Daily Archives: May 28, 2012

Rugby camp abuse probe was biased – dad

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The father of a former Edgemead High School pupil is “disappointed” in the Western Cape Education Department’s investigation into the alleged sexual assault of his son on a school rugby camp.

The department has issued a warning to the school on initiation practices and ruled that supervision at a rugby camp where the pupil was allegedly sexually assaulted by fellow teammates had been “far from adequate”. It also said no evidence had been provided to prove any sexual assault took place.

Last week district officials completed their investigation of the incident, in which the 16-year-old pupil alleged that fellow pupils had sexually assaulted him with a broom and a banana in March.

The boy has since been moved to another school.

He said his fellow pupils had also shaved his head and eyebrows while they were on the camp in Velddrif.

On Friday, Education Department spokesman Paddy Attwell released a statement saying the aim of the investigation was to determine whether the pupil had been subjected to any act of sexual violation, humiliation or initiation at the camp.

“The investigation found that learners engaged in initiation practices which included shaving the hair of newcomers and drinking a non-alcoholic mixture of various substances. Certain team members consumed alcohol, despite a warning by the coach to the team not to do so.”

Attwell said some team members had subjected the victim to “humiliating treatment” and had taken photographs that surfaced on social media.

Edgemead High School responded to the incident two weeks ago saying it was “a prank” and it had found no evidence of criminal activity. Seven pupils were suspended for seven days.

The father of the boy spoke out to highlight the danger of initiation practices and said he had not been aware of the disciplinary action or that the boys had been suspended until the school communicated this through a media query.

 

“The only conclusion I can draw is that the internal investigation conducted by the governing body was flawed and deliberately biased.”

Attwell said the family had appointed lawyers to represent them should the case be reopened when the National Prosecuting Authority completes a review of the docket. – Cape Times

Japan overpower Kenya in 8-Nation International tournament

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BY Obakeng Maje

Japan proved to have too much class as they strolled to a comfortable 3-0 win over Kenya in a Group B 8-Nation International tournament match played at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (26 May) afternoon.

The Asian side was simply too polished for Kenya, who battled to cope with their opponents’ superior movement and tactical ability.

It was Japan who made the running in the first half – their cohesion, technical skill and movement ensuring a constant supply of possession.

Their dominance was converted onto the score-sheet with the opening goal after 10 minutes.

Playmaker Gakuto Tanabe picked the ball up just outside the box and thread through a lovely through ball to Ryota Tanabe, who beat Kenya keeper Joel Bataro with a low shot at the near post.

Kenya should have equalised in the 15th minute when Meshak Karani found himself clean through on goal, but in trying to curl the ball around Japan keeper Matsatoshi Kushibiki, he succeeded only in shooting over.

The African side began to find some penetration around the 35 minute mark as they began to put their opponents’ goal under pressure.

Karani however squandered another great opportunity when after 38 minutes he failed to get a hold of Danson Kago’s superb 45-yard pass, when better control would have seen him in on goal.

The second half took a while to get going, with the first real chance of the stanza resulting in Japan’s second goal.

It came via a 57th minute corner, with Tanabe netting his brace with a headed effort.

Midway through the half the Kenyans again began to show more promise in attack.

But although they earned a succession of corners, their general play in the final third of the field did not pose much of a threat.

It was Japan that was to score next, putting the game beyond doubt in the 77th minute when substitute Ryuji Hirota scrambled the ball into goal into the net off the post and then a defender.

Banyana Banyana beat goalkeeper-handicapped Zambians in Lusaka

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BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana dominated the second half proceedings to run out 4-1 winners over Zambia in the first leg of their African Women Championship 2012 qualifier – in a match which saw two home team goalkeepers sent to hospital for medical treatment.

The clash took place at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday, 26 May 2012

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will carry their advantage through to the return leg fixture to be played in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga on June 16.

The visitors went into the match ranked 65th in the world compared to the 126th placing of the Zambians.

While the first half produced no goals, the hosts lost the services of their goalkeeper Mirriam Katamauda who was carried from the field and taken to hospital after pulling off a close range save from Matlou in the 20th minute.

Substitute goalkeeper Delly Lumwaya was kept busy for the remainder of the first period, but the goal scoring chances that went the way of Matlou, fellow striker Portia Modise and midfielder Mary Ntsweng – a header put over the cross bar from close range – were not converted.

The South Africans were lucky to escape being a goal down at the break after a pile driving effort from the left by Musonda Sakala was cleared away from the Banyana Banyana goal-mouth with goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni  beaten.

Matlou, the CAF Women’s Player of the Year 2009 and current SA Sportswoman of the Year, headed home two minutes after the half-time break to continue her goal-scoring form. She also scored in the national team’s 2-1 win over the Zambians in an Olympic qualifier there in January last year.

But the Zambians showed great character to equalize in the 60th minute when a looping ball played in to the right hand side of the Banyana Banyana penalty area was blasted home by Etas Banda with the South Africans appealing unsuccessfully for an offside ruling.

But three minutes later, Lumwaya made an awful blunder as she dropped a relatively easy cross at the feet of second half substitute Sanah Mollo who scored with ease.

This was the Bloemfontein Celtics (Sasol League Free State) striker’s third goal in two matches having scored twice as a substitute in Banyana Banyana’s 5-2 win over Tanzania in an international friendly match played in Dar es Salaam last weekend.

Things went from bad to worse for Zambia when, eight minutes later, Lumwaya was left red-faced as she dropped the ball into her own goal-net at the near post. This was after a free-kick taken from the right by Banyana Banyana defender Nothando Vilakazi.

Lumwaya, who was later rushed to hospital, spent five minutes on the grass receiving medical attention after she collided with the goal post as she lost control of the ball.

Substitute midfielder Chisala Musonda changed into the goalkeeper’s jersey – becoming the third goalkeeper for Zambia in one match.

Banyana Banyana took advantage of the make-shift goalkeeper with Mollo cruising through the host’s defence and scoring her second goal of the match with ease.

Banyana Banyana head coach, Joseph Mkhonza is happy about the results as the players applied themselves to see them score the four winning goals.

“I am happy that we got a win here in Zambia, I am proud that the girls showed a lot of mental strength in front of a very supportive home crowd. We came here to accomplish one of our missions and that’s playing towards the number one spot on the continent. The girls showed character and applied what we learnt as they scored two goals from set-pieces,” said Mkhonza.

“Going into the second leg, we don’t want to dwell on the four-one lead but rather aim at scoring more goals.”

Mollo, who scored another two goals in this match, is happy that the game went in their favour.

“I am happy that I scored two of the goals that led my country to victory against Zambia. Scoring has boosted my confidence levels and I am hoping to carry this momentum into the second leg of the qualifier,” said the player known as Diego.

Banyana Banyana will arrive back in the South Africa on Sunday 27 May, they are expected to land at 09h20.

Tickets for the SA-Ethiopia WC qualifier already on sale

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BY Obakeng Maje

Tickets for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia are already on sale.

South Africa will face the east Africans on Sunday, 3 June at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng near Rustenburg.

Gates open at 12h00 and kickoff is at 15h00.

Tickets for the West grand stand will go for one-hundred-rand (R100) each, while anywhere else will be fifty-rand (R50) each.

They are available at Computicket outlets, Shoprite and Shoprite  Checkers stores around the country.

Meanwhile there are 24 players in camp at the Royal Marang Sports Complex in Phokeng following the arrival of Sweden-based midfielder May Mahlangu as well as Santos striker Eleazar Rodgers.

Only the six players from Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United – Teko Modise, Katlego Mphela, Lebohang Mokoena, Punch Masenamela, Wayne Sandilands and Morgan Gould – are still to report for national team duty. The players will be contesting the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday, 26 May at the Orlando Stadium. They will then join the Bafana Bafana camp on Sunday night.

On the injuries front, both Oupa Manyisa and Siyabonga Nomvethe have started training with their teammates, while Siyabonga Sangweni sat out the morning training session after suffering a bout of flu.

But he was back in the gymnasium with the rest of the team in the evening, and is expected at full training on Monday, 28 May.

Amajita superb in Ghana victory

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BY Obakeng Maje

The South African Under-20 bounced back from their defeat to Argentina in scintillating style with a 2-0 win over Ghana in an 8-Nation International tournament game played at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Ghana had looked a very strong side in their 3-2 win over Nigeria at Athlone on Friday, but couldn’t come anywhere near to replicating that performance, finding themselves surprised by the purpose and intensity of the home side, who were outstanding on the day and could even have won by three or four goals.

