DSTV PREMIERSHIP CLUBS
SO LONG, LUKE FLEURS
Receiving news of the premature death of the 24-year-old Luke Fleurs is so saddening and sickening and it raises so many questions and concerns about the safety and security in our country. Taking someone’s life like that, is so cheap and common and in most cases the perpetrators get away with murder. I still won’t forget when Phinda Mzala (Lucky Lekgwathi) was crying inconsolably when (Senzo Meyiwa) Nzori’s life was taken away in this manner. He could only murmur, “Who’s next?” when called by VeeJay. We are still waiting for closure and sanity to finally prevail. I mean, Luke was only 24 with so much life ahead of him. May his immediate family, friends, colleagues and South Africa at large gather some energy and be comforted in these trying times. Our government is really letting us down, period! Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft
I am really saddened by the killing of Luke Fleurs. South Africa has become a country where people do as they please. As the people of this country, let us pray for the murderers to be haunted by the spirits of all the people they kill for the rest of their lives. As a Kaizer Chiefs supporter, I was looking forward to seeing Fleurs and Ditlhokwe form a solid central pairing at Chiefs. Condolences to his family and friends. Let God Almighty be with them, comfort and strengthen them. Luke, you might be gone, but you will never be forgotten. We will always love you till we meet again. Neo Mahlangu, Tembisa
The football fraternity lost one of the most talented young stars in Luke Fleurs and it is a great loss to Chiefs and his family. Condolences to the Fleurs family in this darkest hour. May the Mighty hand of God wipe your tears and give you comfort in this darkest hour. On a positive note, congrats to Sundowns and Pirates on this great weekend victories. Sundowns represent the country with distinction on the African continent, reaching the semifinals of the CAF Champions League is a great achievement on its own as you faced a difficult opponent in Young Africans of Tanzania. To be the best you have to beat the best. As your motto goes, the Sky is the Limit. As for the Buccaneers, to humiliate your opponents with a heavy score shows that you have learned from your mistakes of the past two games. Lastly, I am not an expert but I believe the Chiefs management should have asked the PSL for postponement of their mach against Chippa as they lost one of their own. But unfortunately, they decided to ignore the important things. My plea to the outgoing coach, please make substitutions on time. You can’t give a player two minutes and expect him to perform miracles. Boitumelo Vanrooyen, Schweizer-Reneke
DOWNS SURVIVE YANGA SCARE!
What a nail-biting, intriguing and action-filled encounter at a packed Loftus Versfeld, where two African giants battled it out for a place in the (CAF Champions League) semifinals. The game was played at a very fast pace with both teams looking for the opening goal to ease the nerves. The Yanga players used their physicality to frustrate Downs players and on the other hand, Downs used skill and flair to starve the visitors from having the ball. In the second half, Yanga claimed a goal when the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the goal line. TV replays showed that the whole circumference of the ball did not cross the line. The Tanzanians cried foul because the match official didn’t go to the VAR and looked at the replay. With the game going to the dreaded penalty shootout, it was anybody’s game. And it is where heroes and villains are made. Rhulani trusted his South American contingent to take the penalty kicks. Williams once again showed why he was voted Goalkeeper of the Season by saving two spot-kicks. Downs are now through to the semis where they will play Esperance of Tunisia. Just for the record, the Tanzanians have lodged a complaint with CAF for what they feel was a legitimate goal. Let’s wait and see. Gavin Ryan, Emalahleni
A difficult game for Sundowns against Young Africans after a stalemate in Dar es Salaam. Technically, Young Africans had an advantage and needed only a goal to progress to the next stage. Coming to the game itself, Young Africans had a solid plan to frustrate Sundowns and deny them space to play. Sundowns had a poor game; they didn’t play their normal game. Zwane, Mokoena, Lorch and Ribeiro were not in the game and Shalulile was nowhere to be found. Young Africans were superior with their game plan and their only weakest link was upfront where they don’t have teeth to bite. Only Aziz Ki was a thorn in Sundowns defence, and he really harassed them. Sundowns never troubled Young Africans at any given time. I’m not sure if my eyes saw well, but Ki Aziz shot was a legitimate goal as it looks like the whole circumference of the ball did cross the line. Young Africans will feel hard done by. As always, Williams did well for his team. Congratulations to Sundowns for reaching the semis and they need to go on and win this cup. Madimetja Vic Mashamaite, Renstown
Congratulations Mamelodi Sundowns for going to the semifinals of CAF after a tough game against Yanga, indeed it was tough for them. Yanga will feel robbed for that goal and correctly so, but anyway, goal-line technology is needed to ensure that in future this is mitigated or else the same issue will always arise. Let me appreciate the technical staff of both teams for a cracker of a game and now Sundowns must finish off their next opponent and qualify for the CAF Champions League final and ultimately bring home the gold as expected. They have dominated South African football for too long and now they must flex their muscles to the world. As a Pirates fan, I am proud of this team, and I am even planning to go and watch their semifinals game in Pretoria. Thapelo Masiapata, Ramaroka Village, Bolobedu
Mamelodi Sundowns are through to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League. A very disappointing performance but lucky to go through on penalties. I think Sundowns players must differentiate between PSL and CAF Champions League. Their buildups are sometimes too slow and give the opponents time to recover. They must also work on low block defence. They struggled to find spaces when the opponent defended deep. It’s only Ribeiro who was effective going forward against Young Africans. Young Africans were much better and created three clear-cut chances to win the game. I do agree, the PSL is not supporting Sundowns as they play every three days but that is not an excuse for how they performed. Maema must be given a chance, he looks lively and hungry. Congratulations to Sundowns for advancing to the semifinals. Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape
VAR WAS JY?
