Latest news with #MarumoGallants
The South African
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates news: Emotional message and Venda number 10
It was in 2022 when Orlando Pirates signed the energetic midfield dynamite Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo from Marumo Gallants. After three goals and three assists in 65 games, the 30-year-old midfielder has left the Sea Robbers following a decision against a new deal. Speaking via social media, Ndlondlo honoured the club for the opportunity and looked forward to growing elsewhere…Full story here. Kaizer Chiefs news: Bafana winger and goalkeeper subject Lesedi Kapinga warms up at the Orlando Stadium. Image: BackpagePix Sekhukhune United have parted ways with Lesedi Kapinga. This comes only a few months after he was released by the mighty Orlando Pirates. The 30-year-old from Musina joined Sekhukhune at the beginning of last season after leaving Orlando Pirates, hoping for a fresh start and regular game time. Orlando Pirates news: Mokoena signs and Saleng father Unfortunately, Kapinga struggled to establish himself at Babina Noko, leading to a mutual decision not to renew his contract. The former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns made just 13 appearances across all competitions during his brief spell with Sekhukhune. He featured in 11 league matches, one Nedbank Cup fixture, and one Carling Knockout Cup clash. His only goal came in a 3-1 defeat to TS Galaxy… Full story here. 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 South African
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Released star sends Orlando Pirates an emotional message
It was in 2022 when Orlando Pirates signed the energetic midfield dynamite Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo from Marumo Gallants. After three goals and three assists in 65 games, the 30-year-old midfielder has left the Sea Robbers following a decision against a new deal. Speaking via social media, Ndlondlo honoured the club for the opportunity and looked forward to growing elsewhere. Former Orlando Pirates attacker is clubless Orlando Pirates signed Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo after he was hotly linked with Kaizer Chiefs. Image: @OrlandoPirates / Twitter. 'I was one of the fortunate kids who got courted by Orlando Pirates… heading to play for one of the biggest clubs in the country,' he said. Kaizer Chiefs questioned by Khanye, again 'Playing for Orlando Pirates in camp, wearing the jersey and walking onto the field was a dream come true for any kid from the academy. 'You dream about this as a young boy… playing for Orlando Pirates – those times will always stay with me,' Ndlodlo concluded. 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.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
'We signed a striker, not a saint' – Biyela on new signing Mhango's lifestyle
GABADINHO Mhango in the colours of Marumo Gallants last season is now in the books of Richards Bay. | BACKPAGEPIX Image: Backpages Richards Bay chairman Sifiso 'Jomo' Biyela has defended the club's decision to sign Gabadinho Mhango, insisting goals matter more than the striker's controversial off-field reputation and drinking history. Speaking at the club's unveiling of new signings in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, Biyela refused to be drawn into a moral debate over Mhango's lifestyle, saying he's more interested in getting goals from the veteran forward than judging his past mistakes. 'I am not in a position of judging people. I am not Jesus. My role is to support people, try and get the best out of people,' Biyela said when asked whether Mhango would undergo counselling. 'Most of the time I look at the positive side of things and try as a father figure to deal with the negative side of things.' Mhango, 32, has made headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years, most notably when a video of him allegedly intoxicated surfaced last September after he crashed his car into a taxi in Bloemfontein. Yet Biyela remains unfazed. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'I don't want to be negative and suppress all the good things he [Mhango] has done,' the chairman added. 'The fact of the matter is, statistics are there in terms of the goals that he's scoring. Give me a player that doesn't drink who's giving those statistics… they don't drink but they don't score and they drink but they score.' The outspoken club owner, whose team is targeting a top-four finish in the Betway Premiership this season, made it clear that delivering results on the pitch takes precedence — though he admitted he would speak to Mhango to ensure his conduct doesn't damage the club's image. 'I am not in rehab… what do I want? Do I want them to score or do I want them to change their lifestyle? For the sake of the club's badge, I will sit with the player and make him understand that he's in the twilight of his career, so his off-field things mustn't affect his work,' Biyela explained. Drunk‼️ Frank Mhango crashed into a Quantum in Bloem & the Marumo Gallants star sustained an injury on his forehead. "He has 4 Bloem girls in the car… [The] community is angry because he's drunk... I feel sorry for his career now," 😢 💔 A-reece . Emtee . Home affairs . — Nathan Mbo🎧🇸🇿 (@NattyZay) September 30, 2024 Richards Bay, who finished eighth last season to qualify for the MTN8 for the first time in their history, are hoping the former Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu striker can offer the goals they've often lacked. Mhango arrives with a reputation as a natural finisher, but also as a polarising figure whose discipline has been questioned at multiple clubs. That doesn't bother Biyela — at least not yet. 'I've got a lot of good players who drink and some of them you [the journalists] don't even know they drink but I know they drink,' he said. 'But they play well and they're disciplined.' With Richards Bay setting bold targets for the 2025/26 campaign, the chairman is clearly banking on Mhango's boots rather than his behaviour. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Don't overcommit, warns Sello as Gallants change hands
Marumo Gallants head coach Lafitte Alexandre, chairman Abram Sello and assitant coach Julen Outrebon. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Maumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello is like a cat with nine lives - he continues to survive the whirlwind of businessmen who buy a PSL status only to fail in the end. Sello burst into the local football scene in 2021 after buying the status of Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila who had just bought Bidvest Wits. His joy in top-flight football was short-lived due to poor administration, resulting in Gallants being relegated to the second tier division after two seasons. Sello's bogus administration then included being unable to cater for the team's needs on the continent during their CAF Confederation Cup's campaign As such, this resulted in two club officials being detained in Libya due to the money Sello owed to a notorious businessman who had footed his hotel bill. Before the season ended, the club and the players were allegedly on loggerheads over bonus rows after the team qualified for the Confederation Cup semi-final. Sello stayed for one season in the national first division before resurfacing in the top-flight last season after buying the status of Moroka Swallows. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have retained their status in the top-flight, but the sale and purchase of status in the statuses during winter transfer window has continued willy-nilly. As such, Gallants will have arch-rivals Siwelele FC in Bloemfontein next season after the son of sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, Calvin Le John, bought SuperSport United. Sello, though, has advised what Le John and other new chairmen must do and avoid in order not to make the same mistake he did when he arrived in the PSL. 'The challenge at the top, as we know, is finance,' Sello said. 'Finance can be run by an individual - auditors - so get the right people to advise you. 'Secondly, commit what you can. Don't be overwhelmed and sit at the corner and satisfy conditions that'll haunt you. Yes must be yes, and no must be no. 'Don't look at what the club has been doing - look at what you can do, who's advising you and the calibre of players you keep at the club.' Sello added it's hard to run a football club without a sponsor in the PSL, and that's why some bosses end up forking up monies from their own pockets to run operations. 'This is a very difficult position to be in,' Sello admitted. 'Our chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, used to say as a chairman you are always working hard. 'You throw your last cent into the club. When your son comes and asks for R5 you say you don't have it, but when a player asks for R6 you give him immediately. 'So, that's how it is. It is about passion and developing other people's careers. But it's not a child's play - it's very difficult, especially financially. 'You have to prove that you can get the sponsors, and all those particular things. But at the end of the day, you go home with your subsidies to supplement the monthly grant. 'It's not as easy as one may think. It's nice to watch the game on TV, but to run things behind the scenes, you definitely don't sleep.' Now a bit wiser after paying his school fees for misadministration, Sello has revealed how he managed to slightly change things around last season. 'I think the mistake that we do as the leaders of the clubs is to overcommit according to the people you are sourcing,' Sello explained. 'Don't overcommit according to the people you are outsourcing. Don't go over your line of expenditures. Not everybody will laugh. Commit to what you can afford. 'Also, satisfy your people. You are as good as your employees. So, satisfy the people around you. There'll be problems, but be ready to solve them. 'There'll be some disputes, but be ready to go and answer before the disciplinary committee. And amicably sort everything out.'
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Gallants back youth and vision as 28-year old Alexandre takes the helm
Marumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello says new 28-year-old head coach Lafitte Alexandre was appointed for his vision and hunger, not his age or nationality, as the club targets top-eight success in the upcoming PSL season. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Age or nationality is neither here nor there for Marumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello when it comes to appointing a new head coach. Gallants have named Lafitte Alexandre as their new head coach, replacing Abdeslam Ouaddou, who recently joined Orlando Pirates. At just 28-years old, Alexandre becomes the youngest coach in the DStv Premiership ahead of the new campaign. But this is not unfamiliar territory for Gallants, who previously appointed 31-year-old Romain Folz. Although Folz's stay at the club was brief, he went on to make a name for himself at Horoya AC, Fifa, AmaZulu, and Mamelodi Sundowns. Speaking at Alexandre's unveiling at Hotel Sky in Sandton on Monday — alongside the club's new signings — Sello explained their approach to recruitment. 'I think as our payline, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, when we look for someone, we really mean business,' Sello said. 'We happen to be lucky by speaking to the right people — we study first, check the profiles, and consult. With that help, it makes us feel great about the candidate. 'We had previous coaches where the media said, 'look how young he is'. But they ended up at Mamelodi Sundowns, Fifa, AmaZulu or Horoya. That kind of development makes us proud, especially if you look at where Romain Folz and Abdes (Ouaddou) are right now. 'We just wish them luck when they go elsewhere. We don't block anyone's way up the ladder, coach or player, because they were with us.' Though Gallants have shown a pattern of hiring French-speaking coaches — with Alexandre and Folz both French, and Ouaddou holding French nationality — Sello denied there was any national bias. 'It's not necessarily French or Moroccan,' Sello clarified. 'We were looking at the profile and the intention of the candidate to understand our vision and mission. 'We interviewed a number of coaches and chose the one aligned with our club's growth and his hunger for success. We will give him the platform to develop himself and the club. It's not about nationality — the profile and intention are key.' Alexandre joins Gallants with a lofty reputation. The 29-year-old led Stade Abidjan to their first Ivorian title in 56 years during the 2023/24 season and guided the team to the CAF Champions League group stage at just 25-years old. Sello believes Alexandre's credentials speak for themselves — but he's not expecting miracles. 'We expect much when we look at his profile,' Sello said. 'We wish and anticipate that he can do what he did before, but it's difficult to win the league. After finishing in the semi-finals of both the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup, we want to get to a final. 'In the league, we're aiming for a better position — closer to the title, as a dream. If things go well for him, we could get there. But let's start simple — get a Top 8 finish.'
