Sowetan article on Majoro linked with Pirates is misleading fans

Sowetan is feeding soccer fans with misleading information without conducting a proper research about the meaning of “pre-contract” under FIFA Laws of the game/Bosman Rule.

The article said that Lehlohonolo Majoro is rumoured to have inked a pre-contract with Kaizer Chiefs' arch-rivals Orlando Pirates. This statement is very wrong and misleading. Orlando Pirates fans need not celebrate cheap and misleading victory.

According to the Bosman Rule recognized by FIFA Laws of the game “Players can only agree a pre-contract with another club for a free transfer if the players' contract with their existing club has six months or less remaining. For Majoro case, the appropriate time to sign pre-contract is starting on the 1^st of January 2014.

Sowetan is wrong to publish false rumours of Majoro pre-contract with Pirates happening outside the 6 months of his contract. The rumour should have said Majoro accepted an intention to sign pre-contract this January 2014.

Orlando Pirates cannot violate the FIFA regulations by participating in unethical, unprofessional and illegal activity which is a punishable offense by FIFA. The pre-contract outside the last 6 months of the player in question is unlawful according to FIFA regulations/Bosman Rule.

The so called rumours of Majoro pre-contract is nothing but misleading information.

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/incoming/2013/12/19/majoro-linked-with-pirates

Know Your FIFA Regulations.

By Owen Mundalamo

Twitter: @diskioff [www.twitter.com/diskioff]

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Lehlohonolo Majoro not for Orlando Pirates

The Orlando Pirates Chairman Dr Irvin "Iron Duke" Khoza and Kaizer Chiefs Chairman Bra Kaizer "Chincha Guluva" Motaung reached a gentleman agreement in principle which is non-legally enforceable agreement to prevent players to cross the flow to join each other directly some years ago.

The agreement emanated from Jimmy Tau betrayal to Orlando Pirates after crossing the floor to direct join Kaizer Chiefs. The transfer movement of by then Orlando Pirates Captain Jimmy Tau created an animosity between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs officials and fans.

The intention of the gentleman agreement is to maintain healthy sponsorships relationship between two teams as they share many sponsors amongst themselves and to further unite the fans of the two biggest teams in Southern Africa.

Now I have been informed that the gentleman agreement might be obsolete as Orlando Pirates are contemplating to renegade from the agreement after approached soon out of contract Lehlohonolo "Major" Majoro for his service upfront.

Major is a good striker who has been intentional overlooked due to an ego-related matter from the coaching staff than performance based decision.

My view is that SuperSport United is amongst the best team which can revitalize his goalscoring performance. He can easily fit into Cavin Johnson system upfront but as for Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates; he might warm the bench as they are also ready to sign other quality prolific goal scores.

What's your advice to Lehlohonolo Majoro?

By Owen Mundalamo

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Bafana Bafana to play Brazil at Soccer City

Bafana Bafana will play five-time world champions Brazil on Wednesday, 5 March, 2014 at FNB Stadium in a match billed ‘It’s Samba Time.’

Tickets for the much-anticipated clash will cost R50, R100 and R200. They will go on sale immediately at Computicket outlets and at Shoprite, Checkers and Shoprite-Checkers stores around the country.

Kick off is at 19h00 SA time.

The Samba Boys are arriving in the country as 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup champions after walloping Spain 3-0 in the final. Brazil is also one of the favourites to win the World Cup 2014 on home soil and is currently by far the strongest national team in the world. They have some of the best technical staff on the universe in Carlos Alberto Parreira and coach Felipe Scolari, all former World Cup winners.

The President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Dr Danny Jordaan said the game is a massive opportunity for Bafana Bafana to get the whole world talking. “A good performance against Brazil will convince the doubters that South Africa is back,” he said.

“This is one of the last games Brazil will play before the World Cup and they will be fielding a team of stars who will be absolutely determined to play at their best to make sure they are in the World Cup team. Our team on the other end is also hungry for success. It’s going to be a really good game.”

Dr Jordaan said that SAFA had made a special effort to finalise arrangements so that tickets could be on sale before Christmas. “For a soccer fan there could be no better present for Christmas and New Year than a ticket to see Brazil.”

The SAFA President said bringing the current Confederations Cup holders to our shores is part of the strategy of the new SAFA executive to build a world class Bafana Bafana.

“If you want to be the best, you have to play the best and our announcement of Brazil today as Bafana Bafana’s opponents in March is testimony to our ambition of making our national side world beaters,” added Dr Jordaan.

