Monthly Archives: May 2012

SAB AND SAFA Celebrate Youth Development through Sport

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BY Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg: The draw for the football teams contesting the 2012 SAB League was conducted today, at SAB World of Beer. The showdown that will determine who will be crowned national champions and promoted up to the Second Division, is scheduled to take place from Sunday, 10 June 2012, with the final being held on Sunday, 17 June 2012.

The national event will feature nine Provincial squads and an invitational team from USSA (University Sports South Africa).  The tournament will consist of two groups of five teams each, playing each other in a round robin format. The top two in each group at the end of the pool stages will then advance to the semi-finals, where they will battle it out for a place in the finals and ultimately the crown of 2012 Champions.

The President of SAFA, Mr Kirsten Nematandani said: “The SAB League is an integral component in the structure of football in our country. The lower leagues play a very important role in establishing a solid foundation upon which success can be built.”

The formation of SAB League more than a decade ago stems from shared vision of SAB and SAFA to develop football amongst youth at grassroots level in South Africa. It is also a key diversion programme that keeps youth away from drugs, alcohol abuse and crime. The SAB league has acted as springboard for a number of South Africa’s current football stars, including Reneilwe Letsholonyane of Kaizer Chiefs, Happy Jele of Orlando Pirates and Ayanda Dlamini of AmaZulu, to name but a few.

“SAB’s responsibility as a good corporate citizen is to provide meaningful opportunities for the youth of our country in order for them to improve their lives and to ensure their successful and sustainable future,” says Dr Vincent Maphai, SAB Director Corporate Affairs and Transformation.

“We are looking forward to an exciting week-long of football featuring some of the most talented young players showcasing their talent. We wish each and every team the best of luck as they thrive for the coveted title.” 

The opening and closing games will be played at Kanyamazane Stadium, Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, with the rest at Ngonyama Lodge Sports Grounds. 

Jele, who was in attendance, said: “I received my first real training as a footballer in the Mpumalanga SAB League with Walter Stars and that set me on the path to play in the PSL. The training and mentorship I received in those early days developed me into the footballer I am today. I am convinced that around the country we have enormous talent just waiting to be discovered and set on the right path. The SAB League is vital to the future of our football because it is within this competition that we will find our future Bafana Bafana stars. We must do everything we can to give them the opportunity to showcase their skills and move up the ladder of South African football. But it all starts here.”

Partnering with the SAB League is Shoes Moshoeu who understands the importance of discipline in sports and particularly at the development level encouraged the participants by saying: “Being a footballer is not just about turning up on match day and kicking a ball. The training has to be right and the off-field focus must be there. 

The SAB League gives up-and-coming youngsters the platform to show their worth, but is also a training ground in itself for a professional career. Here you should learn what it takes to be a professional, so that if the time comes where you do make it to the PSL, you understand what is required. That is what every SAB League side should be looking to provide their players”.

The SAB League provides opportunities to identify and then nurture football talent and also provide participation at other levels, including the national team, the Premier Soccer League and National First Division teams.
Studies have shown that sport amongst youth can help instil in them a sense of empowerment and belonging, increases their self-esteem and can have an impact on reducing crime and other social ills. 

Prize-money Breakdown
1st place position                                 :    R20 000. 
Player of the Tournament                   :    R10 000 
Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament    :    R  5 000
Coach of the Tournament                      :    R  5 000
Referee of the Tournament                   :    R  5 000
Assistant Referee of the Tournament    :    R  5 000
Man of the Match at each game             :     R1000 per match

A U20 record second successive win

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BY Obakeng Maje

The South Africa Under-20 Men’s National team (Amajita) secured a 1-0 win over Nigeria in a 8-Nation International tournament game at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday (29 May) evening.

Solly Luvhengo’s side were on top for most of the night, but missed a string of chances before finally securing the win five minutes from time.

The game started at a fast pace, with both teams playing attacking and free-flowing football.

Around the 15 minute mark the home side began to string their combinations together, with Asive Langwe and Snethemba Ngidi prominent.

Langwe however on several occasions picked out the wrong option which resulted in Nigeria’s goal remaining unthreatened. He was not the only guilty party as some of his team-mates were too elaborate when nearing the Nigeria box.

At the other end, the Flying Eagles came close to scoring in the 22nd minute when Aminu Umar’s speculative drive from 25-yards fizzed off the wet turf and just wide of goal.

The game remained evenly contested, but seven minutes before the break the west Africans should have scored after Christian Obinna squared the ball to an unmarked Uche Agbo, but he ballooned the ball from right in front of goal.

The second half saw the home nation putting Nigeria under relentless pressure with some telling balls into the box.

Five minutes after the break and Mxabo was close to breaking the deadlock, sending a well-struck shot from the edge of the area just over goal.

In the 54th minute Ngidi showed great skill to get to the by-line, but his dangerous ball across the goal-line just failed to pick out a team-mate.

This was followed by Mbongeni Gumede just being unable to get enough power to his header from Junior Sibande’s inviting cross.

Still the chances continued to arrive as Amijita put their opponents’ defence under severe pressure from a succession of corner kicks, one such occasion seeing Mxabo’s header tipped around the post.

Then in the 69th minute Ngidi thought he had scored, only to have the goal ruled out for what appeared to be a hand-ball.

But there was to be no denying the South Africans as their constant pressure finally paid dividends five minutes from time when Kgosietsile Ntlhe played in a wonderful curling cross out deep to the back post, where a first time volley from Mxabo found the back of the net.

This proved to be the winning goal as Amajita held on despite some late pressure

Argentina-Ghana draw favours Amajita

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BY Obakeng Maje

The final Group A match of the 8-Nation International tournament ended in 0-0 draw between Argentina and Ghana in a match played at a cold Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday (29 May) night.
The result sees Argentina being joined by South Africa as the two teams from Group A who will advance to the semi-finals on Friday night, where they will be joined by Brazil and Japan.

The first half was a tight affair with neither side able to carve out opportunities in the respective final thirds of the field.

The quality of play out on the park was excellent, but the commitment levels by both sides and the good organization of the respective units meant that goal chances did not materialise. 

Indeed it was only in the 34th minute that the first chance on goal arrived, which saw Argentine left back Lucas Rodriguez sending in a crisp drive from 20-yards which tipped the bar and kept on rising.
A minute before the interval and the Black Satellites came close to breaking the deadlock when Frank Sarfo-Gyamfi played a defence-splitting pass through to Baba Abdul, but as he slid in to try and get to the ball, it narrowly eluded him.

There was immediate goal-mouth drama at the start of the second half when for the second time in the game the South Americans found the woodwork.
This time it was Juan Vivas who ran in to get on the end of the corner but saw his shot rebound off the turf and into the crossbar.

The goal-box action continued, this time in the Argentina half as Fatawu Abdul put Baba Abdul in on goal, but the latter side-footed wide with the goal at his mercy.
The west African side suffered a set-back with 15 minutes to go when Prince Bafoe was sent off after picking up a second yellow card.

Closing action saw the intensity of the game maintained, with Ghana doing more of the attacking as they searched desperately to try and stay in the tournament, but they were unable to breach a disciplined Argentina defence.
 

Lekota blasts ‘fascist’ ANC

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Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota has accused the ANC of opening the door to dictatorship by using “fascist tactics” in its response to the controversial painting, The Spear, by Brett Murray.

By calling on City Press and the Goodman Gallery to remove images of the painting from their website and exhibition, the ruling party had expunged section 16 (1) and (2) from the constitution, he said.

“Specifically the ‘freedom of the press and other media’ provided for in 16(1)(a) and ‘freedom of artistic creativity’ articulated in 16(1)(c) became casualties.”

Lekota said SACP leader Blade Nzimande and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe had personally agitated for a boycott of City Press.

“Now the editor of the City Press, anxious about her personal safety and that of her journalists, apologised for exercising her constitutionally enshrined right and removed the artistic work from the website of the newspaper.”

Lekota said the owner of the Goodman Gallery had “been dragged before TV to issue an apology under military-like supervision”.

“When the ruling party, that is, the government, frog-marches a citizen in this way, as (Arts and Culture Minister Paul) Mashatile did, and threatens to unleash mass force on society, the constitution is thrown out of the window, Lekota said.