It was South Africa who dominated the first half, by far enjoying the better and more frequent chances on goal, and their two goal lead at half time was well deserved.

Despite Amajita’s inferiority in terms of physical stature, a spirited and lively display by Solly Luvhengo’s side saw them putting the Ghana goal under threat.

The host nation had the first opportunity of the match in the eighth minute when Snethemba Ngidi fired a free kick inches over the bar.

A minute later Andile Nqabeni had an even better chance to put Amajita ahead, but from 10-yards out in front of goal he shot straight at goal-keeper Felix Annan.

Midway through the stanza the west Africans started to show some threat in front of goal, but managed no better than a couple of half chances as Moro Ibrahim had a shot deflected marginally wide and also got a header on target.
In the 34th minute the home side were unfortunate not get on the score-sheet when Ebrahim Seedat’s shot found its way to Thabani Thembu, but the Ghanaians were able to scramble the ball off their line.

South Africa finally got the goal their play deserved when in the 38th minute Ngidi’s angled free kick was headed in by Thembu; his second goal of the tournament.

Five minutes later and Amajita were celebrating again as they doubled their lead.
Bidvest Wits’ Junior Sibande was the scorer, netting from close range after a goalmouth scramble had come about after Annan had spilled a cross.

The second half remained intense and fast-paced like the first, the difference this time though that the Black Satellites were far more dangerous on attack.

It was Amajita however who could have netted the first goal of the second stanza when Thembu found himself in on goal, but from the edge of the box his low drive was well saved by Annan.

In the 55th minute the home team were fortunate to escape conceding a goal as Fatawu Abdul struck the base of the post, the rebound falling to Benjamin Annan-Fadi, who shot straight at goal-keeper Lebo Ngubeni.
The South Africans though always appeared to be good for a third goal and were able to carve open the Ghana defence with relative ease.

Ngidi was the main instigator, the diminutive SuperSport player twice setting up chances in quick succession around the hour mark, but both Thembu and Jerruy Mxabo failed to make use of the opportunities that came their way.

With 10 minutes to go Ngidi again showed his class when a mazy run took him past several` defenders and into the box, but he then elected the wrong option in trying to pick out a team-mate instead of shooting.

Ghana pushed hard for a goal late on, but South Africa were able to hold on without conceding – the clean sheet yet another positive aspect to a fantastic day.
 

Argentina shoot down Flying Eagles in Cape Town

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BY Obakeng Maje

Nigeria’s chances of reaching the semi-finals of the 8-Nation International tournament became rather slim after they lost 1-0 to Argentina at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday (27 May) evening.

The Nigerians have now lost their opening two games – to Ghana and Argentina, who have six points after beating South Africa in their opener.

The first half saw Argentina dictating the play, but for the most part failing to penetrate a well organised Nigeria defence.

The Flying Eagles for the most part were confined to their own half, but did not find themselves under any undue pressure as the South Americans struggled to find the final ball needed to unlock the defence.

The game lacked the intensity of earlier matches and it was only in the 21st minute that the first shot was registered, Nigeria’s Nnadozie Ezenwaka sending a 25-yard effort over the bar. 

Five minutes before the break and Carlos Luque played Franco Fragapane in on goal, but Nigerian keeper Chukwunenye Okani did well to intervene.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute as Fragapane ran in on goal, slotting a low shot past Okani, whose touch was not enough to keep the ball out of goal.

Argentina should have had a second goal before the break, but after Matais Kranevitter had seen his shot blocked, Frederico Andrada was wasteful with a poor attempt from right in front of goal.

The second half started with Nigeria enjoying control of midfield, but despite dominating possession, could not find the spark required further forward.

But as the game neared the hour mark, Argentina began to show more threat in attack and they had a close call when Luque’s cross-cum-shot was cleared off the line.

In the 73rd minute substitute Lucas Pugh was within inches of scoring, but Luque’s cross just packed too much power.

Ten minutes later Alan Ruiz was almost on the score-sheet, but having cut in on goal he sent his shot just wide of the near upright.
The Flying Eagles pushed for a goal late on, but the nearest they came to scoring was when Nzube Anazembna’s shot was deflected, Argentine keeper Walter Benitez making a good save.