“Matches between Bafana Bafana and Brazil have always been keenly contested, dating back to the Nelson Mandela Challenge matches and this will be the fourth meeting between the two sides. Each one of the previous matches have been hard fought and provided great entertainment. This one should be really special because the players all know this is an opportunity to shine.”

His sentiments were echoed by Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund who praised the SAFA boss for arranging yet another global mouth-watering encounter for South African soccer fans.

“This is a huge game for us, good for the country and players. We have just beaten Spain and we want to give a good account of ourselves against the in-form Brazilians. To have them here as part of their preparations for the 2014 World Cup shows the amount of respect they have for us,” said Igesund. “I want to thank the President of SAFA for making this game happen. “

Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane said by hosting the Brazil/South Africa match, Gauteng was underscoring its tag as the Home of Champions.

“Hosting the opening and the closing ceremonies of the 2010 FIFA World Cup showed that we are the leading province in South Africa when it comes to hosting major sporting events. We are doing it again by hosting Brazil, a few months after welcoming world champions Spain to our shores,” said Mokonyane.

“Gauteng is a world class city with excellent sporting facilities and it boasts many tourist attractions. We are therefore encouraging soccer lovers from across the country and the world to buy there tickets and join the festivities at Soccer City. This might be the last time to see Brazilian team in action before the June 2014 kick-off of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil,” added the Premier.

- SAFA

Stuart Baxter: Why fix it if it ain't broke?

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has regained his conscious by realizing that Mulomowandau “Tower” Mathoho is far better than his favorite player Morgan Gould with erratic performance coupled with many defensive errors.

Tower has a bright international future ahead of him and always gave 110% excellent performance when given an adequate opportunity but Baxter was very close to mess up his blossoming career by deploying him in unusual position undermining his rare defensive ability.

I have explicitly rejected the notion that Tower was not in his utmost best form this season. Baxter misused Tower by playing him in unusual position which nearly ravaged his confidence and killed his soccer spirits after admitted that he doesn't mind seating on the bench but it was an utterances emanated from frustration and low self esteem not performance-based related matters.

Tefu Mashamaite and Tower Mathoho combo always give Itumeleng Khune an excellent defensive assurance than Morgan Gould and Mashamaite ineffective combo with many observed defensive errors.

Let’s not forget that Mashamaite and Mathoho defensive combo brought double to Naturena last season after 5 years of Championship drought so why fix it if it ain't broke?

What’s your view of Mashaimate and Mathoho combo?

By Owen Mundalamo

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Manyama deal was no surprise when it was cancelled

Kaizer Chiefs have announced the deal to sign Lebogang Manyama from Ajax Cape Town has fallen through as he will be moving overseas at the end of the Premier Soccer League season.

Some of the Kaizer Chiefs miscarriage deals at 99.9% advanced stage include;

1. Dumisane Ngobe, played for Kaizer Chiefs only for one game but later joined Orlando Pirates after Witbank Aces agreed to backdoor deal of Pirates and later Chiefs was refunded the transfer money deposited to Witbank Aces.

2. Lesley Manyathela, signed two contracts to join both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates but later swapped with Arthur Zwane to join Pirates. Manyathela was already training with Chiefs after Peter Rabali agreed for transfer fee, but Dr Irvin Khoza used backdoor to sign Manyathela based on parental agreement after Manyathela mother's agreed terms with Pirates.

3. Lovers Mohlala, official paraded by Kaizer Chiefs wearing Chiefs jersey, but later dumped it to join Mamelodi Sundowns before playing any official game for Chiefs.

4. Peter Ndlovu, Kaizer Chiefs paid his flight ticket to come to South Africa from England but after landed in South Africa, he dumped Chiefs to join Mamelodi Sundowns. He repaid Chiefs flight ticket after non-stop complaints from Chiefs.

5. Shaka Zulu Mthembu, signed two contracts with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates but choose Pirates ahead of Chiefs. He played in the Charity Cup for Chiefs against Pirates. He preferred Pirates to Chiefs.

6. Siyabonga Sangweni, Kaizer Chiefs and Golden arrows agreed for transfer fee, but Manto Madlala changed her mind in the eleventh hour be selling Sangweni to Orlando Pirates

7. Edward Manqele, Free State stars agreed terms with Kaizer Chiefs, but a lucrative offer from Mamelodi Sundowns changed his mind. Manqele is still regretting his decision of dumping Chiefs for Sundowns.

What other miscarriage deal do you still remember?