First and foremost, I would like to congratulate my team Mamelodi Sundowns for advancing to the next stage of the CCL even though the win wasn’t convincing. Firstly, the goal scored by Yanga is legitimate and I still don’t understand which game the referee together with VAR were watching. Referees in Africa will never cease to amaze people, even a blind man could have seen that the whole ball crossed the line. Secondly, Mkhulise walked away with MOM accolade in a midweek game against Richards Bay, come weekend game against Yanga he was benched. Rhulani Mokwena’s favouritism is going to backfire sooner or later. Seeing that Peter Shalulile was bottled, he should have played speedy Thapelo Morena upfront, the lad never disappoints every time he’s given a chance. Yeah, not all players can be played at once but some of the coach’s selections leave many questions unanswered. Think of De Reuck and why not play Mendieta as a false 9? Is this the beginning of the end for Mamelodi Sundowns? Our coach has run out of ideas and it’s just a matter of time before fans start calling him names because of favouritism. Just hope that the rumours that Rivaldo Coetzee is about to part ways with the team aren’t true as the boy is way better than overrated Allende and Mokoena combined. If I were to choose two central midfielders for the team, I will definitely go for Mkhulise and Coetzee or Mkhulise and Maboe. Finally, congrats to Arsenal for the great performance this season. Tente “The Brains” Mokoka, Sepharane
At the rate at which the referees rob teams of wins and costing other teams due to their mistakes, SAFA and PSL must prioritise the use of VAR next season. Just to give an example, Orlando Pirates were robbed of a win against Swallows in a recent midweek game when a clear penalty was not given and flagged for offside after scoring. Against Sekhukhune United, Bucs were flagged twice for offside when in great position to score. Ashley Du Preez of Kaizer Chiefs has amazing speed but is very often flagged for offside when he is not. Someone would say it is a case of sour grapes just because Bucs and Chiefs are losing too many games. Allow me to say this, I am sure Sundowns, with their type of play, if VAR was used, they would win with an avalanche of goals in some games. So, the refereeing mistakes are even costing a winning team big time. We cannot continue to lose good coaches due to poor match officiating. It seems some referees come to a game with an agenda to hold other
teams at certain stages for some ulterior motive. Chrisiph Maodi, Jhb in Observatory
WHAT IS WRONG WITH CHIEFS?
