Quick One-Two’s
Credit to Steve Komphela and Kaitano Tembo. When they offer their post-match interviews, they give you an idea of what they tried to do in the game which worked or didn’t. They break it down from a tactical point of view. They don’t blame the opposition for playing with a re-enforced defence (parking the bus). They give insights into what they did to try and find a way through, not saying, “What can you do when so-and-so plays like this or that?” They know there is no room for excuses because it’s their job to find solutions. Hope others will follow suit. King Msindo, Cape Town
The mighty Buccaneers have been doing well in the last few weeks and credit must go to the technical team for instilling a sense of confidence in the boys. The body language epitomises self-belief, hunger to succeed and a sense of dying for the badge. However, there is still a long way to go. It would be tantamount to betrayal on the part of the management towards the technical team if they cannot make any signings to beef up our defence. The season is at its most difficult stage, where everyone is fighting for something, so getting maximum points is going to be a mammoth task and it would only be logical to beef up our defence. Pirates can afford Ofori and a central defender. The transfer window will close in only a few days’ time and we better make hay while the sun shines. As for the Nedbank Cup, it’s there for the taking… Zola Bashin Kati, Zwelitsha
This game that Chiefs won in referee’s optional time should have ended in a goalless draw, which would have given Arrows the one point they so desperately yearned for. Due to play-acting on the part of Arrows’ rookie goalkeeper, the referee saw fit to add on the wasted time, which Chiefs capitalised on. Poetic justice, if you ask me. When will players get it into their heads that faking of injuries in football doesn’t pay? To all those players that feign injuries in order to take the steam off their opponents, gentlemen, you are doing a serious disservice to our Beautiful Game. Your actions are tantamount to cheating and robbing us the supporters of our hard-earned money. Man up and play fairly. Stop being cowards. If coaches are encouraging this moronic behaviour, then shame on them. It’s for reasons like these that Africa is regressing in world football. To the referees, continue punishing these play actors who masquerade as soccer players where it hurts the most, with the addition of any time wasted. George Sithole, Honeydew
Zanaco FC have improved in recent years, representing SADC well in the CAF Champions League. They knocked out Pirates last year and have defeated clubs like Al Ahly, Zamalek and other African giants, following in the footsteps laid by giants like AC Leopards of
Congo-Brazzaville, TP Mazembe, Pirates and Sundowns. We hope to see FC Platinum from Zimbabwe in the list of teams representing the SADC region well in the competition, having reached the group stage this year. Zanaco is a good example to the likes of Chiefs. Many believe Chiefs are one of the big clubs in Africa, but how so? Clubs can’t be big merely for playing in top leagues or wealthy countries. There are many African clubs playing well in the Champions League yearly, some from poor countries like Sudan (Al Hilal FC), Kenya (Gor Mahia FC) and Guinea (Horoya FC), so why say Chiefs are one of the best in Africa? Zanaco FC, keep up the good work! Simo Shangase, via email
Jomo Sono establishing Jomo cosmos when he did is a monumental achievement. He has been ‘a forbearing midwife’ helping to give birth to grassroots soccer development by scouting and nurturing hopeless kids from humble beginnings to become international footballers. Pitso Mosimane, the late Thomas Madigage, Benjani Mwaruwari – you name them. Jomo Cosmos is a living monument that represents Mr Sono’s immense contribution to African football. Therefore, the club is a heritage, a legacy that should be kept alive. I earnestly plead with the current Cosmos players to realise how important this team is. They should motivate themselves to avoid the team from being relegated into obscurity. Mr Sono cannot be blamed for the team’s poor performance. The players need to work harder and there will be a turnaround. Batsirai Kativu, Johannesburg
Perhaps history is in the making in the Absa Premiership this season. I foresee Pirates contesting the league title and Chiefs finishing third. Amakhosi are grinding the results, but their fixtures include Sundowns, Pirates and Wits twice, which scares me. Pirates are in good form. Gavin Hunt knows how to win the league. Sundowns have watched this movie before. From position six to the last team on the log, any team can get relegated. Gripping stuff. Remember what happened to Pirates last season? Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher