Please note that letters / emails of more than 200 words will not be considered for publication.
TEARS FOR WASTED TALENT
As I was reading Vuyani Joni’s column in Soccer Laduma Issue No. 1354, titled: “Desperation is dangerous”, it touched me so much that I had to stop for a moment, reflect on my life back in 2008 and try hard to fight back the tears. Then I realised the role this publication is playing to guide and shape our communities. VeeJay’s message should be held as a cautionary tale for any young footballer getting too big for their boots. My alltime favourite player, former Golden Arrows’ sensational jersey number 10, Lucky “Y2K” Sibeko, comes to mind. The most talented ball juggler with incredible speed and breathtaking deadly dribbling prowess that left the opposition bamboozled. Sadly, he retired prematurely. But remember what coach Muhsin Ertugral did to Vladimir Vermezovic? Imagine your sacrifice and dedication to your craft being thrown in the drain. With desperation, players become so fixated on achieving the desired outcome that their judgement becomes clouded, leading to impulsive decisionmaking, disregarding potential risks. This affects their ability to make rationale choices, making them vulnerable. I still believe that some players are destroyed by coaches.
“Bhotsotso” Mkhize, Eshowe, Mpaphala, KZN PHEW, THAT WAS TOUGH! Amos “Tiger” Tshukudu, Ga-Maria HOMEWORK FOR YOU, MR EDITOR…
Mr Editor, may you please check for us if Orlando Pirates still have a kit manager named Pule Sithebe on their books. Since the beginning of the current season, he has not been there. What happened to him? Is he on retirement or was he retrenched? Finally, this is a plea to the PSL
AMAZULU FC Moses Mabhida Stadium, 44 Isaiah Ntshangase Rd, Stamford Hill, Durban, 4001 Tel: 031 303 3132/4 / Fax: 031 303 3142
www.amazulufc.net
CAPE TOWN CITY FC 202 Greenmarket Place, Shortmarket Street, Cape Town, 8001 Tel/Fax: 021 424 5658
www.capetowncityfc.co.za
CAPE TOWN SPURS c/o Frans Conradie & Bertie Genade Street, Parow 7500 Tel: 021 930 6001 / Fax: 021 939 6403
https://capetownspurs.co.za
CHIPPA UNITED 70 Prince Alfred Road, North End, Gqeberha, 6056 Tel: 041 408 8900 / Fax: 086 512 6389
PO Box 910, Johannesburg 2000 Tel: 011 494 3522 Fax: 011 494 3446
www.safa.net / X @SAFAnet
2 Winchester Rd, Parktown Tel: 011 715 2500 / Fax: 011 482 9290
www.psl.co.za / X @OfficialPSL
7 Quince Road, The Media Mill, Milpark, Johannesburg, 2092 Tel: (011) 339 1906 Fax: (011) 339 3694
www.safpu.org / X @SAFPU_Official
When my fellow countryman Jacob Raah Siyinqaba from Ethekwini suggested a puzzle be introduced by our favourite Soccer Laduma, I let out a big smile rarely seen by even those who know me as I am a big fan of puzzles from magazines. I became even more delighted when the reply was that it was there already. What a coincidence! After finishing reading the letters, I immediately went to tackle it and boy, was it challenging! It was like I was facing Arsenal’s Invincibles team led by coach Arsene Wenger and I must admit that Mr Google came to my rescue. This made me realise that I still have a lot to learn about our Beautiful Game. Dealing with crossword puzzles all these years has helped me to improve my command of the Queen’s language and also to know the importance of correct spelling. I cannot wait for the second puzzle this week. In parting, Rev AK Rhino (yours truly, that is) would like to ask everybody to shout, “Ebenezer!”, which means God has been with us ‘til this far. Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year to everybody associated with Soccer Laduma. leadership to have a grandstand that is specifically set aside for non-smoking fans. It is so painful to be at the stadium early and choose a better place to sit at, then people come late and start with their dagga smoking. They don’t even care if children are around. It’s high time that security at stadiums becomes tight. Security personnel should stop taking bribes. There are so many illegal things that make it to the stadium while there is a lot of security personnel deployed. Please mind us who don’t smoke and enjoy watching games from the grandstand rather than the VIP section.
Mosa “Blackberry One” Mothobi, via email
Whenever I go, I’m stopped by young and aspiring footballers who would like to pursue football as a career, all thanks to Soccer Laduma’s MAKE YOUR POINT for making me well-known and respected in some communities. Trust me, it always pains one to see some clubs asking for money for players wanting to attend trials. I know football these days is a business, but why do these youngsters have to pay just to show their God-given talent, even when it’s advised on pamphlets that they should only bring their own training kits, food and water bottles? Recently I wanted to take some of my junior players from Diep River Football Academy, whom I believe have the potential to make it, to a certain wellknown club around here and was asked to pay R250 per player. If the player makes the cut, who’s going to benefit – me or the club? There are quite a lot of good players in rural and urban areas who dream of playing professional football, but the stumbling block is the trial fee these teams ask for whenever a player attends trials. Imagine if more than 80 players attend a trial at a cost of R250 per player and then at the end of
ORLANDO PIRATES 53 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg, 2198 Tel: 011 483 1730 / Fax: 011 483 1742 the day none of them make the cut, wouldn’t that be a daylight robbery? Mr Editor, I don’t know if what I’m about to ask is too much, but can you please make time to interview one of the player agents to explain the whole process to us the readers.
Tente “The Brains” Mokoka, Sepharane STELLIES BLAST ROCKETS IN TENSE SHOOTOUT!
Well done to Steve Barker and his troops for winning the first ever silverware for Stellies. He is one of the most decorated and underrated local coaches. He impresses me most by giving young guys a chance to prove their worth. He produces young talent, which the so-called big guns pounce on. Notably, the club’s cheque book is not blank, hence the talent he is bringing up. To me, he is within the rank of Gordon Igesund and Gavin Hunt, to mention a few local coaches. You must remember that these gentlemen won the league with smaller teams using lesser-known players or by using what they had at these teams. I think he will, in the near future, win the league like the above mentioned coaches who didn’t rely on fat cheque books, hence I didn’t mention coaches who enjoyed that privilege in my list of decorated mentors. Viva Stellies viva! I wish you guys the best festive season. Here’s wishing all Soccer Laduma readers a Merry Christmas and a superb New Year. Hooray. I thank you!
TS GALAXY Block 804, Ground Floor, No.2 Selbourne Road, Fourways Tel: 011 462 1556 Fax: 011 462 1799
www.tsgalaxyfc.com
Tel: 012 420 6003/2 Fax: 012 362 9890
X @AmaTuks Tel: 076 087 8122 X @UpingtonCityFC
Tell: 032 944 1089 Fax: 086 769 5034
X @UthongathiFC
Galaxy. That Fiacre Ntwari guy cheated his way into the final and luckily, fate caught up with him. The first penalty was supposed to be a retake because the guy moved early with both feet off the line. The assistant referee just stood there and watched the guy. Ntwari did it twice against Sundowns. He knows the rules but takes advantage of poor officiating. Darrel Matsheke’s penalty, which was the last, worked against him because he once again moved early. Penalty takers should be clever against this guy and wait for him to commit first and then calmly slot it in. He will save nothing. Congratulations to Stellenbosch and now they can build on that foundation going forward. Wine must have been literally flowing freely on Saturday evening in Kayamandi and surroundings. Or did the locals substitute it with Carling Black Label to match the occasion? the technical team, players and all their supporters, well done. To Soccer Laduma staff and all fellow readers, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful, Happy New Year. Enjoy your festive. Don’t drink and drive and please drink responsibly. We still want to see every one of you next year. Keep on supporting our beautiful Soccer Laduma newspaper.
Nyambeni Samson Khuphani, Tshiawelo Ext 5
Congratulations, Stellenbosch FC, for the hard-fought victory against the resilient TS Galaxy to win the inaugural Carling Knockout. The hard work being done at youth development is starting to bear fruit now for the world to see. Hats off to Barker and his troops for finally winning their first ever cup after being in the DStv Premiership for a while, unlike other teams who have not tasted cup success for the past eight years. No names mentioned! Hard luck to the Rockets who made their opponents sweat blood for their victory. Better luck next time, gents. I must say I was left very disappointed with the fan attendance for the final after Carling Black Label forked out a lot of money to support football, especially for the players, with the Man of the Match walking away with a whopping R100 000 – unbelievable. But well, thank you, Carling, for being pacesetters as you lead and others follow. The sad news for the music fraternity is the passing away of our superstar Zahara, whose melodic voice will be sorely missed by her millions of supporters. May her soul rest in peace. May God be with her family in this darkest hour.
Boitumelo Vanrooyen, Schweizer-Reneke
Congratulations to Stellenbosch for winning the Carling Knockout. They deserve to lift this trophy as they have been coming close to winning silverware in recent cup competitions. This shows that this was not luck for them but hard work and patience finally paying off. Their coach should be applauded for this triumph as well as the rest of the team. I think it’s high time the PSL holds a Super Cup at the beginning of each season like we see happening in European leagues, which should have four teams – i.e. the league champions and the three cup winners.
Anesu Mukendi, via email
On the Day of Reconciliation, the inaugural champions of the Carling Knockout were crowned. What an interesting game to watch, two minnows battling it out on the pitch for the honour of being the first team to put their name on the trophy. Both teams gave it their all up until after the extra time period when the match was destined for the dreaded penalty shootout. At that moment, it was anybody’s chance to be winners on the day. That’s often a stage where heroes are made, so it needs nerves of steel. Mojela,
who gave the Rockets the lead in the first half, became the villain when he missed a spot kick for his team. Congratulations to Stellies for their first major trophy in the elite league. The youngsters from the Winelands deserve a pat on the back for writing their names in the history books of the PSL. Kudos to Barker the coach, who came so close, yet so far, on many occasions. It’s proof that his hard work has finally paid off. Well, good things come to those who wait and are willing to put in long sleepless nights to achieve success. The spirit of Oshwin Andries shone brightly on Stellies.
Congratulations to Stellenbosch for being the first team to win the Carling Knockout, and better luck next time to Galaxy. Surely it hurt Kaizer Chiefs’ decision makers seeing how Darrel Matsheke is doing in a position where goodname players are failing at the club. The Winelands side has taken the Carling Cup. Wow!
Oupa Lucas, via email
The Carling Knockout final between Stellenbosch and Galaxy represented the great passion for local football. One could see the success, hunger and competitiveness that spiced up the game. It was exciting stuff. Both teams came to the final driven by the positivity of past memories. For starters, the Rockets were inspired by the fact that they were trying to win a second major PSL trophy final after the 2019 Nedbank Cup final in which they triumphed over Kaizer Chiefs. Having gone to two major topflight finals within a short time since establishment is clear testament that the Mpumalangabased outfit is growing in stature. Chairman Tim Sukazi should be credited for his sound management and administration. Congratulations to Stellenbosch for their first ever major trophy. For them, there is no Christmas gift more precious. Particularly, let us applaud Barker for his first major trophy in the top division. Seemingly, what inspired him to this victory is the feat he registered when he took then second-tier outfit University of Pretoria to the 2009 Nedbank Cup final, where they lost to Moroka Swallows. Befittingly, he dedicated it to the late Clive Barker, among others, the late legendary coach who brought the maiden Afcon glory to the Southern African region.
Batsirai Kativu, Johannesburg
Let me take this opportunity and appreciate Stellies for winning the Carling Knockout. I thought TS Galaxy would win it after scoring first, but it was not to be. Yet again, poor officiating reared its ugly head on the day. That tackle on Samir “Kokota Piano” Nurkovic should have led to a clear penalty, but alas, the decision told a different story. Lastly, congratulations to my team Orlando Pirates for collecting all three points in the DStv Premiership against Golden Arrows. Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate!