There could be more frustration for Teko at Downs

Teko Modise has put all the drama and speculation behind him and signed for Mamelodi Sundowns. He joins a Sundowns side where competition for a place in th starting line-up is very high, just like at his former club Orlando Pirates.

The big question is whether Modise will be able to cope with the pressure of playing for Downs, and go on to shine for the Brazilians, or will he soon be frustrated by lack of regular game time-which is already a negative factor for many players at the expensively assembled Tshwane side.

Teko’s move looks like a case of out of the frying pan into the fire. Sundowns have already loaned out highly talented players because they were not getting game time. A Player like the skilful Elias Pelembe, who can walk into a starting line-up of any PSL team any day is not guaranteed a starting place at Sundowns. That alone should make any footballer who joins the Brazilians looking for regular game time think twice about joining them.

Modise needs to play so that he can get his confidence and rhythm back. Joining a smaller team where there would be less pressure and more opportunities to play would have been an ideal move for the Bafana star.

However, game time alone is no longer enough for today’s footballers. Money plays a major role in their decision making, and they cannot be blamed for that because a football career is a short and unreliable one, players need to make as much money as they can while their legs still allow them. Not that I’m saying Teko’s move was based on financial matters though.

What we can do for now is to just sit and watch the drama unfolding at Tshwane. Only time will tell whether “The General” will thrive under pressure at Mamelodi Sundowns or his frustrations will once again get the better of him. One thing is for sure though, Modise is a national asset and it will be good to see him getting his groove back.

By Siphiwe Hlongwane

Letter to President Patrice Motsepe

Dear Mr Patrice Motsepe

This is the time where as Sundowns supporters we need to hear from you. We know you are a busy man but just do us a favor and improve your concetration on Sundowns a little bit.

Picture: (Mamelodi Sundowns coach Antonio Lopez Habas being escorted by police on Sunday.)

We are in the middle of the Season and Sundowns's wheels seems to be falling off. You promised us in a gathering that Sundowns will bounce back. The management you have hired, seems to be lost and do not know where is west, east, south or north as far as football is concerned. We had a great Coach last year by the name of Stoichkov who was starting to give us hope.

He was fired and then replaced by his physical trainer and assistant. The very same advisors such as Trott Moloto and Mr Makhanya were instrumental in bringing Mr Habas back claiming that he was the one doing most of the work while Stoichkov was doing nothing.

Now it is evident and clear that Mr Habas is not a coach but just a trainer and not a strategist. We have witnessed few things about the man;

1. He does not have a game plan or plan B ahead of each game.

2. He fields players in a strange pattern and is killing some of our key players.

3. The previous wins which kept us on top of the log previously were due to pure luck and inconsistence of title chasers.

4. In some games such as the recent game with Supersport we played withought any attack but only defence for 90 minutes which is a strange thing in football. Its time to start counting number of years since Sundowns lift any trophy.

Finally,
Please relook and recheck and revise the management you have hired, since we fans knows fully well that your management is the cause of all the problems.

If possible reshuffle them, most especially Trott and Makhanya (your current advisors and managers), and replace them with highly competitive managers such as Ms Natasha Tsicklas or anyone who will do the Job better and you will see Sundowns bouncing back.

Thank You.
By Maxy

Full Story on KickOff.com:  http://www.kickoff.com/news/19973/gordon-igesund-wanted-by-mamelodi-sundowns-fans.php

Chiefs fans dancing eCape Town Stadium

NIKE SELECTS “THE CHANCE” FINAL EIGHT PLAYERS TO JOIN ELITE ACADEMY

NIKE, Inc, Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal FC and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst today announced the winners of “The Chance,” a global search for talented footballers to join the Nike Academy.

After an intense final trial week under the watchful eye of elite coaches and scouts eight players will take their hard earned places as full-time members of the Nike Academy starting July 2011.
Mustapha Taline, (France), Tobi Amokeodo, (United Kingdom), Fabio Tonini, (Belgium), Titi Accam, (United Kingdom), Jonathan King , (South Africa), Seon-Min Moon, (Korea), Reyaad Pieterse, (South Africa) and Tomas Rogic, (Australia) are the eight players selected for a shot at the pro’s with unrivalled access to world class coaching and facilities for one year.

