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The Star
29-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Can SuperSport United make it count against Golden Arrows to avoid PSL playoffs?
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 15 minutes ago A MATCH that was supposed to have been a celebratory event for a seasoned coach will now be played with much greater significance. Back in February when SuperSport United hosted Golden Arrows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, the game was all about Gavin Hunt being in charge of his 1,000th professional match. The multiple championship-winning coach was given a guard of honour by both clubs as he walked onto the pitch, and the small crowd were on their feet applauding. But load-shedding spoiled it all, the match being stalled midway through the first half as the lights went off. Then that stanza was completed with the score at 1-1, following goals by Christian Saile and Willemson Ndwandwe, before the darkness and lack of a generator led to its abandonment. Three months later, the two teams will complete the match, with just the second half to be played at noon today at the same venue. It could well be different clubs playing this match – Hunt having long been fired from SuperSport, and his then-counterpart Musa Bilankulu demoted to the assistant role at an Arrows outfit now coached by Manqoba Mngqithi. Back then, both sides were mid-table outfits nursing hopes of a top-eight finish. But now they are bottom dwellers, with the KwaZulu-Natal side having a very slim chance of usurping Richards Bay in eighth place. SuperSport, on the other hand, need to get something out of this match like the desert needs the rain, desperately. Matsatsantsa a Pitori are in 15th place, and will go into the promotion-relegation playoffs with the two sides from the Motsepe Foundation Championship if they do not get at least a point. On the face of it, all they need do is keep Arrows from finding their net, and the former three-time league champions would have their status secured. But it will not be that easy, not with their recent wretched form that has seen them and victories resembling the parallel lines of the railway – destined never to meet. After every match they've played and lost, interim SuperSport coach Andre Arendse spoke confidently that they would do better in the next one. That has not happened, hence the situation they find themselves in. Last weekend, after they lost 2-0 to Richards Bay, the previously confident former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper cut a sorry and dejected figure as he tried to remain hopeful. He lamented their lack of luck, and said he hopes they will enjoy it this time around. They better do so, given the rumours that the club's status is going to be sold to a Free State consortium that wants to revive Bloemfontein Celtic. You can bet they will not want to buy a second division team. It will not be stretching it to say Arendse and his team are facing the most important 45 minutes of their careers. Will they make it count?
The Star
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Orlando Pirates triumph over Kaizer Chiefs secures Jose Riveiro's legend status
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 2 hours ago Comment by Matshelane Mamabolo NO MATTER what happens next weekend and in the remaining matches of the season, Jose Riveiro has secured his status as an Orlando Pirates legend as Saturday's 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs ensured that. In leading the Buccaneers to completing a season double over Amakhosi, the Spaniard equalled the record of the most derby wins by a coach of either Soweto giants in the Premier Soccer League era. This was his fifth win, the same number as that of former Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter. The soft-spoken coach, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, could well go ahead of the Englishman before he returns home to Vigo. All he needs to do is to ensure Pirates hold on to their Nedbank Cup title when they play the same Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium next Saturday. And on the strength of this win, it would be folly to bet against him winning an unprecedented third, successive title of the country's premier club knockout competition. Pre-match, the general feeling was that Pirates were on a hiding to nothing – the Buccaneers having lost their two matches prior and the camp appearing somewhat disillusioned. The superstitious among us were even pointing out that 'bad things happen in threes'. When Chiefs opened the scoring via Makabi Glody Lilepo within the first two minutes, the observant picked up that it was the third match in a row that Pirates were conceding a goal to a DR Congolese player. Pyramids FC's Fiston Mayele had scored the winner and his compatriot Tresor Yamba was on the mark for Sekhukhune United in their 1-0 victory at Orlando Stadium midweek. Pirates were going to fall to a Congolese goal yet again it seemed, Chiefs particularly firing on all cylinders in the initial stages. Amidst it all, Riveiro maintained his usual calm demeanour on the bench, standing occasionally to direct proceedings and then taking that trademark posture of his on the edge of the technical area to watch the match with his elbow on his knee and the chin balanced on his palm. He had a game-plan, and he was not about to be dissuaded from it by Chiefs enjoying the upper hand. After all, this is a Pirates team he has painstakingly built over three years, and he knows exactly what they can do and how they can do it. And true to form, Pirates levelled matters through Evidence Makgopa before the halftime break, and normalcy was restored. Pirates dictated matters henceforth, with Mohau Nkota making good runs on the wing and Relebohile Mofokeng occasionally showing off his immense skills. Through it all, the coach they had referred to as a plumber when he first came over here watched like a hawk from the bench. At times he would share ideas with his assistant Mandla Ncikazi as they plotted how to get the Buccaneers back to winning ways. They need not have bothered much, because they had a talisman on the field, and he delivered, with Mofokeng scoring what turned out to be the winning goal as Pirates won a fifth successive match against their bitter enemies. It was a victory that served to illustrate just how superb a coach Riveiro is, and explained just why Pirates had tried to get him to extend his stay at the end of his three-year contract. But why should he stay on when he has proven himself already? Sure, the league title has eluded him, and it is unlikely he will pull the rug from underneath champions Mamelodi Sundowns' feet. Yet, that failure should not be allowed to take away from the incredible work Riveiro has done as Pirates coach. He has repeatedly spoken of how his life will never be the same from having associated with the Buccaneers. He should know that Pirates are all the better for having had him as their coach. Many years after he has left, Jose Riveiro's name will be spoken of very fondly by everyone associated with Orlando Pirates. And this fifth Soweto derby victory has made sure of that fact.