Meanwhile, despite all its demands being met on the painting, the ANC was still not happy. An olive branch from City Press. A written apology from the Goodman Gallery. And a public explanation from artist Murray.

Even with those three victories for the ANC, the anti-Spear march on Tuesday ended in an ultimatum: remove the painting depicting President Jacob Zuma’s genitals from the Goodman Gallery website, or the gallery itself will be shut down.

At 2pm, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe emerged smiling from the building on Jan Smuts Avenue and announced the gallery would remove the image from its website. “Mission accomplished comrades,” shouted Mantashe.

The crowds cheered.

Mantashe added: “We can now read the City Press, but don’t buy last week’s copy… You have achieved your mission.”

Almost immediately afterwards, the Goodman Gallery released a statement saying it had been in consultation with the ANC, but no such decision had been made. This was not the only disputed issue.

Mantashe and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande could not agree on the fate of the painting.

Nzimande said it should not go to its German buyer, but be destroyed. However, Mantashe declared that its removal from the gallery and the two major websites on which it featured was enough.

“Freedom of expression will be defended… but it is not a licence to insult or trample on dignity,” said Mantashe.

Despite the ANC applying to the police for a march by 50 000 people, no more than 5 000 arrived in hired buses on Tuesday.

But police took no chances, deploying a huge contingent of riot police, some on horseback, and frequent helicopter flyovers overhead.

Two women, standing with notebooks on the fringes of the protest, quietly sketched protesters, while demonstrators held up placards that read: “Draw your white father naked, not our president”, “We say NO to abuse of artistic expression”, and “Less skin, we win”.

Last week, Cosatu, the National Union of Mineworkers and the SACP called on their members to storm the Goodman Gallery where the painting was then on display.

Louis Mabokela, one of the men accused of defacing the painting, was among the protesters on Tuesday. “The insult needed to be covered, so I did it,” he said.

His uncle, Stephen Sefofa, who paid Mabokela’s bail after his arrest last week, said: “An insult is an insult… We have to march.”

The pair were happy to hear of City Press editor Ferial Haffajee’s apology and removal of the image from the paper’s website, but said they were awaiting apologies from the other parties involved.

Mabokela was filmed being head-butted by a Goodman Gallery security guard after smearing black paint on the painting last week. He is to appear again in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court.

“Today’s march is not only about Zuma, (but) all South Africans,” ANC secretary for Mpumalanga, Thokozani Ntuli, said. “We would also defend your dignity if you were embarrassed like this. (Zuma is) president but also a human being. He deserves to be respected… like everyone else, black or white.”

The Star

Doha mall owner faces arrest

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Qatar issued arrest orders for the owner of a fire-ravaged mall and four others as investigations widened on Wednesday into possible safety lapses during a blaze that killed 19 people, including 13 children at a daycare centre catering to the Gulf nation’s large expatriate community.

The official Qatar News Agency said Attorney General Ali bin Feitais al-Marri also ordered the detention of the owner of the child care facility where the children and four workers died in Monday’s fire at the Gulf nation’s biggest mall. The others facing arrest are mall officials, including the director of security.

Sprinkler systems malfunctioned at the Villaggio complex and rescue crews struggled without blueprints of the vast complex, bringing calls for sweeping safety and licensing reviews in one of the world’s fastest-growing countries. Two firefighters also were killed.

It was not immediately clear whether charges would be filed.

Investigators, meanwhile, are carrying out extensive probes through the fire-damaged sections of the mall, but authorities have not announced the cause of the fire. Findings from the state-ordered inquest are expected within a week.

The tragedy also is likely to push authorities across the Gulf to further examine fire safety rules in a region where the drive to build fast and big has brought concerns about the quality of emergency planning.

Rescue crews in Qatar’s capital Doha had to hack through the roof of the mammoth Villaggio mall to reach the child care facility, where the victims included two-year-old New Zealand triplets and three Spanish siblings.

“What happened is similar to murder because of the lack of safety measures in such complexes,” wrote Saleh al-Kuwari, editor of the Al Raya newspaper in Doha.

An editorial in the newspaper Al Arab urged officials around the Gulf to consider creating special firefighting and civil defence units for the energy-rich region’s huge malls. The Villaggio includes an ice skating rink, theme park, movie theatre and indoor Venice-style gondola rides.

“Safety requirements must be stressed,” said the editorial. “They also need regular review.”

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said the mall’s sprinkler system malfunctioned, and rescue efforts were hampered by a lack of floor plans. Other Gulf nations also have confronted concerns about whether public safety planning can keep pace with the construction boom.

In November, firefighters in Sharjah, north of Dubai, struggled to battle a blaze in a 25-story tower without equipment to reach the flames. The United Arab Emirates is considering bans on flammable panels in high-rise buildings after more recent back-to-back tower fires.

An Al Arab journalist, Marzouki Faisal, reported that the route to the Villaggio daycare centre wound through a “maze” of narrow halls and stairways. He and others questioned the rules that allow childcare sites inside commercial buildings.

“What happened is murder as a result of negligence and idleness,” he wrote.

The full list of those killed has not been issued by Qatar officials, but most of the nationalities are known from statements by various countries and families. The young victims include a 3-year-old French child, four Spanish children, an 18-month-old South African toddler and the New Zealand triplets, Lillie, Jackson and Willsher Weekes.

“It’s absolutely devastating,” the triplets’ grandmother, Jo Turner, told Fairfax Media in New Zealand.

A statement issued by the triplets’ family said, “Lillie, Jackson and Willsher came into this world together and were inseparable as siblings, best friends and the joy of our life. Tragically, they left together after only two short years.”

The triplets’ parents clutched red roses and a single teddy bear during a memorial gathering Tuesday in Doha.

Spain’s El Pais newspaper said the Spanish children killed included three siblings, aged 2 to 7, and a 7-year-old girl from another family. Another newspaper, El Mundo, said the Spanish mothers dropped off their children while they shopped.

Tennis star Rafael Nadal of Spain was among those expressing their condolences via Twitter to the “families and friends” of the victims. The world’s No. 2 tennis player has appeared in a number of tournaments in the Gulf state.

At least three of the nursery teachers, women from the Philippines, died of smoke inhalation, Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in Manila. A South African woman who worked at the centre also died, said a South African government statement.

Qatar Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani offered condolences to “all the parents and relatives of those killed in this horrible fire.”

The Villaggio opened in 2006 and is one of the most popular shopping and amusement destinations in fast-growing Qatar, which will host football’s 2022 World Cup.

More than three-quarters of Qatar’s population of 1.8 million residents are foreigners attracted to the tiny nation for jobs ranging from labourers to government advisers.

Sheik Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar’s minister of state for interior affairs, said authorities carried out repeated search operations in the mall and confirmed that no one was still trapped inside, according to comments posted on the ministry’s website. –

Sapa-AP

ANCYL absent at ‘The Spear’ protest

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 The ANC Youth League was notably absent from Tuesday’s protest at the Goodman Gallery in Joburg.

While representatives of all other ANC structures and their affiliates marched from Zoo Lake to the gallery in Rosebank to hand over a memorandum protesting against Brett Murray’s painting “The Spear”, the ANCYL did not turn up.

A Goodman Gallery representative accepted the memorandum and agreed to remove the painting from their website.

The ANC called off its boycott of City Press, after the newspaper, which had published a photo of the work on its website, took it down.

Throughout the furore over the painting, the Youth League had remained silent. In its Sunday edition, however, City Press published an editorial by the league’s expelled president, Julius Malema.

Malema defended the gallery’s right to display the “The Spear”, a painting which, until it was defaced last Tuesday, depicted President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed. Malema wrote that City Press had a right to publish it. He said the voice of reason in South Africa was disappearing.

“No one had the courage to stand up and speak against undemocratic and potentially despotic practices from within the ranks of the democratic movement.

“Banning newspapers simply because we disagree with them, and boycotting them on the basis of believing that our conception of truth is absolute, poses a real threat to our democracy,” he wrote.

Someone in the crowd held up a poster: “Juju we do not miss you boy.” Juju is Malema’s nickname.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said in isiZulu part of artist Brett Murray’s agenda was to undermine the rule of the majority.

“The insult to Zuma was an insult to all of us. You strike Zuma, you strike us,” he said.

Deputy Health Minister Gwen Ramokgopa said if the president was under attack, everyone was under attack. – