will be televised live on SS4. We will also cover the game across our social media platforms should you be unable to watch.
Diski action kicks off this weekend with a Diski festival at King Zwelithini Stadium.
We take on Amakhosi in the first game of the extended season being called ‘It’s Massive’, that sees teams playing each other both home and away.
We get the whole season underway with this game that kicks off at 12pm on Saturday.
Another season first for the Diski sides is that only u-21 players will be eligable to play in the tournament.
Local support would be great, and tickets are available from King Zwelithini stadium from 13h00 today.
All matches in the festival will also be broadcast on SS4 and SS10.
Get to Umlazi and come and see some new local talent in action.
The result was a great start to the season after coming out of six weeks of preseason preparation. We had five debutantes in our team, who performed well on the day. We played well beginning of the match and defended sensibly. We went to half time well in control except moments where the opponent looked to play over the top behind our wingbacks.
We also dealt with the aerial challenge from Moseamedi their top striker. We started with a positive goal injection right at the beginning second half. Gumede received a lobbed ball behind the defence from restart and calmly played the ball over the goalkeeper. Exactly what we work on at training. Something we highlighted as we were leaving the dressing room.
After the goal we had problems controlled he Game as the opponent kept pushing to find an equalizer. We defended very well with lots of bravery and commitment. We dealt with the many corners we conceded where under circumstances we would have conceded. A great start to the beginning of the season. We looking forward to our next match against Celtic in Bloemfontein.
After a goalless first half, it took just 30 seconds of the second half for Michael Gumede to open his scoring account for the team.
This was to be the only goal in a well contested match this afternoon at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium between the KZN rivals.
The first half of the game provided some entertaining football, with both sides working hard to secure possession and playing into attacking positions, but neither were able to capitalise on their chances.
Coming out after the break, Gumede connected a lob from the near side of the field well and found the back of the net.
The second half was high paced and entertaining. Maritzburg United seemed determined to equalise, but some solid defending from the team saw off their attack.
Both the players and the coaching staff will be happy with the 3 points earned today, but will proabably be looking at the game and deciding on whats needed to change to convert more chances as they prepare for next weekends game against Bloemfontein Celtic
We kick of the 2019/20 season with a home KZN Derby against Maritzburg United tomorrow afternoon.
After a positive pre season campaign the team is positive ahead of the clash, which kicks off at 3pm, Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The Derby game is always an important fixture in our calendar and the team is looking to continue in their winning record against the Team of Choice.
Last season we were victorious against the team of choice on both occassions.
The team is eager to continue the winning streak and secure 3 points in the opening game of the season.
Tickets are available at the stadium at R40 for adults and R15 for kids u12.
The Diski Shield final went down to the wire this afternoon, with a penalty from Siboniso Conco clinching the game before full time.
An explosive first 45 saw Mamelodi Sundowns open the scoring in the 3rd minute after Conco won the ball, passed it back, but the ball was intercepted at the back and Khomotjo Rachoene took his opportunity, struck the ball well and found the back of the net.
The team never sat back and accepted their position and fought back from the restart. After a number of plays into the final third Siboniso Conco then managed to get behind the defence and took his shot, beating Jayvin Chislom and equalising the score.
The remainder of the half way an end to end affair. Both teams created a number of scoring opportunities but neither was able to extend the lead before the break
Returning for the second 45, both sides tapped off on the pace of the game and seemed to be more conservative in their approach to the game. Still, neither were able to find the back of the net.
Both keepers had a number of great saves to keep their teams in contention, and Sundowns were unlucky when a shot hit the upright.
Frustration on the field from all of the players was evident and this started showing in the number of free kicks being conceded. In the 88th minute though, Siboniso Conco was bought down in the box. The referee awarded a penalty and Conco stepped up to the 12 yard mark.
He made no mistake with his shot and secured the late win and title for the team.
Thank you to all who were at the stadium to support the team, it was an amazing atmosphere to be around and the club and team would like to extend their thanks for the support shown.
The climax of the season takes place tomorrow afternoon as we take on Bidvest Wits at Princess Magogo Stadium at 3pm. An important encounter for us, and our last opportunity to try and secure a Top 8 finish in the season.
We will need to beat Bidvest Wits and hope that other results go our way as we look to bridge a two-point gap to eighth placed Highlands Park.
Steve Komphela will need to look at starting with an attacking 11 if we have a hope of achieving a Top 8 finish to the season.
The Clever Boys come off a win against Baroka FC and are keen to achieve as high a finish to the season as they can.
Currently sitting just 4 points below Orlando Pirates, a win away from home could see them finishing second on the log depending on the results of the other games today.
Gavin Hunt will be counting on their attack, which has kept them in contention for the greater deal of the season.
We appeal to our supporters to fill the stadium and get behind the team in their final push of the season.
We will be giving you a play by play feed on our social media platforms, so follow us if you want to keep up to date with the games proceedings.
The seasons work for the Diski team comes to a head on Sunday as they face Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the shield competition at King Zwelithini Stadium. Kick off will be at 13h00.
The team has put the hard yards into the exciting cup style competition and are determined to walk away with the honours come 3pm on Sunday.
The team beat Chippa FC, AmaZulu FC and lost to Maritzburg United in the first stage of the competition, then ousted Orlando Pirates at Kanyamazane Stadium in the semi final to secure a berth in this weekends game.
Sundowns will be as eager to lift the Shield cup, last time we faced eachother in the competition. It was Sundowns who knocked us out in the Semi finals.
Entry is free and tickets can be collected at the stadium on Thursday and Friday, 09 & 10 May 2019 from 13h00.
A very bizarre and highly interesting match we played. We had the worst start of the season and conceded two goals within the first 6 minutes of the match even though the first goal was an offside. We failed to control our emotions and made serious technical errors and lost possession consistently while we kept slipping due to unplayable surface.
It took us a while to settle and as soon as we settled, we looked the known Golden Arrows unfortunately we were already two goals down. We finished the first half with more confidence and all that was needed was frequent final third entries to try get a goal. The first half finished at 2:0 but we were clearly on ascendancy.
We made a sub right at half time and changed our formation to a diamond midfield. We had good control of the second half, we created more chances even though not as clear cut. We kept good possession and varied our attack well. Our players played more as a team. The better second half failed to yield a result even though the opponent was put under severe pressure.
We had big ambitions of gaining three points and fall within the Top 8 bracket on the log. The defeat left us at position 10 from 29 matches with one match remaining. Our main objective is still to win our last home fixture and last match of the season against BIDVEST Wits on Saturday to try and attain a Top 8 position.
We travel to Pretoria to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in our last away game of the 2018/19 season. The game will kick off tomorrow night at 19h30.
With the chase on for a Top 8 finish this season, the game is an important one for use to win. We are currently sitting at 10th place on the log, 2 points short of our season goal. Winning tomorrow nights encounter would place us in 8th position, just 1 point ahead of Highlands Park.
With 2 draws and 3 wins in our last 5 games, Coach Steve Komphela will be hoping that the team can keep up a positive momentum come game time.
Mamelodi Sundown will be throwing all of their attention on their last two games of the Premiership after bowing out of the CAF Champions League on Saturday afternoon. They are just a point off the top spot and can take a stand in the local competition with a win at home.
It is a do or die situation for both teams and sets the stage for a promising match.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport 4, with match build up starting at 19h00.
A play by play feed on our social media platforms will also be available, and if you can not catch the action, follow us for all of the games news.
The Diski team have secured their place in the 2018/19 final of the Diski Shield after beating Orlando Pirates this afternoon at Kanyamazane Stadium.
The first half of the game saw neither team managing to find the back of the net. Orlando Pirates seemed to have decided to spend the first 45 defending their goals and hoping to tire us out in the heat. We did well to get behind the defence, with Jingxi doing some exceptional work to get some pin-point crosses into the box.
Non of the opportunities could be capitalised on, although there were some close calls. Conco had a blistering shot at goals that hit the bar and Sabelo was denied after his attempt was tipped over the bar.
Coming back after the break, Pirates seemed to have changed their game plan and used their possession in more attacking play.
We were denied a penalty appeal after Nkomo took Conco down in the box, however we were on the end of a favourable decision in the 76th minute when he committed the same offence. Conco sent the keeper the wrong way and opened the scoring.
Minutes later, Sabelo tapped in for the second after running onto a ball put through into the box by Maphumulo. In the end, as well deserved win for the team.
We will now go through to the final of the competition on the 12 May at King Zwelithini Stadium where we will meet Mamelodi Sundowns to fight for the glory.
The match was always going to be very difficult to play because the opponent was fighting to survive relegation and we were fighting to move into Top 8 for the first time this season. We had a few suspensions and we had to withdraw S. Dube on the last minute due to an ankle injury.
We started very well and took the lead within first fifteen minutes when Mutizwa broke the line and got fouled by the goalkeeper. He converted the penalty to make it 1:0. Six minutes later he was fouled again outside the box and he converted the resulting free kick to make it 2:0.
The opponent drew one back shortly and the score was 2:1 till end of first half. The second half was a contested affair with very little to show. Our team played in patches and managed to deal with the direct balls played to a Eleazar Rodgers. It was only towards the end of the match where the opponent was more forceful and applied more pressure to try win the match but we were more concentrated and dealt with the threat.
The match ended 2:1 but still we couldn’t break into the Top 8 bracket because of the Celtic win against Kaizer Chiefs earlier on.
Our next two matches for the season are Mamelodi Sundowns in nine days and later to be followed by Bidvest Wits as the last of the season.
This Wednesday sees us taking part in the semi final of the 2018/19 Diski Shield competition against Orlando Pirates at Kanyamazane Stadium in Mpumalanga.
The game will kick off at 3pm on Workers Day.
This innovative competition is in its second year and is proving to be one enjoyed by all of the club reserve sides.
The youngsters road to the competition semi final saw them accumulate 6 points with 2 wins in their table. After AmaZulu tried hard in their final group game to try and take the lead on points difference, it eventually went down to our head to head result with them to determine who would progress to the semi finals.
We progressed to the semi’s last year before being knocked out by Mamelodi Sundowns, and are aiming to go to the final this year by knocking Orlando Pirates out on Wednesday.
When we met the Buccaneers in the Diski Challenge in September, we secured a win at Orlando Stadium with a 2-1 win over them, and are confident that the same result can be achieved.
Our opposition, Orlando Pirates are through to their first Shield semi final after having a closely contended group stage as well.
The semi finals will be played as a festival fixture which sees the days first game kicking off at 12h00 between SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns.
The action will be live on SS4, but we will also be sharing the games progression over our social media platforms. So follow us and tune in if you are unable to watch the game.
We look to keep our Top 8 hopes alive as we face Free State Stars on Sunday at Princess Magogo Stadium at 3pm. An important fixture for both sides who will be fighting to secure maximum points from the game.
With a draw in our last match against Chiefs, and a crucial point from the game, the team will be now looking to build on that with home advantage. Scoring in 9 of our 10 last home games, we look to continuing in this form and taking the game to our Free State opponents.
Ea Lla Koto come off a draw with Bidvest Wits in their last fixture, but Hlubi and Rodgers have both found some form late in the season and have netted goals lately for their side.
Being only two points clear of 15th place on the log, our visitors need every point they can get to keep out of the relegation zone.
The encounter will be televised live on SS4 but we encourage you to get to the stadium, get behind the team and help encourage them in the drive to achieve a Top 8 finish.
After heading into the break with a 1-0 lead we conceded a goal in the 78th minute to share the spoils with Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium tonight.
In a game that saw Chiefs attacking with every opportunity they had, we managed to open the scoring in the 33rd minute. Although we had less shots on target than our hosts, we managed to go ahead with just over 10 minutes left in the first half. Mathenjwa won the ball, did well to get a back pass to Sibiya who took his shot and beat the keeper to take the lead.
Chiefs were strong on the ball tonight. In the first half they had almost twice as many shots on target than we did. Mbaeva did well to defend his line and some great defending from Bilankulu, Mzava, Lunga and Sibisi saw us go into the break in a positive position.
Returning after the break, Chiefs continued to dominate possession of the ball as well as field position. We once again defended well and used our possession to push up in a structured fashion.
Kaizer Chiefs were unlucky and had a number of shots that hit the upright. Their luck changed in the 78th minute though when Moleko headed the ball in from a corner to equalise.
With 12 minutes left on the clock, it was evident that both sides were looking for the extra points. In the end though neither could find the mark again and a point a piece would be the reward for the nights efforts.
We return home to take on Free State Stars on Sunday. We return to Princess Magogo Stadium for the game and would like to call on as much support as possible in our second to last home game of the season.
Our quest for a Top8 finish continues tomorrow night with an away game against Kaizer Chiefs, set to kick off at 19h30.
With full concentration from the coaching staff and the players on the final objective for the season, that being a Top 8 finish, we are in for a feisty game tomorrow night at FNB Stadium.
We have collected 7 points off the last three ABSA Premiership games, with wins against Cape Town City and Bloem Celtic and then drawn most recently at home against AmaZulu FC. Another three points away from home would be most welcome at this stage of the competition and for us, another step closer to our current objective.
It will be the second game in four days, and the players will have to dig deep to keep their energy levels up in what will be a demanding week that ends with another home game on Sunday. But, we know that the players are capable of performing under the demand.
Kaizer Chiefs will also be wanting to rally points. With only a few games left before the season ends, every team in the PSL will be looking to gain on positions, no matter where they are on the log. They have managed only two points off their last three drawing to SuperSport United and Black Leopards, while suffering a loss to Baroka FC.
The game will be televised live on SS4 (204) and coverage will be given to you on all of our social media channels.
As soon as the draw was made and we had drawn TS GALAXY, there was an uneasy excitement that left a feeling we had already made the final. This feel and premature assumption was based on the fact that TS GALAXY were from a lower division.
Little did we realize that it was a tricky fixture where the opponent had nothing to lose. We performed below our normal standards throughout the match. Even though we were not at our best we managed to create enough chances to win the match.
Besides scoring from a penalty we had a great opportunity to kill the match off in the 90th minute. Mutizwa went 1v1 with the keeper and hit the upright. The opponent turned over possession and won a free kick in our defensive zone and furthermore conceded a corner.
The resulting corner was headed into our own net by our own player and it was 1:1 and the 90 minutes came to an end. The match went to extra 30 minutes.
We were very poor in the last 30 minutes. Our team lacked the energy, started cramping and had no legs. The opponent was better on the ball and deep in the second half of the extra time they unlocked our defence and made it 1:2.
We failed to respond and the third goal was conceded from what looked like an “out ball”. The score was 1:3. We never applied ourselves in this crucial match at a very unique position. We lost the match but a lot of lessons were learnt.
We looking forward to the Tuesday encounter against KAIZER CHIEFS where we fighting to end in the Top 8 bracket.
We take on TS Galaxy in our first home fixture of the 2019 Nedbank Cup on Saturday. The semi final will kick off at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium at 15h00.
The road to the semi’s have seen us secure three away wins against Tjakastad Junior Shepard in the Last 32, Witbank Spurs in the last 16 and then Bloemfontein Celtic in the quarterfinal.
Both the coaching staff and players are confident ahead of the game, but know that TS Galaxy need to be treated with respect on Saturday, as they could be a dark horse in the competition with the amount of determination they are showing at the moment.
That being said, the team will be looking to secure a positive result in the 90 minutes of play on Saturday.
TS Galaxy will be wanting to be added to the list of second teams that have reached the finals of the competition. Following in the footsteps of Mpumalanga Black Aces, AmaTuks and Black Leopards.
Their coach, Dan Malesela is no stranger to the semi final pressures of the competition, having led United FC (2013) and Chippa United (2017) to the same position. He has not yet gone further in the competition and will be wanting his team to progress to the final this year.
Having beaten Umvoti FC, Jomo Cosmos and Cape Umoya to reach the semi’s, we will be the first top-flight opposition they face in this years competition.
Tickets are on sale at TicketPro outlets, so make sure to purchase yours and get to Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium to catch all of the semi action.
The game will be televise on both SuperSport and SABC should you not be able to make it. As well as this, we will be posting play by play action on our social media platforms to ensure you wont miss any of the action.
We needed to win the Durban derby to push us into the Top 8 bracket with 34 points, position 8. This 1:1 draw leaves us at position 9 with four matches to play.
We started very well controlling all phases of the match. Our attacks as usual were well structured as we built from the back. We controlled the build attack in a way that we did not suffer Counter attacks. Our defense was also well structured with all players taking part in their individual defensive responsibilities.
The opponent had the first corner and it was clear in that situation was Akoriko’s position was and we didn’t deal with it precisely. The second corner we conceded a goal from lack of proper marking in the box and Akoriko got a free header. The opponent lead did not last long, we won a free kick on the side of the box, Matloga delivered a great ball that hit the cross bar and was finished by Lunga to make it 1:1.
Both teams went to half time at 1:1. We introduced Mutizwa at the beginning of the second half for Matloga who fell sick and had to be withdrawn. We continued the control to the match and had a few chances from Venter, S.Dube and a possible penalty when Akoriko clearly fouled Lamola inside the box and the referee chose to ignore.
It was not not the first foul inside the box to be ignored by the referee. Several calls were left uncalled, maybe the referee could have been braver. The match ended 1:1, both teams shared the spoils and we could not break into the Top 8 bracket.
Our next encounter is a semi-final match against TS GALAXY in the Nedbank Cup at home.
Lack of finishing cost us the KZN Derby today at Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammersdale against Maritzburg United. It was an unexpected result based on our performance so far in the competition, but the team could just not get behind the defence and convert our opportunities that were created.
The first half saw both sides in an end to end battle to try and find space and position to score, but neither side created any clear cut plays to put them in that position until the last minute of the half when Hlongwane narrowly put the ball wide of the mark.
The second half seemed to pick up in pace. Both teams put in some work on the ball and pushed into the last third. We dominated play and position, but the heavy defence from Maritzburg made it difficult to find the space to put the shots in.
When in the last third, we failed to finish off in a favourable manner and then allowed Maritzburg to counter easily. Frustration set in for both sides, which saw some yellow cards being issued on both sides.
Maritzburg broke the deadlock in the 86th minute off a free kick just in our half. A well placed kick from the set piece gave Sithole the opportunity to lobby the ball into the net and he executed the shot well.
We now have to wait for AmaZulu to play Chippa United tomorrow to see whether we qualify for the semi finals, which will be played on the 22nd of April.
All eyes will be on Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday at 15h00 as we take on AmaZulu FC in the ABSA Premiership. The return game see us looking to settle the score after losing 2-0 to Usuthu in December last year.
A confident squad has performed well under the guidance of Steve Komphela since the beginning of the year and are currently on a three game winning streak, one they will want to continue on our home ground on Sunday afternoon.
We have looked good up front, with the younger team members playing an important role in our game strategy. With a lot of positive work being done both offensively and defensively on the field, it has given the techincal staff an opportunity to asses the games and then substitute accordingly in order to secure the wins.
AmaZulu will be aiming for a double Derby win. They have looked strong on field in their last games, but have made enough errors to allow their opposing teams to take advantage and score from them.
Our fellow Durban neighbors last played home game against Chippa United, where they lost 1-0 in a game that could have gone either way.
With a string of losses under their belt of late, the side will be eager to claim 3 points from the encounter.
Coverage for the game will be done by both SuperSport and SABC, however, we would love to see you at the stadium in support of the team.
For those of you unable to make it, or catch the action on TV, follow us on social media for live updates on the game.
Its KZN Derby action this weekend in the Diski Shield competition as we face Maritzburg United in the Festival weekend. The game kicks off on Saturday 13 April at 12h00.
After 2 successful wins in their campaign, the youngsters will be looking to make a clean sweep of the regional stage of the competition.
Based on the points accumulated so far in the competition, the team are placed to secure a place in the semi finals with a win or draw on Saturday.
The team of Choice have not yet had a win in the competition, and have just one point of the first two games.
They will be wanting to save some face in the KZN Derby and will be eager to walk away with both bragging rights and the knowledge of slowing our road to the semi’s.
Entry to the Festival is free, but you do require a ticket to enter the stadium. These can be collected from the Mpumalanga Stadium today and Friday from 1pm.
Matches will be televised live on SS4 and SS10 should you be unable to get to the stadium.
We will also cover the game on all of our social media channels.
A very tactical match from two teams playing a similar style of attacking football. There were very few opportunities in the match except later when we had done our tactical substitutions.
Both teams pressed high denying each other the opportunity to build from the back. We were the better in building from long balls played into the midfield. The opponent keeper was not as accurate with long passes. The biggest challenge from the opponent was their wing play especially on their right. We needed good communication and coordination between our fullbacks and wingers to deal with the opponent movement in the wide areas.
The first half finished 0:0 and a true reflection of the match in the first half. We had a good start to the second half. Our team dealt better with the opponent wing play and we started to dominate better. We changed Mathenjwa with Mutizwa and dropped a Sibeko into second striker position. We still looked good and kept great shape that only needed to be complimented by an appropriate attacking.
Our wingers were starting to get tired and we introduced a new pairing in Jooste and Lamola. We placed Sibeko wide on the left and Lamola played alongside Mutizwa. We were more threatening and it wasn’t long, we broke from a break and scored in the 82nd minute.
The score was 1:0 and all we needed do was to manage the match. The team showed lots of maturity and managed the lead very well. We almost got a second but we squandered the chance. The match ended 1:0 in our favor but players worked extremely well in both defense and offense. They maintained a very high level of tactical discipline.