The Star
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Yusuf Maart urges Kaizer Chiefs ‘mindset to be on the same page' in Orlando Pirates Soweto derby
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 28 minutes ago YUSUF Maart would make a fantastic poker player. The Kaizer Chiefs captain's ability to keep a straight face would get Raymond Rahme's approval. And then there's his monotonous tone. Even on a subject that would have seen many a player's eyes lit up, Maart remained his usual calm self The Soweto derby is one of the matches the Capetonian will always be remembered for, Maart having scored that fantastic goal from the halfway mark. But when quizzed about today's Premiership clash with Orlando Pirates (3pm kick-off), the 29-year-old could well have been watching paint dry. There was no rise in decibel. No twinkle in his eye. The tone of his voice remained unchanged. 'It's a big game for the country, and we are excited and happy,' he said. The deaf would have accused the sign language interpreter of fibbing. 'We want to go out there and enjoy the game. Everyone has the same feeling, and they want to do well.' That Chiefs will be out to shine at a packed FNB Stadium today cannot be denied, Amakhosi keen to get even for the first-round last-minute defeat they suffered thanks to that panenka by Tito Maswanganyi. Maart and his teammates are also eager to get the maximum points as they seek to avoid missing out on the top eight for a second successive season. Chiefs' recent form has not been the kind to send their faithful shouting 'we are going to win' at the rooftops, even if their traditional rivals have not set the scene on fire themselves. That much Maart acknowledges. 'In the past few games, we were not playing well, games didn't go our way. But that's football. 'We are going through a stage when things are a bit difficult for us, but it is part of the game. 'We look at the positives, and in this game (the match against Pirates), we need to go as a team. Everyone's mindset must be on the same page and be mentally strong. 'We have two games on the back of each other, but the mood and everything is positive, and everyone is excited,' the drawl made a mockery of that last word. This match, though, the country's biggest tie, is not like any other, and Maart is banking on its uniqueness to help Chiefs turn things around. 'The momentum of this game (Soweto derby) is different because the environment is different. The coach knows how he wants to play and how he wants his game plan to work. 'So, I think that will affect the energy of the game, how the game will be played. 'For us to finish (the season) strongly, we need to start with this game and then to end it with the last game of the season.' Maart has endured somewhat of a love-hate relationship with Amakhosi fans, but he says he remains steadfast in his ways, and would never allow outside views on him and his game to affect him negatively. 'My mood and mind will always be the same and be positive. I think there are a lot of challenges that players go through on the field, and you don't know what their problems are or how they are dealing with them. 'You can judge me and do what you want, but I will always remain positive and strong.' Amakhosi fans will be expecting him to produce a positive and strong performance against the bitter arch-rivals this weekend and the next, so that he helps Chiefs to what would be a successful season. There was no telling, though, what Maart was thinking in that regard, his face sure to have probably even confused South Africa's most successful poker player.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
After ‘hard journey', there's light for George Matlou at Kaizer Chiefs ahead of Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 45 minutes ago THE importance of Kaizer Chiefs getting a positive result in Saturday's Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates cannot be overestimated. Granted, the big one is next weekend's Nedbank Cup final clash between the two clubs in Durban, which will be much more tangible for the Amakhosi, given they will have a trophy to show for their efforts should they dethrone the champions. But the value of securing three points in their home match at the FNB Stadium (3pm kick-off) would be massive for Chiefs as they look to avoid missing out on a top-eight finish two seasons in succession. Chiefs finished 10th last season, and are currently out of the top eight spots, with less than a handful of matches to go. It's almost win or bust for the Amakhosi, and George Matlou says as a team, they are aware of what is at stake and will be going all out to secure the three points. Speaking to the media at the pre-match conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, the midfielder refuted suggestions they only lift their game in the big matches. 'It's not like that. Every game is important. It does not matter if it's a big game or a small game... we can't say there's a small team in the PSL,' the Chiefs midfielder said. 'I am not going to undermine any team that's playing in the PSL. (If they are here), it shows that they have quality.' He does admit, though, that some matches are bigger by nature. 'Of course, there are big matches like the Soweto Derby, and also playing against a team like (Mamelodi) Sundowns – it motivates you. 