By Owen Mundalamo

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RDS deployed False 9 Tactical System to save his job

Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa has dropped his famous lone striker tactics by deploying unorthodox tactical system of false 9 or invisible 9 or ghost 9. Kermit Erasmus has been given responsibility to drop deep collecting ball going forward. When Pirates is fighting for the ball, he always drop deep to join his teammates when launching offensive moves.

The false 9 system is not new in the beautiful game... Spain won Euro 2012 deploying false 9 tactical system. Teams famous for false 9 tactical system are Barcelona and AS Roma who mastered the art of the system with ease.

To this end, Kermit Erasmus who created all Pirates goals has performed the art of false 9 with distinction. He excelled in ball retention and passing. Instead of driving towards goal, he always drops deep into midfield to initiate offensive moves and also creating goals.

The merits of false 9 are that midfielders are potential goal scorers than striker deployed. The beauty of false 9 is that the engine room always controls the entire game and also strengthens the team when defending.

To this end, Pirates midfielders Oupa Manyisa, Daine Klate and Thandani Ntshumayelo scored Pirates goal.

Roger de Sa didn't deployed ultra defensive system but unorthodox false 9 tactical system.

By Owen Mundalamo

Twitter: @diskioff [www.twitter.com/diskioff]

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Five reasons that killed Manyama's deal to Chiefs

From where I am standing, this is what I think led to Lebogang Manyama's Kaizer Chiefs move falling through:

·         Kaizer Chiefs approached Ajax Cape Town and made an irresistible offer, which Mr. Ari Efstathiou found attractive and accepted without thinking twice.

·         Kaizer Chiefs were over-excited and announced the capturing of the player prematurely because they did so before the player in question signed for them.

·         Maimane Phiri (Lebogang Manyama's Agent) felt that he was undermined, went to the media and expressed his surprises about the 'eminent' move, which he said could fall through as he preferred an overseas move for his client. Which is something I believe he did purposeful to spite those two other parties which went behind his back and concluded a deal for his client.

·         Lebogang Manyama pulls out of the deal, a decision which obviously was influenced highly by Maimane Phiri, who is Lebogang Manyama's manager.

·         I also believe that the amount which Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town agreed up had already been paid, and now Ajax Cape Town has to return the money back to Kaizer Chiefs.

After looking at all those points I mentioned above, I believe that even if Maimane Phiri would have loved to see his client moving to Amakhosi, he felt that Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town undermined his authority, which I believe he could be correct, by that, he had to make sure that the deal falls through, and he had to read about it on the media.

I would back Maimane Phiri if he did that, because I strongly believe that the three parties, namely, Maimane Phiri (player's agent), Kaizer Chiefs (buyer), Ajax Cape Town (Seller) should've all been involved on this matter from the word go, but it wasn't the case.

I also believe that Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town acted in an unprofessional manner as they know that players have agents, who MUST be involved in these kinds of deals.

By Shonisani Clifford

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Nike Football Releases Flash Pack Footwear Collection

Nike Football today revealed its latest boot collection for Holiday ’13. The four-silo Flash Pack features some of Nike’s top boots including the Hypervenom, Mercurial, Tiempo and CTR360 in a bright white boot with distinct reflective design patterns over the back heel area.

Each of the four boots features a unique silver reflective blocking design that speaks to the boot’s silo and is inspired by some of nature’s most magnificent creatures.

The Hypervenom’s reflective area is reptilian-inspired, while the Mercurial’s leopard-like print pays homage to the boot’s speed heritage. The Tiempo’s lion-esque leadership qualities are apparent in it’s own reflective print, while the CTR360 takes its print inspiration from various birds of prey.

The sock liners feature skeletal graphics of the respective animal inspiration with a color cue to identify each silo even more distinctly. The Flash Pack is now available on Nike.com.

“We wanted to create an intuitive predator pattern to accentuate each silo’s attitude. We used a white-based concealed graphic so that on first look it seems like a straightforward design, but with closer inspection you see some of those unique graphics,” said Denis Dekovic, Design Director, Nike Football.

The Flash Pack is now available on Nike.com.

Fierce of Africa

I always believed that anywhere in Africa is home. I treat all my fellow African brothers and sisters good, despite coming from different countries. Is xenophobia better than racism? Well, they are both the same to me. In fact am gutted by both acts.

In case you are still wondering on where I am heading with this, then I will cut to the chase rather than riddles. I am talking about three incidents involving people stoning buses since November 2013 in Africa, not just any buses but a visiting team’s bus. Chances are that there were more incidents but this three came to my attention the most.

All three incidents have something similarities if you can look closer. They all come after a visiting team defeated a home side. In this case I am referring to national teams. The three incidents involves Zambia being stoned here in South Africa last year November, Nigeria got the same at Ethiopia mid October while South Africa had theirs in Swaziland mid last month.

Allow me to elaborate more about the different incidents. Zambia came to FNB stadium last year November to take on Bafana. Game ended 1-0 to Zambia. Usually home supporters indulge a defeat well. Keep in mind that it was before we hosted AFCON. Nevertheless, their bus was stoned by two young boys aged twelve and thirteen. According to BBC sport, Mweene needed head stitches while Katongo also got injured. Are we killing each other as Africans? What puts such hatred in two minors?

World Cup Qualifier is very intense and every nation wants to take part in the World Cup. Super Eagles of Nigeria were ill treated at Ethiopia on their play offs first leg in mid October. It all started when they were given a bus infested by cockroaches, then were taken to traffic jammed routes. However, on match day players were thrown with soft drink bottles by the Ethiopian fans.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria triumphed despite bad behaviour by their hosts. The most saddening part again is that their bus was also stoned after the match. Nosa got a palm injury due to a stone that force its way through in. Now that was according to a report I read on SuperSport.

Last month Bafana travelled to Swaziland for a friendly match. A friendly game ended up looking intrinsic. There were too many dangerous tackles in the match alone; one would probably thing it was an AFCON final. However, Bafana prevailed and paid the price after the game. Swaziland supporters stoned Bafana’s bus. No injuries were reported when I read the report. I was astonished when reading about it on Kick Off the following day.

Actually, a part of me still cannot believe that such incidents occurred. As a Manchester United supporter, the word ‘United’ means a lot to me. In this case, we are all Africans and we need to be UNITED. I care less of where you from or race or language you speak, but bottom line we are one.

Must we be afraid to send players to play away games? Are we in a war that some of us are not aware of? What do we gain in such ominous acts? A stone can kill a person.

 Pirates also suffered from bad treatment when they visited TP Mazembe in their CAF Champions league clash, but that is a story for another day. Our attitudes must change, especially towards a visiting nation. Let us enjoy the beautiful game and be united as Africans again. 

Africa is actually our home. Let go of fierce and restore peace.

Follow me @ntophonic

By Ntokozo Skhosana

A Touch Class: The Nike Tiempo V And Tiempo ‘94

On July 17, 1994, two teams took to the pitch in Pasadena, California to play for football’s biggest prize. While all 22 players shared the same dream of winning, ten wore the same boot - Nike’s first for football - the Tiempo Premier.

Its black and white color palette was classically football, but the athletes who wore them were anything but. These athletes would go on to represent a new guard, imbuing football with youth, speed, excitement, brilliance and forever changing the face of the game. They showed unparalleled confidence in choosing an upstart company and over the next 20 years this rebellious attitude would shape some of the best players football has ever seen, but one fact always rings true: It all began with The Tiempo.

The Tiempo has since become a football icon. In celebration, Nike introduces the Tiempo '94, a shoe for everyday style that draws from the heritage of the boot that started it all; and the Tiempo Legend V, a boot that brings new innovation to the pitch.

Outwardly familiar, both sneaker and boot reaffirm the importance of design in football lore and its potential to change how the game is played.

TIEMPO ‘94

On the pitch, players like Ronaldinho took everything, gave nothing and wore the Tiempo Premier. Embodying that spirit, the Nike Tiempo ‘94 reinterprets the performance icon for everyday use. Its black stitched leather upper, contrasting white swoosh, and suede overlays take direct inspiration from the Tiempo Premier, veneering the design with a timeless aesthetic. An oversized, removable tongue and stitched yellow heel swoosh also pay homage to Nike Football’s birth with relentless attention to detail—a powerful expression of football’s renewed attitude, with a touch of class.

Replacing the original studded outsole is a premium gum cup sole fitted with a colored Phylon midsole for lightweight cushioning. Exposed flex grooves designed to maximize comfort and natural motion for the wearer were also added, innovating the traditional craft associated with Tiempo for everyday use.

TIEMPO LEGEND V

Since 1994, football has changed. The game is faster, with dynamic full-field play essential for every player on the pitch. With this in mind, and with the input of athletes such as Carlos Tevez, Gerard Pique, and Ronaldinho, Nike Football melds the legacy of Tiempo with the needs of the modern game to create the best leather football boot to-date.

The design of the Tiempo Legend V focuses on providing the lightest touch. Through enhanced fit and innovative materials, the Tiempo Legend V brings the upper closer to the foot and solves an age-old problem with leather — increased weight through water absorption. With the development of a new upper, comprised of two trimmed down layers, the Tiempo Legend V mimics the touch and lightweight feel of a synthetic and is built on the same anatomical last as the revolutionary Nike Hypervenom to bring the foot closer to the ball.

All Conditions Control (ACC) and K-leather combine to provide optimal touch in all conditions.  Hypershield technology blocks moisture for a snug fit that lasts, allowing for a consistent touch regardless of weather. This second layer of hydrophobic mesh ensures that the boot dries quickly and absorbs less water than previous leather boots. The result is a boot that delivers confidence under any playing environment.

Further innovation comes in the Tiempo Legend V’s engineered plate, which moves with your foot for stability, traction and comfort. Heel and forefoot studs have been widened to help provide this increased stability. Conical studs are used at the forefoot and tip, designed to promote quickness in directional rotation. Taking inspiration from Nike Free technology, the outsole plate flexes from the midfoot to offer increased movement and comfort for the duration of a match.

On the lateral side, the boot retains a classic aesthetic augmented by a stitched upper while the medial provides a pop of color.  Fitting with Tiempo tradition, the Tiempo Legend V is a product of pinnacle craftsmanship employing modern technologies without sacrificing the classic look.

Hands off Roger de Sa

Open Letter to Fans and Management

To say Orlando Pirates Coach Roger de Sa must be fired really leaves me wondering, what games are the Pirates fans watching? We need assess things more accurately and consider the actual facts divorcing all emotions.

Emotions aside, our players chocked when it mattered most. You don't reach 3 major cup finals (MTN8, CAF Champions League and Telkom Knockout) in 3/4 months and suddenly you’re a bad coach, it can never be, never. Just look at all the finals and tell me honestly that we were not supposed to win all those games based on our play and chances we created!

Roger de Sa did his job, with the same players that are suddenly painted as bad etc, but again when it matters most, the same players who got us to these finals fail to do simple things in the final but they did them in pre-final games. Again all the players we have are damn good, and we can't say they horrible because they failed us when it mattered most.

Surely blame can never be squared with Roger de Sa entirely to a point where there's suggestions to fire him. In principle, that would be first degree murder on a coach who has done well. A coach well respect in Africa (18 months in his job at Orlando Pirates).

Hands off Roger de Sa. Once and Always.

By Loozuco Dimera

PSL postpones Absa Premiership, NFD fixtures this week

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has announced that the scheduled fixtures for this week and the weekend have been postponed with immediate effect.

This affects Absa Premiership, National First Division and NFD Qualification Competition fixtures until 15 December 2013.

The PSL CEO, Brand de Villiers said: “Stadiums that were going to host some of our fixtures have been confirmed as venues to host memorial services and other gatherings to pay special respect to Madiba. We therefore took a decision that due to logistical challenges faced by the League and the clubs, we should postpone the fixtures scheduled for mid-week and the weekend,” De Villiers said.

The PSL CEO, however, confirmed that Absa Premiership fixtures will resume on Monday, 16 December 2013.

The PSL will advise on the dates of the postponed fixtures.

Roger de Sa didn't resign

Contrary to the malicious, misleading, false and mischievous information circulating in the social networks, the head coach of Orlando Pirates Roger de Sa didn't tender any resignation to relieve himself from the coaching duties.

Roger de Sa is still the head coach of Orlando Pirates and will be on the bench against Ajax Cape Town this Thursday at Athlone Stadium. 

The resignation of Roger de Sa is just a wish from dejected fans but he will never resign despite his unimpressive and erratic performance. Roger de Sa is not a coward who will run away from the challenges to coach African second best team.

United we stand, divided we fall. Once and always!

By Owen Mundalamo

#Diskioff #UptheBucs #OnceAlways

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PSL announces the Telkom Knock-Out Cup winning prizes

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has released the Telkom Knock-Out Cup winning prizes. Telkom will spend R14 200 000.00 for 2013/2014 season. Underneath is the prize breakdown .

 The team which is going to win the Telkom Cup will walk away with R4 000 000.00 plus R250 000 participation fee.

The tournament losing finalist will walk away with R1 500 000.00 plus R250 000 participation fee

The 2 Semi Finalist teams will walk away with R750 000.00 plus R250 000 participation fee

The 4 quarter-finalist will walk away with R400 000.00 plus R250 000 participation fee

The 8 Last sixteen teams will walk away with R200 000.00 plus R250 000 participation fee

 The prizes to award best performingin the cup not yet released by the PSL.