“The Chance gives young players around the world the opportunity to showcase their talent, enhance their game and offers the ultimate dream, the chance of becoming a professional player,” said Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal FC. “The eight players who have won their place at the Nike Academy demonstrated great technical ability and dedication to succeed at the final trials.”

The successful eight, hand-picked from over 75,000 global submissions from 40 countries, have competed in both national and global trials to make it to the final eight. They will now go on to experience world class facilities, train with elite coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and fitness conditioners, as well as play matches against elite academies and professional reserve teams.

“I know from personal experience that players develop at different stages and rebound from setbacks to reach the elite level of the game and that’s what makes The Chance such a great program, providing access to top class coaching, training and facilities, said Giovanni Van Bronckhorst. “What’s really important about trial week, beyond the great success of the final eight players, is that everyone will take something away from the training this week, everyone improves their game.”

There is no Barcelona in the PSL

Soccer is a sport of which disciple, tactics and techniques are employed in the field of play. As a young star soccer analyst I understand soccer beyond any man’s intellectuality. With this saying I would emphasize the point that there is no BARCELONA in the PSL. Every team in the PSL is worth beating another one unlike in Spain. I emphasize this point with regard to the articles, songs and stories that are all over after Chiefs’ loss. People saying "heee heee heee" Chiefs cant win the league, for it to win the league all teams should be Pirates and Sundowns because it is only capable of beating them.

I, as one of the best Chiefs’ fans, I hereby write this article, yes crying, crying crocodile’s tears because I lost with style. Currently chiefs is the second to none best team as coming to playing football with direction, entertainment and discipline. My fellows, respectful football disciples it is a rather impossible song to win the league having won all your games. With this I don’t deny the fact that consistency is the best criterion for winning the league. I couldn’t sleep due to this unknowledgeable football fans who knows only Chiefs and Pirates. And today I would like to say to them, guys winning a league is a marathon, a league cannot be decided by 14 games when 16 are still in hand. Anybody can still win the league, even supersport united still have a chance.

How did Chiefs loss that game?

Our tactics we outclassed by AJAX young stars and their brilliant coach. Our coach thought they would be more attacking, only for them to rely on counterattacks. Apart from that the offside trap killed us. our central defenders seemed to rely too much on the linesman, everybody will agree on that. And that caused us a lot. If one can look back into that game, relying on offside trap strategy worked against mighty Kaizer Chiefs.

Apart from that, our fullbacks, TAU and MASENAMELA were going forward more than it was necessary, leaving no body guarding the wings. Pity Ajax didn’t convert all those chances.

Furthermore, frustration killed us, proffesional fooballers need to work and not panic under pressure, but that seemed to be the case with chiefs hence them making unneccessary mistakes as a result of pressure.

Selfishiness and seeking popularity. There were situations whereby Musona should had better passed the ball, but due to selfish intrests he opted for poor shots. Hence contributing to our downfall

If I was a Coach

Straight after half time I would have sacrificed Motaung (he had a good game) for Masango and put Musona as a target man upfront. Put Masango to play at the wing. Pack my midfield with those 5 players so as to make the pitch smaller for pacy Ajax players. Allowed TAU and Masenamela not to go too forward. If I was a coach I could have not fielded Ngcobo.

Anyway congrats to Ajax and Ajax supporters but like I said a league is still up for grabs. Indeed Ajax what I saw on Friday night was indeedy football with balls.

By Sekolumoto Khauta

SA’s talented duo take The Chance in London with Nike

Jonathan King and Reyaad Pieterse will be the first South Africans to join the prestigious Nike Academy in the United Kingdom from June 2011 with a year-long football contract, following the announcement of the footballers selected in the top eight of Nike’s global competition, The Chance.

As ‘The Chance’ entered its final day, the anticipation and desire to secure one of the eight places in the Nike Academy was palpable. The 32 players were separated into two teams and literally handed a field of dreams to showcase their talents. Inside an impressive stadium and on a pristine pitch the players had just under 75 minutes to stake their claim to the final eight, in what was the last opportunity to demonstrate they have what it takes.

18 year old goalkeeper, Reyaad Pieterse of Johannesburg said: “I am still in shock, feeling excited and nervous at the same time. This is such a special moment, I worked very hard for this chance to be in the Nike Academy, and finally, here I am. I had some tough competition from about four other goalies, and I know that we all worked hard, but I wanted this more and this motivated me to keep focused.”

Despite over 72 hours of demanding assessment from the coaches, nothing was held back on the pitch as the players gave every ounce of energy in a fiercely competitive game. It was evident that every player knew this would be their last chance to catch the eyes of the coaching staff. None of the players could be accused of not giving it their all, leaving the pitch with legs weary, chests heavy but hopes high.

“I paced myself since we arrived in London, and the freezing weather did not help me much, but I was so always determined to make my mark, and I got noticed by the selectors during the training sessions. I gave my all in the final games, pushing myself hard because I wanted this chance so badly, and now I have a signed contract with the Nike Academy – this is amazing”, said 17-year old Jonathan King, a right wing back.

King and Pieterse joined six other players from around the world, including: Mustapha Taline (France); Seon-Min Moon (Korea); Fabio Tonini (Belgium); Tobi Amokeodo (United Kingdom); Titi Accam (United Kingdom) and Tomas Rogic (Australia).

“The high quality on show in the final day of matches was great to see and it gave myself and the other staff a real challenge in deciding on the final 8. We made our decision after long discussions but feel that we have selected 8 players who have the best chance of realizing their dreams of becoming professional football players”, Huw Jennings.

‘The Chance’ is a global search for elite amateur players to join the Nike Academy in London, and was launched by Nike with Arsene Wenger in Soweto, Johannesburg in June 2010. More than 74,000 footballers from around the world participated in open trials hosted in 41 countries participating in the competition, with only 100 players making the grade to progress to the finals of this competition in the United Kingdom. The selectors have had the arduous task of selecting and noticing 32 players within 48 hours to progress to the final round of matches. During this phase of the competition, the selectors were looking for players who could adapt to the fast paced game in demonstrating playing for a team while showing off individual excellence.

Says Seruscka Naidoo, Nike South Africa Communications Manager: “Nike South Africa is very proud of having two players from our country in the top eight. This is a great achievement for the boys, and moreover, for our core team of football specialists who engaged with Nike to help us enable our players to become better. We unearthed talent from all over South Africa basing our selection criteria on footballers who needed to have the fundamentals of the game, while we further helped them to master it with coaching programmes. It’s evident that this has been a success as we have not only the best, but also two South African’s receiving a contract that will change their lives.”

At the final dinner on Saturday evening, all the players then got the chance to meet another football legend, Dutch international Giovanni Van Bronkhorst. The ex Barcelona and Arsenal star took time to meet the players before finally rounding off an exciting three days by helping to announce the successful Final 8. In an emotional final ceremony the dreams of 8 players took one more giant step towards reality as the following players secured a place in next season’s Nike Academy. Today marked the start of a new journey to elevate their game.

Coaches are destroying our football

Most soccer fans these days don't go to the stadiums to watch PSL games because the matches are simply boring.

There is a lack of entertainment in the way our teams play –strict tactical approaches have overshadowed creativity and individual brilliance.

Coaches are more concerned about winning games, even in an ugly way, so that they can get the necessary points and save their jobs. Club bosses are ruthless and they demand quick results, putting unnecessary pressure on their technical teams and players.

The win-at-all-costs attitude is like a dangerous poison that has been injected into our football, ensuring that it dies a slow and painful death.

Top teams all over the world have proven time and again that it is possible to win even the most competitive games by playing good football. The world champions won the World Cup in style, playing creative football full of intricate passing and ball possession.

You could see that their players were not restricted and they played with confidence and self belief, and without completely doing away with the required tactical discipline.

It can be argued that our local players or teams are nowhere near the level of Spanish giants like Barcelona, who always manage to put on displays that are bordering on arrogance almost every week.

Yes, a high number of PSL players are technically and tactically challenged. We witness that every week when they miss the simplest scoring opportunities; they fail to complete the most routine passes and so on.

But that should not serve as an excuse for the coaches to employ the kick-and-run tactics. Coaches should not only think about the safety of their jobs, they also need to understand that for the average fan, a football match is not a matter of life and death, it is merely a form of entertainment.

By entertainment I'm not talking about senseless show-boating that has been the downfall of many South African youngsters. I’m talking about teams keeping possession of the ball, playing attacking football with flair and not doing away with individual brilliance.

The best coaches in the world can tell you that one slick move and creative play from an individual player can be the difference between playing out a draw or winning a tough encounter.

Having said that, it is encouraging that we still have coaches like Vladimir Vermezovic and Antonio Lopez Habas of Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns respectively. These two coaches are under a lot of pressure to win games every week, but they have not sacrificed the entertaining elements in their teams’ style of play.

By Siphiwe Hlongwane

South African Trio Progress To Top 32

The South African trio of Reyaad Pieterse, Jonathan King and Nazan Klaasens have all been selected to progress through to the Top 32 of ‘The Chance’ final trials in London, United Kingdom. The players impressed the coaching and scouting staff on the day and will join compatriots around the world as they go in search of one of eight places that are up for grabs to join the Nike Academy on a one-year contract. Unfortunately, Khayalethu Nzimande did not do enough to progress but will be supporting his countrymen in their quest for success.

“We are very proud and excited to have 3 of our players in this top 32. It’s going to be a tough final round with the small sided games, but our players have shown the top selectors that they have what it takes,” says Seruscka Naidoo Communications Manager of Nike South Africa. “ This is a huge step for us locally – the selection criteria SA used, developing a core team of coaches, pro specialists demonstrates that we have talent in every corner of SA – it’s a matter of unearthing it, developing it… and giving our youngsters a chance.”

Former Real Madrid and Portugal midfielder Luis Figo was in attendance to offer the players words of encouragement for the players that had progressed to the Top 23.

“It is a great opportunity to achieve a professional moment, most important thing is to work hard and listen to coaches. Try each day to be better and try to improve your skills. You have to concentrate and be dedicated in every way to achieve that professional moment. I learned that at a young age and it has stayed with me always. You dream to be in the squad and each year, you just want to get better. You have to have dreams, but to make them real, you have to be awake.”

Nazan Klaasens



Reyaad Pieterse

Yellow Card System needs a review

I promise to soccer, the whole soccer and nothing but soccer… so help me FIFA!!!!

I have a little tiff with this 3 yellow cards and suspension business in the league. I am not sure which genius came up with this, but I would not be surprised if he is the same idiot who came up with the Play-Off System at the end of the season for battle of promotion or surviving relegation (depends how you look at it).

I also noticed both systems are extensively used in the EPL and something tells me we are again modeling our league like that with GREAT FAILURE.

If you play in the league, acquire three yellow cards that is an automatic one match ban. How does it work when a PSL player gets his third yellow card in the league and the next game is a Nedbank Cup against Hungry Lions, silly you are now suspended (even when those rules do not apply to your opposition)?

I think the system needs a review, not being abolished, but a review. MTN 8 “Wafa Wafa” is a classic example, if it was a case that a player gets yellow cards in that competition, but it is only half the teams in the league playing? - that does not seem fair in the least bit. Surely they should all start on all equal footing… but then again, what is it about this league that is equal???

These yellow cards are just a little curve ball in the system that is not operating at a proper level.