After losing to Chippa United, I have lost faith in Kaizer Chiefs. We are now out of the Top Eight. This is an embarrassing moment for Kaizer Chiefs. Chippa were feasting on the mighty Chiefs. They are not living up to expectations. Chiefs players must be released. Congratulations to Chippa United. Meanwhile Orlando Pirates are enjoying the time of their lives. There was a rain of goals as they recorded one of their biggest wins in history. Mabasa, you are still our lethal striker. Thanks to his many goals. Moses Mokoena, Ga-Mokwakwaila
As much as I hold players responsible for results since they are the ones playing, I think Cavin Johnson has lost it. He’s been changing the team too often and that can only mean he’s panicking and doesn’t really know what to do. Yes, you can refresh the team with two or three changes but changing almost the entire team is a no-no. Sithebe and Mthethwa were given a chance in the absence of Maart and Castillo and performed very well but both were dropped to the bench, which for me demoralises them. Mthethwa and Njabulo Ngcobo were also dropped before the Derby. The other thing that I believe Johnson should do is decide if Kwinika and Dove are fullbacks. He can’t be deploying them as fullbacks while the likes of Mashiane, Frosler and
Solomons are waiting. The only way for Johnson to win back his dressing room is to reward hard work from his players and not the names. We are now living with hope that we can at least finish in the Top Eight, which is embarrassing for a team of Chiefs’ stature. Malesela “Dance” Boya, Kanana, Hammanskraal
Kaizer Chiefs is the main topic these days, especially after losing to Stellies and Chippa United respectively in their past two league games. Losing two football games in a row, no, no. This is a big team losing two league games to minnows all within a week, mina ngedwa I call this unacceptable, but I know some people might figure a certain way to sweeten this dilemma. I think what is happening isn’t new and we have been observing Kaizer Chiefs’ decline for a number of years and it’s no coincident that they haven’t won any silverware for the past nine years and we all can tell that it will take a drastic change of approach (not change of coaches) for this institution to stand a chance of going back to winning cups and subsequently claim their stake as a giant. I’m saying they will stand a chance for a reason and from where they are now and the way they run things, trust me good people they are going nowhere. I also want to plead with Chiefs supporters to look at this criticism constructively, because sometimes they use their emotions and lose the bigger picture. Here is a question to the Chiefs family at large: If clubs like Stellenbosch and TS Galaxy, even Chippa United can build such consistency as minnows, what is stopping Chiefs from doing the same? These three minnows have been very good and consistent, I believe their success is slightly more than their respective resources and they deserve credit for what they have achieved and I don’t think they got there by accident or fluke, there’s too much work being done behind closed doors for them to be where they are now and Chiefs can sniff around to take note. Kwazikwakhe “Mapholoba” Ngcobo, via e-mail
Kaizer must bring the prodigal son Doctor Khumalo and partner him with Arthur Zwane as coaches because now we are heading for a disaster. Bobby must not interfere with the coaching job. When the new coach arrives these two must be the assistants and remove Sheppard I can’t see his contribution in that team really. The guys lack discipline, remember the incident involving Peterson and the coach? Masiza Mbobo, Thaba Chicha, Matatiele
Bobby Motaung and the players seriously don’t appreciate what they have. As for the players, the day when you no longer have a job, you will have yourself to blame. As for Bobby, by now you’re supposed to know that we’re not supporting you but Kaizer Chiefs because it’s clear that you don’t care about the team nor the supporters with your kind of management style. The players are unfit, the coach himself doesn’t appreciate what he has himself. He is going to lose what he has. Leon White, Gauteng
I’m not going to delve deeper into the Chiefs loss against Chippa on Saturday, but I’m still wondering whether it was worth it playing the game when your player is lying in the mortuary. What makes it worse, talk on social media is that the players and technical team, and obviously the office as well decided to play the game in honour of Luke Fleurs. You honour Luke’s soul with a loss and such a terrible display of football? Embarrassing I must say! Chiefs must just get a foreign, well-established coach with assistants of his choice. Locally, Pitso would be an ideal choice, that’s if you are not going to impose Dillon Sheppard into the new coach’s team. I’m not sure how on earth is Dillon, who was never into our playing systems before, is still an assistant at Chiefs and ‘10111’ who has been part of Chiefs for more than 20 years is not there. That was also recipe for disaster from the word go. The collapsed talks with Nabi before this season started was a mistake on Chiefs’ management side, your stop-gaps (Molefi Ntseki & Cavin Johnson) were and are just a total waste of time and energy. Johnson seems to have lost the dressing room as well, what more or better can we expect? But as they often say, Khosi 4 Life. Mompati Panyaza Ndlovu, Lekubu Village, Zeerust
Quick One-Two’s
What a thriller of a game between Man United and Liverpool! The former did not have a good first half as they hardly threatened the Liverpool defence. In the second stanza Man United upped their game and both teams were very offensive. Liverpool were under pressure before the game as they had already lost to Man United in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Man United, although inconsistent, still have a chance to secure a Champions
League spot next season with only a few league games remaining. It is still tough at the summit of the English Premiership with both Arsenal and Liverpool tied on 71 points each with goal difference separating them. Man City occupies third spot. The 2-all draw result between Man United and Liverpool was a fair result. Bernard “Bra Ben” Tshukudu, Ga-Maria
As a Sundowns supporter and a regular reader of Soccer Laduma, I have some few points to make, and I hope other readers may get involved in this topic. Firstly, why must a coach or manager decide about a player’s career, like Rhulani. How many players have been forced to early retirement by this man? Like I said before, some of them [coaches] never played professional football, but they have the nerve to start benching a player once he reaches the age of 35. They don’t know that feeling, and you the media are also responsible and contributing to that situation. Instead of encouraging and motivating youngsters and other players to keep going in their 30s and contributing to their clubs or national teams, you concentrate on the players’ age. Why? Just think of those unfortunate players who were forced to early retirement by coaches like Rhulani. Your Teboho Langerman, Tiyani Mabunda, The maestro Hlompho Kekana. I wonder if the genius, Themba Zwane, is going to suffer the same fate under this clown. He was given a chance by the legendary Pitso Mosimane to come and join a team so ambitious like Sundowns at an early age, nobody said he is still young. And today
he’s the one deciding players’ fate. No wonder he’s so heartless in benching so many good players because he was never a player himself, he doesn’t know that pain. Lastly, Rhulani, your love for Lorch is costing Sundowns big time.
Bizzarro wa le Sundawana
Congratulations my team Orlando Pirates for obliterating Golden Arrows with 7 goals, Pirates were just ruthless on the day, and I feel sorry for Arrows. This clearly demonstrates the reality that most people always articulate that the problem with Pirates is not the quality to compete with Sundowns, but inconsistency. Pirates is not consistent at all. For us to compete with Sundowns next season this issue must be addressed or else we will always come second or third. The game was fairly good and credit to the technical team and players for the outstanding performance, Mabasa had a fairly nice game and I thought after missing the penalty, his mood would drop. But I was impressed by his recovery and the Golden Boot race becomes interesting. Congratulations to my team once again, once a Pirate always a Pirate.
Thapelo Masiapata, Ramaroka Village, Bolobedu
For the whole quarter of 2024 Kabelo Dlamini did not play a single match. All the sudden against Sekhukhune United he was there. The same with Makaringe, he started with Saleng against Chiefs, and played very well suddenly, he is on the bench. Is this coach here to build or destroy? In two seasons we don’t have the starting eleven. Goalkeeping department is a mess, why can’t the coach try Ofori because Chaine can’t save anything? Please chairman bring back Benni, his contract is lapsing in Manchester United.
Stephen Mpya, Mamphulo Village
I don’t know who is going to win the PL title between the three chasers, but I have little faith in Arsenal. They have proven to be chokers in the past. Yes, they’re a different Arsenal this season, they have got a slight goal difference advantage but Man City and Liverpool can cover that anytime, no problem. Arsenal are not ruthless and lack real character to get to the finishing line. It remains to be seen what the effects of European competition will have on them since they are still all in it. I wish all of them had a clean bill of health to put their best eleven on the pitch. Kelleher has done well in the absence of Alisson for Liverpool with other most noticeable absentees being Jota and Alexander-Arnold. The likes of Nketiah and Jesus must come to the party for Arsenal with big performances because Odegaard is their main man for them and need some serious assistance with goals upfront. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I have anything against Arsenal it’s just that they are too romantic for this heart-fainted title chase and will sadly most likely end up as bridesmaids, as history suggests. I have got soft spot for all of them although mainly Man City but I wish Liverpool win it for the departing Klopp and possibly Salah but I wouldn’t mind if Arsenal win it for the hard work Arteta has put in.
Lucky Khunou, Rustenburg, Meriting
I always thought that the Nigerian Federation wouldn’t play dirty when it comes to national team football matters. But what happened when they deprived us from broadcasting our women’s team, left a bitter pill to swallow. It clearly shows that they are afraid of our ladies. Hopefully, by the time this letter is published, we will be celebrating our qualification to the Olympic Games. Good luck Banyana Banyana. On a sombre note, we mourn another fallen hero, all thanks to crime. How sad! Condolences to his family, friends and the whole football fraternity at large.
Nafie Moloantoa, Kwa-Thema
The 7-1 drubbing of Golden Arrows by Orlando Pirates is the right way to respond to recent setback suffered by the club. What makes this win even more palatable is that it was achieved against a team that amassed a possible seven out of nine points in the league. Indeed, this is the way to bounce back and to forget about the past and forge ahead. The goal feast has ensured that the goal difference is quite a healthy one, our away record is depressing and what I find ironical is that the pre-season was done in Spain. We seem to be floundering on the road and from now hence forth, let us adhere to the adage; “If we can’t fly we can run if we can’t run let us walk, if we can’t walk let us crawl” so that whatever happens we should still achieve our goals.