Latest news with #CosafaCup
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- General
- TimesLIVE
Khumalo pleasantly surprised as hastily arranged Cosafa squad takes shape
Vela Khumalo, the coach of the Bafana 'B' side that will take part in the 2025 Cosafa Cup in Bloemfontein, was pleasantly surprised at the sharp condition his players arrived in on Monday ahead of their opening game against Mozambique on Wednesday. The Kaizer Chiefs youth coach, who also steered the South African under-17s to their age group Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal last month and qualification for the U-17 World Cup, will take charge of the Bafana emerging combination at the Cosafa Cup. Khumalo's side that takes the field in their in their Group A opener at Free State Stadium (3pm) could more accurately be called an 'Emerging B'. Bafana coach Hugo Broos is taking charge of the senior team in friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique's senior side in Polokwane on Friday and next Tuesday with a squad missing his Mamelodi Sundowns contingent and including a host of new faces as he casts his net wide for talent.
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bafana coach promises equal opportunity in international friendlies
'It is a great opportunity for the new and young players with us,' said the Bafana head coach. Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says every player will get a chance against Tanzania and Mozambique. Picture: Backpagepix Hugo Broos says he will give the same opportunity to every player in his Bafana squad for the two friendly internationals against Tanzania and Mozambique. ALSO READ: Bafana's Broos praises Pirates youngster ahead of friendly fire Bafana will play Tanzania on Friday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and Mozambique on Tuesday at Loftus Stadium in Tshwane. Bafana's Broos – 'We will give every player the same playing time' The absence of Mamelodi Sundowns players from this Bafana squad has given plenty of opportunity for a host of other players to show what they can do in the next week or so. 'It is a great opportunity for the new and young players with us,' said Broos. 'There is no pressure, these are friendly games and the results are not that important. We will give every player the same playing time. That is a bit difficult for goalkeepers, but even there we will try. 'We can have a good camp and make a good evaluation after the Fifa week on … our players. 'The performance is the most important. We would like to win the two games and will do everything to win. But more important is the performance of the players. Certainly with the new players, there is no pressure. They must just play and we will see what to do in the future.' Bafana's contingent of 23 players was set to be completed yesterday with midfielder Luke Le Roux and left back Samuel Kabini arriving from Scandinavia. 'But it is not a problem, they will play next Tuesday (against Mozambique). We will give them rest and adaptation time. Travelling from northern Europe to South Africa is a long distance, and they will need a bit of recuperation,' added Broos. Broos, meanwhile, seemed fairly content with the quality of opposition Bafana will face over the next week or so. 'Our opponents are not the strongest but they are certainly not the weakest in Africa,' said Broos. 'Both were in the last AFCON. Mozambique are in a good place to go to the World Cup next year. That means they are good opponents. It is a good opportunity for everyone to prove themselves and show their qualities.' Tanzania poser Tanzania coach Hemed Seleiman, unlike Bafana, has named the same squad for both the friendly against Bafana and the Cosafa Cup. ALSO READ: Agent confirms exit of two Sundowns players The East African country accepted a late invite to the Cosafa Cup to replace Morocco. It remains to be seen if Tanzania fields a stronger team against Bafana or Madagascar in their Cosafa Cup opener. Either way there are likely to be two very different sides with the Madagascar game coming just a day after the Bafana friendly.
The South African
2 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Zimbabwean attacker to Orlando Pirates?
Once upon a time, Orlando Pirates had a young Zimbabwean trialist in 2023. His name was Prince Ndlovu, aged 16. The Highlanders FC attacker's assessment at Orlando Pirates was disrupted by an opportunity for the youngster to move to Europe. Unfortunately for Ndlovu, that prospect did not work out. Fast forward to 2025, and Ndlovu is an established professional in the Zimbabwean Premier League. Prince Ndlovu in action for Highlanders FC in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. Images: Highlanders FC/Facebook Orlando Pirates transfer news: Nemtajela, and Mashiloane According to Soccer Laduma, the Sea Robbers are set to watch Ndlovu play for Zimbabwe in the Cosafa Cup. The tournament will kick off in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, 4 June. 'He trained with Pirates in March 2023 and and at that time he was only 16-years-old. He was preparing to go to Europe but things didn't work out. It's believed that since then Pirates scouts have apparently been monitoring him and now they are willing to give him a chance at the team. They have kept tabs on him and they are impressed by his progress at Highlanders FC in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe,' a source told Soccer Laduma. Legend names his Orlando Pirates Player of the Season 'Orlando Pirates will have the chance to continue monitoring him when he plays for the Zimbabwe national team at the COSAFA Cup. Yes, it's believed that the scouts and recruiters are happy and this will give them a first-hand chance to see him in action before they could finalise anything,' the source added. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM ORLANDO PIRATES NEXT SEASON? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Khumalo to lead Bafana Bafana in Cosafa Cup
"This is another Bafana Bafana team and I'm happy, I'm excited," said Khumalo. The South African Football Association (SAFA) have confirmed Vela Khumalo will lead Bafana Bafana in the 2025 Cosafa Cup. The regional tournament will be held in Bloemfontein from 4-15 June 2025. ALSO READ: AmaZulu release Bafana Bafana goalkeeper – report Khumalo, who is also the South African U17 men's national team coach, will be assisted by Reneilwe Letsholonyane while Molefi Ntseki will serve as technical advisor. Khumalo said he was excited with the challenge of leading Bafana in Bloemfontein. 'We are looking forward to this tournament and we're playing at home, we're playing in Bloemfontein, and we cannot compromise the team. This is another Bafana Bafana team and I'm happy, I'm excited. We want to go through, and we want to win COSAFA (Cup),' Khumalo told SAFA media. 'I remember the last time we won it with coach Morena Ramoreboli when we were co-coaches, now it's me alone. I think this is the right time for us to express ourselves and show how we as South Africans are on the winning streak, and we are happy and in a good space,' added the Kaizer Chiefs Diski Challenge side coach. SAFA technical committee chairman Jack Maluleke said Khumalo and U20 Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach Raymond Mdaka were to lead the COSAFA team, but the draw and workshop for the U20 FIFA World Cup this week put paid to that plan. ALSO READ: Blom leaves Kaizer Chiefs as squad overhaul begins 'Unfortunately, coach Raymond is not around because he is attending the FIFA draw and workshop for the Under-20 national teams in Chile. So, we felt that we must give him a break because he was in Egypt at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (SA won the tournament and are the African champions) only a few days ago and after that he went to Chile to the workshop,' explained Maluleke. Meanwhile, Khumalo has announced his squad for the COSAFA Cup. Khumalo included Chiefs players in the squad. The five players are goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, defender Aden McCarthy, midfielders Thabo Cele and Mduduzi Shabalala and striker Wandile Duba. The full Bafana Cosafa squad:
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Vela Khumalo to coach Bafana Cosafa Cup team
Vela Khumalo has been appointed as Bafana Bafana coach for the forthcoming Cosafa Cup in Bloemfontein. He will be assisted by former Kaizer Chiefs player Reneilwe Letsholonyane with Molefi Ntseki as technical adviser for the regional tournament to be held from June 4-15. Khumalo, who is also the South African Under-17 men's national team coach, selected some of the players who were in Bafana's preliminary squad for friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique next week. He also picked players who will be considered to represent the country during the 2025 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August. 'We are looking forward to this tournament and we're playing in Bloemfontein and we cannot compromise the team,' he said.