'I don't think there's a player who does not want to play in a big game.' He played when Chiefs beat Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup recently, and actually provided an assist for one of the goals, having struggled with injuries in the past. Do Chiefs get any kind of inspiration from that victory going into the clash with Pirates? Matlou says confidence is ever-present at Chiefs, although many would argue against that, given just how inconsistent the Amakhosi have been this and in previous seasons – the club being trophyless for close on 10 years now. 'We've been confident enough that any team that can come, we will get the maximum points. 'It does not matter which team we are playing against. We know a big game is a big game.' This one is the biggest of them all in the country, and with Chiefs having it as bad as they have been – although the same can now be said of Pirates, who lost their last two matches – how are Chiefs coping with the pressure of having to beat an old adversary who put one over them in the first round? 'Pressure is there. We know we have to win the game on Saturday. But pressure has been there from the first game of the season. Playing for Chiefs, there's always pressure.' He has pressure of his own too, Matlou looking to thank the club for keeping faith in him despite injuries keeping him out for a long period. The club renewed his contract when he was on the sidelines recovering, and the emotions of that decision boiled over in one of his earlier matches back when he produced a Player-of-the-Match performance. 'It was a hard journey for me. Spending almost all of last year without doing what I love, going to training and seeing teammates going to the field and I am going the other way to the gym... So, you can imagine how I was feeling,' Matlou said. 'Imagine going to training everyday, but you are not taking part (in matches), so it was a bit of a hard journey for me. 'I learnt through the journey, and I've grown strong and I am happy to be back.' The fact that his injury happened when his contract was up for renewal understandably gave him some sleepless nights. 'Of course, you're going to be a bit worried because you don't know where your future is,' he said. 'I had to wait for the club to make the decision, and I am grateful that they gave me another opportunity to stay.' So, when you see Matlou going all out against Pirates at the weekend, you know it is because the man is keen to not only showcase his talent and help the Amakhosi regain some glory and move up the table into the top eight, but he will also be showing his gratitude to a club that stood by him when many would probably not have.
The Star
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Mamelodi Sundowns turn on the magic to dispatch Richards Bay, edge closer to eighth PSL title in a row
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 1 hour ago Mamelodi Sundowns closed in on an eighth successive Premiership title by securing a 3-0 victory over Richards Bay on Wednesday night in a result that was never really in doubt, and with such consummate ease that it was like 'stealing candy from a bay'. Richards Bay hardly provided any resistance as the Brazilians bagged the maximum points on an evening when their only challengers, Orlando Pirates, fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at home against Sekhukhune United. In a sparsely populated Loftus Versfeld that nevertheless sounded as though it was fully packed, with the Sundowns faithful singing their lungs out, the men in yellow turned on the magic – their passing machine running with such precision that the visitors hardly got a look-in. The magical double remains attainable, Bafana ba Style having qualified for the CAF Champions League final with that away goals rule elimination of holders Al Ahly last week and now also stretching their lead in the Premiership to 12 points. They have played two more matches than Pirates, though. Never having lost to Richards Bay in the league, Sundowns were always favourites going into this match, and they were swift to show just why as they scored the opener as early as the eighth minute. Arthur Sales delivered, the Brazilian tapping home a superbly floated pass by Teboho Mokoena, who got the ball over the defence and straight on to his on-rushing teammate. The build-up to the goal illustrated Sundowns' class as they knocked the ball about purposely, switching from the flanks and even retreating towards their own half to lure their adversaries out, before Mokoena unleashed that killer pass. The Bafana midfield kingpin almost made it 2-0 on 25 minutes with a trademark pile-driver from the edge of the box as he stung goalkeeper Ian Otieno, who needed a second take to hold on to the ball. The champions did not need to wait too much longer to double up, though, as Iqraam Rayners found the net just three minutes after Mokoena's attempt. Tashreeq Matthews received the ball on the left side and sent it into the box for Rayners to get the slightest headers with his back to goal, directing the ball into the net. Matthews nearly made it 3-0 just before the break, but his shot went inches wide of the far post as it also eluded the on-running Sales. The match was essentially over as a contest at the halftime break, the fact that Richards Bay have proven themselves a second half team notwithstanding. But Sundowns needed to make sure there were no comebacks, and they did that with yet another team goal less than five minutes in, Marcelo Allende completing a move involving three players with a shot from close range to get his name on to the scoresheet. The Natal Rich Boyz made a fight of it as they launched some attacks but they never threatened Dennis Onyango as Sundowns held on to the victory that sees them edging ever so closer to that eighth title – aided as they were by Pirates losing to Sekhukhune.