PSL Chairman pays tribute to Madiba

PSL Chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza has paid tribute to the late former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

He said: “Madiba carried a vision guided by an inner voice to deliver our nation from a divisive and self-destructive course of history.

“He will live forever as a motivating force for those that seek and strive for peace and human dignity.

“Ours is a special generation that saw Madiba in action. I am personally gratified and particularly privileged to have known this good man, an agent of change, a bearer of hope, and a representation of all that is good in humanity.”

Long Live Tata.

PSL Statement: Telkom Knockout Final and Absa Premiership fixtures

Following a meeting this morning, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza has confirmed that the Telkom Knockout final scheduled for tomorrow night will go ahead as planned.

Dr Khoza also announced that the Absa Premiership fixtures will also go ahead tonight and on Sunday.

“All PSL and NFD matches will, between now and the day before the funeral be dedicated to our nation’s first democratic President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. On the day of his funeral, there will be no PSL nor NFD matches played,” Dr Khoza said.

“All the scheduled fixtures will remain the same. However, in an event of a scheduled match venue for an Absa Premiership fixture being used for an official memorial service, that fixture will be rescheduled,” the PSL Chairman added.

There will be a moment of silence in honour of Madiba at all PSL matches from tonight until the funeral. The PSL has asked all the clubs to wear a black arm-band.

Tribute letter to Madiba - Lucas Radebe

Dearest Tata,

There is much I want to say to you, and regret I will no longer have the chance. Having said that, I feel privileged to have known you, and to have benefited from your wisdom and example.

You taught me lessons of leadership, humility, generosity, courage and integrity. To say that you inspired me and my generation, would be an understatement.

My career would not have been possible but for you. The chance of playing at the highest level in football outside of South Africa did not exist before your release from prison. When times were tough in my early days in Leeds, away from South Africa, I drew motivation from your courage and tenacity. When captaining teams, whether Bafana Bafana or Leeds United, you were my role model for leadership. Your ability to bring people together for a common cause, despite their differences, was a great gift.

I think I speak for every player who pulled on a Bafana Bafana, Springbok or Protea jersey, and any other South African sportsperson, when I say that we never ever played just for ourselves or even our country. We played for you and the special ideals that you stood for. You taught me how sport could be an indomitable force for social change, and how it could impact individuals, communities and nations.

I was so proud to welcome you to Leeds, my home away from home, and I know the pride you felt in my accomplishments. It was so humbling. You will never know how much that visit meant to Feziwe and me. It was a day that will forever be etched in my mind. I always felt special that you had your own name for me, Mthimkhulu.

I know children were at the heart of your philanthropic vision and I promise to continue working in your image to motivate, help and galvanize South Africa’s next generation. Part of your legacy is that so many of us are stirred to carry the torch.

The sports history books in South Africa will show statistics and victories. What they won’t show, however, was that it was Madiba Magic that forged those results and performances; and united a country and its people along the way. No doubt, that Madiba Magic will live on. Thank you Tata.

Much love,

Lucas Radebe

PSL Disciplinary Committee Update

The following matters appeared before the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Disciplinary Committee this week.

AmaZulu and Craig Rosslee

They were charged with contravening the League’s Media Manual after Rosslee refused to conduct the mandatory television post-match interview after their game against Bloemfontein Celtic on 10 November 2013. Both parties pleaded guilty and were each fined the sum of R30 000.00, suspended for 12 months. They were also ordered to pay the costs of the hearing.

Clive Barker

He was charged with delaying the start of their match against Bidvest Wits on 22 November 2013 when Barker entered the field before the start of the match and delayed kick-off for two minutes. Barker paid and admission of guilt fine of R 5000.00.

Mpumalanga Black Aces

The club was charged with taking the pitch late in their fixture on 09 November 2013 against Ajax Cape Town. The club paid and admission of guilt fine of R 5000.00.

Lamontville Golden Arrows

The club was charged with not having a suitable substitution board available timeously during their match against Maritzburg United on 14 November 2013. The club paid and admission of guilt fine of R 5000.00.

Shane Thompson

He was charged with insulting a match official after he allegedly racially abused a match official, MNkosinathi Mahono after Jomo Cosmos’ fixture against Blackburn Rovers on 23 November 2013.

The matter was postponed at the player’s request when it transpired that his club Jomo Cosmos had only informed him of the hearing on Tuesday afternoon.