Latest news with #SouthAfricanPremiership
eNCA
6 days ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Magesi hold Pirates to a draw
JOHANNESBURG - Veteran Zimbabweans Elvis Chipezeze and Edmore Chirambadare had roles in the goals as Orlando Pirates and Magesi ended their South African Premiership seasons with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. Stand-out performances from goalkeeper Chipezeze in the richest African national league have earned him a recall to the national squad at the age of 35 for June friendlies in Morocco. But he conceded a soft goal after only seven minutes at a chilly Orlando Stadium in Soweto, allowing a Patrick Maswanganyi shot from the D to bounce over him into the net. It gave second-placed Pirates a lead they retained until the 32th minute when 33-year-old Chirambadare raced into the area and fired across goalkeeper Sipho Chaine into the far corner. Chipezeze redeemed himself midway through the second half when he parried a close-range shot from Mohau Nkota to safety. Pirates, who had to settle for a third consecutive runners-up place behind Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premiership, dominated possession in both halves. But bottom-half Magesi became increasingly competitive as the match progressed and deserved the unexpected point. A season that promised so much for Pirates ended with them lifting only one trophy of the five they sought -- a knockout competition among the top eight finishers in the previous league. The biggest disappointment came in the CAF Champions League semi-finals where they twice squandered an aggregate lead in the second leg before losing to Egyptian club Pyramids. A change of coaches with former Derry City forward Owen da Gama, 63, taking over revitalised Magesi, who were odds-on favourites to be relegated halfway through the season. The club from northern city Polokwane finished with 31 points, five more than bottom club SuperSport United, who host Golden Arrows on Thursday in the final match of the season.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stellenbosch qualify for Africa, Chiefs embarrassed
Stellenbosch qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup and Kaizer Chiefs suffered the embarrassment of finishing in the bottom half of the South African Premiership table on Saturday. A 0-0 draw at Cape Town City ensured Stellenbosch of third place and a second straight appearance in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League. They were semi-finalists this season. Advertisement Sekhukhune United, who began the final round one point behind Stellenbosch, fell 3-2 at Golden Arrows and finished with nine men after Mokete Mogaila and Ngoanamella Rammala were red-carded. It was just the second time this season that Arrows scored three times and the Durban outfit ended a seven-match winless run in the richest African national league. The match took a decisive turn in the second half when Nhlanhla Zwane and Sbonelo Cele scored within 10 minutes to give Arrows a 3-1 lead. Winners of a record 53 domestic trophies, Chiefs were held 0-0 in Johannesburg by Polokwane City and finished ninth, missing out on a top-half finish for the second successive season. Advertisement A top-eight position in South Africa is significant as it secures a place in a lucrative early season knockout competition offering a winners-take-all 10 million rand ($560,000) prize. Chiefs did end a trophy drought since 2015 when they lifted the FA Cup by beating greatest rivals Orlando Pirates in the final this month. But the future of Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi after one season is charge is reportedly uncertain given a poor league record of just eight victories in 28 matches. "I regret missing out on the Top 8 competition, but we did win a trophy for the first time in 10 seasons," said Nabi, who joined Chiefs from Moroccan club FAR Rabat. Advertisement "This has been a transitional season for Chiefs and we must build on our strengths and fix our weaknesses. It is obvious that we need forwards who can score regularly." The expulsion of Royal AM for failing to honour league and cup fixtures means no Premiership club will be automatically relegated. But the team finishing 15th must face the sides finishing second and third in the second division in a double-round mini-league for one Premiership slot. SuperSport United prop up the table, one point below Cape Town, but league officials have not adjudicated on their match against Arrows, which was abandoned at half-time three months ago. A blackout at the SuperSport stadium in Pretoria led to the match being halted with the clubs drawing 1-1 and the hosts lacked a generator to provide back-up power. str-dl/ea
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brazilian Ribeiro strikes twice as Sundowns finish with victory
Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro scored twice as champions Mamelodi Sundowns completed their South African Premiership season on Sunday with a 2-0 win over lowly Magesi in Pretoria. It took his league tally to 16 goals, two more than teammate Iqraam Rayners and eight ahead of another Sundowns star from Brazil, Arthur Sales, and Devin Titus from third-placed Stellenbosch. Advertisement Ribeiro, who joined the Pretoria club from Belgian outfit Beveren in mid 2023, was lauded by Chilean Marcelo Allende, one of five South Americans on Sundowns' books. "Lucas is not only the best footballer in South Africa, he is the best footballer in Africa," said the midfielder. Ribeiro deflected a Rayners shot past veteran Zimbabwean goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze to give 15-time champions Sundowns a fourth-minute lead at Loftus Versfeld stadium. His second goal on 22 minutes stemmed from a clever free-kick manoeuvre that ended with Ribeiro placing the ball in the corner of the net with Chipezeze stationery. Advertisement A Rayners header off a Ribeiro cross and a Teboho Mokoena free-kick both rebounded off the woodwork in a first half dominated by the home side. Sundowns also controlled the second half against 12th-placed Magesi and Sales wasted a great opportunity to increase the lead when he scuffed a low cross. "It was a pleasure to watch Sundowns playing tonight," said Miguel Cardoso, the Portuguese coach who replaced sacked local Manqoba Mngqithi last December. "There was energy, character and happiness from the players, and the second goal was perfectly constructed. "I hope all South Africans are proud of Sundowns because they are fantastic ambassadors for the country," added the 52-year-old. Advertisement Sundowns completed the 28-round Premiership with 73 points, the same total as last season, as they were crowned champions a record-extending eighth consecutive time. Having conquered South Africa again, they now turn their attention to the two-leg CAF Champions League final, then the Club World Cup in the United States. Sundowns face Egyptian outfit Pyramids in the premier African club competition on May 24 in Pretoria and June 1 in Cairo. In the revamped Club World Cup, they are in Group F with Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund and South Korean representatives Ulsan. The other African contenders are Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, all former Champions League winners. dl/nr
