MAKE YOUR POINT

THE DEADLINE FOR NEXT WEEK’S ‘MAKE YOUR POINT’ IS MONDAY, 10AM.

GUILY AS CHARGED

After such an explosive interview by Guily Manziba in edition 1350, I can safely say the man will never get employment in the DStv Premiership. You can’t speak ill of your former employer whilst looking for employment in the same industry where they operate. I feel sorry for coach Dlamini who was belittled in that manner. In IsiZulu, we say isihlahla asi**elwa (you don’t s**t on a tree) because one day you’ll need it. If you want to survive in football, you need to develop a thick skin. Hard work also pays. Manziba came to AmaZulu FC with a reputation of being a big player from SuperSport, forgetting that he still needed to work hard because the team also had good players. But if what he was insinuating about the players coming to training drunk is true, then that’s a shame because now and again ex-players preach the gospel of alcohol having been the downfall of many. Thumbs up to Masebe Qina for conducting such a tell-all interview with the man from DRC. Thanks, Soccer Laduma, for going all the way. Sibusiso Khumalo, Melmoth, KZN

The Guily Manziba interview by Masebe Qina caught my attention, what with the Congolese adding fuel to the rumour of AmaZulu FC players going to training under the spell of Charles Glass and being un-coachable. There are always two sides to a story and I’m glad Soccer Laduma offered a Fair Play opportunity to the accused, among them Andile Dlamini, so as to tell their side of the story because those were serious allegations. Word of advice to Manziba: Let your feet do the talking and never burn your bridges in football. I’m not disputing what he said, but this guy must be careful because he still has a long career and might risk being blacklisted in the PSL. Truth be told, some things are better said when one has retired. That’s my advice to him. Use it, don’t use it! Marvin Matseke-Mabula, Burgersfort, Leboeng Rutseng

A DISKI CHALLENGE TO EDITOR

As much as we enjoy everything that this lovely newspaper is doing for us, I believe Soccer Laduma should reserve a page for the DStv Diski Challenge. Not all of us have access to the internet to check the log standings as we prefer the hard copy. There are youngsters in the DDC who are performing well and we’d like to get to know more about them. A typical example is Sekhukhune’s Tshepo Mokoena. The boy is on fire and it’s just a matter of time before he gets promoted to the senior team. Praise be to Diepsloot Arsenal coach, Sizwe Ngoako, for nurturing this talent. It’s been a while since Diepsloot produced a pro footballer. If I’m not mistaken, the boy has already scored three goals this season. Mr Editor, it would be lovely if you can give us log standings and leading goal scorers of the DDC. Finally, congrats to Sundowns Ladies for winning the CAF Women’s Champions League. Winning is in our DNA at Chloorkop and when Dr. Motsepe bought the team from the Tsichlases, one of his promises was to conquer continentally. Tente “The Brains” Mokoka, Sepharane

YOU’D SWEAR DOWNS HAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO BEAT CASABLANCA!

A week after their men’s counterparts did the unthinkable, Sundowns Ladies team wrote their own history. All I can say is Glory be to God. There is something special that is brewing at Chloorkop and I wish most teams can learn a thing or two from them. Congrats to the Sundowns Ladies team for adding a second star by winning the CAF Women’s Champions League. They did this in a foreign land, reminding me of Pirates in 1995 in Ivory Coast when the evergreen striker Sikhosana scored the only goal against ASEC Mimosas. Indeed, SA football has improved when Sundowns Ladies can outsmart, outplay and outclass Sporting Casablanca from Morocco. They controlled the game from the word go and teach the North African team a soccer lesson. Big up, Sundowns, for representing the Southern African region with distinction once again. You’ve raised the bar and I now believe that you are pacesetters. You lead and others will follow. Boitumelo Vanrooyen, Schweizer Reneke

Sundowns Ladies have done it again! It’s so amazing how they go about their business. Stage fright doesn’t seem to afflict them one bit. I’m afraid that by the time Pirates and Chiefs realise that they need a Ladies’ team, this Sundowns side will be untouchable. They are hoisting our flag with pride and sky-high on the continent.

Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft

A job well done by Sundowns Ladies. They’ve now won the CAF Women’s Champions League for the second time in three years. It is not by luck that both the men’s and the ladies teams are so dominant in their respective competitions, and I hope this will send a message to the footballing fraternity that if you put proper structures in place and have the right plans and the patience to see them through, you are bound to reap rewards. This habit of winning is a result of doing things the right way instead of hoping things fall your way by a roll of the dice. Hopefully other football bosses are taking notes and will emulate the Sundowns model. They may not reach the levels of Downs yet, but I believe the standard of the game will improve in our league.

