‘The Squad Is The Same Level As Sundowns’

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Swallows FC head coach Ernst Middendorp says Orlando Pirates hold the same quality in their squad as runaway DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Middendorp suffered a first home defeat since taking over at the relegation-threatened side in what was a 4-1 thrashing in the Original Soweto Derby with Monnapule Saleng stealing the show, bagging a hattrick and an assist for Terrence Dzvukamanja’s goal. But Middendorp is cognizant of the fact that his current squad cannot match the Buccaneers pound for pound within the current situation at the cash-strapped Dube Birds. “I can only repeat, that whoever thinks the squad we

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Zwane Confirms New Chiefs Star Out Injured

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Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has confirmed that Ashley Du Preez has been ruled out of Saturday’s game against Richards Bay. Du Preez, 25, was one of Chiefs’ standout players in the 1-0 Soweto Derby win over Orlando Pirates, as his runs behind the Buccaneers defence continuously troubled their defence. However, despite lasting 90 minutes in the Derby, Zwane confirmed that the striker will miss Saturday’s clash with Richards Bay, who sit level on points with the Amakhosi but have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions. “It’s unfortunate that week in and week out

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Shalulile Edging Closer To Century Of Goals In the PSL Top Flight

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It may not be long to see another player in the PSL hit a century of goals this season. When Bradley Grobler swung in his foot to score the second goal as SuperSport United beat Maritzburg United last Friday, it was the veteran’s striker 100th goal in the PSL. However, it doesn’t seem like it will take long for another player to score 100 goals in the PSL. Mamelodi Sundowns hitman Peter Shalulile is edging close to that magic number, after scoring three goals as the Ke Yona Cup defending champions beat Marumo Gallants 3-1 at Toyota Stadium on Thursday

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Riveiro Makes Honest Admission Over Saleng Footballer Of The Season Talks

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Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has opened up on the debates wrangling on whether winger Monnapule Saleng is in contention for the PSL Footballer of the Season. With Saleng not earning a start in the opening nine league games of the season, due to being behind the pecking order and then competing in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers with Bafana Bafana, few could have predicted what’s transpired. In 17 starts across all competitions, he’s now directly contributed to 18 goals and showing that sort of form that earned him the Golden Boot in the second tier with Free

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Tinkler Sets Immediate CTC Target

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Cape Town City head coach Eric Tinkler says the final stretch of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season may be exciting for supporters and the media alike but not for coaches because of the tightness of points especially mid table. Only 10 points separate the side in second and eighth position, there are five points between the team in eighth and the one in 15th place. After their win against Sekhukhune United in their last outing City are in sixth place with 29 points and Tinkler says he wants to get to the 30-point mark quickly and see how far the

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Hunt – They Almost Got Relegated Last Time

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SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt believes they could benefit from CAF Champions League football but is wary of what happened to the squad in their last foray in Africa. Hunt last tasted continental football with Kaizer Chiefs, where he led them to the semi-final of the competition before he was sacked. And with Matsatsansa now in second place behind Mamelodi Sundowns with nine rounds of fixtures to go, there’s growing optimism they may find themselves in Africa’s elite club competition ahead of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. “I’d love to get there, let’s get there first, I think the

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Middendorp – The Official Attacked Me

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Swallows coach Ernst Middendorp called the behaviour of the fourth referee “disgusting and embarrassing”, insisting he’s never been “attacked” like this by an official before. The Dube Birds lost 4-1 to Orlando Pirates on Friday night, with Monnapule Saleng stealing the show after being involved in all four, scoring a hat-trick and setting up the other by Terrence Dzvukamanja. However, it wasn’t his side’s performance that upset the German tactic, but rather the alleged antics of fourth official Thando Ndzandzeka. “Never, ever in the entire time [of my career], a fourth referee is following me in the box, provoking me

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Saleng Helps Pirates Ease Past Swallows In Original Soweto Derby

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Monnapule Saleng inspired Orlando Pirates to a 4-1 win over Swallows in the Original Soweto Derby at Dobsonville Stadium on Friday evening. After losing 1-0 through a late Olisa Ndah own goal in the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs last week, the Nigeria international was a notable absence from the squad. However, Pirates started off in blistering fashion when Saleng opened the scoring with a stunning flick from a low cross sent in by Kabelo Dlamini that beat goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa. In what was an electric atmosphere, inside and outside the arena in Dobsonville, with thousands stuck outside in traffic,

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Swallows & Pirates Starting XIs Announced

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Swallows and Orlando Pirates have announced their starting line-ups for this evening’s DStv Premiership encounter at Dobsonville stadium. The Original Soweto derby is set to take place under the floodlights this evening. The Dube Birds are coming into this game after registering their first win away from home this season again Chippa United. Ernst Middendorp’s side are skating on thin ice as they sit 14th in the standings with 24 points, six points away from automatic relegation.  The Birds are coming to this game as underdogs as they last won against the Buccaneers in a league match back in 2014.

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