eNCA
15-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
Brazilian Sales scores twice as Sundowns seal eighth straight title
JOHANNESBURG - Brazilian Arthur Sales scored twice as Mamelodi Sundowns won 3-0 at Chippa United on Wednesday to clinch an eighth straight South African Premiership title. The South American came off the bench at Buffalo City Stadium to score the last two goals after 69 and 89 minutes. South African international Iqraam Rayners had put the Pretoria outfit ahead on 11 minutes with his 14th league goal of the season and chart-topping 18th in all domestic competitions. Sundowns kicked off against mid-table opponents; they also beat 3-0 last week, needing one point to be crowned champions and pocket the R20-million first prize. Victory lifted them to 70 points with one match to play and an unassailable lead. Second-placed Orlando Pirates have 55 points with four fixtures remaining. Apart from the early stages of the second half, Sundowns controlled possession and only a good performance from recalled Chippa goalkeeper Darren Johnson prevented a wider winning margin. Victory completed a national championship double for Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, who guided Esperance to the Tunisian title last season. Sacked by the Tunis club early this season over disappointing domestic results, Cardoso replaced under-performing local Manqoba Mngqithi at Sundowns last December. Sundowns supporters were initially unhappy with the change, citing the poor record of Cardoso with clubs in Portugal, France, Spain and Greece before moving to Africa. Bolstered by Argentinians, Brazilians and a Chilean, the 15-time South Africa champions are renowned for attractive attacking football with an emphasis on ball retention. Critics labelled the style of Cardoso "boring", but he gradually won over fans of the third-best supported team in the country after Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Under the 52-year-old, they have not only maintained a dominance of the Premiership, but qualified for the CAF Champions League final and Club World Cup. "The supporters were suspicious of me, but I have steadily earned their respect through hard work," Cardoso told reporters in East London. "It has been tough since I arrived because the expectations at Sundowns are so high. It has also been an exciting time as I changed the way we play. "Instilling belief in the squad played a key role. I also feel they are playing with more freedom. Winning is great, but there must also be enjoyment." Sundowns face Egyptian club Pyramids in the Champions League final on May 24 and June 1 and then Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense and South Korean side Ulsan in the Club World Cup.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brazilian Sales scores twice as Sundowns seal eighth straight title
Brazilian Arthur Sales scored twice as Mamelodi Sundowns won 3-0 at Chippa United on Wednesday to clinch an eighth straight South African Premiership title. The South American came off the bench at Buffalo City Stadium in coastal city East London to score the last two goals after 69 and 89 minutes. South African international Iqraam Rayners had put the Pretoria outfit ahead on 11 minutes with his 14th league goal of the season and chart-topping 18th in all domestic competitions. Sundowns kicked off against mid-table opponents they also beat 3-0 last week needing one point to be crowned champions and pocket the 20 million rand ($1.1 mn/€980,000) first prize. Victory lifted them to 70 points with one match to play and an unassailable lead. Second-placed Orlando Pirates have 55 points with four fixtures remaining. Apart from the early stages of the second half, Sundowns controlled possession and only a good performance from recalled Chippa goalkeeper Darren Johnson prevented a wider winning margin. Victory completed a national championship double for Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, who guided Esperance to the Tunisian title last season. Sacked by the Tunis club early this season over disappointing domestic results, Cardoso replaced under-performing local Manqoba Mngqithi at Sundowns last December. Sundowns supporters were initially unhappy with the change, citing the poor record of Cardoso with clubs in Portugal, France, Spain and Greece before moving to Africa. Bolstered by Argentinians, Brazilians and a Chilean, the 15-time South Africa champions are renowned for attractive attacking football with an emphasis on ball retention. Critics labelled the style of Cardoso "boring", but he gradually won over fans of the third-best supported team in the country after Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Under the 52-year-old, they have not only maintained a dominance of the Premiership, but qualified for the CAF Champions League final and Club World Cup. "The supporters were suspicious of me, but I have steadily earned their respect through hard work," Cardoso told reporters in East London. "It has been tough since I arrived because the expectations at Sundowns are so high. It has also been an exciting time as I changed the way we play. "Instilling belief in the squad played a key role. I also feel they are playing with more freedom. Winning is great, but there must also be enjoyment." Sundowns face Egyptian club Pyramids in the Champions League final on May 24 and June 1 and then Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense and South Korean side Ulsan in the Club World Cup. str-dl/bsp