An epic Derby battle took place today as we took on AmaZulu FC at King Zwelithini Stadium in the Diski Shield competition.
After being 3 goals up, we were holding on in the end for the win as AmaZulu threw all that they had at us in the dying minutes looking for an equaliser.
From the first minute it was clear that we were in for an entertaining game of soccer today. AmaZulu came onto the pitch and showed early intentions of opening the scoring. A well organised defence made sure that this would not be the case, and they worked hard to make sure that the attacking plays from Ntsundwana were dealt with as he pushed into the final third.
After consolidating on the park and finding their rhythm, we began to gain some confidence. This was evident in the play as we began attacking the hosts lines.
Khwela opened the scoring off a well struck range attempt that caught AmaZulu keeper, Boshoff, off guard. This turned the game for us and the boys began playing more fluidly.
Ten minutes later Conco doubled the lead as he found the back of the net. AmaZulu had a number of chances to pull one back before the break, but were unable to do so.
In the second half it was once again us who struck first. Pushing into the final third and frustrating the opponents, they eventually conceded a penalty after Maphumulo was brought down in the box. Conco made sure of his mark and took the lead up to three.
The persistence of the hosts paid off in the 65th minute though, with Shangase finding the back of the net.
We were then reduced to 10 players as Mgwazela made a dangerous late tackle on Shangase on the side line. AmaZulu took advantage of this by putting pressure on the defenders. Another late tackle in the box gave the home side the opportunity to pull another goal back and Shangase did the honours for the club. Reducing the lead to just a goal with 8 minutes of official time left.
The team dug deep to defend the lead, and managed to do so for the remainder of the time left to play.
Another 3 points in the bag and a strong win once again for the boys
The next game in the Shield competition is next weekend, against Maritzburg United.
Our Diski side will take part in the second Diski Shield regional games on Sunday afternoon as we are hosted by Amazulu FC at King Zwelithini Stadium. Kick off will be at 12h00.
The team had a positive start to their shield campaign with a 6-1 win over Chippa United last weekend. A stunning performance by the youngsters saw them open the scoring in the 2nd minute and set up dominant play for the remainder of the game.
Siboniso Conco scored 4 of the goals, with the remaining two coming from Mfanafuthi Mkhize and Thando Khwela.
The team will be looking to set up a winning streak with a win over Amazulu and paving the way for a clean sweep in the regional part of the competition.
Amazulu have also got onto the table after a win over Maritzburg United in their first game.
This is an exciting format competition, and as with game, anything can happen on the day.
We would love to see some support at the stadium, and with all Diski games, entrance will be free on the day.
It is not a televised game, so get to the stadium or follow us on our social media platforms for all of the action come game time.
It’s back to league action as we take on Cape Ton City at Sugar Ray Xulu stadium on Saturday at 15h00.
As we get into the tail end of the season, points become important for all teams, whether at the top of the log or wrestling for position above the relegation zone.
Saturday’s encounter is no different as we fight for points to achieve a Top 8 position, while Cape town City look to secure points to stay in contention for the top spot.
The team has been showing their fight in the past few encounters and will be wanting to bring that mindset to the field on Saturday’s home game.
In our first encounter of the season we played to a goalless draw with The Citizens. After a game that saw us having to contend with an attacking opponent, we managed to defend well to secure an away point.
Cape Town City will have to work hard to break our defence that has been proving to be strong of late.
The game will be televised on SABC, and should you not be able to watch, follow the live action on our social media channels.
The third Nedbank away match in a row. There were three changes in the starting line up, Musa Bilankulu, Wayde Jooste and Sanele Mathenjwa. The team performed very well under circumstances.
The weather was hot and the field dry with grass that was not cut well. We had a very good and disciplined performance in both defense and attack. The first opportunity to break the deadlock came after 24 minutes with a free-kick from Danny Venter that sailed inches wide of the upright. Sibusiso Sibeko had the best chance of the first half in the 33rd minute after going clear on goal, but instead of using the space and time by picking his spot, he shot straight at Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb. Our only challenge in the half was from the opponent left side where Dlamini dropped to No 10, behind Venter and Phiri. The teams went to half time at 0:0 and hoping the heat will ease in the second half.
We continued and had a good start to the second half after addressing the Dlamini problem by reorganizing the team defence. We made a sub, brought in Mutizwa for Sibeko and the change paid off as Mutizwa broke the deadlock on 68 minutes with a neat finish from close range after some good work by fellow substitute Lerato Lamola, who replaced Ndwandwe.
The opponent pulled one to equalize via Sam. It didn’t take long we secured the win in the 90th minute as Mutizwa completed his brace by curling a free-kick around the wall and into the far corner to send us into the NEDBANK semifinals. We are awaiting the final match and hear who we meeting in the semifinals.
A confident Diski side defeated Chippa United 6-1 in their first Shield game this morning at Princess Magogo Stadium.
Showing confidence from the first minute, the side scored off an early corner which they took short, then played back into the box. Mfanafuthi Mkhize made sure of his mark and gave the team an early lead. Just four minutes later, Khwela and Maphumulo took the opportunity to go on a counter attack from a midfield interception. Maphumulo layed off to Khwela on his left and Jaftha had no chance in making a save.
The lead boosted confidence on the field and the Diski boys attacked the Chippa goals at will. They received little resistance from the visiting defenders and Conco began his scoring spree.
Twenty six minutes in he opened his account, taking the lead up to three goals. Just before the break, Chippa were awarded a goal after a mix up in defence gave Tofile an opportunity to gain a bit of momentum for the visitors.
The celebration was short lived for them as Conco slotted his brace just 3 minutes later.
Returning from the break, the visitors looked a little more confident, but still lost possession too often and allowed us to attack from all angles.
Conco was then lucky enough to score his hat-trick and then fourth goal in the 79th and 89th minute of the game.
Chippa United did have a couple of chances, with Maarman coming up strong on the attack, however Mlungwana made a great save on the one attempt and his other just lacked enough punch to make any definite threat.
A fantastic team effort from the youngsters today and a confident start to the Shield competition for them this season.A confident Diski side saw off Chippa United 6-1 in their first Shield game this morning at Princess Magogo Stadium.
Showing confidence from the first minute, the side scored off an early corner which they took short, then played back into the box. Mfanafuthi Mkhize made sure of his mark and gave the team an early lead. Just four minutes later, Khwela and Maphumulo took the opportunity to go on a counter attack from a mid field interception. Maphumulo layed off to Khwela on his left and Jaftha had no chance in making a save.
The lead boosted confidence on the field and the Diski boys attacked the Chippa goals at will. They received little resistance fro the visiting defenders and Conco began his scoring spree.
Twenty six minutes in he opened his account, taking the lead up to three goals. Just before the break, Chippa were awarded a goal after a mix up in defence gave Tofile an opportunity to gain a bit of momentum for the visitors.
The celebration was short lived for them as Conco slotted his brace just 3 minutes later.
Returning from the break, the visitors looked a little more confident, but still lost possession too often and allowed us to attack from all angles.
Conco was then lucky enough to score his hat-trick and then fourth goal in the 79th and 89th minute of the game.
Chippa United did have a couple of chances, with Maarman coming up strong on the attack, however Mlungwana made a great save on the one attempt and his other just lacked enough punch to make any definite threat.
A fantastic team effort from the youngsters today and a confident start to the Shield competition for them this season.
We play our Nedbank Cup quarter final against Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday afternoon at Dr Molemela Stadium, kick-off at 15h00.
This game will be the first ever knockout match between Abafana Bes’thende and Phunya Sele Sele, having not ever clashed in club football before.
The team have been preparing hard for this weekends encounter. Coach Steve Komphela has been running a number of different moves an combinations with the players. Each group of players from defence through to the forwards have been running different plays and scenario’s in preparation for the game as we face a determined Bloemfontein Celtic who are holding their own in the league,
Celtic should have a large home support present, an this will be a great morale booster to them. We would love to see some of our support in the grounds, and number of green and gold jerseys will be a much needed injection of positive energy to the team as they take to the field.
There is a supporters bus that will be making the trip. Should you be interested in making the trip, please contact Mbuso Sosibo on +27 (78) 916-7818 to book your seat before 12pm on Friday.
Catch the game on SABC or if you are not able to, then follow one of our social media platforms for up-to-date scores during the game.
The Diski Shield competition kicks off this weekend with the side taking on Chippa United in their opening game. The action kicks off Saturday 30 March, at 10am at Princess Magogo Stadium.
The competition boasts a total of 24 games from beginning to end and runs on a knockout basis.
There are four pools that will play. These will be ‘Central’, Coastal East’, ‘Coastal West’ and ‘Northern’ pools.
Abafana Bes’thende fall under the Coastal East pool along with Amazulu, Maritzburg United and Chippa United.
In the first round of the competition, clubs play each other once and the club with the most points at the end of the pool stage proceeds to the semi finals.
We last played Chippa United in the last game of the Diski Challenge competition and we ended up playing to a goalless draw.
The stakes will be raised as we head into this game with both sides wanting to walk away with maximum points from the start of the competition.
Entry to the game will be free and we would like to see as much support at the stadium as the youngsters kick off their Shield campaign.
As it’s not a festival game, there will be no television coverage. We will be covering the game on our social media platforms should you not be able to get to the stadium.
Our team played this match at the back of a 2:0 loss against Plk City on Sunday just two days ago. It was clear that the match was more mental than otherwise with the opponent fighting to survive relegation. Our team played good positive football and threatened the opponents goal more.
We had a few chances where Dube could have put us in the lead. Another missed opportunity was a final pass from Ndwandwe to Lunga which was overweighted and an opportunity was lost. The opponent depended on their physicality and were reckless in their game. The officials failed to take control of the match and we lost Ndwandwe, as a result, when Mosele applied excessive force in the tackle and almost broke Ndwandwe’s ankle. We replaced him with a Matloga and ended the first half positively though we were still 0:0.
We controlled the second half well and played for a win but never a loss. We made another sub where a Jooste went in for Dube. Lunga was then instructed not to be too aggressive in attacking. We then opted to play on Counter and abandoning a bit of possession. We were rewarded late in the 94th minute when Jooste pounced on a loose ball from a free kick rebound. He struck the ball from outside the box and found the top corner to make it 0:1. The opponent was left with no time and we won the match 0:1 and moved to 28 points, further from the bottom and only three points away from the top 8 position.
Steve Komphela
The team will be wanting to gather some points tomorrow night as we head back to Peter Mokabal Stadium to take on Baroka FC at 19h30.
After dropping points on the weekend against Polokwane City, the boys will be looking to convert scoring chances and secure a win on the road. In the last outing, after not having the best start to the game, they bounced back in the second half creating chances. It was our finishing that let us down and a lot of the preparation for tomorrow nights game will be to change this.
The fight for a Top 8 finish is far from over, but the team is going to have to dig deep and show a fighting character to do so. We have the depth in the side, and are more than capable of obtaining these objectives.
Baroka have collected 5 points in their last 5 games, but have lost their last two outings against Highlands Park and Polokwane City. They are sitting 13th on the log and are desperate for points in order to stay out of the relegation zone.
This will make them a dangerous team to contend with at home and it’s something we are well aware of heading into the fixture.
The game is an important one to win for us and we will be doing all we can to return with 3 points in the bag.
Catch our coverage on our social media platforms to keep up to date with the happenings in the game.
A very difficult and intense match during a period where mental strength is required. We had a terrible start to the match where we failed to connect passes. We gave away possession at a very high rate resulting in the opponent getting break attacks. The result of our consistent loss of possession led to us conceding a goal.
After conceding the goal we had a great chance to score and like against O.Pirates we failed to beat the keeper. A crucial miss by Lamola that could have brought us back into the match. We still could not change our rhythm and we then opted to contemplate change in our structure.
We immediately dropped Phiri into the defense and pushed Sibisi wider and higher, our midfield was marshal led by Venter and Parusnath, where we were checking the possibility of playing with three at the back and two wingbacks. It looked better and the rate of loss of possession was lesser.
Coming back from half time we changed Phiri for S. Dube and our game changed for the better. We were more attacking and cohesive. We created more final third entries especially from our left side. The introduction of Sibeko upfront injected our team with lots of energy and we should have pulled one at least.
We then went on to concede the second goal from a corner kick. We lost the match 2:0.
Our ABSA Premiership game against Polokwane City kicks off tomorrow afternoon at 15h30 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Coming off a loss to Orlando Pirates at home, the team will be looking to continue their positive fluid play as we travel to Polokwane
The work rate and positive attacking play from the squad made for an entertaining game against Pirates. Seth Parusnath had a great shot at goal which was saved and an awkward rebound off the keeper could not be taken advantage of by Mutizwa, but this type of positive attacking play has worked its way back into the squad and is creating a positive vibe amongst the team.
The boys are remaining level headed going into the match though and are not expecting an easy encounter against Polokwane City.
Our opponents have been playing a strong game of late too, this sees them currently enjoying the 6th position on the PSL log at present.
Polokwane City have suffered only one loss since November last year, and have shown themselves to be motivated to perform against any team they face.
They will be looking to secure a home win before their next league fixture against Cape Town City.
We will be looking to upset the home side as we fight to reach a Top8 finish for the season.
The game will be televised live on SABC Sport, and we will be keeping you up to date on the proceedings over all of our social media platforms.
The team played against an opponent who’s been on a high and had won their previous match by 4:1. Their confidence was very high and their game model very fluid and dynamic.
We had prepared very well for the match. We had covered all the aspects where they are a threat. We played a very good and tactical match. The opponent failed to impose themselves on us and we were clearly capable of dealing with all their threats.
We were unfortunate to concede from a quick restart from a corner. Something we had addressed and put emphasis on but football being football, we committed the error and paid the prize for lapse of concentration.
Apart from the goal, we had a very good control of the first half both in defense and attack. We missed a great opportunity to equalize when Mutizwa could not finish a rebound from Parusnath shot at goalkeeper.
The second half was no different. We maintained same structure except the strikers were slightly away from the rest of the team and as a result we couldn’t find the desired cohesion on counterattacks. The opponent then introduced the third midfielder to lock the game.
We attempted in many ways to break them down but at the end victory eluded us. Great lessons can be learnt from this encounter and a few youngsters got to feel how it is playing in a big match environment. We lost the match 0:1.
All eyes will be on the Sugar Ray Stadium tomorrow night as we take on Orlando Pirates in the ABSA Premiership. The much anticipated game will kick off at 20h15.
The team has been playing some free attacking football of late and have performed well in both the Premier League as well as the Nedbank Cup. The team seems to have found some confidence and rhythm under the guidance of Steve Komphela, with some fans believing that this is the real playing style of Abafana Bes’thende that is once again surfacing.
Chasing a Top 8 finish again this season, the boys will need to pull together and use this new found confidence against an Orlando Pirates team that is coming off a 4-1 win against Amazulu and who seem determined to administer the same medicine to us.
Although a decent win in their last outing, the Buccaneers have had mixed results lately. They exited the Nedbank Cup early, after losing on penalties to Black Leopards, then drew their derby game against Kaizer Chiefs before losing a mid-week fixture against SuperSport United. Arguably this could have all been influenced by their involvement in the CAF Champions League, but non the less shows that they are not always the powerhouse that they are made out to be, and most definately can be beaten on the day.
Match tickets are available from TicketPros online, as well as their outlets (Spar, Edgar’s, Jet) and we would love to see a good green and gold turnout in the stands.
Our social media channels will be keeping you updated on the games progress should you not be able to join us in Cleremont or catch the game on television.
A match of two halves where in the first half we played with dominance and created sufficient chances but failed to utilize them.
We managed to pull one goal on the 23rd minute when Lunga made an underlapping run and beat his defender, played a cut back to Mutizwa who was running near post and he took the chance to make it 0:1. The rest of the remaining first half was played with fluidity and chances were created but we failed to convert.
Ndwandwe played his first match after a long period (9 months to be precise) and had a good game. He had a great run into the box, dribbling his way through and only needed to pass the net when the defender made a last minute interception.
The second didn’t start well. The opponent started pressing high and we needed the right levels of arrogance to impose our game model. The opponent had a slight edge and started putting us under pressure which we finally succumbed to when they scored the equalizer on the 70th minute.
The subs we made did not give us the necessary injection instead they struggled to cope with the tempo of the match. There are areas we need to work more on defensively and among many are defending higher than too deep, dealing with diagonal balls to fullbacks so as to avoid crosses.
Almost all the goals we’ve conceded had come predominantly from crosses and we lacked dominance in dealing with such crosses inside the box. Another positive is that we’ve been scoring in all the matches we played.
Our Diski team played to a goalless draw this morning in their MDC game against Chippa United at Wolfson Stadium.
Neither of the teams managed to set up dominant play in the 90 minutes. Each had a number of chances to score but lacked on their finishing chances.
We had passages of play that kept our opponents on the back foot, but once getting behind defence and taking our chances, were either denied by not being on target or by the keeping skills from Mothwa of Chippa.
Mlungwana also had a good game between the sticks for us. He did well to keep a clean sheet against a team who counter played quickly.
This match draws our 2018/19 Challenge season to a conclusion.
Our Diski team conclude their MultiChoice Diski Challenge season at 10am tomorrow morning with a game against Chippa United at Wolfson Stadium.
The boys have had a fairly successful season. They started off their 2018/19 campaign as a unit who has not had much playing time together. This saw them struggling to find the back of the net in a number of their opening games of the season. Although playing good attacking soccer, they were letting themselves down with their finishing in the final third.
This meant losing some vital points and being in a position that saw them having to win more games to be in a position to contend for the Multichoice Diski Challenge crown. Although showing some determination, they just could not accumulate the points needed and currently sit 7 points off of the top of the log.
They will be looking to finish the season on a high as they take on the Chilli Boys who have only managed to win 2 games in their season.
As the game is not part of a Festival, it will not be televised. We will however let you know how the game progresses over our social media channels.
We return to the ABSA Premiership tomorrow night as we travel to Port Elizabeth to take on Chippa United. The game is set to kick off at 20h00.
The team has been doing well under Coach Steven Komphela since the beginning of the year and have shown some fight when in trying situations. We saw this in the last ABSA Premiership game against SuperSport United.
Our last outing, a Nedbank Cup game, saw a determined team take the win and progress to the quarter finals of the competition.
The mentor ship and guidance from the coaching staff is showing in confidence on the field and the players look to collect some more points as we take on Chippa United.
Chippa too, have been growing in confidence since Clinton Larsen took over the reigns. He has guided the side to victory in their Nedbank Cup games as well as wins against Maritzburg United and Free State Stars in the Premiership.
Confidence will be high among their players an we will have to address the game with some caution an discipline.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport 4 (channel 204) and we will be posting the games proceedings on our social network channels.
The match was played under trying rainy conditions. The opponent approach suited the conditions better because they played direct. Our defence did very well in dealing with the direct balls. It took us 8 minutes to find the back of the net. A corner kick sequence resulted in Lamola opening the score to make it 0:1.
We also missed two clear cut chances which could have put the game beyond in the first half. The opponent as expected started the second half on a high but we dealt with the pressure very well. We then got ourselves the second goal from Lamola again and the score was 0:2.
We failed to kill the match and the opponent kept growing in confidence and pulled one back to make it 1:2. We were forced to make a few changes in the midfield by taking MOLEFE out, Nkombelo in and pushed Lunga into central midfield alongside Parusnath.
We had moments where we were put under undue pressure. The two other subs in Sabelo and Sibiya did not change our game much instead we were just defending deeper and deeper. We defended a bit too deep and failed to come out on Counter successfully.
The few times we did, we missed great clear cut chances to bury the match. We finished the match 1:2 and moved into the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup.
We travel to Puma Rugby Stadium tomorrow as we take on Witbank Spurs in the Last 16 stage of the Nedbank Cup. The game will kick off at 15h00 and will be televised live on SABC 1
We are approaching each stage of the competition with measured caution, and are prepared to come up against an unpredictable Witbank Spurs. They are a team that plays with determination under the guidance of Shakes Mashaba. This was evident in their last Nedbank Cup game when they beat Maritzburg United on penalties.
We lost our first game under Steve Komphela’s guidance last weekend. But the fight and character of the team to come back from being 2-0 down is a clear depiction of the confidence that he has already instilled in the players.
We will be expecting direct and purposeful football from our opponents on Saturday. We know that they are capable of catching their opponents on the back foot and we will be expecting a competitive game from them.
Catch the action on our social media platforms if you are unable to tune into the game on TV, we will be keeping you up to date by the minute on all of the action.
This was a very unique performance by the team and a strange result. We struggled to deal with SS UTD two wingers in Modiba and Rusike dropping into the half spaces and cheating or not tracking back.
This created problems for our midfield and on several occasions we suffered counter attacks because we couldn’t finish our attacks successfully nor counter pressed effectively and as a result we allowed SS UTD to play easily on counter attacks.
We conceded two goals in two minutes because we failed to stop the crosses into the box. The crosses were played in our central zone. We then immediately made a sub where we introduced Bilankulu at the centre of defence and we were immediately settled.
We went on but lost the first half 2:0. The second half was completely different.
We dominated in attack right from the beginning and missed a great chance when Lunga made a brilliant cross. We had a lot of attacks and we scored two goals to make it 2:2. We kept probing and attacking for the whole second half and the opponent couldn’t react.
We unfortunately suffered a blow when the opponent scored the third goal deep into stoppage time to make it 3:2. The goal was a superb strike from outside the box. We then suffered our first defeat. A good and much improved performance in the second half but unfortunately could not score enough to win the match.
We are in action again on Sunday at Sugar Ray Stadium as we take on SuperSport United in the ABSA Premiership. Kick off will be at 15h30.
It’s another opportunity for us to climb up the log as we take on the 8th placed United. After the arrival of Coach Steve Komphela, the team seem to have found some form and pulled together to secure 2 wins and 2 draws in the league since the beginning of the year.
A positive vibe is prominent in the camp and the team know what the objectives are as we get into the meat of the second half of the competition.
October saw us take SuperSport United on in the first round of the league that saw us draw 1-1. It was a game that should have belonged to us, but an unfortunate own goal from us just before the break saw us fighting for points in the second half. The equaliser was eventually scored by Conco in the 68th minute, but we were not able to find a winning goal before full time.
SuperSport United are on the back foot at the moment. They have not secured the wins they have wanted in their past few games, losing 2 out of their last three fixtures and winning just one.
The team will be hungry to secure points to stay in the top half of the log and will fight for this as they visit us.
The game will be televised on SuperSport 4 (204) but we urge you to get to the stadium and enjoy the action live and get behind the boys.
Tickets will be available at the stadium at R40 for adults and R15 for kids under 12.
If you’re not able to get there, then follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for all of the game updates.
A very difficult match to play where two teams displayed two contrasting styles. Golden Arrows playing short interpasses with lots of movement and the opponent playing long balls directly into the box with the aim to find Mdala.
The opponent were looking to dominate physically but we were more technical and had more tactical fluidity. We started well and had good control of the game and scored our first goal of the match via a beautiful strike from Venter outside the box to make it 1:0.
We had a good first half and when we got back from half time, the opponent made a double change and started dominating us in wide areas. We then opted to manipulate our structure so as to deal with crosses by stopping the supply and closing down Mvala who is their threat.
We scored the second goal to make it 2:0 after dispossessing Rae and going on Counter Attack where Mutizwa returned Lamola’s pass by crossing low into the box. Lamola made a deep penetrating run to the first post to make it 2:0 but just five minutes after scoring our second goal, we conceded from a set play and the score was 2:1.
We had a nervy end to the match but we ended up winning 2:1 deservedly so.
It was a game of two halves this morning in Ulundi against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Multichoice Diski Challenge.
A well prepared Sundowns side took us to task in the first half. They came strong on attack and had us pinned back defensively for a large deal of the first half. Determined keeper, Mlungwana, had a battle on his hands as he fought to keep a clean sheet as Mamelodi Sundowns attacked from all angles.
He managed to do this well, having a number of brilliant saves, and keeping the opponents at bay for the first 45.
It was early in the second half that a missed pass in the midfield allowed Sundowns to counter quickly. We were caught lacking at the back, and the space created allowed Ngcongo to get a shot in past Mlungwana.
The team then pulled together and with some positional changes on the field started having more luck on the field. The players created chances and pushed into the final third but were not able to convert chances.
Late into the half we had a brilliant attempt at goal from Khwela who had been pushing hard the entire half. His shot was deflected and a lob back into the box found Nzuza under the ball.
He struck the ball well in the air, and directed the header past Sundowns keeper to find the late equaliser.
This resulted in a dynamic last 5 minutes of play where both sides threw all they had at the game to try and secure the win and three points.
We however ended up sharing the points this morning and will return to Durban to prepare for our last Challenge game for 2019 against Chippa United on the 23rd of Feb at Wolfson Stadium
Its a battle of 9th and 10th spot on the log this weekend as we take on Highlands Park at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
The team has performed well so far in the second half of the season, collecting 5 points from the last three Premiership games played. They do however have the knowledge in the back of their minds that we need to collect maximum points to realise the aim of obtaining a top 8 finish again this season.
Our last encounter against Highlands Park ended in a 2-1 loss at Makhulong Stadium. After equalising in the 32nd minute, we ended up conceding a goal just 10 minutes before the break.
The second half played out as a goalless battle once the team had pulled together properly and displayed the style of soccer that we are used to.
We will be looking to get some revenge on the Lions of the North as they vist our backyard on Saturday afternoon.
Highlands can be a formiddable opponent, and they have set their sights on proving this in the 2018/19 season.
They have put in strong performances against every team they have faced, playing to draws against Orlando Pirates and Amazulu while losing their last fixture to Mamelodi Sundowns.
They will be looking to make it two for two on Saturday and the coaching staff and team are prepared to come up against a determined 11 come kick off time.
The game will be televised on SuperSport 4 (204) live from the stadium.
We will also be keeping you up to date with the game over our social media platforms.
Diski action heads to Ulundi’s Prince Mangosuthu Stadium for the penultimate Diski Festival of the 2018/19 season this weekend.
We take on Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday morning at 10am in the first game of the festival.
The team has found their feet late in the season and unfortunately are not in contention for the title again. That being said, they are taking every game as an opportunity to strengthen tactics as we look ahead to the Shield competition later in the season.
Sundowns find themselves 10 points off the top of the log too, so also have no chance of any contention in the competition. They are not a team to give in and will still fight for the win on the day.
Entry is free on both days but tickets will be issued to supporters as part of access control. Tickets can be collected at the stadium’s ticket office on Thursday and Friday from 13h00
Ulundi fans can also look forward to an exhilarating performance from the multi-award winning Khuzani ‘King Khuba’ Mpungose. The leader of the Blue Nation will thrill fans at half time of both Sunday fixtures.
The third away match in a row and against an unknown opponent with unknown players in a crucial knockout competition. We had five players starting for the first time and we were not sure how they’d respond. However, we had a very strong start and created chances right at the beginning of the match, we scored our first goal via Moreira in the fifth minute.
The team defended in good shape and the two front runners were always ready to pounce and our strategy yielded good moments in attack. It is only on few occasions where we missed precision in our counter-press, thus, momentarily this resulted in us being threatened but we dealt with that challenge very well.
Our second goal came from a header from Sibisi in the 23rd minute. Similarly the third goal was scored just ten minutes into second half and came from yet another header from a set play to make it 3:0. The sequence and scheming of set plays was very good and we consistently threatened the opponent.
A good result and good response from the changes we made. The biggest positive was the information gathered from the new striking pairings.
There’s more positives to work from and the team is starting to gel well through their patient inter passing game with support from our wingbacks.
A good result and we are through to the round of 16.
A brace from Thando Khwela in the first half, and a goal from super sub Nkosikhona Dube in the second half saw us secure a 3-0 win over Black Leopards in the MDC Challenge this morning.
We dominated the play over the full 90 minutes.We did not allowing the home side many opportunities to get into any position where they looked dangerous and kept them on the back foot for the better part of the game.
After missing some good chances in the opening minutes of the game to score, we eventually opened the scoring off a penalty in the 30th minute.
Being under pressure for the majority of the half caused some frustration to the home side. A lack in their discipline and concentration in the box saw them concede the penalty after a late tackle in the box.
Khwela took the spot kick and found the mark, beating the keeper.
Shortly after he narrowly missed an opportunity to extend the lead as he fired one over the bar, but was eventually awarded his brace shortly before the half time break.
Leopards had passages of play that looked as if they were going to fight back, but never got into a promising position. They had a chance to pull one back early in the second half, but messed the chance up after putting the attempt wide.
A substitution from the bench saw Dube entering play. He made an immediate impact and scored minutes after coming onto the field.
Another positive result from the side this morning.
The boys will be in action again next weekend as they face Sundowns at the King Mangosuthu Regional Stadium. Kick off will be at 10am.
The Diski team travel to Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday morning to face Black Leopards in their third to last game of the Diski Challenge, The game will kick off at 10am.
With the majority of the Diski Challenge under our belts, it is evident that the team will not be able to retain our title this season. Although a determined team have played well over the season, they have not managed to finish off well in a number of games, resulting in a number of draws over the season.
This has affected the points haul and not given us the edge we would have liked to have had.
Some form has been found in the later part of the season though, with two wins in our last three games. This has seen us push into 7th position on the log.
The team is determined to collect as many points possible in the last three games. Using the games as preparation for the Shield competition later in the season.
Black Leopards have not proven to be a strong team in the competition, having only won one game so far. This sees them sitting at the bottom of the log. However, they are a determined team and home game advantage could work to their favour.
The game is not televised on Sunday, but we will keep you up to date with the proceedings over our social networks.
We shift our focus this weekend as we face Tjakastad Junior Shepard in the Last-32 of the Nedbank Cup. The game will be played Saturday night at Mbombela Stadium, Kick off at 20h15.
The Nedbank Cup is a competition that creates entertaining football, with smaller clubs getting a rare opportunity to put themselves to the test against the cream of the crop of South African soccer.
The underdogs often perform on this stage and over the years this has created some upsets.
Tjakastad, will be drawing on the hype and excitement of being able to perform on this stage, and will be taking this to the pitch on Saturday. As always the opportunity gives the smaller teams an opportunity to play extra hard on the night as they look to progress through the stages of the competition.
The game will be televised live on SABC 1 and we will be posting about the games progression from the first minute.
If you’re in the area, get to the stadium and show your support. We would greatly appreciate it. Tickets are sold at Ticketpro outlets, Edgar’s, Jet, Spar. R40 adults, R15 kids U12
The team gave a fairly good performance and played decent football
after a day long trip from Durban to Venda. The match was played at night, under rain, typical of Thohoyandou, it was still hot but much better than what it would have been during the day.
We had a good first half with lots of clear cut chances to take the lead in the match but we failed. The opponent kept pushing and piling pressure but we showed lots of maturity in defending. As a result the opponent did not create too many opportunities.
Of the chances we had, we could immediately remember the Venter ball that hit the upright, Parusnath had his ball parried by the keeper, Sibiya’s shot going over the bar, Lamola had an easy tap in to make and many more which occurred in the second half. We simply lacked composure in front of Goals.
Our goal came early in the second half and we deservedly took the lead. We were fairly in control of the match but lacked the right connection between winning the ball, the stabilizing or forward pass to create a scoring opportunity. Something we seriously need to work on.
Our good work was undone by lapse of concentration when we conceded a corner with 4 minutes to go before end of the match. The resulting corner was flicked from near post to far and found Lamola and Sibisi not ready. The opponent got a late equalizer and the match ended 1:1.
A hat-trick from Siphamandla Sabelo secured a home win for the Diski team against Free State Stars this morning at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
The contribution of a determined team effort, that saw the visitors score only once after a slight lack of concentration after the break did well to secure 3 points in todays Asidlali game.
In the first half it took just 8 minutes for us to open the scoring. Some great positional play put pressure on the visitors defence, and opened up space on the left side. Sabelo was open and controlled the ball well, taking a shot that kept low and finding the back of the net.
Free State were put on he back foot and took a while to get back into the game, but fought back in the last 5 minutes of the half as they looked to find an eqauliser.
Coming back from the break, their intention was strong and they managed to find a small gap in our positional play. Moloi took his shot and the ball just went under a diving Mlungwana’s glove.
Not even a minute later, we took the lead again. Sabelo scored his brace after an outstanding assist from Mathenjwa.
He was awarded his third for the day in the 63rd minute. Once again, great positioning play from the side saw him able to attack the goals from the right hand side where a huge space had opened.
A great team effort from the youngsters today and a well deserved win.
It’s action time again in the Diski Challenge this weekend as we host Free State Stars at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday at 10am.
We are heading to the end of the Challenge season and the team have not had as a successful season as they would have possibly liked. The team have played well game in and out, but have failed to score goals to win games. This has seen them win just four games, while drawing three and losing three.
The positive from this is that we have seen some great development of younger players this season, many of whom will either strengthen the pool for the first team or be more used to the clubs style of play going into next season.
We take on free State Stars who have been having a relatively positive season, sitting 4th on the log, just 3 points behind log leaders Bloemfontein Celtic.
The incentive for them to secure the win on Sunday is great, as it will keep them in contention to win the competition this year.
This will make them dangerous competitors at Sugar Ray Xulu.
We would like to encourage you to get to the stadium. Entrance is free and the gates are open to anyone who would like to come and watch.
A confident Black Leopards host us on Saturday night as we meet them in the ABSA Premiership at Thohoyandou Stadium at 20h15.
With two games already under the belt in the new year, and 4 points taken from them, the team will be looking to break Leopards run on Saturday night and return to Durban with all 3 points.
There has been a regeneration of enthusiasm in camp. A lot of work is being done with Steve Komphela in both our attacking game and defensively.
This has been evident in the games against both Maritzburg United and Bloem Celtic.
Another week has passed and that means 7 more days of working on improving elements of our game both offensively and defensively. A lot of strategy has been done in pin-pointing aspects of Black Leopards game that can be taken advantage of.
The team is confident ahead of the fixture, but know that Black Leopards will be dangerous after their 3 game winning run of late.
Lidoda Duvha have enjoyed wins against SuperSport United, Baroka and Amazulu and are brimming with confidence ahead of the game.
This could have either a positive or negative affect on the side depending on how they handle it.
Their winning run has seen them gain some place on the log, and sit just a position below us on 11th.
The game should be an entertaining one to watch. You can catch it live on SuperSport 211 or follow us on our social media platforms for play-by-play posts.
A very difficult away match against Celtic who’ve been on a good run of form. The match was further complicated by the fact that both teams had a similar approach and played the same system but Celtic were more used to it than us.
Such conditions made the match even more difficult to break down and win. We conceded right at the end of first half which is a critical phase of the match but we never dropped our heads. Dlamini received a pass from the free kick restart and continued on one-two combination unmarked and finished to make it 1:0.
Our first substitute was made immediately at the beginning of the second half when Sibiya got in for Conco. Our game changed for the better. We had a better second half and also did a few tactical switches to manipulate the match. Through consistent probing we got a free kick on top of the box in the central area, which was supposed to have been a penalty yet awarded as free kick, Mutizwa converted to make it 1:1.
Despite the fact that the match ended in a draw we finished the match strong though there still a lot of work to be covered.
It was a tough day at the office for the Diski boys who were reduced to 10 men and lost 1-0 to SuperSport United today.
Today’s game started off level headed, with both sides controlling their ball well and creating creative scoring opportunities. We were unlucky not to open the scoring early on in the game off a free kick just outside the box, and missed a number of chances in the first 30 minutes against a confident SuperSport team.
In the 36th minute the game was turned on its head as Thabani Zuke received a red card and the home side was awarded a penalty. Zuke, the last man in defence pulled a player down in the box as SuperSport attacked. The referee handed him the maximum punishment and gave United the opportunity to take the lead.
Coming out of the break, the side made an effort to find an equaliser, and although they were creating the opportunities were just not able to convert the chances.
Being a man down also meant a great deal of defensive work needed to be carried out. This drained the team physically, not allowing them to push up at full throttle when they needed to.
This was not the result that the team were hoping for, and will need to regroup as they prepare this week for their game against Free State Stars at Sugar Ray Stadium next week.
We travel to Dr Molemela Stadium to take on Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday afternoon at 15h30.
After the arrival of coach Steve Komphela and last weekends win against Maritzburg United, the team have a new spring in their step heading into the second half of the season.
There has been some change in game plans and objectives, this was evident in last week’s encounter. The players took the ball to the oppositions in a more aggressive and determined way, resulting in two well executed goals.
There were a number of opportunities created from all angles of the field, and once we were reduced to 10 men, the defence play from the team was second level.
This play will carry the side well as we head to take on 6th placed Bloem celtic on the weekend.
The coaching staff and team are carrying some positive energy and are feeling confident about returning to Durban with 3 points.
Bloem Celtic are coming off a 1-0 win against Chippa United. This will add some confidence to a team that is dealing with some major issues at present.
Celtic can be unpredictable, and will be wanting to send a positive message of encouragement to their fans with a win at home.
The game will be televised on both SuperSport4 and SABC.
We will also be keeping you up to date with play by play action on our social media channels.
The Multichoice Diski challenge kicks off the 2019 half of the competition this weekend. We are hosted by SuperSport United at TUT Stadium with kick off at 12:00.
Its a battle of 7th and 8th place for us.
After accumulating 15 points off the first half of the season, with 4 wins 3 draws and 3 losses, we sit just a point below Matsatsantsa
The team will be aiming to secure as many wins as possible heading into the second half of the competition to have any hope of topping the log.
In a year that has seen a number of our juniors being promoted to senior team in the club, the remaining and new players have done well to prove themselves and have adapted quickly to the clubs style of play.
They have matured quickly and found their feet over the last couple of games.
SuperSport have secured 16 points from their first 10 games of the season. Thay have had the same number of wins, but have drawn one less than us to sit at 7th on the log at present.
They are also an ambitious team in the competition and will be looking to secure full points at home.
The game is not part of a festival and therefore will not televised. We will keep you up to date on the progress of the game via all of our social media platforms.
A good and crucial victory for the club and a confidence boost for the team going forward.
The team applied itself very well in the first half, a solid and clear structure, good ball retention, even though there’s still a lot of work to be done. We maintained good attacking shape and were well organized in defense, managing the match phases precisely.
Our structured attack culminated in an early lead when Venter picked Mutizwa inside the box to give us a 1:0 lead through a perfectly placed header. The Midfield and defence had good structure and from the structure another opportunity but Mutizwa failed to make it count.
We had to wait for the start of the second half after Moreira replaced Mutizwa who got injured in the first half. He combined well with Lamola to make it 2:0.
Deep in the second half we suffered a red card when Jooste got sent off for a reckless tackle. We had to change the team shape and manage the match for the remaining 30 minutes of the match.
We did what was required then and maintained great tactical shape in defense and had to show resilience and mental strength to win the match. The match ended 2:0 in our favor.
A disappointing end to the first round but still one that we can take many positives from. The match itself was an entertaining one for the fans with both teams attacking at will.
An early defensive lapse handed our opponents an early lead but we immediately showed intent to come back and almost did when Seth Parusnath missed a header after some good build up play. We continued to probe for an equalizer but the game was handed to Amazulu when Ntuli blatantly dragged the ball with his hand before being fouled, an incident that took place right in front of the referee.
We then had a mountain to climb and were unable to convert any of the chances we created.
We now look forward to having back our injured and suspended players for the 2nd round, namely: Buthelezi, Nkombelo, Zuke, Ndwandwe, Phiri and Bilankulu.
We finish off 2018 with a Durban Derby match against AmaZulu FC at King Zwelithini Stadium tomorrow at 15h30.
Durban can expect a clash of the KZN Titans as both teams will want to claim boasting rights after 90 minutes on Saturday.
In the last two Derby outings against each other, each of the teams has claimed a win. We defeated AmaZulu 4-1 last season at home in September and Usuthu replied with a 2-1 win in February this year.
We have found some strong form in the last 2 games, and the boys had a great fight back against Wits from being down 2-0 to securing a draw away against the Clever Boys.
The squad have pulled together well and found some confidence on the field which has showed on the field. Confidence has improved and this has been evident in their play.
It is a mindset that they will be encouraged to carry onto the field on Saturday when facing AmaZulu in Umlazi.
Our opponents have been riding the crest of some good play as well. And, up until a 3-1 defeat to Black Leopards had gone 3-for-3, managing to collect some needed points.
This has seen them climb to 11th place on the log, just 3 points behind us.
This makes the pressure for a win just that much more for both teams, and makes the Derby so much more important.
We would love to see our supporters out in force on Saturday, getting behind the team as we play our last game before the Festive break.
Should you not be there, we will be covering the game from the stadium, and you will be able to follow it on our social media channels.
After a poor opening 25 minutes and conceding two goals we gave ourselves an uphill task to salvage anything from the game,especially against a team renowned for seeing out a lead.
However after tweaking our system we got back into the game and started making some inroads. At the break we sorted out a few issues and immediately started to impose ourselves.
We fought our way back scoring two and deservedly got a good point away from home. Another debutant was given an opportunity,Seth Parasnath and he put in a sterling performance capping it off with a goal.
We play our second to last game before the mid season break on Wednesday night against Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium. Kick off at 19h30.
Coming off our win against Kaizer Chiefs at the beginning of the month, the team is feeling confident that they will be able to come away with points from the midweek encounter on Wednesday night.
It will be a big ask, but the target of climbing into a top 8 berth on the league log is one that the entire squad are looking to achieve.
This drive will be the foundation of the game plan when we meet the Clever Boys.
Wits have been consistant over the first half of the season and this sees them sitting second on the log, with 2 games in hand behind log leaders Orlando Pirates.
The incentive for them to retain 3 points at home is big for them and would see them go 2 points ahead at the top of the log.
This will make the side even more difficult to beat.
The Clever Boys will also be looking to regain some dominance on the field. They secured a 1-0 win against struggling Bleack Leopards, but were on the end of a 2-1 loss to Bloem Celtic in November.
Clinton Larsen and his technical team will be asking for 110% of the team as they take to the pitch on Wednesday, and any support from our Gauteng based followers would be a boost for the lads as they give their all in the 90 minutes.
The game will be televised on SABC, and we will also be giving a play-by-play feed on our social media platforms.
A much needed victory under trying playing conditions. We acquitted ourselves well and began the match with good intensity and attack minded play. Our offensive players pressed collectively and with good co-ordination ,and as a result restricted Chiefs from developing any rhythm during their build up phase.
We looked dangerous on the break and without trying to sound arrogant could have gone into the break 3 or 4 goals up. We deservedly took a two nil lead into the half time break.We had to show dogged determination and defensive tenacity as Chiefs threw everything at us in the final 15-20 minutes.
Our defensive unit were sound as our opponents went the aerial route in search of an equalizer.A massive three points in the bigger scheme of things as again it’s quite tight at the bottom and mid table as we approach the half way mark.
A solid team effort saw us win 2-1 against Cape Town City at Princess Magogo Stadium in the Multichoice Diski Challenge.
The team dominated the play throughout the 90 minutes of play but were failing to find those final touches to put us in the lead in the first half. We had a number of well executed plays that put us into the opposition last third, however we could just not find the back of the net.
We closed down any play that Cape Town City came at us with and frustrated them on the field.
Going into the break there was no score on the board.
Returning to the field we maintained dominance but it was in the 60th minute against the run of play that City managed to get behind out defence and took a shot at goal from a tight angle. The ball deflected off the near post and into the goals to give them the lead.
We retaliated quickly and almost equalised a minute later, but some good work from their keeper Anderson saw the attack off.
Sabelo eventually found the back of the net in the 67th minute and then settled matters off a penalty awarded for a foul in the box against Ngcongo to secure the win against the log leaders.
The Diski team now break until the new year when they return to the field against Supersport United at TUT Stadium on the 12th of January.
We return to the field after a 3 week international break, with a home fixture against Kaizer Chiefs at Princess Magogo Stadium tomorrow night.
The break has given our Coaching staff time to work on aspects of our game where we have fallen short in the season so far. We have drawn 6 of our 12 games, endured 4 losses and secured maximum points from only 2 games.
With three tough games before the festive break, the teams objective of a top 8 place going into the break is still possible. They will however need to dig deep to achieve this and Saturdays game against Kaizer Chiefs is the first hurdle.
Chiefs are 6th on the log with 18 points. In their last three encounters in the PSL they have beaten SuperSport and Black Leopards while drawing to Chippa United.
They are not unbeatable and the team are out to prove that when we take to the field at 6pm.
The game will be broadcast live on SuperSport (SS4) should you not be at the stadium or you can follow us on our social media channels for up-to-date info on the game.
We would however love to see you at the stadium in your green and gold to get behind the team.
Tickets are on sale from TicketPro outlets only, which include CNA, Edgars and Jet. Adults will be R40 and u12’s pay R15.
We appeal for you not to purchase tickets outside the gate at the risk of purchasing counterfeit tickets and being denied access to the game.
For a full list of outlets can be viewed here https://www.ticketpros.co.za/portal/web/index.php/outlets/
Our Diski boys will be playing a home game on Sunday morning when they take on MDC log leaders Cape Town City at Princess Magogo Stadium. Kick off is at 10am.
Coming off two away wins, the side is looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd. They will be looking to upset The Citizens who have had a solid season so far.
The Cape side have won seven of their encounters, while drawing one game and suffering only one loss. This sees them top of the Diski Challenge log with 22 points.
The youngsters have made some headway in the past weeks. With away wins against AmaZulu FC and Bloem Celtic, it seems as if they have managed to overcome the issues they were encountering when it came to finishing.
This has seen a climb on the log to 9th position, but the determination from the youngsters to improve on that is evident heading into this weekends game.
The team is confident that they can secure a home win and have appealed to you, our supporters to come to the stadium and get behind them.
Entry to the Multichoice Diski games are free, and all you need to do is bring your friends and family and come enjoy some entertaining football.
The game will not be televised, as it is not a festival game. You can follow us on our social media platforms for play-by-play posts.
A brace from Siphamandla Sabelo and a 66th minute goal from substitute Sibonelo Ngcongo saw us secure another 3 points away from home in our 2018/19 Diski campaign.
A well fought first half saw us scoring late in the the half to go into the break with a 1-0 lead.
Bloem Celtic however, answered early in the second half with Mangweni scoring the first of his goals just 5 minutes into the second stanza.
This opened the game up, with both sides increasing their work rate. This paid off with Sabelo scoring his brace in the 60th minute off a well placed cross from Siyabonga Dube.
Coach Vilakazi then made a technical change up front, putting Sibonelo Ngcongo on the field. Fresh legs and a different approach paid off as he scored just 5 minutes after being on the park.
A late fight back from Siwelele saw them pull one back with just ten minutes left on the clock.
This made for an exciting last period of play as we defended the three points.
A successful day for us on the field, and positive play heading into our next game against log leaders Cape Town City next Sunday at home.
Our Diski boys are in action this weekend as they face Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday at 10h00.
After a successful Derby game against AmaZulu last weekend, where the team were triumphant on the field, they will be looking to continue their positive play on Saturday. All of the pieces of the game-plan seemed to fall in place for the team, and they achieved the win they have so narrowly missed in most of their outings so far this season. The youngsters have played with determination, but have failed to finish off in the last third. Last Saturdays game saw a change in that trend, and the team managed a 2-1 win, with Siyabonga Dube and Siphamandla Sabelo finding the back of the net.
It was a team effort that won the game, and should they be able to carry this over to the weekend, they should bring another 3 points home against bloem.
Celtic are having a promising season and are presently in the running for the top spot on the log.
Having also played 8 games so far they sit second on the log, just three points away from Cape town City who sit at the top. They have 5 wins, 2 draws and only 1 loss so far in the season.
Both this and a home advantage will be two hurdles that the Diski team will need to overcome to clinch a win away from a side who will be wanting to take top spot on the log.
We will be keeping you up to date with the proceedings of the game as they happen, so follow us on Facebook and Twitter for minute by minute proceedings.
Determination paid off for the Diski boys this morning as they fought back for a Derby win after being 1-0 down ten minutes into the game.
The first half kicked off and had promises of a Derby game from the first minute as the teams seemed to shrug off the heat and go toe to toe.
We took the ball up early but faltered slightly, allowing AmaZulu to play on the counter and keeping us off guard. This found us scrambling at the back to get our defence sorted out, and in the process of clearing the ball of the line we played the ball onto Mgwazela’s arm.
The referee took no time in awarding AmaZulu a penalty and Maduna stepped up and fired his shot past Mlungwana to take an early lead.
We dominated the play however and took the ball into the last third on a number of occasions. Khwela found himself one on one with Boshoff twice, but the ball stopper for Amazulu used his size well to stop the ball from being put past him.
Our perseverance paid off 20 minutes later as Siyabonga Dube managed to control a lose ball in the box, place it well on his strong foot and took a shot into the top corner of the goals. Boshoff went of the save but could not get a glove on it and we secured the equaliser going into the break.
The second half delivered as much action as the first. Both teams pushed into opposition territory and put pressure on the defence. This forced errors from both sides and we managed to survive a number of free kicks.
In the 63rd minute AmaZulu were not as lucky and Khoza received a second yellow for his transgressions, and his exit off the pitch.
Amazulu were forced to try and close the gaps and looked like they were ready to park the bus.
We continued our attack on them and Falakhe was unfortunate not to score off a free kick on the edge of the box. He cleared the wall but the ball hit the crossbar.
Persistence eventually paid off in the 77th minute as Sabelo found the back of the net to secure the lead in the game.
A well executed team effort on the field today which paid off with a well deserved win for the youngsters.
The team will return to Durban and prepare for another away game o the 24th as we face Blowmfontein Celtic at Dr.Molemela Stadium.
This weekend we kick off the Diski action in Vosloorus with a Derby game against AmaZulu at 10am tomorrow morning.
With the youngsters not reaping the rewards of their efforts that they have been putting in on the field, and finding themselves sitting 12th on the log, they will be looking to return home with full points after their Derby encounter.
They have been unfortunate on the pitch and have not found the back of the net as often as they would like. This has seen the techincal team working with the team on finishing leading up to tomorrows encounter.
AmaZulu have won four of their Multichoice Diski encounters, drawn two and lost just one to give them 14 points in this seasons competition.
It puts them just two points off the lead behind Cape Town City and Bidvest Wits, a position they will be keen to build on.
The game will be an exciting start to the Festival at Vosloorus Stadium for the weekend, and another action packed encounter between the two teams.
The game will be televised on Supersport 4, and we will also be keeping you updated with live play by play of the game on Twitter and Facebook
Probably the most disappointing result of this season. We had a huge opportunity to put daylight between ourselves and the bottom 5 teams, but we also had an opportunity to cement a top eight place so to say we’re disappointed would be an understatement.
We created enough chances to win this match but lost it eventually after conceding two of the softest goals you’re likely to see, one from a defender slipping and the other a goalkeeping error. I can’t be too hard on the boys because they are trying their best in the absence of Nkombelo, Lunga, Zuke, Phiri, Ndwandwe and Buthelezi who are all out injured
The Diski team were held to a goalless draw this morning by Baroka FC at Princess Magogo Stadium. Although we dominated possession, it was some solid goalkeeping from Baroka that denied us the points.
After coming onto the field and looking to set the tempo of the game, Baroka were shortly on the back foot as the Diski boys answered their attacking play with calculated counter attacks. For periods of play, we held the visitors in their last third as we spread the ball and looked for opportunities to create spaces to score.
This game plan served us well and saw us create a healthy number of scoring chances. Baroka’s keeper, Molapo, was determined to keep a clean sheet though and played out of his boots to achieve his goal.
He saw goal attempts from Ndelu, Mathenjwa and N.Dube in the first half.
We maintained a good work rate throughout the game and gave the visitors little chance to counter, but had to survive two well executed offensive plays from the Limpopo outfit. Cebekhulu looked confident and calm as he managed to control the ball from their attacking plays and only once faltered, but the shot was just off target an found the side netting.
The result is not indicative of the play from the Diski team, however they will have to settle for just the one point for their efforts.
They will prepare this week for their upcoming Derby game against Amazulu on the 17th which is to be played at Vosloorus Stadium at 10h00.
Tomorrow we take to the field as we face off against Baroka FC in our only ABSA Premiership game of the month. We kick off at Princess Magogo Stadium at 15h30.
The side have been in preparation for the game since coming off 2 away draws on the road against Free State Stars and SuperSport United. Two important league points were accumulated, however a home win would be good for the morale of the side as we head towards the season break.
We last played Baroka in the first round of the Telkom Cup. We lost the game 2-0.
The objective tomorrow will be a home win and a full points for Coach Larsen and the team.
Baroka FC have been running on a high lately, with two wins in the Telkom Knockout rounds, however, have not enjoyed the same form in their Premiership games.
They have lost two of their encounters and drawn one coming into tomorrows game. They are a fighting team though, and will not give an inch on the field as they look to secure a win.
Sitting at 15th on the log, they will want to claw their way from the bottom at any opportunity they have.
We are sure to be in for a spectacular game, and would like to encourage our supporters to be there in numbers. The boys are looking forward to playing at home and would be encouraged by a great turn out.
We will be keeping you informed on the games proceeding over our social media platforms should you be unable to attend.
Our Diski Boys are back in action this weekend as they kick off their 7th MDC game against 8th placed Baroka, on Sunday at 10:00 at the Princess Magogo stadium.
The boys have performed well so far on the field this season but have struggled to translate that performance into goals and positive results.
The coaches however, have been impressed with the consistent play and have been working on the finishing of the youngsters to try and encourage them and boost their confidence as the season progresses.
The team is confident ahead of Sundays home game and are keen to impress a home crowd against the Polokwane outfit.
We would like to encourage our supporters to get to the stadium and get behind the youngsters as they take to the field. Entry to the game is free.
Keep up to date on the game with our social media platforms should you not be able to be there.
Finally our players can get some deserved rest after a grueling 9 days where played 3 consecutive away games against Baroka in the cup then Free State Stars away and finally Supersport.
At a time when we have been hard hit by injuries our players have shown great resolve and commitment in two extremely difficult games against Stars and Supersport. Getting two draws away from home is a credible achievement under the current circumstances.
The players deserve all the credit for putting in such a sterling effort. We could have won both games with a bit of luck but are nevertheless happy to have got something out of both games.
We end of a grueling travelling week with our game against SuperSport United being played at Mbombela Stadium tomorrow afternoon at 15h30.
After a mid week clash that saw us return to Durban with a point against Free State Stars, the team has had a busy two days preparing for the game.
It has been ‘all hands on deck’ as the technical team have dealt with player recovery and preparation ahead of Sundays game.
More points away from home will be important in the teams season aspirations and a win against the 4th placed Matsatsantsa will go a long way in keeping that on track.
SuperSport should be well rested after a week break since their Telkom Knockout game against Polokwane City.
In their last two league games against Baroka FC and Polokwane City, they drew both games and a home win for them could see them climb a place on the log.
The game will be televised on SS4 (204) and we will also do the normal updates on our social media channels.
A last minute goal from Daylon Claasen saw Bidvest Wits snatch the game away from us at Bidvest Stadium today.
Both teams went head to head throughout the battle and had passages of play that promised a goal. Both Mlungwane and Goss, for Wits, had to make some decent saves to keep their team in contention.
We took the game to them with our possession and did well to use the ball constructively but we were not able to find the target.
In the second half, play went from end to end, as both teams fought hard to create space.
In the end it was the last play of the game that saw Wits win the ball, play into the box and get a match winning shot on target.
The team will have a couple of weeks break before playing at home against Baroka FC at home on the 11th November.
The Diski Boys get back into action tomorrow as they face off against Bidvest Wits in their 6th encounter of the season. The game will be played at Bidvest Stadium with a 10am kick off.
The youngsters have not been lucky so far this season and have lost two games and drawn two due to their finishing in the last third.
It has been a major point of concentration in the break since their last encounter at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium against Highlands Park.
The style of play that has seen the team take the title twice is so prevalent in the side, but it has just been the final touches that have let them down in the last third.
This sees them sitting 11th on the league table at the moment, three positions behind a Bidvest Wits side that is looking confident on the field.
The Clever Boy’s side has won three and drawn two so far this season and are taking each game at a time in what is turning out to be one of the most closely contended Diski seasons so far.
At 8th place they are just 3 points off the top of the log and will be fighting for a home win and maximum points.
Last season we met the Joburg outfit in the last game of the season at Bidvest Stadium and managed to beat them 2-0. The team will look at replicating this performance on the field tomorrow.
If you are near the stadium come and catch our aspiring Diski players in action or follow us on social media for updates on the game.
Anytime a team concedes late from a winning position will always hurt, especially away from home. We held our own for the best part of 70 minutes and weren’t too threatened except for two Moseamedi headers that were off target.
We needed to get a second goal because we knew late on they would go the aerial route and cause us problems which they did.Credit to Stars they used their height advantage to good effect and after piling on the pressure in the last 20 minutes they got the equalizer with their 3 subs Jantjie, Jappie and Rodgers all having a positive impact.
What’s even more disappointing is that we could have gone 1 point behind Chiefs who are sitting 3rd in the league.
We get the second away game in a row underway with a trip to the Free State where we face Free State Stars tomorrow night at Goble Park. Kick off will be at 19h30.
We currently sit a point behind Ea Lla Koto on the log, but with a game in hand. An away win would give the team a chance of climbing back into contention for a top 8 position.
The team will be looking to secure as many points as possible on the road.
Free State Stars have had mixed results, much the same as us, and will be hoping to continue on a winning streak after thier last 2-0 League win against Bloemfontein Celtic.
The game will be an important one for both sides morale after coming off first round exits in the Telkom Knockout Cup.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport4, and there will be the usual coverage from us on all social media channels.
We used this opportunity to give game time to our players who have not played much this season. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb after conceding in the first minute of the game.
Taking into account that we fielded most of our players who have not got much game time this season, we grew into the game but lacked any cutting edge in the final 3rd.
We got a lot of information from this exercise as some players showed they are closer to selection while others still have some way to go. We now look forward to being competitive in the league.
We take a break from the league this weekend as we take part in our first round of the Telkom Knockout Cup fixture tomorrow against Baroka FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, kick off at 15h30.
We have an opportunity to chase some silverware for the season, and our first round draw against Baroka FC is a positive first step in advancing in the competition.
Baroka are not an easy club to play and do not give away games. They also fight for their place when it comes to the Cup competitions and Tomorrow’s encounter will be an exciting game to watch.
Coach Larsen is positive about the fixture and believes its an opportunity for the team to perform and reap the reward for their efforts.
“Every small team is always looking forward to cup competitions. We are also a small team. We will try and have a good run and see if we can have the silverware.” Coach Larsen told IOL news.
The game will be televised on SABC 1, and for those of you not able to watch, you can follow us on either Facebook or Twitter as we provide you with an up to the minute feed.
A goalless draw was the result of our efforts at Sugar Ray Stadium this morning against Highlands Park.
Both teams answered each other play for play in the 90 minutes of game time. Each creating opportunities to score but failing to capitalise on the opportunities.
The team looked good on attack and took the game to their opponents from every angle, but at times seemed indecisive at the finish, ultimately costing them the game.
Defensively we were strong. We handled the high ball better than usual and managed to turn this attack into counter plays.
Only in the last 15 minutes did we seem more confident with our shots at target. Sabelo had a beautiful left footed shot which had the Highlands keeper diving up and to his left to make the save. Ndaba and Khwela too had some great passages of pressure with convincing shots. But it was all too late an effort.
The team have a 2 week break before their next match against Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium and will need to come up with a solid game plan in order to secure some needed points in the competition.
Finally we get a win after a dominant home performance. Still not converting at a good ratio but again solid defensively,3rd straight clean sheet and a very attacking display.
We pleased for the players that all their hard work has finally paid dividends .A strong attitude and well executed tactical approach was evident in today’s performance.
Happy that finally our supporters have something to smile about.
We were unlucky not to open the scoring in the 13th minute as we capitalised on a turn over ball. N.Dube was fed a long ball on the counter. Mpandle came out of the box in defence, failed to connect an clear the ball, this allowed Dube to run around him an have a shot on at goals.
Farmer was back in defence quickly for the home side however and made a telling clear off the line to deny us a goal.
Both sides did well to get into the last third for the remainder of the half. Neither managed to capitalise on their chances though, with The Team of Choice only seriously testing Mlungwana once, as he dived to make a save to his left.
Returning to the field, the sides once again took some time to settle but once they were in the zone it was a battle from both sides.
We created a number of opportunities to score. Mpandle kept Maritzburg in the game though with some solid keeping. If it was not for him, we could have been 4 goals up at the end of the game.
Maritzburg United are always a tough contender, and todays game was no different. They used their ball well and put us under pressure a number of times.
Our defence was solid and Mlungwana did a great job to keep their shots on target out of goals.
Although a win would have been preferred, it was a solid performance from the boys who prepare for their next game against Highland Park at the Diski Festival at Sugar Ray Xulu stadium next weekend.
We are hoping to capitalize on home advantage tomorrow as we face Black Leopards at 15h30 in Kwa-Mashu.
After a positive performance on Wednesday night against Orlando Pirates, Coach Larsen and his man are looking to execute a floor-less game plan at Princess Magogo Stadium.
The team has shown determination in the outings so far this season, but have not reaped the full reward for their efforts.
Tomorrows game should be a turn around in fortune for the side as they take on Lidoda Duvha, however they should not be treated as underdogs.
After returning to the top flight of football, they have fought hard to secure 8 points in 7 games so far.
They have beaten Baroka and Polokwane City , while drawing with Highlands Park and Chippa United to add to their point tally.
Their losses have been to SuperSport United, Bloem Celtic and Orlando Pirates.
The Limpopo outfit play with guts and determination and will be looking to upset us at home come game time.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport10 (210), but we would encourage you to come to the stadium to get behind the side.
Tickets will be R40 for Adults and R15 for u12’s at the gates.
As always, follow us on our social media platforms should you not be able to get to the stadium and enjoy our play-by-play commentary on the game.
We have Diski action this weekend as we take on Maritzburg United on Sunday morning in a Derby game at Harry Gwala Stadium. Kick off at 10am.
The side has not had the strongest start to the season, securing just one win after three games. With a number of young new players in the side, this is not the worst scenario to be in, however, it is important for us to add points to our tally.
The team of Choice could very possibly be hard to beat. They have nothing to lose and all to win as they have not yet secured any points in the competition so far this season.
They have played three games and lost all, and only scored one goal in the process.
This should make them hungry for the win come game time.
If you are in the province capital, get to the stadium and get behind our Diski boys as they continue their 2018 campaign.
The game is not televised, but we will be keeping you up to date with play by play of the game on our social media twitter and Facebook
Another clean sheet,another good performance and still can’t get that elusive win.
We had a huge opportunity to get all three points had we again taken one of the chances we created. Our team organization was on point as the players executed our game plan with high focus and concentration.
Pirates failed to test Gumede at any point of the match and that says a lot about the teams structure and tactical organization.
Our players deserve all the credit for once more fighting wholeheartedly for the badge.
Tomorrow night we return to the field as we take on Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium. The mid-week encounter will kick off at 19h30.
Coming off a draw in our last game against Chippa United, the team is needing to find some additional points in the 2018/19 campaign.
This is not an impossible mission against the Buccaneers, who have had mixed results so far this season, although sitting top of the log. With draws against Highlands Park and Cape Town City as well as losses to Bloem Celtic and Bidvest Wits, they have proven they can be vulnerable on game days.
We have struggled to find form so far. Although we have had some promising games, it has just not been a great start to the season.
That being said, we have the ability to bounce back and the opportunity to do this against the log leading team
We would encourage our Gauteng supporters to get to Soweto and support the team. Your presence at the stadium would be greatly appreciated.
The game will be televised on SuperSport 4 (Channel 204) and we will be keeping you close to the game with our play-by-play feed on our social media platforms.
Two points dropped at home feels like a loss. Again we dominated but failed to break the deadlock.
Credit to the players for the enthusiasm and energy with which they approached this game. Being the 3rd game in 7days we still ran tirelessly until the final whistle. Credit too must go to our fitness trainer Pedro Picarro for a great job in not only conditioning the team the way he has but also for getting us to recover in time to compete again.
As the head coach I take full responsibility for the poor results we’ve had of late.
Our Diski side have lost another away game today against a 10 man Polokwane City at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The first half of the game saw the feisty home side reduced to 10 men a number of minutes after they failed to take the lead off a penalty.
This did not dampen their determination to secure a win, and they fought valiantly to ensure that we did not get the opportunity to take the lead.
Their keeper, Meschak Radebe, stood as a pillar between the sticks and denied us shot after shot to keep his side alive.
We dominated possession, but Polokwane played quick and precise counter moves that put us on the back foot as they tried to force the errors.
In the second half, they managed to pull off a well executed counter, get in behind the defence and create an opportunity.
Mlungwana made no mistake in the 83rd minute, securing the home win for Polokwane City.
We return home and have 2 weeks to prepare for our Diski Derby match against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on October 7th.
Our Diski Boys have another opportunity to get some points on the board as they travel to Polokwane to take on Polokwane City in the Diski Challenge tomorrow at 10am, at the Old Peter Mokaba stadium.
Coming off a successful game against Orlando Pirates last weekend, the side will be looking to bring home another 3 points and increasing their goal difference after tomorrows game.
It will be a tough game against a side who have remained unbeaten so far in their campaign, securing a win and a draw so far, to accumulate 4 points.
The side are confident of a positive result after their 90 minutes tomorrow, and another win away will go a long way in defending the title.
The game will not be televised so Follow us on Facebook and twitter for updates and results tomorrow morning.
We end off a busy last 7 days tomorrow with a home game against Chippa United.The game will get underway at 3pm at Princess Magogo Stadium.
After 2 defeats in our last two encounters against Highlands Park and Mamelodi Sundowns, Coach Larsen will be looking at his chosen 11 to secure some much needed points in this last game of the month of September
In his post match message, the Coach said ‘credit must go to the players for their performance although again the result was a negative one. A performance like this against Chippa on Saturday and I’m sure we will get the result we all want.’
This is a clear indication of his confidence in the players to deliver on what he knows they are capable of as a unit.
Chippa are currently sitting on 4 points after 5 games.In their last 3 encounters they have won one, lost one and drawn one. They will be hoping to collect some points away from home and as we know, are capable of creating upsets.
On the day, they can be a tough opponent to beat.
We would like to call on our supporters to get behind the side at home. Numbers in the stands would be an encouragement to the club as a whole. Tickets are R40 adults and R10 kids U12. You can buy your tickets at the stadium on match day
We will be covering the game once again on Twitter and Facebook should you be unable to get to the game.
There was never a better time to get one over Sundowns than this match.
For the first time we dominated them for long periods but failed to turn that dominance into goals and as is usually the case we conceded against the run of play.
But credit must go to the players for their performance although again the result was a negative one. A performance like this against Chippa on Saturday and I’m sure we will get the result we all want.
Based on our overall performance I don’t think we deserved anything from this game. For the first time this season I can say we did not fight like we usually do.
That was disappointing because that’s the foundation upon which we build our performances. We need to play with more belief and with more composure and maturity.
Highly disappointing result against a team that only really threatened on set plays and crosses. Credit to Highlands for being strong in those two areas of their play..
A brace from Mvala helped to see Highlands Park to a home win this afternoon at Makhulong Stadium.
With the pressure being put onto us from the first whistle, we struggled to find any rhythm in our game.
We were tried defensively throughout the first half and were not able to use our possession constructively. This caused us frustration on the field, which resulted in us conceding a penalty in the 20th minute. Mvala stepped up to the mark and made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
Twelve minutes later, we managed to equalise off a free kick. Danny Venter did well to beat the wall and score the first half equaliser.
We barely had time to regroup as Mvala scored his brace just nine minutes before the half time break.
Coming back from the break, the team seemed to consolidate slightly.
We looked more confident on attack and managed to get behind the defence and create chances. We could just not finish the way we would have liked to though.
Coach Larsen introduced both Lamola and Moreira into play. This helped in creating chances and staying in the opponent’s last third, however nothing we threw at them managed to get past Kapini.
A tough loss this afternoon but the team need to regroup and prepare as we look toward our game against Sundowns on Wednesday night at Princess Magogo stadium
Another thrilling installment of the Multichoice Diski Challenge took place today as we faced Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium.
The teams took to the field and went head to head in a battle that could have lead to either team opening the scoring in the first ten minutes. Poor finishing from both sides denied them this advantage.
We played a well executed game plan, and managed to get behind the opponents defence, but had a number of shots that just lacked the right touch to convert into a goal.
Our attacking game pus the lead for the rest of the half.
Returning to the field, it did not take long for us to go on the attack again. Pirates were ready for this and countered our plays well. Looking to get into the gaps and take advantage. This allowed them to play into our last third a number of times.
Tshanini made a hard tackle on one movement, and being in the box, was penalised for the infringement. Mabaso placed the ball and converted it for the home side to equalise.
We managed to see off a number of attacks on goal by Pirates after that. They had us on the back foot for a decent amount of time, but perseverance eventually paid off in the last 10 minutes as we countered well and found the winning goal off the boot of Dube.
A positive day for the side as they return home to prepare for next weeks game against Polokwane City.
Our Diski boys take on Orlando Pirates in the seasons second game on Sunday at 12h00.
After an unfortunate loss last Sunday to Kaizer Chiefs, the team are looking to get onto the points board as they face Orlando Pirates in Soweto.
It is still early in the season, but the Multichoice Diski season is only 15 games long, so every point that can be accumulated is important.
With the team looking to successfully defend their MDC Title for the season, they will have to dig deep down and work at returning home with a full 3 points on Sunday.
Pirates never had a great start to their season either, and will also be keen to get points behind them on Sunday.
Fans should be in store for another great entertaining game and are encouraged to get to the Orlando Stadium to catch all of the action on the day.
Follow us on our Facebook and Twitter for all of the game action before we move across to Makhulong Stadium for the first team game against Highlands North at 15h00.
We return to ABSA Premiership action on Sunday with a game against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium, kick off at 15h00.
Our fifth ABSA action sees us taking on 11th placed Highlands Park in a game in which we need to come home with full points.
After having a great win against Maritzburg United in our opening game we have only managed to secure 2 points from our last three games. This has been from draws with Cape Toen City and Polokwane City.
The coaching staff and players have been concentrating on finishing off our chances in the last third over the past 2 weeks of training. Converting chances into goals has been an important strategy at practice, and this now needs to be pulled into our game and put that practice into action.
Highlands park have had a fighting start to their campaign. In saying that they have yet to lose a game in the season, having played a draw againt Pirates, Black Leopards, Sundowns and Baroka FC.
This team is one that shows up to the fight, and Sunday will be no different for them as they look to secure their first home win on Sunday.
The game will not be televised, however, we will be keeping you close to the action as we give you play-by-play news on our social media platforms.
The Multichoice Diski Challenge got underway for us today as we took on Kaizer Chiefs at Hammersdale Stadium.
With a game that saw both sides creating chances early on in the first half, but failing to capitalise on them, it ended in a game filled with drama as we finished off the last 10 minutes a man short.
The playing conditions were not optimal at the stadium today. The long grass on the field meant that the ball did not carry well and slowed down a lot off the boot.
We created a number of chances to score, but our decision making in the last third and finishing was poor this afternoon.
Taking all of this into consideration, the turning point of the game was when Conco failed to convert a penalty awarded after Khwela was taken down just inside the box.
He placed the ball and took his shot. Mbuva made the save, but he looked off his line and at this stage the frustration of the players started to boil.
Shortly after this, The Glamour Boys managed to play a quick counter move, get positioned well and Lekoatsa took a shot that found the back of the net.
The frustration got the better of Kaleb Parusnath who was booked for dissent after voicing his opinion after a Chiefs player went down as a time wasting tactic.
This compounded our fight and made it more difficult to get back into the last third while needing to close gaps in the field.
We were not able to find an equaliser and after 5 minutes of additional play, succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Amakhosi.
There were however a number of positives to take from the game. There were stellar performances from some players who made their debut today Samkelo Mgwazela, Thandokwakhe Hlabisa, N.Dube did well on the ball, looking to create scoring chances, Siphamandla Nzuza had a solid defensive game, Tshanini also did well to read play well and move the ball.
It will be back to the drawing board for Coaches as they prepare for the match against Orlando Pirates on the 16th of September.
We would like to thank all supporters who attended the Festival today. It was encouraging to see the numbers in the stadium, and we are sure that in the seasons to come, Hammersdale Stadium will be visited once again.
The 2018/19 MultiChoice Diski Challenge season gets underway with an opening festival at Hammersdale Stadium on Sunday 09 September.
We get the opportunity to kick off our defence of the title as we host Kaizer Chiefs, with the game kicking off at 15h00.
Chiefs finished their last Diski season off at 5th place after having played 15 games in the season.
We will be looking to get a solid start and positive momentum on the season. We started our previous season against the same opponent, with the game being played at Sugar Ray Stadium and walked off the field 3-2 winners after a hard played game.
The Coaches and team will be looking to secure the same result in our opening game on Sunday.
Six clubs will battle it out on the day, with all KZN clubs taking part on the day.
Maritzburg United will play Mamelodi Sundowns at 10h00, AmaZulu FC will take on Orlando Pirates at 12h30, with our game finishing off the days proceedings at 15:00.
All games will be live on Supersport 4, and we will also be giving you live play by play of our game on our social media
We would like to encourage you to get to the stadium and enjoy the day of football, and getting behind the team as we kick the season off.
We definitely look at this game as two points dropped instead of a point gained. After a positive start,a missed penalty and numerous squandered chances we broke the deadlock when Mngwengwe headed home from a Venter corner kick.
We allowed our visitors to come back into the match after dominating the opening 30 minutes and they equalized just before the break.
The second half was just the same as we squandered chance after chance although credit must also go to Chigova for keeping his team in the game with some telling saves.
An early goal from skipper Nkanyiso Mngwengwe was not enough against a determined Polokwane City tonight, as we finished with a draw at full time.
We missed an opportunity to open the scoring in the 6th minute after Conco was bought down just inside the box, and were awarded a penalty. Limbikani Mzava took the kick, but Polokwane City’s keeper, George Chigova did well to dive low to his right and make a telling save.
A well placed corner kick in the following play saw Mngwengwe go up, connect the ball well and find the back of the net off a well executed cross.
This set the pace of the first half, with Polokwane City fighting hard for an equaliser. We answered them play for play, getting into the last third, but being closed down by some good defending from the visitors. We had so many opportunities to add to the score board but yet again failed to convert our chances into goals, we had two opportunities that hit the cross bar.
The determination from Rise and Shine paid off though. In the 41st minute, a play up the far side of the field saw Rodney Ramagalela take a shot from outside the box. Gumede who had come off his line a bit in defence, tried to block the ball and managed to get a leg in the way, but the deflection was not enough to change the overall direction of the ball and the equaliser was scored.
Coming back onto the field in the second half, A change in tactic from Clinton Larsen saw the introduction of Wayde Jooste and Danny Phiri onto the field. Jooste’s introduction had a slight impact on the pace of the game and saw some promising plays between himself, Lamola and Mutizwa.
Ultimately the opportunities created never turned into anything. Opportunities were to be had by Mutizwa, substitute Moreira as well as Jooste but a determined Chigova denied us at every turn.
Polokwane City also had a number of chances in the second half, but it was not to be for either of the teams on the field tonight and in the end the points were once again shared.
We will go back to the drawing board and prepare for an away game on September 16th against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium.
Wednesday night see us back in action at home against Polokwane City in a 19h30 kick off at Princess Magogo Stadium.
The team have secured 4 points so far this season, with a win, a loss and a draw. Looking to collect our first 3 points at home of the season, the team has been preparing over the last 10 days under the watchful eye of coach Clinton Larsen.
After a well earned point away in the last game against Cape Town City, the coach was happy with the performance of the players, but identified the need for the players to be more decisive in the attacking third.
This would have been one of the points to work on in the training sessions over the last 10 days.
Polokwane City have had a shaky start to their season. With a loss against Black Leopards and Mamelodi Sundowns, but they found form in their last encounter as they beat Baroka FC 2-0 at home.
Rise and Shine can be a formidable team away from home, and will be wanting to increase their point tally as they travel to Durban this week.
We would like to encourage all of our supporters to come to Princess Magogo Stadium in support of the team on Wednesday.
The game will not be live on television, so If you’re around the country, follow us on Twitter or Facebook to catch our live play by play feed on the game.
Games in Cape Town are never easy and this was no different. Credit must go to the opposition as I believe they are a quality unit whom I believe will do very well this season.
But we traveled knowing we can get something out of this game and even had chances to win it in the end. Again we defended well as a team but lacked in decisive quality in the attacking third.
A clean sheet and a point away from home is not the worst result as we now look forward to hosting Polokwane at home.
Very proud of the efforts our players gave as they continue to fight for the badge.
A well fought encounter tonight saw us share the spoils with the Citizens at the Cape Town Stadium as we played to a nil-nil draw.
Playing with less possession tonight, we put up a good fight against Cape Town City. The rivalry saw a full 90 minutes of head to head action, in a game that did not seem to slow in pace.
The first half saw some promising end-to-end play from both sides.
Although they managed to have more opportunities, we created some promising chances on goal. We were denied a goal in the 36th minute as Conco took a shot. On target, the City keeper managed to get a hand on it, and then unluckily it hit the cross bar.
Both sides came out with determination in the second half. Again, a healthy encounter ensued that, neither of the sides managed to take advantage of opportunities created.
Coach Larsen tried to change things up after the break by bringing in Phiri and strengthening the mid field, looking at securing more ball and then later bringing Jooste off the bench.
This paid off on a number of moves, which saw both players doing well in getting the ball into the box. Finishing was our down fall though and none of the chances gave us clear opportunities on scoring.
It was then just before full time that we missed a golden opportunity to take the win. A clean cross from the far side by Jooste found Venter on the ball. He tried to direct his shot away from the Cape Town City keeper, but put just too much on the ball, which went wide of the target.
All in all, a positive point away from home.
The team will return to Durban and begin preparations for our second home game on the 29th against Polokwane City.
We travel to Cape Town on the weekend to take on Cape Town City on Saturday evening. The game will be played at Cape Town Stadium, with kick-off at 18h00.
Having started the season with a convincing win over Maritzburg United, the team have not managed to find the same form as they did in the Derby in their games against Bloem Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns (MTN8).
After the MTN8 fixture, Coach Larsen was positive regarding the position play from the side and the improvement in the build up play.
This, as well as addressing the defensive issues regarding closing down play our opponent at the edge of the box would have been key factors in this weeks training ahead of our third ABSA Premiership clash of the season.
It will be a battle of 7th and 8th place on the log, taking current standings into consideration.
Cape Town City have had a similar performance to date, also having secured just 3 points from their two encounters. With a win over Supersport United (2-0) in their opening game, and then an away loss to Baroka (2-1), Benny McCarthy’s charges will be eager to notch up some points on their home turf.
Statistically the game could go either way. Over the last 2 seasons, we have won 1, drawn 1 an lost twice to the Mother City team.
It’s full points that we are looking for though.
If you are in Cape town and are able to support, we would love to see you in the stands.
You can catch the action on SuperSport 4 if you’re home. Or, follow us on Facebook or Twitter for a live play-by-play feed.
From the onset the boys really tried to go toe-to-toe with Sundowns
I don’t think Sundowns expected us to play the way we did in the first half where we tried to be on the front foot and tried to play offensively. I thought playing (Danny) Venter a bit deeper as a playmaker worked and it improved our build-up play.
I was very proud of the performance. Yes we could have done a bit better by closing (Sibusiso) Vilakazi down on the edge of the box with the first goal, but besides from that I thought the players did very well.
In the second half we conceded a goal because we lost possession on the edge of the box and good teams are going to punish you if you lose the ball in those areas.
It is a learning curve for the players, but I thought it was a huge improvement on our last match in terms of the team performance, so it is a step in the right direction.
There are lots of positives to take from this game.
We have been knoocked out of the MTN8 in the first round, with Sundowns managing to score twice to ensure a win.
The team gave a good performance but just never managed to get into the firing zone and find accuracy on the shots we had at the Sundowns goal.
Although we lost the game, coach Larsen was happy with the performance with the team who went toe-to-toe with Masandawana. The team tried playing offensively and also on the front foot but we made mistakes at the back and got punished for it.
We allowed Vilakazi to open the scoring for the home side in the 40th minute. The persistance of the play from Sundowns and their domination of ball posession in the first half allowed them to get behind the defence, create a gap, and give Vilakazi a chance that he made no mistake on.
Coming back onto the field in the second half, we had a flurry of play that saw us have some better opportunities to score. Sibiya did well on the field, playing the ball up and linking well with Lunga to create opportunities. We could just not find the mark and get an equaliser.
Sirino then added pressure on us. He set up a number of plays for Mamelodi Sundowns and put us on the back foot in the last third. In the 70th minute, Sirino came at us on the near side, put a cross in that went across the face of the goal where Arendse made a diving header shot on the low ball. He struck it well and found the back of the net.
We will return home to prepare for our league match next weekend against Cape Town City in the mother city on Saturday 18th.
We take a break from league action and we turn our attention to the MTN8 as we travel to Gauteng to take on Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow at 15h00.
This will be the second consecutive year we will be paricipating in the Wafa Wafa (do or die) competition. Last yaer our first game of the season was an MTN encounter againt Bidvest Wits.
The game ended up going to penalties to decide the winner after drawing 2-all with the Clever Boys after full time. A dramatic ending saw us eventually knocked out in the quarter finals after Wits won 4-3 on penalties.
A stronger start will be the aim for the side tomorrow, and Sundowns will be a tough opponent to beat. That said, we are more than capable of taking the win from the Brazilians.
A level head is needed on the field, as well as determination to secure a win, but it is not an impossible task
If you are a supporter and can get to the stadium, we would love to see you there in support of the boys in this important encounter in our 2018/19 season.
We have suffered a home defeat to Siwelele at the Princess Magogo Stadium tonight.
From the first minute of the game, the team just did not seem to get into the groove of the game and allowed Bloem Celtic to get behind the defence.
We had a couple of moments of promising play, but nothing that looked threatening enough to Tignyemb who had an easy night in the goals tonight.
In the 23rd minute Celtics persistence in playing the ball deep up field paid off when Mabasa found himself one on one with Gumede and made no mistake in his shot, giving the visitors an early lead in the game.
A half time substitution from us saw Conco replace Sabelo in an attempt to up the tempo of the game, which did not have the results that we wanted.
Although we seemed to dominate the field in the second half, we could just not break past the defence of our opponents.
Lamola had a chance to pull one back, but Tignyemb managed to fall on the ball, killing it and denying the one decent attempt we had on target.
Celtic sealed the game in the 50th minute. Dlamini scored for them and made sure that we had to fight back hard to just stay in the game.
Not a great result from us, and it will cause unnecessary pressure as we prepare for the Cup game on Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
We start our week off tomorrow with our first home game in the 2018/19 ABSA Premiership season against Bloemfontein Celtic. The mid-week encounter kicks off at 19h30.
We got off to a solid start on Sunday, with a 2-nil win against Maritzburg United. A 90 minute team performance saw Knox Mutizwa open the scoring on the 71st minute and after some amazing defending and goal keeping to deny an equaliser, we sealed the game 2 minutes into extra time as Lamola found the back of the net.
Celtic similarly had a good start to the season as they beat Chippa 2-nil at home.
Last season, we played to a 1-all draw at home to Celtic and then lost 2-1 when we met them at Dr Molemela Stadium.
We will be looking to secure a win against them and continue on a positive start to the season.
We call on all our support to get to the stadium tomorrow night and get behind the team as we strive to lay the foundation to a strong 2018/19 season.
The game will not be televised, so as always, a live play by play feed will be available on our social media platforms.
Tickets will be sold at the stadium, R40 adults and R10 kids U12
As expected we were in for a torrid 90 minutes against a very impressive Maritzburg team. I was very pleased with our structure and in particular, the work ethic of the entire team.. Our attacking players worked selflessly for the team and deserve a lot of credit.
Still we were careless on the break turning over too much possession. A lot better in the second half,with two well taken goals.
A great start to the season.
We have secured 3 points in our opening game of the season against Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium this afternoon, breaking a drought of wins in the province capital since 2010.
A brilliant team effort from Gumede at the back, all the way to Lamola and Mutizwa up front, saw us taking advantage of two well fought opportunities and capitalising on them.
Maritzburg United had a slight upper hand in the first half as far as possession went, but they were just not able to put together a strong enough attack to put us on the back foot and find the back of the net.
We used our ball well, setting up good movements and looking to break into the firing zone, but the first 45 was not kind to us. Our only promise was off a free kick. Danny Venter struck the ball well, putting it in a great position in the box, however Phiri’s resulting header went over the bar.
The teams headed into the break with no score on the board. This in itself set the anticipation of an explosive second half.
Coming back onto the field, Maritzburg were quick on the attack and we allowed them to have a chance at scoring. Mokate had a header, but a quick thinking Gumede fell back quickly and flat handed the ball out of the goal area.
Minutes later, Ndlovu failed to capitalise for the home team again denied by Gumede. We changed gear from here, and took the game to them, confident that our fitness levels would carry us through the game.
Our determination paid off in the 71st minute when Mutizwa played an amazing reverse shot after chesting the ball off a cross from the far side. He caught Ofiri completely off guard and gave us the lead.
An end to end battle then took place. Maritzburg came back at us and tried hard to equalise. Again, the team effort was commendable, and the defence from the attacking players played a big factor in helping deny Maritzburg.
We kept our composure, and with 10 minutes left in the game, we increased the tempo, looking for the goal to secure the game. It was only in extra time that the determination payed off, with Lamola finding himself one-on-one with Ofiri, he managed to get a boot on the ball as he was being closed down, finding the back of the net and ensuring the win.
This is a positive start to the season, and once again, congratulations must go to the whole team for a well played effort from everyone.
A special thanks to you, the 12th men supporters who always stand by us and encourage the players to give their all on the field.
We will prepare now for a busy week as we host Bloemfontein Celtic at home on Wednesday night, and then look at the MTN fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns next weekend.
We kick off the season this coming Sunday with a Derby game against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg. The game gets underway at 15h00 and is sure to deliver all that the Derby games do.
After drawing both games in the last season, both teams will be wanting to claim the bragging rights of a Derby win.
Coach Clinton Larsen is expecting a physical battle on Sunday and told IOL “We are ready for the start of the new season. We won’t read too much into our victory against Maritzburg United in the KZN Premier’s Cup.”
“We didn’t want to show any hand in terms of the team that we will use when we meet on Sunday and they also did the same. We want to get off to a flying start. We are targeting a victory and I’m sure Maritzburg United want to achieve the same objective.”
The coach and his charges are looking at getting off to a strong start to the season, and we are happy with the match fitness of the players after a positive pre-season.
We would like to encourage all our supporters to get to Harry Gwala Stadium and get behind the team in the season opener.
The live play-by-play will be availbale for you to follow on both our Twitter and Facebook handles, and the game will also be televised live on SuperSport 4.
The 2018 KZN Premier’s Cup concluded this afternoon with AmaZulu taking on Richards Bay FC in the final.
It was Amazulu FC who were crowned the 2018 winners of the competition after a 1-0 win over their opponents.
Once again, this exciting pre-season tournament delivered the thrills and excitement that it normally does, with 2 days of high calibre soccer from 7 of KwaZulu-Natal’s top teams.
The day started off with the first semi final between AmaZulu and Real Kings. Usuthu eventually got through to the final after a 4-2 win on penalties. The full 90 minutes of play saw Real Kings hold off the opposition to a 1-all draw and force the penalty shootout.
The second semi final, played at 11h30 was between Richards Bay FC and us. A level pegged 90 mintes was played, and both teams had flourishes of play that promised a goal, but it was not to be for either team.
Although we played some well calculated and carried out plays that saw the ball moved out wide, crossed in onto advancing players, the finishing just lacked the shine to find the back of the net.
For the second game today, the decision was to be determined by penalties. We added pressure onto ourselves when the first penalty, taken by Venter was saved. The Richards Bay players made no error though, and the final nail was a poorly struck penalty from Siyabonga Dube which sailed way over the cross bar, to seal our fate in a 4-3 loss.
We would like to thank the KZN Premier as well as the Department of Sport and Recreation for another well organised, entertaining pre-season competition.
We would also like to thank all of the other participatin teams for another competitive weekend and look forward to next years competition.
A big thank you goes out to our supporters and those from other teams, that make this competition such an enjoying one to play at with the amazing atmosphere created.
Finally, congratulations to AmaZulu for their win over Richards Bay FC in the final this afternoon.
It was an enjoyable day of football today in Kwa Mashu as the province was spoilt with an exciting display of the local sides in the KZN Premier’s Cup.
The first game of the day saw Real Kings FC an me Uthongathi in battle. An exciting game ensued which eventually saw Real Kings finish victors after their allotted game time. This means that they will go through to play Amazulu FC in the first semi final tomorrow morning at 09h00am.
The second game today was between Royal Eagles FC and Richards Bay FC. Richards Bay FC put up a solid fight that saw them equalise in extra time and force the game into a penalty shoot out to decide the winner. Their players did well and ended up converting 4 penalties to Royal Eagles 2 and securing the first spot in the second semi final.
Our game against Maritzburg then kicked off at 15h00 with only one more opening left to play for in tomorrows action at King Zwelithini. As usual, a great game of soccer was played. We dominted the first half and were awarded a penalty for a hand ball in the box. Conco stepped up, converted the opportunity and gave us the lead.
The second half of play saw Maritzburg trying to get back into the game and although a number of opportunities were created, they were not able to find the back of the net.
We managed to maintain our lead in the game and secured our place in the second semi final against Richards Bay FC, scheduled for kick off at 11h30 tomorrow at King Zwelithini.
The draw for the 2018 KZN Premier’s Cup took place this afternoon at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The launch and draw was attended by Mrs Bongi Sithole-Moloi, MEC for Arts, Sports, Recreation and Culture as well as Mr Ngwenya, from SAFA.
Also present were coaches, captains and supporters from all of the participating clubs.
Taking part in this years competition which will be held on the weekend of the 28th and 29th July are Amazulu FC, Maritzburg United, Royal Eagles FC, Uthongathi FC, Richards Bay FC and Real Kings FC.
Addressing the clubs, journalists and invited guests, Mrs, Sithole-Boloi said that it was important for her department to support the clubs with the Premier’s Cup as it encourages ongoing development to local communities through sport.
As part of the departments initiatives they have also assisted in setting up 64 smaller football clubs within the Province, as well as launched a new u15 and womens’ open league to improve the influence that sport and soccer has on communities.
Both her and Mr Ngwenya were vocal that the dream would to be to see 4 KZN sides in the PSL as well as the NFD.
Coach Larsen applauded the MEC for the yearly competition. ‘MEC, I thank you for putting your money where your mouth is and giving us the Premier’s Cup’ he said, after which he said he looked forward to the competition ahead of the upcoming PSL season.
The draw took place, with Amazulu FC being frawn first. Which meant that they proceed to the first semi final on Sunday 29 July at King Zwelithini Stadium.
The remaining draw was as follows:
Saturday – Real Kings vs Uthongathi FC (11:00)
Saturday – Richards Bay Fc vs Royal Eagles FC (13:00)
Saturday – Maritzburg Utd vs Lamontville Golden Arrows (15:00)
The above mentioned games will be played at Princess magogo stadium. Winner of the above mentioned game move on to Sunday’s games which will take place at King Zwelithini stadium.
1st semi final – 09:00
2nd semi final – 11:30
Final at 15:00
We would like to see as much support as we can get together for this pre-season competition.
Being the first home game of the season we wanted to start positively but that was not the case as we struggled to find any rhythm in the first half. We had good shape but our Achilles heel was that we consistently turned over possession after winning it and as a result could not build any meaningful attacks.
We deservedly went 1-0 down before the break. We changed the shape of the team in the second half and began to dominate our opponents only to concede a second against the run of play.
We camped in Celtics half for long periods but lacked the necessary creativity and final pass to break them down.
We wrap up the season tomorrow afternoon with a KZN Derby against the team of choice at the Harry Gwala Stadium. The game will kick off at 3pm.
The team will be fighting to retain a Top 8 spot on the table in this game. This means that not only are bragging rights on the cards, but much more than that.
Coach Larsen is spoilt for choice for players, with Danny Phiri and Lehlohonolo Nonyane returning to the field after injuries as well as Lerato Lamola, Sandile Zuke, Siyabonga Dube and Zolani Nkombelo returning after suspensions.
This is a refreshing change for the technical staff, who have endured a number of drawbacks over the season due to injuries.
Currently sitting 7th on the log, Abafana Bes’thende need to secure full points to ensure the Top 8 finish. Chippa United, Bloem Celtic an Bidvest Wits sit only a point below us on 36 points and eleventh placed Amazulu FC have 35.
A win is a big ask for the side, but the determination that has been displayed over the season can pull us through tomorrows game and see us bringing the 3 points home.
We played Maritzburg last in December 2017 at home, and the result was a draw. Maritzburg have however had a tantalising season and have done well to keep their log position just under the top 3.
A win for them could however mean a 3rd place spot for the season, an objective they will not give up easily on.
If you can get to the stadium and support, it would be greatly appreciated by the players.
We will keep you in the action on both Facebook and Twitter should you not be able to make the game as it will not be a live game
We have secured a third place in the first Diski Shield competition after beating Bloemfontein Celtic 3-0 this afternoon.
The team went onto the field this morning showing early intention to score, putting pressure on the opponents defence from kick-off.
We troubled their defenders as well as dominated in the mid field, playing into gaps and creating scoring opportunities. Ndududzo Sibiya capitalised on a weakness on their left flank and managed to get the ball behind their defenders consistently.
This caused some frustration in the Bloemfontein side and the pressure eventually paid off when a shot from the left was deflected into the goals by a Celtic player, giving us the lead.
Bloem Celtic made an attempt to equalise before the break, but their efforts were not good enough.
Returning for the second half, we kept the pressure on our opponents. We did not allow them the space they were looking for to get back into the game, and kept them on the back foot.
Thando Khwela unleashed a cannon of a shot from outside the box in the 58th minute. He was allowed plenty of time to take the shot, truck it well with his right foot and found the back of the net.
Celtic had a few moments of play. Our defence kept tight at the back, and they could not find space to make any threatening shots at goal. Cebekhulu did well to control what was fired at him.
A third goal in the third minute of extra time from substitute Tshanini Falakhe secured the win and the third place for us in the competition.
We would like to thanks the sponsors Multichoice for this exciting new competition, and look forward to next seasons installment of Diski games.
The Multichoice Diski Shield comes to an end this weekend with matches being played to determine the winner, and then third and fourth play offs.
We will be playing Bloem celtic to determine third and fourth place. We were not able to find the goals last weekend against Masandawana, not for the lack of effort from the boys, and eventually lost the game 1-0.
Celtic had a tough game against Kaizer Chiefs, and ended up suffering a 2-0 loss to the Glamour Boys at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
We will play at 12pm tomorrow at Makhulong Stadium with the the game that will determine the number one football hood in the country taking place at 15h00.
Because it is a Diski Festival, entry will be free on the day and tickets an be collected at the stadium today from 13h00. All two matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport 4 and 10.
We will be covering the game tomorrow over our social media platforms.
We have been knocked out of the Diski Shield after suffering a 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium this morning.
The Diski side played into the semi finals after drawing to Chippa, and then beating both Maritzburg United and Amazulu to top the group log.
During this new competition, we have seen some amazing play from both our experienced players as well as newcomers such as Cebekhulu, Mfanifikile Dlamini and Lindani Ndlelu.
We faced a Sundowns side that came onto the field and showed more determination than what they had in the group stages.
It was a tough fight from the kick off and both sides tried different attacking plays to get behind the defence.
We went into the changerooms with no score on the board. On return to the field, a quick attack from Sundowns saw them find space from the left. They managed to unleash a shot on goal and Mkhuma found the back of the net.
We fought hard for the equaliser. Sibiya had a promising chance, but a glance off the side of his boot saw it go wide of the mark.
A concerted effort to score was made. Sibiya, Sabelo and N.Dube had attempts, but strong defence from the Masandawana players denied us our chances today.
We would have loved to progress to the finals, but would like to congratulate Mamelodi Sundowns on the win and wish them well in the first Diski Shield final next weekend.
Tomorrow afternoon we take on Platinum Stars at the Princess Magogo Stadium in our last home game of the season.
After a well deserved mid week win over Kaizer Chiefs, the team is fired up to secure another three points ahead of the completion of the season.
As we have pointed out already, any points at this stage count considerably with just 3 points separating positions 7 to 13 on the log.
A team like Platinum Stars will fight to the bitter end of a season even though its a sure point that they will be relegated this season. They will play for pride and honour and this will make them a dangerous adversary on Saturday.
The return of both Danny Phiri and Kudakwashe Mahachi could have been the positive vibe the team was needing and every player who contributed to Tuesdays match seemed to have taken their game up a notch.
We would like to appeal to all of you, our fans, to get to Princess Magogo to support the lads in our last home fixture of the season. They will appreciate every voice in the stands.
Tickets will be sold at the stadium only R40 adults, R15 kids U12
After the group stages in the Diski Shield competition, we are through to the semi finals, which play out on Saturday at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Cleremont.
We were drawn to play against Mamelodi Sundowns and will play the first semi final, kick off at 10am.
Whats exciting about this game is that it will be Abafana Bes’thende versus Masandawana, both winners of the Diski title.
All players will be aware of what is at stake in the game and promises to deliver a final paced game.
Entrance to the game is free, however, a ticket is required. These can be collected from 13h00 on Friday afternoon at the stadium itself.
Don’t miss out on this exciting competition. The games at Sugar Ray Xulu will be the last Diski games played in KZN this season as the final of the competition will be played at Makhulong Stadium.
Calling all green and gold supporters, we need you now more then ever. Tomorrow night we take on Kaizer Chiefs at the Princess Magogo stadium, the game kicks off at 19h30.
It’s a fight for every point we can get in the competition now, and tomorrow nights game is more important than ever before. The team has played positive football over the last couple of games, but have been unlucky by only securing a draw with Free State Stars and a loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Preparation this week has been intense, and every member of the squad knows the importance of their role going into tomorrows game.
Kaizer Chiefs are currently in their own battle on the log, and would like to secure points in their battle to finish in the Top 3.
They have won three of their last four ABSA Premiership outings, but have not secured convincing wins. They are a team that can be beaten on the day, and with the right attitude, we have the credentials to do so.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport4 should you not be able to get to the stadium.
Tickets are on sale from TicketPro, and we wold like to urge our supporters to get to the stadium and stand behind the team. Lets fill Magogo with our supporters.
We have managed a win over Amazulu in the Diski shield game played in Vosloorus this morning.
Amazulu made an early charge from the kick-off and looked at threatening Cebekhulu, but the keeper managed to eventually hold onto the ball.
We turned the game, settled quickly and dominated play for the first 30 minutes of the first half. We secured an early lead when a brilliant cross from the far side by Conco found Sabelo waiting in the box. He made no mistake and tapped the ball in. Just 4 minutes later we extended the lead off a free kick.
It was Sabelo again who scored. His set piece split the wall and dipped into the bottom right corner. AmaZulu’s keeper Dlamini read the ball to late and was too late to make the save.
AmaZulu looked at playing back into the game. They missed a scoring opportunity from a free kick. Jooste took the set piece for them and managed to find the side netting. Their play and possession increased, however, they were not able to make any solid advances on our goals.
Usuthu suffered further set backs after Mthiyane was sent for an early shower after his second bookable offence in the 42nd minute.
The second half saw us enjoy some domination on the field, being a player down, Usuthu allowed us space and this saw us creating opportunities from both sides of the field.
M.Dlamini and Ndlelu did well in the midfield to win the ball against play for us as well. Allowing Zuke, M.Dlamini and Sabelo to play into the last third and create chances.
The introduction of Sibiya added some fresh legs and an injection of speed onto the field. He was not on the park long before he scored the third goal for us.
We then got complacent and allowed AmaZulu back into the game though. A defensive mistake from Zuke in the box who shouldered the Amazulu player, the ref deemed it as a foul and awarded Amazulu a penalty. Maduna took the shot, snuck the ball past Cebekhulu to give some hope to the opposition.
In the second minute of extra time, we conceded the second goal. A lapse in concentration saw Jooste have a shot from the left corner of the box. Cebekhulu had read the ball well, but a last touch from Biyase changed the direction of the ball, eventually beating our keeper.
A well executed game from the team and bragging rights for the Derby win in Vosloorus.
Tomorrows last game in the ‘Boss of your Hood’ phase of the new Diski Shield sees us take on Amazuu FC at a Derby weekend at Vosloorus Stadium. Kick-off at 10am.
It is a do or die game for the team in the competition, with only the Top ranked team in the log progressing through to the semi finals of the competition.
After a draw in our first game when we met Chippa United, and a win againt Maritzburg United last weekend, the boys have put themselves in a good position to advance. That said, they however need to win tomrrows game in able to secure thier position going forward.
The game is part of the Multichoice Diski Shield Festival weekend taking place at Vosloorus Stadium and will be televised on SuperSport4.
We knew full well going into this game what we were up against. We were totally outplayed in the first half and deservedly went into the break a goal down.
We did not create any clear cut chances and could have been two or three goals down at the break such was their dominance. We started the second half with more confidence with halftime substitute Ndwandwe being influential with our positive 2nd half showing.
We could have stolen a point when we were denied what looked like a legitimate penalty claim.
We travel to Pretoria to take on Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow night in the ABSA Premiership. The game is set to kick off at 7:30pm at Loftus Stadium.
With just four games left in the season, this encounter is going to be a tough test for the teams ability to perform under pressure. We need to bring points home, and this will be the first and foremost objective of the squad as we take on this away encounter.
In a season that at present, sees just 3 points separating log positions seven to thirteen its important to retain any points possible.
The attitude in camp is good. We have come off an away win to Cape town City and a draw to Free State Stars, a game that we should have won given the opportunities we created.
This could carry us well against Bafana ba Style who are sitting strong on top of the log at the moment.
We will need to dig deep to stop their run of wins as they have taken full points against Chippa United, Baroka FC and most recently Bidvest Wits in the competition.
It is a big ask of the side, but not an impossible one.
The game will be televised on SuperSport 4, and as always we will keep you informed of the game over our social media platforms.
We have secured 3 points in the Diski Shield competition today after beating Maritzburg United 2-1 at the Princess Magogo Stadium.
The game turned out to be a true Derby style game, with both teams giving their all on the field while trying to secure the 3 points in the ‘Boss of the Hood’ stage of the competition.
We did dominate on the field though, pressing Maritzburg deep into their half and creating opportunities that tested their defense.
This paid off in the 21st minute as some enterprising play saw Conco receive a well placed cross in the box. He made no error and put the ball in the back of the net.
Maritzburg had a number of opportunities to get back into the game but failed to beat our defence and get close enough to take convincing shots. They resorted to shots from distance but lacked direction on the attempts.
We went into the break with the lead and 2 changes from the change room, with Sibeko and Mathenjwa replacing N.Dube and Khwela was a clear indication that we wanted to take the pace of the game up a notch.
This game plan worked well. We kept the opponents in their half for a large portion of the half and had a number of attempts at goal. Barr managed to do well to keep The Team of Choice in the game, and an equaliser from Mc Donald in the 53rd minute gave them a glint of hope.
Sibeko delivered for us a minute later though. He had been persistently playing into the box, and after a great cross by Mkhize to the far post saw an unmarked Sibeko, who headed the ball into the back of the net. To give us the 2-1 lead
Maritzburg never gave up the fight. They showed determination on the field and made use of the little possession they enjoyed. They were denied a second goal by the crossbar
A promising result from the side who return to the field next weekend for another derby game against Amazulu in a weeks time at Vosloorus Stadium.
Tomorrow morning we play our second game in the Diski Shield at home against Maritzburg United. The game is scheduled for kick off at 10am at Princess Magogo Stadium.
After the first round of the Shield competition, AmaZulu FC top the Coastal East group after beating Maritzburg United 3-1.
We played Chippa United away and played to a goalless draw against them. Although we managed to play up into their last third a number of times, it was some determined keeping from their goal keeper that denied us on the day.
We will be looking for the win against The Team of Choice, and wanting to get points on the log in order to secure a quarter final place come the end of the ‘Be the Boss of your hood stage’.
Maritzburg should also be wanting to get on the board. After their opening loss to Amazulu they would have gone back to the drawing board and set up a strategy to be more competitive on the field.
This competition is electric, with every game having the tempo of a Derby.
As the game is not a festival the game will not be televised, but we will be bringing you a live play by play of the game on our social media platforms
We have played to a 1-1 draw this afternoon with Free State Stars at Princess Magogo Stadium.
In a game that went to the changerooms with no score on the board at half time, it turned out to be the second half that provided the goals in the encounter.
We played a good first half. Showing some dominance on the field and creating promising opportunities to score. The players did well to defend when Stars came on the counter but we created more opportunities than our opponents.
Free State Stars did well at the back to close down our advances in the final third. Either getting in close and boxing us in, and not allowing the freedom to take a shot, or by throwing their bodies on the line to block shots.
After the break both teams came out intent on opening the scoring. A passage of play from Stars players saw them attack us from the left. A high cross to the box was taken and in trying to clear it, it came off Mngwengwe’s boot and into the goals giving the visitors the lead.
We needed to play back into the game. Changes were made from the bench that saw Magubane and Jooste enter the field. Both players are known to make an impact and the game livened up.
Magubane eventually managed to equalise for us in the 71st minute. Some good pressure on the keeper saw him fumble the ball and Magubane made sure of the goal.
We have 10 days to prepare for our away game against Mamelodi Sundowns, on the 17th of April at loftus stadium at 19:30
Our Diski boys have played to a 0-0 draw in the field Diski Shield game this morning against Chippa United.
Although we showed dominance throughout the majority of the match, it was a number of missed chances in both halves that denied us the game at Wolfson Stadium.
The team showed some superiority on the field and managed to break the Chippa defence on a number of occasions. Debutantes M.Dlamini and Ndlelu proved themselves in the centre field, and helped play Conco into position to score.
But some good keeping from Myataza denied us, as well as other finishing shots just not being on target.
Not the result we would have hoped for, and we will need to work on aspects of our game before our next encounter against Maritzburg United on Sunday 15 April next weekend at Princess Magogo Stadium at 10:00
Tomorrow afternoon we will look to harness the positivity from Wednesday nights win in Cape Town against Cape Town City as we look to our home game against Free State Stars.
The team had a fantastic defensive game and this was a critical part in retaining our 49th minute lead against the Cape Town city, who had managed to threaten our last third from both sides of the field.
The coaching staff will be looking to maintain the positivity and draw on it in front of the home crowd come kick off at 3pm.
Stars had a tough mid-week game against Kaizer Chiefs, losing in the last minute of extra time to a goal from Teenage Hadebe.
They will surely be looking to secure some points away from home, and redeem some pride they may have lost against The Glamour Boys. Ea Lla koto have been coming out and showing their intent in the early minutes of their games. Saturday could see them try the same to secure an opener and put us on the back foot.
We would like to appeal to all of our support to come and get behind the side as we take on our Bethlehem opponents. The support would be appreciated by all. Tickets will be available at the gates. R40 adults, R15 kids U12
The game will be televised on SABC should you not be at the stadium. As usual a full play by play feed will be available on our socail media platforms.
The countdown to the Diski Shield is here with the first games taking place this weekend. We play against Chippa United in the first of our ‘Coastal West’ clashes in this new and exciting competition.
We will want to pick up from where we left off in the diski Challenge competition, and look to continue our winning ways in the opening game.
The players are hungry to dominate the competition and are aware that every team would like to be the side to progress to be dubbed ‘Ubani Ibhoza Ngakini?’ (The Boss of the Hood) and progress to the Clash of the Cities stage of the competition.
We last played Chippa in a festival game at King Zwelithini Stadium in December. Although we won the game 2-1 it was a tough game against a very capable side.
Chippa opened the scoring in the first half and maintained pressure on us. Two goals in the second half eventually saw us take the win, but it was a closely contested game that could have gone either way.
There will be festivals in the Shield competition, but unfortunately our game this weekend at Wolfson Stadium is not one of them, and will therefore not be televised.
We will be keeping you up to date with minute by minute information on the game.
We return to ABSA Premiership action tomorrow night as we are hosted by Cape Town City at the Cape Town Stadium. The game will kick off at 19h30.
The team has used this break wisely, and have worked both on and off the field to ensure a united unit as we head into the business end of the season. With six games left, its important to stand together as a solid unit. Practices have been intense and off the field the team took part in a team building day to help ensure a united front on the field.
Having played 24 games so far, we have managed 5 wins, and endured 12 draws to accumulate a total of 27 points so far. This is just 5 points off a Top8 finish currently, and still an obtainable goal to finish on come the end of the season.
Cape town City will be looking at focusing on their Premiership games now too after recently exiting the Nedbank Cup to Mamelodi Sundowns as well as losing to Costa do Sol in their CAF Confederations Cup fixture.
Benny McCarthy’s team will be looking to gain points in the competition as well as seeking a win at home.
The game will not be televised. However, we will be keeping you up to date on the game proceedings over our social network handles.
We went pound for pound today against Girona FC in Riudarenes, Spain in another exciting and action filled game on the Multichoice Diski tour to Europe.
The differing European style of play takes a bit of getting used to and we took a couple of minutes to find our footing and get into todays encounter again. But we managed to find our groove and take the game to our hosts. Girona were a formidable side, who had a number of their first team players on the field today. They made great use of their ball and distributed it well, ensuring that they took advantage of the gaps they created in our defence.
The first half was a good contest and Girona managed to score twice. Determined not to go into the break with no score, we kept some consistent pressure on them. We forced a number of errors from them and managed to get a free kick on the edge of the box. Jappie did well with a short kick, layed it off to Parusnath who scored our first goal of the game before going into the break.
The second half was an exciting battle. We returned to the field and both sides seemed to be holding off a little, trying to determine what the change of game plan was from each other. Girona then seemed to open their play up. They fed the ball wide a number of times and showed some superiority in creating gaps in our defence. This allowed them to score twice again, reasonably close together.
We were determined to get back into the game though. Sibiya and N.Dube were substituted onto the field and made some impressive runs, managing to get behind the defence and create opportunities to score, while on defence we had tightened up, frustrating our opponents who were taking shots from outside the box to try and increase their lead.
Our determination payed off. Ndwandwe won the ball in the midfield, he layed it off to N.Dube who played it up and fed Sibeko in the box. Sibeko made no mistake and scored.
The score is not a true reflection of the 90 minutes played. The game was entertaining and another valuable learning experience for our players as we tour Spain.
Congratulations to the team for showing determination, a proud performance today.
Our Diski boys had a positive start to their Spanish tour as we fought back for a victory over Rayo Vallecano this afternoon.
The team took some time to settle into the game in the first half. Some chilly weather and this being their first game on the tour of Spain as part of their Diski Challenge prize had them unsettled in the first 45. Vallecano used this to their advantage, dominating the play and maintaining ball retention well. We took too long to get into any rhythm and Rayo Vallecano took advantage, opening the scoring just before the break.
Some consolidation in the change room from the boys saw us return to the field with a clear objective of pulling this game back. Nkosikhona Dube came on as a substitute for an injured Conco and made his presence felt from the moment he set foot on the field. With Jappie and Sibeko already increasing the pressure on the defence, the inclusion of Dube created cracks in their defence. Jappie played a long ball to Sabelo who beat his defender and layed the ball off to Dube who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
The equalizer was what was needed to change the tempo of the game. We started dominating the play and some outstanding play from N.Dube was rewarded as he managed to score his brace and give us the lead. The game belonged to us from there and we dominated both the field and ball.
A great performance from all of the players today. A positive start to the tour and this will stand us in good stead as we play again on Thursday against Barcelona.
It is going to be all concentration at Princess Magogo Stadium tomorrow night as we take on Orlando Pirates in the ABSA Premiership. Kick-off at 20h15.
Putting our unfortunate draw 2 weeks ago against Polokwane City behind us, it has been preparation on all fronts for tomorrows encounter at home against the Bucs.
The team and coaching staff have put in the hard work in preparation for the game. We are expecting both a physical and mental game against them and have been getting ourselves into a positive place mentally for this encounter.
Our opponents will be looking to redeem some pride after failing to beat Cape Town City in the Nedbank Cup on Wednesday night. Not a team to lick their wounds, they tend to fight back on the field, and their energy will be focused wholely on the league now.
They are just four points off topping the log and will want to get as close to Sundowns as they can.
We have more to fight for, and 3 points from a home win can put us back into the Top8 and help keep that objective on the cards for us.
We appeal to all of our supporters to get behind us on Saturday night. Come in numbers in support to Princess Magogo Stadium. Your ever positive vibes will do wonders in getting behind the team.
The game will be televised on SS4 with the coverage starting at 20h00. We will cover the game on social media should you not be in the greater Durban area to attend the game.
Lets fill Princess Magogo Stadium tomorrow night as we play to #BeatTheBucs
Tomorrow we have another opportunity to strengthen our log standing as we take on Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The return game should be an interesting one. We played Polokwane in the first round of the competition in October at Princess Mogogo Stadium, as we played to a 2-2 draw
Tomorrows game will be of the same caliber. The team have been in a positive space after the win last weekend against Ajax Cape Town, and it will be important to stay in that space as we head onto the field.
We will need to secure the win to distance ourselves away from the relegation zone and tomorrows game promises to be the perfect opportunity to do so.
Polokwane City are fighting to get off the bottom of the log as well ,and they will make it difficult to snatch a win against them. They currently have 23 points after 21 games and a win will push them up the log into a more promising position.
Their last 2 ABSA Premiership fixtures have seen them draw to both Baroka and Ajax Cape town. This is proof that they have the potential to fight for a win when their backs are against the wall.
From this stand point they can be dangerous on the field, and this is something we will need to take into consideration in our final preparations for the game.
The game will be shown live on SS4, and we will as always keep you informed on the game over our social media platforms. So follow us on Facebook or Twitter if you don’t yet do so.
A penalty in the 26th minute secured a win against Ajax Cape Town at the Princess Magogo Stadium this afternoon.
In a must win situation for both sides, the players stepped up to the plate and fought hard to ensure 3 points at home.
The first half saw both sides fighting to try dominate the game . This created a well fought battle on the field with the teams trying to execute their game plans,
Ajax looked at using a brisk wind to their advantage in the first half and played long balls but were unable to get behind the defence as they wanted to.
Lamola was close to scoring in the 16th minute after a well executed cross from Venter. But the resulting attempt was tipped away by Petersen.
The pressure from us paid off in the 26th minute when Lamola was fouled in the box and we were awarded a penalty. Mzava made no mistake and gave us a lead going into the break.
The visitors seemed on the back foot after this and needed to consolidate at the break.
They came back strong in the first 10 minutes of the second half, using Zwane on the wing to try and break the defence and create scoring chances.
We held them well and created a number of chances for ourselves, But were not able to increase the lead. Ajax then opened up their attack in the 65th minute looking for an equaliser.
We managed to hold them off though and at the end secured the win and the welcomed 3 points.
We travel to Polokwane next where we meet Polokwane City on the 4th of March at 15h30.
Our Diski team have managed to set another record by acquiring 35 points in a season with their win over Bidvest Wits this afternoon.
The team came onto the pitch wanting to show domination over the opponent’s from the first minute.
This game plan paid off for them as Convo opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
He then managed to get his brace in the 86th minute to secure the win for the team in a game that saw a fantastic team effort put in from all of the players.
A well deserved win from the side and a fitting finish as we get crowned the MDC Champions for the second time.
Our Diski boys play their last game of the season tomorrow as we face Bidvest Wits at King Zwelithini at 13:00.
We have already made history by becoming the first team to win the Multichoice Diski twice after beating Orlando Pirates at the Makhulong Stadium last weekend. An important win because at that stage a number of teams were still in contention for the cup, including Pirates, Bloem Celtic and Maritzburg United.
Tomorrows games will determine the runners up in the competition and is still an important game for us and the remaining teams.
Wits will be playing for their pride. They are sitting 11th on the log and would like to finish of the season with a win. We also still have a lot to play for as we would like to finish the season on 35 points which is something that’s never been done before.
We will get our crowning glory after the game, and are looking forward to receiving the trophy in KwaZulu Natal.
If you have not got a ticket, you can still go to the offices at King Zwelithinin to pick one up today at 13:00 in order to gain entrance to the game tomorrow. The tickets are free and required to gain entrance to the stadium.
Because its a festival, the game will be televised on SS4. And we will also be keeping you up to date on proceedings over Twitter and Facebook.
We are in for another tough game on Sunday as we host Ajax cape Town at Princess Magogo Stadium at 15h15.
With both teams fighting for points in the ABSA Premiership at the moment, both of the sides are going to want to take the ball to their opponents at all opportunities and look to find the back of the net.
With a number of injury issues in the squad at the moment, our objective is a difficult one to achieve. That being said, we have been playing some promising football of late, but have been unfortunate in not being able to find the right finishing touches.
Having lost 2 and drawn 1 in out last 3 Premiership games, the time has come to turn a corner and secure a win in the competition.
Ajax Cape Town are also battling with points at present. They sit 15th on the log and have managed 5 wins so far in the season. They too are hungry for points to climb up the log.
In their last 2 fixtures they have drawn 1-1 against Polokwane City and upset Pirates 3-0 almost a month ago.
Its set to be an action packed game with both sides fighting hard to get maximum points.
Home support is so important to the team and we urge you to get to the stadium and get behind the team.
The game will be televised on SABC 1, but we urge supporters to please get down to princess magogo stadium and get behind the team. We will also be keeping you up to date with the game over our socail media platforms.
We started the game and controlled much of the opening 30 but found ourselves a goal down when Mhango headed freely at the near post on 30 minutes.
It became even harder when we conceded a second after a penalty was surprisingly awarded to our opponents after hitting our player in the face.
The 2nd half was a one sided affair as we had Wits pegged back and had at least three good chances to equalize or even take the lead. Our inability to defend our box has been our Achilles heel this season and if we are to get out of this rut we will have to improve the way we defend.
We have secured the Multichoice Diski title for the second time with our 2-0 win over Orlando Pirates this afternoon at Makhulong Stadium.
The game was a tight affair, with Orlando Pirates showing periods of domination in the first 45 minutes. They kept us on our toes, trying to push the ball behind our defence and creating scoring opportunities. With a number of teams still being in contention for the cup, including Pirates, the game was bound to be a fighting affair from the beginning.
Both Naicker and Tsotesti then needed to step up later in the half when the tempo of the game increased and both Pirates and us looked at taking more chances on goal.
Neither of us managed to make a break through though and we went into the break at a nil all deadlock.
Returning to the park, it seemed as if both Pirates and us were waiting for the game plan to be evident. We backed off and waited for Pirates to bring the game to us, and it seemed they were of the same intention.
With 2 replacements at the break, we wanted to play a stronger attacking game. The inclusion of Mathenjwa and Molefe onto the field did not have the immediate impact we wanted, but when N.Dube came on to bolster our attack the game changed.
He made a good impact on the field, and we broke the defensive line number of times through him. He was then brought down in the box by Tsotesti and we were awarded a penaly which Sibiya stepped up to convert.
Just over 10 minutes later we were awarded a free kick in a promising position. Sibiya once again managed to find the back of the net, securing us the win.
A well deserved win for the youngster in Tembisa this afternoon. They will return to Durban and make preparations for the final game of the season to be played against Bidvest Wits in Johannsburg on Sunday 25th at 12h00.
We have been beaten by The Clever Boys at Princess Magogo stadium in a game that had some controversial decisions. A determined 90 minute fight by the side was not enough to secure the win as we never created enough chances against a determined opponent.
Neither side managed to dominate play in a game that saw end to end play. With Bidvest Wits attacking at any opportunity they could, they got their break through in the 29th minute when Mhango found the back of the net off a tight angled header from a Hlanti cross.
Just before the break, they were then given a gift with a penalty after referee Gomes deemed a ball that came off Skipper Mathiane’s face as a hand ball. Majoro made no mistake and the visitors went into the change rooms with a 2-0 advantage.
The determination of our players shone in the second half. With two replacements coming out of the change room as we tried to bolster our attack with Mutizwa and Ndwandwe, the side dug hard to fight back.
Some enterprising play from Jappie and Zuke saw opportunities being created up front as Mutizwa and Lamola received ball. But the finishing was just not there. We were awarded a penalty in the 60th minute. The ball was placed and Mutizwa’s shot hit the upright.
Again, the fight came through and we defended well while using our possession to drive into the opposition last third.
Ndwandwe was then on the receiving end of a bad tackle in the box in the 74th minute. Mzava was called on to take the kick and made no mistake in beating Keet.
The team were just not able to find the finishing they were looking for. Although they managed to create a number of promising opportunities, we could not find the back of the net again.
We will need to consolidate during the week and prepare for another home battle next weekend when we face Ajax Cape Town at home on Sunday, 25th at 15h15.
Tomorrows Multichoice Diski game against Orlando Pirates could be the deciding game in whether we walk away with the title for the second time, or whether we fight to the bitter end with four other clubs who could still be in contention.
Victory against the Bucaneers will see us lifting the cup again and winning the title. Failure to do so will allow a margin for either Orlando Pirates, Bloemfontein Celtic, Ajax Cape Town or Maritzburg United to still be in hot contention.
We have had a rock solid performance this season and showed amazing unity. Our youngsters perform on the field and show unity off the field as well.
Tomorrow we will play in the Festival taking place in Thembisa. Entry to the Makhulong Stadium is free, but fans must be in possession of a ticket.
The game will be televised on SS4 and we will be keeping you informed of proceeding in this nail biting game over our social media channels.
We play our return fixture against Bidvest Wits tomorrow at The Princess Magogo Stadium. Kickoff at 15h30.
This will be our third game played against The Clever Boys in the 2017/18 season. Our first encounter was in August in an MTN8 fixture, which we ended losing on penalties. Our second game against them was a month later at Wits Stadium, where we walked away triumphant after winning 3-1.
Wits will be looking to level the Premiership rivalry for the season and once again its a battle for position heading into this game.
We are currently 12th on the log, just a point and position above the Braamfontein based side. All teams are looking for full points in their games now, with a very tight log at the moment with less than 10 points determining a Top8 spot, its a do or die situation.
Both the coaching staff and the team know that we need to secure points in our games to ensure a good finish to the season. We have the dedication and determination to do the job, and are hoping to put our money where our mouth is tomorrow afternoon.
The Clever Boys are in a similar position and will be hoping to take away all 3points home with them.
The game will be televised but we appeal to our supporters to fill the stadium in green and gold, get behind the side and help to encourage them as they do battle.
We will cover the game on social media should you not be in the Durban area and are unable to attend the game.
We have been knocked out of the Nedbank Cup this afternoon by Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.
In a game that looked like it could have gone either way in the first half, it was three goals in the second stanza that stamped our exit of the 2018 edition of the competition.
We played a good first half in which it seemed like Chiefs dominated play but gave away possession and allowed us to play on the counter and into the last third. We were just not able to finish our chances though, and the lack of taking advantage of this made our game difficult.
We had some good moments that we were not able to capitalise on. We lost Mahachi in the first half due to an ankle injury and then needed to replace Nonyane in the second half because of a similar injury.
The exit of Nonyane was after Chiefs took advantage of his injury and scored their second off the boot of Parker.
The home side then sealed the game just three minutes later when Malongoane scored for the hosts.
Although a loss, there was promising play from Conco on his debut and once again Ndwandwe did not fail to perform.
We will need to assess our injury situation now ahead of our home game next weekend when we face Bidvest Wits at home at Princess Magogo Stadium.
We get our 2018 Nedbank Cup underway on Sunday with a Last32 round fixture against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium at 15h30.
A welcomed reprieve from the PSL, Coach Larsen and the team will be eager to cause an early upset and knock out the Glamour Boys in this round.
With the Multichoice Diski also having a break this weekend, Coach Larsen says it could be an opportunity for some of the youngsters to prove themselves on the field with the first team.
Last year we enjoyed a positive run in the cup. We played Maritzburg United in the Last 32 and progressed to the semi-finals after beating them.
Our semi-final was a home affair against Pirates who scored in the 34th minute and held on for the win.
Coach Larsen feels this competition is one where the underdogs can shine, and so far in this years competition we have seen just that with Ubuntu Cape Town having knocked out Polokwane City on Wednesday night.
Other games that have been played so far has seen Amazulu beat Mthatha Bucks 3-2 on penalties and Cape Town City eliminate Bidvest Wits 1-0.
The game will be televised but we encourage you to get to the stadium if you can and support us away from home. We will keep you up-to-date on our social media platforms during the duration of the game as well.
This mornings Multichoice Diski game delivered all that a top of the table clash should as we ended up sharing the spoils with Ajax Cape Town in a 6 goal thriller.
Ajax opened the scoring in the 9th minute off the boot of Traore after they did well to beat our defence on the left and open up enough space to get into a scoring position and making no mistake in doing so.
We found ourselves on the back foot a bit but showed determination in fighting back and playing up into the last third. We created a number of opportunities, but we just were not able to finish as cleanly as we would have liked to.
There were moments when we lacked concentration at the back, with Sibisi trying to plug holes in the defence. He managed to close the gaps at stages, but again in the 37th minute Ajax managed to break through and a well placed kick into the top of the net by Phohlongo saw the home side take the lead.
We managed to pull a goal back in the dying minutes of the first half as S.Parasnath scored from a free kick after Khwela was fouled outside of the box.
Both teams returned showing determination to score again in the second stanza. We worked well and created a number of scoring chances, but were just not able to get the edge on the opposition.
A change on the field saw Sibiya replacing Falakhe and he bought the injection of energy we were looking for. Just minutes after coming on he was involved in a play that saw him equalise for us.
This put the fight back in the side, and allowed us to play back into the game. An end to end battle ensued and in the 79th minute we took the lead off a goal from substitute N.Dube.
With just 10 minutes to play for we needed only to ensure that the hosts never scored. But, as promised Ajax bought the game to us. Putting pressure on in the last 3rd. In the dying minutes we conceded a number of free kicks on the edge of the box and managed to clear two.
But it was in the last minute of additional play that we conceded again, allowing Losper to equalise for the hosts.
An exciting game from both sides.
We will return to Durban and prepare for our next game against Orlando Pirates on the 18th of February at King Zwelithini Stadium.
We have the return Derby tomorrow night at King Zwelithini when we face AmaZulu in our weekend ABSA PSL fixture.
The game, set to be an epic battle for bragging rights is an important game for both teams on so many fronts. Currently we are sitting at equal points in the competition, with Amazulu sitting a place below us only on goal difference.
The determination of the side has been evident in the last couple of games. This weekend they will need to put on their true colours and convert that determination into goals, and retain the Derby bragging rights against Usuthu. We need to secure more wins as we head into the core of the season. With a league as tight as it is now, taking full points from a game is imperative,
Usuthu climbed three places after their win againt SuperSport United on Wednesday night and will be hoping for a home win to continue their momentum.
They will also be looking to take the win after we beat them 4-1 in an entertaining encounter in September. The game was a typical Derby one, with both teams fighting hard for the win. Although a fantastic final score, it was a game that could have gone either way.
Tomorrow nights game will be on the same level as far as entertainment goes. AmaZulu will be well prepared and wanting to secure a home win.
Tickets for Saturday are R40 at Computicket & Umlazi Mega City Spar.
We are appealing to all our supporters to wear your green and gold, lets get to King Zwelithini in numbers to support the team in this important encounter.
Our Diski boys travel to Ikamva Stadium this weekend as they take on Ajax Cape Town in a top of the log clash on Saturday at 10am.
We are heading to the end of the season for the team, who, though hard work and determination from the players and the coaching staff alike, have managed to secure their position at the top of the log with 28 points.
This is a 5 point lead ahead of Ajax Cape Town, and 6 points ahead of 3rd placed Bloemfontein Celtic. As the saying goes, “its not over ’till the fat lady sings”, and this will be the attitude from the side as they take to the field on Saturday.
Ajax have everything to play for. A win for them could narrow our lead on the top of the table by 2 points, and there will be no love lost from them as they host us.
As always, a very interesting and exciting position for the team to be in, and this will add to the pressures they face on the field.
Our game is not part of a festival and will not be televised, but follow our social media platforms for updates on the game as it happens.
We have drawn another game at home this afternoon against Baroka FC at Princess Magogo Stadium. A win would have pushed us into the top 8 but it was not to be today in the 4 goal game against Baroka FC.
We dominated possession on the field and did well to play into the visitors last 3rd, but we lacked the finishing we were aiming for. Gumede made a telling save in the 12th minute, tipping a shot from Mdantsane onto the bar.
We then allowed Baroka to open the scoring in the 17th minute as Moputa played in from the far side, beating Zuke and slotting the ball between Gumede’s legs.
Our persistance paid off just before the break, with Venter equalising. He cut in from the far side, beat two defenders and managed to get the ball on his left foot, taking the shot and finding the back of the net.
Coming out after the break, Coach Larsen made a change, bringing Lamola on for Mahachi. Just 10 minutes in he missed an opportunity with a header that found the side netting.
We managed to take the lead after Mutizwa slotted the ball in off a rebound from Vries after Lamola had taken a shot that Vries failed to control.
The lead was short lived though as we allowed Baroka to play back into the game. A scramble for possession in the box left Motupa free again, and he made no mistake in finding his mark again to equalise.
We put up a fight to try and secure a lead again, and created a number of scoring chances, but were just not on target and unable to find the back of the net.
We will have a tough week of preparation ahead of our Derby game against AmaZulu next weekend at King Zwelithini Stadium.
A confident Diski side beat SuperSport United at Sturrock Park in the Multichoice Diski Challenge.
The win sees us add another 3 points on our lead at the top of the log at the moment, with second places Bloem Celtic facing AmaZulu tomorrow at King Zwelithini Stadium.
The youngsters took the game to their hosts from the fist minute, and went on the attack straight after SuperSport got the game underway.
Clear intentions from the side, that they were looking for the win and nothing would stop them in their quest to bring back the 3 points from the game.
The attacking play paid off for us in the 20th minute when Conco scored off a cross from Jappie. Sabelo then increased the lead just 2 minutes later after S.Parusnath won the ball in the middle, made a telling switch to Sabelo who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
We went onto the break with the two goal advantage and the confidence of the players was evident in their determination coming back onto the field.
Jappie was then rewarded for his work on the field as Conco layed the ball off to him in an unmarked position, which allowed him to tap the ball in and get the third for the day.
SuperSport had a few good moments of play. But, outstanding work from our back four frustrated them. The hosts resorted to trying anything to get into the last third, and on one occasion played a high ball into the box. Dlamini fouled a player and the referee awarded SuperSport a penalty. Stoffels made no mistake and scored for the home team.
The home side fought hard to get back into the game, but were just not able to find their rhythm and did not have it in them to break our defence again.
An outstanding outing from the team who once again displayed a solid performance.
Tomorrow we are back on the field as we take on Baroka FC at Princess Magogo Stadium at 15h30 in another important PSL fixture.
We returned to the field in the second part of the season showing some determination in securing points. We have added 4 points to our tally of 22 so far and intend on making tomorrows encounter another full haul.
Having beaten SuperSport at home and then drawing away to Chippa United, the Coach and team are determined that a home win is on the cards. The potential to win is there, and defensively we have been stronger in our last two outings.
On the attack, we have looked positive too. And we just need to nail our final chances we create and finish off properly to increase our goal haul.
Baroka FC are just 3 points ahead of us at the moment, sitting at eight place on the log, and a win over them will go a long way in us trying to finish in the top8 again this season.
Baroka have had a mixed of results from their last three encounters. They lost to Chiefs in their last game, but before that beat Amazulu 2-0 after suffering a loss to Orlando Pirates.
The team have big game temperament and they will surely be bringing it to the Stadium tomorrow.
We would like to call on all of our supporters to come to the stadium. Tickets will be on sale at the gates. R40 for Adults and just R10 for kids under 12.
Lets try and fill the stands as much as possible.
We have drawn against Chippa United this afternoon at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth.
It was not an easy game,with the Chilli Boys throwing all they had at us from the opening minutes of the game. The first half saw them enjoy more shots on goal than we did, but the defensive play from us was solid at the back and didnt give them the space they needed to finish off properly.
We had only two shots at goal in the first 45, but they were on target, and Akpeyi made sure they were not allowed into the back of the net.
We made a slow start in the second half, but ended up showing a bit more domination of the ball. Coach Larson made a double sub, bringing on Shongwe and Magubane hoping to inject a bit of pace into the game. But this tactic unfortunately never paid off.
Both us and Chippa struggled with the final passes, and neither could get the break through we wanted. Chippa then brought the game to us in the last 10 minutes. We had to defend to deny them chances but managed to hold on for the draw.
We will return to Durban and prepare for a home encounter on Sunday as we face Baroka FC at Princess Magogo Stadium at 15:30
We suffered a home defeat to a determined Platinum Stars this morning in the Multichoice Diski game at Princess Magogo Stadium.
It was just not our day as the youngsters dominated play and posession, but were not able to find the back of the net. From the fist minute we kept posession well and spread the ball looking to find the back of the net. We played well both on attack and defensively with each player giving 100% on the field.
We managed to create a number of scoring opportunities in the fist half. Sabelo, Khwela, Conco and Falakhe all had shots at goal, but we could not find the target. Platinum Stars were solid in their defence and did all they could to deny us.
Going into the break and returning to the field, we again came back showing dominance. It was a counter move that caught us on the back foot that allowed Platinum Stars to score in the 58th minute. Dlamini fell back well, managed to deny an initial shot, but the ball was loose and Nale managed to get shot in which hit the post and deflected in for a goal.
We tried to fight back after that, but determination from the visitors to secure a win in the competition put them on high defence. They were not allowing us the opportunity. Ramafsi made some telling saves and the remainder of the team fell back to close any gaps that could have allowed us to score.
Another entertaining game from the side. They will now prepare to take on SuperSport United next Saturday at Lucas Moripe Stadium in our campaign to win the competition again this year.
Our senior team take on 8th placed Chippa United in their back garden tomorrow afternoon as we travel to Port Elizabeth for our PSL game of the weekend.
The team has been confident at practice this week after out win over SuperSport United last weekend. Morale is good ahead of our travel this weekend. That being said, there’s still work to be done, and another win away is what’s needed for the team to get into the right frame of mind as we get into the second half of the season.
Chippa sit just two points ahead of us on the table. Log positions 2 through to 8 are only separated by 5 points so there is still a lot to play for in the season. The Chilli Boys will want the win. Having drawn their last game against Wits after a win to Amazulu and before that a loss to Polokwane City, they too need the win for both points and team spirit.
Earlier on in the season we drew 1-1 to them at Princess Magogo Stadium, and we will be out to get the win tomorrow.
you can follow our live coverage of the game on our social media platforms. Should you be an Arrows supporter and are in the Port Elizabeth area, we would love to see you at the game.
A fantastic team effort saw us secure a win this afternoon against SuperSport United in an action packed game from start to finish.
The first half was well executed from both sides. We used the ball well to play up into the last third while looking to score, but never took as much advantage of a brisk wind behind us. There were a number of opportunities for us to score, in particular when Mahachi was played into a promising position. Pieterse came out of the box to defend and couldnt control the ball, it deflected but Mahachi was just not able to get to it and guide it into its mark.
The teams went into the break with no score on the board and when they returned SuperSport came back dominating the first couple of minutes of play.
We did well on the par though this afternoon.The team looked composed and determined. This paid off in the 80th minute as Mahachi found the back of the net after Pieterse failed to hold onto a shot from Venter.
The game was far from over though, and SuperSport fought until the dying minutes for an equaliser. Gumede’s last 10 minutes were intense as he fielded a number of shots at goal from all angles.
A good win from the team today and a great morale booster ahead of our trip to play Chippa next weekend on the 21st.
A big thank you to our supporters who show dedication and belief in our squad.
We play our first home game of 2018 tomorrow as we host SuperSport United at the Princess Magogo Stadium, with a 15h30 kick-off.
It’s a must win game for us tomorrow. We have failed to secure maximum points in our last 12 outings, and its critical that we pull together and finish off on the chances we have been creating on the field.
The commitment of the players is evident when on the field, but this needs to be converted into goals in order for us to climb up the log standings
SuperSport have played two games already this year, and have yet to secure a win after drawing to Kaizer Chiefs and then losing 2-0 to Bidvest Wits in a midweek game this week. They are catching up their league matches and have only played 13 games so far this season.
We appeal to our supporters to get to the stadium and stand behind the team. Your presence at the stadium is important to us in our campaign. Should you not be there, the game will be televised on SS4 and we will keep you in the know with our play-by-play feed on social media.
Tomorrow our Diski team will continue their 2017/2018 Multichoice Diski campaign with an away game, top of the table clash against Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr.Molemela Stadium at 10h00.
We’ve had a successful season thus far. Having played 9 games; winning 7, drawing 1 and losing just 1, sitting top of the log, two points clear of Celtic
Both sides have played well up to this point. And it’s important to secure wins from now on, as there are only six games left in the season. Both teams will be hungry for the 3 points to try and push away from the rest of the teams in the competition.
The game is not part of the Diski Festival which is taking place at Tsakane Stadium, so it will not be televised.
We will however be keeping you up-to-date with the game over both Facebook and Twitter. So follow us to keep in the action during the game.
We have lost this afternoon against Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr.Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The home side dominated the play in the first half, managing to score twice before the break to set a tough foundation for us to pull back on in the second half.
They dominated possession on the field and managed to break our defence on a number of occasions to get into a favourable position to pull the trigger.
They opened the scoring in the 28th minute off the boot of Letsoalo. A run up the far flank set up the play. The ball was played at a tight angle into the box and through Gumede’s legs as he dived to try control the ball. Letsoalo, waiting in front of the goal, had an easy nudge in to open the scoring.
The second goal came in extra time of the first half after Hotto played himself into a favourable position in the box. Another tight angle play saw him play the ball past Gumede and put the second in for the home side.
Coach Larsen made a change from the break which saw Venter make his debut as he replaced Magubane. His inclusion in the game made a difference in play and saw a fresh set of play from us. Chideu was then bought into the mix too and we looked good on the ball again.
We enjoyed more shots on goal and eventually pulled one back when Chideu scored for us in the 68th minute. This had an encouraging effect on the side and we had a number more shots on goal but we could just not find the mark.
A tough day on the field today, but the side need to consolidate and turn things around as we prepare to play SuperSport United next week Sunday 14 January, at Princess Magogo Stadium
It’s the return to the Absa premiership this weekend as we take on Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr Molemela Stadium, Sunday afternoon at 15h30.
Both teams will be aiming for full points. We need to secure a win to climb back into the Top8 of the competition.
We drew to Celtic earlier on in the season, after Nyundu opened the scoring early on in the game. Mahachi equalised just before the break and thereafter the game was a fight to try and break a deadlock that saw a number of shots at goals from bith sides, but neither finding the back of the net.
Currently, we are separated by just a point on the log. Bloem have 19 points and are sitting 7th, while we are three positions below.
Its going to be an action packed game, and one that we are capable of coming home with full points from.
The game will be televised live on SuperSport4 with the match build up starting at 15h00.
A play-by-play feed will also be given over our Twitter and Facebook feeds. So avoid the disappointment of missing the action and follow us!
This was definitely one of our better performances of the first round.We dominated the first half but could not turn that dominance into goals.
The players carried out our tactical approach with aplomb. The second half was a lot more open with both teams attacking at will. We pushed hard for a winner and at times almost got caught on the counter but for some very strong defending from Mzava and man of the match Mngwengwe.
A strong performance,clean sheet but again dropped two valuable points.
We have played to a goalless draw against Maritzburg United this afternoon at Princess Magogo Stadium.
It was an uneventful first half. Both sides were reserved in their play, opting to try and keep possession and play up into the last third with short and calculated passes.
We did see to enjoy more shots at goal, but were either just not on target or the shots were high over the bar. Our attacking plays were well orchestrated, and there was a clear intention shown, whether it was up the right with Dube and Ndwandwe or the left by Nonyane and Sibiya.
There was great support play in the middle, with Bilankulu showing some dominance along with Mahachi.
In the second half, The Team of Choice came back onto the park and tried to domainte the play. They retained the ball well and had a number of attacking plays at goal, but they could not break our defence.
We managed to find our composure, and played ourselves back into the game. But neither sides could find that break in the last third to score.
Another tough Derby game, and shared spoils for us as we head into a short festive break.
We return to the field on the 7th of January as we face Bloemfontein Celtic away at Dr.Molemela Stadium
Tomorrow afternoon we finish off the first half of the season with a KZN Derby game against Maritzburg United. The game will be played at Princess Magogo Stadium, and will kick-off at 15h30.
We will be looking to secure a win and 3 points from this encounter. We are currently 5points off the top of the log, and our last two results have set us back in our log position.
A win before the break would boost morale in the camp and we have our eyes firmly on that target.
We have been playing well, and have been unfortunate on not being able to convert well fought chances into goals. This has meant that we have had to settle for eight draws so far, 3 losses and only getting maximum points from 3 games.
Maritzburg are always a tough team in a Derby encounter, and they will bring it all on Sunday. A win for them could give them a good boost up the log.
We will be giving you, our fans, an up to the minute feed on the game should you not be able to be there. We do howver encourage you to come to the stadium and get behind the boys as we face our KZN rivals. And from previous derbies played before, this game will not be shy of goals. The game will be televised on SuperSport 10. Let’s get down to princess magogo and get behind the boys and let’s finish the year off on a high note
In a game that could have gone either way in the first half, we fought back well and secured the 3 points to remain on top of the log going into the festive break.
Both sides came onto the pitch showing intention to secure the win. In what was a head to head battle from the first minute, both ourselves and Chippa used our possession to its full advantage, playing into the last third and fighting to secure the opening goal.
It was the visitors however who struck first, securing a goal off the boot of Lonose in the 27th minute. This put us on the backfoot for a while and the youngsters handled a barrage of further attacks from the visitors. The first half was not short of shots on goal for us, but we were just unable to convert our chances.
We returned to the field after the break with determination In the early minutes of the half we put great pressure on the visitors goals. This paid off for us as we managed to pull back a goal and equalize with Sabelo scoring after the keeper fumbled a long range shot from N.Dube, and Sabelo Who was brave enough to put his head in the way of an oncoming keeper who tried to clear the ball, but Sabelo got there first to score.
Mathenjwa then gave us the lead after coming on as a sub. Another great team effort saw us get into the firing zone, we had a shot on goal which was saved. The rebound ball was loose and Mathenjwa managed to get to it and push it past the keeper for the lead.
The game however was not over then. Chippa fought hard to score again, and had a number of shots, but we were able to survive the attempts.
We were also unlucky not to score again when Conco was put into position on the right. He had a shot that hit the post, the rebound ball was then controlled by Mgwaba who tried a bicycle kick. It was a fantastic attempt but it hit the bar and bounced straight down.
A well fought game from the youngsters today in Umlazi to retain the top spot on the Diski log.
They return to the field in the new yer with a game on the 13th January againt Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr Miolemela Stadium at 12h00.
Tomorrow morning we play our last Diski fixture of the year, when we host Chippa United at King Zwelithini Stadium at 10h00.
This game was meant to take place last weekend, however, it had to be rescheduled because of transport issues cause by delays at the airports.
So far we have played well in our 8 encounters, and edged to the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Polokwane City in our last match played at home.
The top 3 places are in hot contention. Ourselves and Bloemfontein Celtic are level on points, but we now have a game in hand, and we occupy the top spot because of our 1 goal difference. Supersport United and Maritzburg United sit third, with just a point in it at position 3 and 4.
With our game in hand a win tomorrow would mean that we could stretch our lead by 3 points at the top of the table going into the Christmas break.
Chippa will be eager for a win, having played 8 games, they have managed to only secure 8 points so far after winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 4 of their outings. They are sitting 14th on the log and would appreciate points to improve on their standings.
This is a tough competition, but on the day anything can happen in these exciting and action packed encounters.
We encourage you to get to the stadium to catch the action. Entrance will be free and its a great way to start your weekend off. You will be able to catch some young talented players in action and the Diski platform showcases some fantastic talent.
The game will not be televised, but we will keep you updated on our social media platform
So disappointed for the players that they got no reward for the performance they gave. We are proud of the efforts they continue to give regardless of the result. They went pound for pound with the best team in the country and at times it seemed as if there was a big yellow bus in front of us. You don’t always get what you deserve in football and today was proof thereof.
We suffered a home defeat this afternoon to Sundowns in an exciting and well contested game.
It was a tough first half, and Masandwana came onto the field to try and set their domination from the first minute. They attacked early and put us on the back foot. This allowed them to secure an opening goal in the 6th minute.
Soumahoro managed to get a boot on a rebound ball and put it past Gumede to score.
We fought back well, and Mahachi had a shot from range in the 10th minute that hit the bar and then later was disallowed a goal as he was deemed offside.
Both sides fought to score again. We had a number of great movements but could just not break the defence.
We stood strong at the back, with Mngwengwe and Mzava putting it all on the line to ensure that movements from Tau and his team mates were closed down.
All in all, it was a fantastic fight from both sides and we were unlucky not to have equalized and gone ahead on goals as we created the chances.
We will prepare for the KZN Derby next Sunday we we meet Maritzburg United at Princess Magogo for our last game befor the Christmas break.
Tomorrow morning we play our last diski fixture of the year, when we take on Chippa united at Wolfson Stadium at 10h00.
So far we have played well in our 8 encounters, and edged to the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Polokwane City in our last match played at home.
The top 3 places are in hot contention. Ourselves and Bloemfontein Celtic are level on points, with us occupying top spot because of our 1 goal difference. Supersport United sits at third, with just 2 points in it.
We will all be wanting to secure a win and try maintain our top of the table spot going into the Christmas break.
Chippa will be eager for a win, having played 8 games, they have managed to only secure 8 points so far after winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 4 of their outings.
This is a tough competition, but on the day anything can happen in these exciting and action packed encounters.
Our game is not part of the Festival taking place and will not be televised. We will however keep you up-to-date with the progress of the game.
We return home to face Mamelodi Sundowns tomorrow at the Princess Magogo Stadium in our 14th game of the season. The game will kick off at 15h30.
Its been a tough week after our 2-1 loss to Free State Stars in Bethlehem, but the team have not had time to mope about the game as preparations started as soon as we arrived back for tomorrws encounter with Sundowns
With just two games left before the break, we need to collect points and we are determined to make tomorrows game count.
Sundowns have been catching up their fixtures, and have made no attempt to hide their intentions in the process. With just 10 games under their belt they have quickly climbed the log. On Tuesday they never held back as they beat Baroka FC 4-0.
They will come to secure a win, and Sunday should produce a great game to watch. Sundowns always enjoy away support and we urge you to get to the stadium in your Lamontville Golden Arrows colours to show support to the team.
Gates open at 12h30. Tickets are R40 for adults and just R10 for kids under 12 and are available only at the gates. So come to Kwa Mashu, bring a friend and lets get behind the team!
We definitely deserved something out of this game after a very strong second half showing. We struggled playing into a strong wind first half but used the conditions to our advantage in the second.
We gave ourselves an uphill task after conceding after only two minutes of the restart. We threw everything at Stars with the score at 2-1 and could have equalized had it not been for some tenacious defending by the home team.
Nonyane played a good 55 minutes after a lengthy lay off.Great to see him back giving a solid performance.
Disappointed would be an understatement. Scoring two good team goals then conceding through a penalty and a deflected equalizer was a tough way to drop two valuable points.
We weren’t at our best for sure but neither were our opponents who did very little to trouble Gumede in goals.
More points dropped at home so we have to win our next match against Free State Stars at all cost.
We had chances to get a third or fourth goal but it wasn’t to be.
Another positive result on the road for the club. It’s never easy playing at Orlando but our players showed no fear and gave their all to make sure we returned with a point.
Gumede made three good saves to keep us in the game but we also had opportunities which Mabokwane did well to save. We maintained good tactical discipline throughout and made it difficult for our opponents to break us down.
We could have done much better with our counter and break attacks which lacked the killer final pass. Gumede and Cele were our standout performers on the night.
Supersport took the lead quite fortuitously when Bilankulu slipped because of the soft underfoot conditions. We had the first chance of the game though ,when Mutizwa chipped Williams only for the ball to narrowly go over the crossbar.
Conceding the second goal just before the break made our task all the more difficult. Chasing the game made us susceptible to conceding again and our opponent got their third , killing all hopes of any comeback.
Truth be told it was not a bad performance by the team but also not good enough to get any result from a very experienced Supersport team.
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