Motale so wistful
Former Orlando Pirates captain Edward Motale misses seeing the Buccaneers competing in continental competitions. Pirates last played in the Caf Confederation Cup in 2015 where they reached the final only to lose to Tunisian side Étoile du Sahel. “Pirates are a big club and they need to be playing in these competitions on a regular basis. When Pirates play the likes of TP Mazembe and Al-Ahly, they know they have to redouble their efforts because Pirates strike fear in them,” said Motale.
Gavin Hunt believes Wits striker Kobamelo Kodisang (above) still has plenty to learn despite scoring in Saturday’s 2-0 Caf Champions League win over Pamplemousses of Mauritius. Kodisang joined Wits from Platinum Stars at the start of the season, but a knee injury in October hampered his progress and he has only just returned to action. “He (Kodisang) is a long way off the hype around him,” said Hunt. “He has been out for months, and it has been a problem for him confidence-wise and you could see it tonight. He scored, but he could have been better around the edge of the box, but it was his first game back after an x amount of time and it was tough, they (Pamplemousses) were not scared for a Mauritian team. I have played a few and they are normally much weaker.”
Swallows FC are planning for their coach Isaac Mphasane (above) to go and spend the rest of the season in Cape Town where he is set to assess Cape Town All Stars players before the two teams are merged in June. A source said Mphasane is in two minds about the move as he feels he could push the Dube Birds to challenge for the ABC Motsepe League title. “Management want him to go and live in Cape Town for the next few months so he can have a closer look at the team. He was watching the team on Friday and saw a few players he liked. We are not sure for now whether the club will be based in Cape Town or if the PSL will allow it to be moved to Gauteng and immediately renamed Swallows,” he said. Swallows are said to have bought All Stars’ NFD status.
A former Baroka player has told Phakaaathi he was surprised that coach Kgoloko Thobejane (above) has been suspended for allegedly drinking during the team’s trip back from Bethlehem where they lost 2-0 to Free State Stars over a week ago. “It is normal for guys to have a few beers on the bus on the way back and for the guys to unwind and have a good time,” he said. Baroka have however denied Thobejane was suspended for the drinking incident. Another source said the problem was that a fight broke out as players started accusing each other of having let the team down. “The situation was soon sorted out and it was not a big fight but I think the coach should not have taken sides,” said the source.