Anyways………. Vuvuzela (VUVU) debate……………

When at the stadium, (perhaps it’s just me)… don’t you ever find it annoying that there is one lousy idiot who’s main span is to blow a Vuvuzela directly in one’s ear? I have nothing against VUVU… I love it, but if it is blown directly in the ear… well anything done directly in the ear, except a gentle whisper from a fairer gender, is not a thing to smile about.

I think there are people who really hate diski and want to make others hate it too… by simply going to the stadium, pay good money and blow hard as your lungs can allow a VUVU in one’s ear (directly)… throughout the game.

Hope this weekend is as great as the past couple of weeks. Thank goodness we do not have silly breaks in between for now.

Steven Pienaar and Bongani Khumalo just made me an official Spurs Supporter… Tottenham for the EPL, FA CUP and CHAMPIONS LEAGUE <now going to learn their songs>

By Bra Pule

Operation: KROL MUST GO

Personally, the first time I heard Rudolph Kroll speak was a post-match interview that Robert Marawa did with him(Kroll) after a pre-season game of the 08/09 season.

This was one of Kroll's first interviews as a Pirates coach. I am not firm on the exact verbatim that was used but the message was clearly communicated. Robert, enthusiastically, asked... if we likely to see Pirates playing Total football, since Kroll was now the coach at Pirates. Kroll's response was along the line that, Pirates players were not of good (enough) quality so Total football was out of the question. That response has never left my mind. From there I understood that not much is going to be achieved, by the might Buccaneers, under this coach.

Firstly, lets deal with this myth that Krol brought Pirates its first cup in 10 years. Truth be told, Pirates was very lucky to beat Chiefs in that semifinal second leg of the MTN8. In fact, Pirates looked more likely to beat Chiefs in the first leg than in the second leg. Pirates was even luckier to beat Swallows in the final of the MTN8.

When Pirates were cruising to victory, Krol decided to sabotage that position and made a defensive substitute and introduced Ngobeni into the game, too early in the game (I think it was around the 65th minute). Now, Ngobeni is a fine player but tactically that substitution was flawed because it handed the impetus to Swallows and they equalised. Pirates won the game, but the reason was hardly the coaches tactics. Just luck of the penalty lottery. Pirates won the MTN8 despite of Rudolph Krol's presence and not because he was there.

Secondly, as head coach, Rudolph Krol is certainly not in firm control of his team. He has been on the press saying unsavory things about the very players that are supposed to deliver for him. It is important to hasten to admit that some of these things do have a ring of truth to them but saying them the way he does is hardly the stuff that team moral is built on.

Thirdly the team looks disjointed, cases in point:-
1) At Orlando Pirates, coloured players seem to have their own clique. Just look at the way goals are celebrated and conceded.
2) The reported Mayambela, Modise, Rossley incident
3) Andile Jali leaving the field during the Telkom Cup final and the subsequent interview statements by both the coach and the player
4) Krol and Rossley arguing on the bench over substitutions.

On the Jali issue, if you listen to what both him(Jali) and Krol are saying, it exposes Krol’s lack of tactical acumen at game time. In that game, Johannes and Josephs gifted Chiefs a goal. (Mistakes are part of football and we love the two.) Chiefs was playing beautiful football and they had their tails up. Now whatever it is that Jali was doing, it contained Chiefs and (Pirates) also ventured forward dangerously a couple of times.

At the score still 1-0 to Chiefs, from a gifted goal, Krol decides that Jali is a liaibility and is stubborn and pulls him off. From that moment I felt Chiefs could have scored 4 goals if they wanted to.

In summary, there is no human cohesion at Pirates and the coach has reached his ceiling. What you have is a group of very gifted players who somehow get the results despite of the coaches obvious blunders and inabilities. What is happening is that Pirates is displaying sporadic evidence of the possibility of being a great side. Man for man, our players are more gifted than Chiefs players. But Chiefs totally humbled us, not once but twice and there is no reason why they cannot do it again on the 26th of February.

Orlando Pirates is an institution and Rudolph Kroll is tearing it down, brick by brick. It was Mokoena, then Walaza, then Makhanya, then Mdledle, then Segolela, then Mthembu, now Modise. Is Jali next? As fans, who are we supposed to idolize?

The essence of a football team is its ability to capture the imagination of its fans. This is where players become very important. Without the correct football playing characters, no legends can be born. No nostalgia, of a period, in club's history, can be derived. Results alone are not enough for such fondness of memories.

Just ask Real Madrid coaches. We want to be number one and we want to do it beautifully. To many of us, even number two is acceptable, especially if we are doing it beautifully. With Kroll, we are neither.

To Pirates management, we thank you for your dedication to the crossed skull and bones. The intention of starting this group is not to be controversial or to bring disrepute to the club. But it is to lets fans tell you what you already know.

And that is, a good section of the Sea Robbers is not happy about the way the coach is managing that team. Maybe you, as management, are happy. But as fans, we are tired of, every day, hearing about drama that is coming from Milpark and Johannesburg Stadium. And it always revolves around the coach.

*The Chiefs game is used as an example because it was, the one, mostly watched.*

By Ntombiziyabusa Bhengu

Paul Dolezar's dilemma

Paul Dolezar has a tough task ahead of him, that is to save Mpumalanga Black Aces from the dreaded relegation. Last season the team was in a similar situation and they only survived through the play-offs.

At the beginning of the current Absa Premiership Season, they signed over fifteen players in an effort to bolster their squad. They had high hopes and dreams of seeing themselves among the top teams in the league, unfortunately things didn't go as planned and the trigger happy management fired the coach. The experienced Neil Tovey took over the coaching reigns but he also didn't stay too long because of poor results.

Now it's Paul Dolezar's turn to try and work his magic. The coach who is famously known for his comical antics on the touchline and outrageous post-match interviews has been quick to act, signing experienced players like Benedict Vilakazi, Thabang Rooi and David Mathebula. The start of his reign as the Aces coach has been a negative one , losing two matches. Things are definately not looking good for him.

Early this week he made his intentions clear when he put fifteen players on transfer, reason being that they are not on his plans. Whether that was a good idea or not remains to be seen. He is also in negotiations with some players with the hope of signing them to help with his noble cause of saving Amazayoni from relegation. That is all well, but one simple truth in football that doesn't require rocket science to be proven is that building a team takes time. Paul Dolezar simply does not have time on his hands.

Aces made too many blunders earlier on in the season. Their first mistake was to sign too many new players, which meant they created unrealistic hopes of immediate success. When that didn't happen, the coach was fired, another big mistake and a weakness of many football bosses in this country. Neil Tovey was also showed the door before he could do anything about the team's situation, that was a huge blunder. Aces decision makers dug their own grave, now they must lie in it.

Considering the fact that Aces are at the bottom of the log at halfway mark, with a new coach and new players, I don't see them surviving relegation this time around. Paul Dolezar is a good coach but not a magician. Unless they make some drastic improvements and start getting positive results, preparing for life in the 1st Division will be their only option.

By Siphiwe Hlongwane

TALENTED YOUNGSTERS READY TO CHALLENGE AT NIKE’S ‘THE CHANCE’ FINALS TRIAL

Following a nationwide search for South Africa’s most talented football youths, four of the country’s top young footballers embark this week on a journey of a lifetime to the United Kingdom, to compete in ‘The Chance’, a global search for elite amateur players to join the Nike Academy in London.

Jonathan King, Nazan Klaasens, Khayalethu Nzimande and Reyaad Pieterse will be amongst the 100 young hopefuls from around the world competing for eight coveted positions in the academy at the finals of The Chance that will be held in London from the 20th to 22nd January.

Since the top four announcement in October 2010, these four athletes have been hard at work preparing for the international competition. Eric Tinkler, Nike legend and coach, put the boys through their paces with a specialised training programme. The youngsters spent five weeks training with Tinkler at Wits where they gained valuable technical and tactical insight. A further highlight was training with leading South African club Kaizer Chiefs under head coach Vladimir Vermezovic, where senior players Itumeleng Khune, Jimmy Tau, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Punch Masenamela offered words of advice and encouragement. Jonathan, Nazan, Khayalethu and Reyaad also had the chance to witness first-hand the nature of Premier Soccer League football as Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns squared off at Soccer City stadium on Saturday 8th January.

“The competition at the global finals will be fierce, and I have no doubt that these boys will stand up strong against their international counterparts,” says Seruscka Naidoo, Communications Manager Nike South Africa. “Watching the evolution of Jonathan, Nazan, Khayalethu and Reyaad over the past few months has been inspirational and I can only hope that they gain as much from this process, both on and off the pitch, as possible.”

On Thursday 22nd, all 100 selected players from around the world will be put through a series of training drills ascertaining their levels of ability. The drills will encompass all facets of the game including technical, tactical, physical and mental components. This will be done in order to begin the arduous task of selecting the best 32 players that will duly be announced at the conclusion of training on Friday 23rd. On Saturday morning the top 32 players that have progressed will enter into a series of small-sided and full-sided games where the players will have their final chance to impress the selectors.

As part of the experience, all 100 athletes will have the opportunity to watch the professionals in action at the Emirates Stadium, London as they take in the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic.

“We hope to give all these youngsters a real taste of professional football in the UK, and shortly after we return from the game, the final announcement of the eight winners will be made at the closing ceremony” concluded Naidoo.

Why PSL teams struggle to fill up stadiums?

Question: Why is that the Premier Soccer League teams struggle to fill up the stadiums like Kaizer Chiefs? I was watching the game in Cape Town and it was a double header maar I saw more Chiefs supporters than the Ajax Cape Town team. What is the real issue?

Bra Pule gives few reasons on this matter;

1. Football fanatics still want to be part of or be associated. What fans get is very little value for their time and money.

2. We cannot rely on old age traditions like one guy they call PRO to run around the stadium dancing and hope that is entertainment.

3. We as fans do not see the value in stadium experience, why spend so much zak, if I can see the whole thing, with replays, at home at fraction the cost, (I'm talking about beer spending).

4. In the first 12 games of the season, PSL was averaging 1.1 goals a game, (seeing one boring game is a shame, seeing 2 in a row, is hard, seeing 3, it's your fault).

5. The clubs lack new and fresh ideas to market the team on a level that is appealing and sexy, people like sexy and appealing at a social level.

6. The people who have big spending power are not catered for, ie, Whites and Indians. They are unable to identify with the culture, kinder like me finding it hard to spend good money on an average rugby game.

There are so many reasons, was just mentioning a few.

In terms of games and attendances, I personally sometimes watch games cause I wanna rate how boring can it get.

By Bra Pule

Nike Introduces the New French Football Kit

Nike Introduces the New French Football Kit, Combining Elegant Design with Innovative Performance and Environmental Sustainability

Nike (NYSE:NKE) announced its partnership with the French Football Federation today at the Espace Cambon, unveiling the new team kits with French players Abou Diaby, Alou Diarra, Florent Malouda and Yann MVila, France Coach Laurent Blanc and NIKE, Inc. President and CEO, Mark Parker.

The elegantly designed kits combine French style and tradition with Nike product innovation to deliver a distinctive kit engineered to maximize performance and minimize environmental impact.

“France is one of the most successful and well known teams in the world and we look forward to delivering innovative products to help them perform on the pitch,” said Mark Parker, NIKE, Inc. President and CEO.

“This is a significant moment for Nike Football and we are proud to be the official partner of the French Federation and to be part of the future of French football.”

The kit design adheres to the tradition and standards of French style and design excellence while enabling players to perform at their best every time they pull on the famous French shirt.

France Coach Laurent Blanc commented: "This jersey represents the spirit of French elegance, something recognized all over the world. The true collar, the new blue, the addition of the red really enhance the new kit. It goes well with the philosophy I want to create: creativity, humbleness and ambition."

The innovative, lightweight, technical design and features Nike Dri-FIT technology and engineered ventilation systems to help keep players cool, coupled with ergonomic fit and soft cotton feel for player comfort.

The kit embraces Nike's considered design approach and is Nike’s most environmentally sustainable kit to date, with shirt and shorts made from a microfibre polyester that is derived entirely from recycled plastic bottles. For the shirt, this material is combined with organic cotton (96% recycled polyester, 4% organic cotton).

In addition to the on-pitch kit, Nike also unveiled a broader range of FFF-branded Nike Sportswear products designed for fans off the field of play.

One detail of the new France kit is the message "Nos Differences Nous Unissent" (our differences unite us) printed behind the FFF badge over the players' hearts. Nike has a history of using sport to play a positive role in breaking down prejudice and helping people reach their full potential. Nike and the FFF are jointly committed to supporting the work of the Fondation du Football in using football as a vehicle to promote the positive aspects of diversity in society.

The new France kit will be worn for the first time in the game against Brasil at Stade de France on 9th February. The new kit and the Nike Sportswear FFF product will be available at retail from 5th February.

Prior to that, Nike will reveal a new campaign around the kit and the partnership with the FFF, entitled “Vive Le Football Libre”, capturing the spirit of the new era of French Football. This will include a digital and print advertising campaign, as well as a dramatic TV spot.

The dramatic voiceover to the TV spot is the poem from the famous ‘Duel’ scene in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, narrated by French hip-hop artist Oxmo Puccino. The spot draws a parallel between the duel scene, in which Cyrano confronts a prince who dared threaten him, and French footballers at different levels competing against their opponents.

Through the verse, the audacity, creativity and freedom of French football is expressed. Those talents are expressing themselves in various places, Clairefontaine for the French team, but also the playgrounds of Belleville, Marseille and La Courneuve for the amateur players.

Sundowns vs Maritzburg United (Lucas Moripe Stadium)

Ajax Cape Town vs Kaizer Chiefs (Cape Town Stadium)

Vasco Da Gama vs SuperSport United (Cape Town Stadium)

This is one hell of an exciting PSL Season

Mamelodi Sundowns had it all going for them, a healthy lead at the top of the log table and they were playing some good football, even in matches where they didn't play well they managed to get the desired results, it is said that champions are made of such qualities. But as things stand at the moment,it seems as if the wheels are falling off at downs. Two disappointing defeats against struggling Amazulu and red hot Kaizer Chiefs mean that Sundowns will have to improve rapidly if they entertain any hopes of staying at the top of the table.

Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town are making sure that the Brazilians stay at the top of the log is a very uncomfortable one, a defeat for Sundowns will mean they lose the number one position and that will be a crisis for them. What makes things even more exciting is the fact that the top four teams are all separated by one point from each other, it's a bumper to bumper kind of stuff and all four teams will be on their toes.

At the moment, Kaizer chiefs are a better team compared to the other contenders, they are on form and their top players are performing above themselves, the likes of Simphiwe Tshabalala, Itumeleng khune, Musona andReneilwe Letsholonyane are delivering the goods at it's good for the team. If Amakhosi can maintain consistency, they might move to the top if you consider the state that Sundowns are in at present, it will be hard to displace them once they occupy the number one spot.

Orlando Pirates are another team that are putting on a strong challenge for the top spot. The Bucs are doing well and their form is also positive, unfortunately Pirates are not consistent as we have witnessed in the past few seasons. They will have to try and keep their current form if they are serious about winning the title this season. They have the players who are capable of doing the business for them and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the next few games to come.

The dark horses are the urban warriors, they are also in good form and they are capable of surprising a lot of people, having said that, thequality of their squad will be put the test when going gets tough. compared tothe top three teams, the Ajax team has less quality in their team, football is unpredictable though and anything is possible.

This is one exciting season. The next five games will be crucialfor both title contenders and relegation threatened teams, boys will be separated from men and we will be watching with great anticipation.

By Siphiwe Hlongwane