Tshwane derby needs to appeal to the people: Modise

Mmasekepe Matsebane

The Tshwane derby between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United was tipped to rival the more popular Soweto derby, but recent media reports and attention from fans suggest otherwise.

Optimistic: Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker Teko Modise believes the Tshwane derby has the potential to rival the Soweto derby between Chiefs and Pirates.

The Soweto derby, which takes place on Saturday, is the talk of the town at the moment and not many are aware that Sundowns and United will do battle at the Loftus Stadium a day after the big one at the FNB Stadium.

 Perhaps the attention goes to the Soweto sides as they are the best supported teams in the country.

In the past 10 years, the Brazilians and Matsatsantsa have won five championships between them, the same amount of trophies that Chiefs and Pirates have also claimed in the same period of time.

Sundowns playmaker Teko Modise has played in both derbies and he reckons that what sets the two derbies apart is the support and the pressure that is involved days leading up to the game.

“Ours does not have the same magnitude as the Soweto derby. From an early stage you get people reporting and talking about the one in Soweto because of the long history and rivalry involved, it’s also highly competitive, the two teams want it like nothing else. The Tshwane derby is picking up speed, but it will take a while.

“There is also the pressure of beating Chiefs when you play for Pirates and vice-versa, that’s what sets it apart. You don’t want to disappoint the fans. Everyone is talking about it in the streets, when you meet people, they ask you to win it for them, it’s an occasion that attracts even those who don’t really love football,” said Modise. 

A star for Pirates in the derbies between 2007 and 2011, “The General” is also one of the few players who have featured for both Tshwane sides. 

The 30 year-old was in the books of Downs’ cross-town rivals SuperSport United during the 2006/07 season and he is aware that as an experienced campaigner, he will have to be at his best to boost the profile of their encounter.

The Soweto born player said for the Tshwane derby to gain momentum, both teams have to appeal more to young fans across the country.

“We need to have more coaching clinics and visit our fans more. They have to see us as a part of them, not people they only see on TV. We need to engage with them and also play good football on the day to make them proud of this derby,” said Modise.

mmasekepem@thenewage.co.za

We need to stop choosing games: Marques

Mmasekepe Matsebane

Moroka Swallows coach has Zeca Marques expressed disappointment at his players for their recent on and off form. 

In their previous three games, the Dube Birds defeated Orlando Pirates, lost to AmaZulu and won against Sundowns and Marques feels like his players are choosing games.

Swallows coach Zeca Marques has warned players to stop choosing games.

“What is currently happening is hard to explain. They have shown against Pirates and Sundowns that they are capable to win against any team. I feel like they are choosing matches, underestimating some of the teams and I find it pointless. They need to start putting in a 100% in every game they play. That is what good players do,” said Marques.

Swallows used the numerical advantage after defender Method Mwanjali was shown a red card by referee Lwandile Mfiki for a tackle on David Mathebula.

The win lifted Swallows to 10^th on the log with 25 points from 21 games.

The 51 year old mentor is worried of what might happen when his side faces Free State Stars next week Friday.  The Portuguese coach said his team’s on and off displays make his job difficult.

“I don’t even know how to sum our current performance. I don’t know if we are improving or not and that makes my job tough, but I believe one can’t become a bad coach overnight.

Swallows players like Lerato Chabangu and Katlego Mashego have been warned.

“I am not sure of what to expect in the next game, but what I told the players is that they need to motivate themselves, learn from the last matches and try to be consistent. They need to show a good work ethic, show that they want to fight for the club,” said Marques.

The game against Sundowns saw serious changes on the Swallows line up. Rejuvenated midfielder Lerato Chabangu was handed the captain’s armband after regular captain Lefa Tsutsulupa was substituted early on in the first half.

mmmasekepe@yahoo.com

Injury woes for Chiefs ahead of Soweto derby

Mmasekepe Matsebane
 

Kaizer Chiefs’ hard fought draw at home against Bidvest Wits has resulted in three of Amakhosi’s match winners picking knocks.

A Siphiwe Tshabalala goal canceled an early Ryan Chapman header in a seriously contested Absa Premiership match, but now Kingston Nkhatha, Tshepo Masilela and Lehohonolo Majoro are doubtful ahead of the Soweto derby.

The Glamour Boys spokesperson Vina Maphosa said the two Bafana Bafana stars as well as the Zimbabwean will have to be looked on closely by the medical team to see if they can make it for the match that also has the potential to be a title decider.

Lehlohonolo Majoro celebrates his goal in the Soweto derby, but he is now a doubtful starter for Saturday's game.

