Edition 174 – Mbatha, Stephens & Maliwa

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It’s the MTN8 Final this weekend. In this special edition, Velile Mnyandu spoke to Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star Thalente Mbatha about the big game on Saturday and his incredible national team start. Rob Delport chatted to Stellenbosch star Sage Stephens whose goalkeeping heroics played a big role in Steve Barker’s team reaching their second cup final in a year. Meanwhile, Lorenz Köhler continues his series on recent Transfers & Deals and looks at the moves of players like Elias Mokwana, Cassius Mailula and Khanyisa Mayo to North Africa. Velile caught up with new Kaizer Chiefs Chief Scout and

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Hotto Grateful To Riveiro And His Transformation At Pirates

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Orlando Pirates utility man Deon Hotto has flourished into a new role under head coach Jose Riveiro and is ready to continue his current trajectory. Hotto, 33, joined Pirates after the status sale of Bidvest Wits and has become a key figure in the club, as he closes in on 200 appearances since his arrival in September 2020. Having first arrived as a pacy winger, he scored 18 goals with 22 assists in 89 games in his first two seasons before gradually converting into a left-back upon Jose Riveiro’s arrival in the 2022/23 season. This is where the upturn in

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Benni Reveals What Ten Hag Lacks

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Former Manchester United strikers coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that he feels Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag lacks a bit of passion. McCarthy is currently without a job after his contract at Old Trafford expired in the end of the June. Bafana Bafana’s record goal scorer had been linked with a move to Mamelodi Sundowns as well as a potential switch to the Major League Soccer, as he is eyeing a return to the head-coach role himself. He worked two years in Ten Hag’s backroom staff and said to be a favourite among the players, but ultimately left ahead

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Mokoena Reveals Why He Has A Soft Spot For Arteta

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Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena has revealed why he has a soft spot for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Arteta stepped into coaching since 2016 after his retirement as a professional player and started as assistant to Pep Guardiola at his former side Manchester City. He then moved to the Gunners in 2020 and finished in eighth in his first season in charge. The former Spain junior international came close to winning the league with Arsenal on two occasions in the 2022/23 season and the previous term. ‘Mbazo’ shared the stage with Arteta in their former days while playing for

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‘Pirates Are Like The Real Madrid Of The MTN8’

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Former Ajax Cape Town striker Nathan Paulse has likened Orlando Pirates to Real Madrid ahead of this weekend’s MTN8 final against Stellenbosch. Pirates have won back-to-back Wafa Wafa trophies in the last two seasons, and overall, five times, as they look to bag it for a third time in a row while it’s Stellies’ first appearance. Paulse scored the winning goal for the Urban Warriors in the 2015 final as they shocked Kaizer Chiefs, and the 42-year-old believes that Pirates may feel a level of invisibility like Madrid in the UEFA Champions League because of the number of times they

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Chiefs & Downs Starlets Power 10-Man Amajita Into COSAFA U20 Semis

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Ofentse Kgosana rounded off the scoring as 10-man Amajita booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2024 COSAFA U20 tournament following a 2-0 win over Comoros at the ABB1 stadium in Motola on Tuesday afternoon. Second half goals from Siyabonga Mabena and Kgosana were enough to seal victory and a perfect group stage record. Amajita came into the encounter needing just a draw to make the last four after impressive wins in the opening two games. South Africa struggled to create clear scoring chances in the first half after being denied an 11th minute penalty when Ntlonelo Bomelo was

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‘Ronwen Is The Best Goalkeeper In The World’

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Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has hailed his Mamelodi Sundowns counterpart Ronwen Williams as the best in the world and that he deserves his Ballon D’or Yachin Trophy nomination. Williams enjoyed an outstanding 2023/24 season with both club and country. The 32-year-old played an overall 46 matches, conceded 19 goals while keeping 30 clean sheets for the Brazilians. He was also a key player for Bafana Bafana at the AFCON earlier this year. He kept five clean sheets in seven games at the tournament where Bafana finished third including the famous four penalties saves against Cape Verde. Talking to iDiski

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Larsen – Magesi Can’t Be Compared To CT Spurs

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Magesi FC head coach Clinton Larsen is pleased with how his side has eventually put points on the board after a shaky start to the new term, something that can quieten down comparisons to Cape Town Spurs. The Urban Warriors gained promotion two seasons ago and took four months to register their first victory in topflight football which saw them suffer automatic relegation having won just six matches and drawn five. Meanwhile, the Limpopo side are in their first ever campaign in the big league following their outright promotion from the Motsepe Foundation championship last term. Their historic win came

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Maela On Legacy And Unprecedented History On Offer For Pirates

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Orlando Pirates captain Innocent Maela has addressed the possibility of becoming the first side in Premier Soccer League history to secure a three-peat of the MTN8. Pirates have won two MTN8 titles, and two Nedbank Cups in Riveiro’s first two seasons in charge and have the opportunity to lift a third, of the first trophy on offer in the domestic season of South African football. With history, and legacy on offer for the club and the group of players, Maela said it’s something they are aware of but not what they are focusing on going into the game. “Every time

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