Sundani Ratombo, Ha-Madodonga

Sundowns Ladies continued where their brothers left off. They outclassed the North African clubs and came back with a major trophy again. Playing in Africa inspires them. They performed well and playing in consecutive finals helped them. Congrats to the ladies. SA is now on the map and people are starting to respect us. It’s not all about Sundowns but South African football. I’m happy that Dr. Motsepe’s vision is now paying dividends. The continent knows of a team called

Mamelodi Sundowns in the Southern African region. I was also thrilled by the supporters in Ivory Coast. They made the game exciting and were ready to support football on the night. Ka Bo Yellow Masandawana! Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher

ALL SMILES IN MZANSI, BEFORE RWANDA HAPPENED…

Good performance by Bafana against Benin. The display gives an idea of how far we are in terms of preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. We write this ahead of the game against Rwanda, and now all the team has to do is to keep consistency. Lastly, we hope the PSL will help SAFA to prepare for the tournament.

Derick Maremeni & Mpho Magoro, Soshanguve

What Bafana are doing is done by a lot of our teams in the country. The sooner we learn to finish our opponents when that opportunity arises, the better. The truth is Benin were there for the taking given the fact that we scored in the second minute and they never recovered. If you fail to score as many goals as you can, you are giving your opponents a lifeline, and we almost paid dearly for that in the second half. On a positive note, the boys played beautiful football with a lot of confidence on the ball and that’s what supporters need to see all the time. It was a good start given the fact that other games in our group ended in draws. Unfortunately, we lost against Rwanda – the less said, the better. Allow me to congratulate Sundowns Ladies for clinching their second CAF Women’s Champions League title and hoisting the SA flag very high. Malesela “Dance” Boya, Kanana, Hammanskraal

Thanks to Tau and Mudau for their goals for Bafana against Benin. The lads should have scored more than five goals in the first half when the visitors were still sleeping. There’s still a long way to go for Bafana, we have to score goals when the opportunity arises. The boys must also know that they are soldiers and have to fight for their country, there’s no time to relax. Lesotho played well and gave the Nigerians a tough time. Well done. Nyambeni Samson Khuphani, Tshiawelo Ext 5

Congrats are in order to Bafana for opening their World Cup qualifiers with a win against Benin. That result is very important because our rivals, Nigeria, have had two draws so far. Yes, the performance, especially in the second half, was lacklustre at most, but what matters most is collecting three points and making sure we go to the World Cup and competing against the best in the world. On a different note, let me appreciate Sundowns Ladies for winning the CAF Women’s Champions League once again. This clearly demonstrates that Ka Bo Yellow are doing things correctly in all the divisions. If they continue in the same vein, greatness is inevitable and this augurs well for SA football. Thapelo Masiapata, Ramaroka village, Bolobedu

Who is this Sithole in the Bafana team? How did he get selected because from the look of things, he is useless? No quality, no nothing. Is it the power of agents because we all know that Broos is (allegedly) controlled by agents? He is a useless coach. In Belgium, where he comes from, he will never coach because he is nothing. I don’t know why in SA they gave him a platform to humiliate us. He must be fired for not respecting us. When we win, it’s because of his tactics, but when we lose, it’s because our league is below par. What is that? If I meet him, I will tell him to go back home since he is useless to us. Stephen Mpya, Mamphulo village

A WORD OR TWO ON AMAKHOSI

I don’t know if Kaizer Motaung and his kids are going to succeed in their efforts to revamp the club because there’s so much damage that has been done over the years. Chiefs have been eroded year after year without proper replenishment until it was only Khune left. The core of good players, which is vital in rebuilding, is no longer there. I can only wish them luck. Roping in the club legends is not a bad idea. But the biggest concern is getting the right coach, ask Manchester United. For me, it’s a do-or-die situation. Just go for Pitso once and for all to lay a foundation and give him a blank cheque. It will be very costly initially, but the end result will be fruitful. Let’s face facts, coaches are not the same when it comes to team reconstruction. In Europe, it’s Pep and the rest. In Africa it’s, Pitso and the rest. It’s that simple. Rhulani looks good today because of the foundation laid by Pitso. Need I say more? The onus is solely on the Chiefs kids now. Case closed. Hofmeyr Kwitshana, Pietermaritzburg

I was deeply touched by Bobby and Junior during the legends’ meeting with the Chairman. I saw passion and commitment from them. Let’s stop this hooliganism and support the team. Things won’t be the same because Kaizer Motaung is no longer leading, but at least he is still alive. I nearly cried when I saw Teenage Dladla there as he gave his all for Chiefs. I will never forget the pain