“The three players picked up some knocks and they will undergo some scans today (yesterday). Masilela looks to be the one with a serious one with a knee ligament and Majoro got a knock on his shin. The medical team will provide us with a full medical report on Tuesday to distinguish if they will be ready for the weekend fixture,” said Maphosa.

Chiefs went to the game with the hopes of extending their lead at the top of the standings to five points, but were denied by the Students who gave a far better performance than they did in the Nedbank Cup last 32 encounter where they lost 3-0.

They still enjoy a healthy three points lead, but with Pirates taking on Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday, the lead might be cut down. 

Tshepo Masilela to be sidelined by a knee ligament problem.

Chiefs have the whole week to prepare of the derby as they will not be taking part in the league fixtures.

George Lebese recently went under the knife and he has already been ruled out of the derby. Just how Amakhosi will fare in the country's version of El Classico without their big stars remains a mystery for Chiefs fans.

 

In other matches, Celtic got the momentum going for the midweek games against Pirates when they defeated Chippa United 1-0 at Botshabelo Stadium. Benjani Mwaruwari’s return to the PSL could not inspire Wilfred Mugeyi’s side as Lerato Manzini’s striker downed the Chilli Boys.

George Lebese recently underwent an operation and will be sorely missed.

Another one-nil score-line was recorded the Goodwill Zwelithini stadioum when Golden Arrows defeated Steve Khomphela’s team. Want-away midfielder Thandoyise Khuboni scored the only goal of the match to take Arrows to 11^th on the log with 23 points from 20 games.

AmaZulu brought Moroka Swallows down to earth with a 2-1 win. The Dube Birds were still confident from their Wednesday’s famous come from behind win against Pirates, but Joseph Malongoane and Makhosonke Bhengu’s goals shocked Zeca Marques’ men. Swallows’ consolation goal came via the boot of a former AmaZulu player in Bennett Chenene.

mmasekepem@thenewage.co.za

Rampant Ronaldo ready to launch at United

Mmasekepe Matsebane 
 

When Cristiano Ronaldo made a staggering £80m move from Manchester United from Real Madrid, he was on devastating form and many thought he was on a form of his life.

Fast forward three and half years and the Portuguese forward is making an emotional return to Old Trafford and he is on a different level altogether, virtually unstoppable and unplayable. 

Still Got It: Ronaldo scores against his former side.

Jose Mourinho’s side has been rampant lately with Sir Alex Ferguson’s former star intensifying the debate of who is the best player in the world when he put in two dominant performances against rivals Barcelona in one week. 

Ferguson was well in the stands on a spying mission as his former match winner tormented Barcelona defenders, scoring twice in the first of the two Classicos.

With Madrid seemingly giving up on the La Liga title race, Ronaldo wants to win the Copa Del Rey and the Uefa Champions League looks appetising to the player who won it in 2008.

The fact that Madrid’s biggest stars were rested in the weekend win over Barcelona shows how much the 50 year-old coach Setubal-born Mourinho is banking on a mind-blowing performance against his old rivals.

Ronaldo has evolved into a beast since he left United.

Ronaldo got a second half cameo role in the second Classico but could not get on the score sheet. Before he came on, Lionel Messi was running the show, but as soon as the 28 year old came on, the game changed completely. 

Although the forward did not score in the second El Classico, his darting runs and flawless free kicks must have given United goalkeeper David De Gea a warning shot that the Portuguese will be devastating in the stadium that made him a cult figure in Manchester.

United know very well that the 1-1 score-line recorded in the first round at the Santiago Bernabéu will mean little as an avalanche of goals will certainly be witnessed at the theater of dreams. 

Champions League 2000 provided the same score-line and The Red Devils thought they had one foot in the door. Madrid legend Raul produced a master performance to dumb United out of the tournament. Who knows, this could be the season where another Ronaldo gets a standing ovation from United fans after Brazilian Ronaldo did when he scored a hat trick in 2003.

Remember This? Ronaldo in United colours back in 2008.

Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa also fired a warning of their own when they crushed Norwich City 4-0, with the England striker scoring a cracker from just outside the box.

The 2008 Ballon d’Or winner told the Mirror that his side is beaming with confidence.

”We played better than Barcelona, scoring three goals in the Nou Camp is extremely difficult. We must continue with this confidence. We will go to Manchester full of confidence.  La Liga is less important because we are a lot of points behind, we need to look more at the cup and the Champions League, but certainly we will go there to do our best,” said Ronaldo.

mmasekepem@thenewage.co.za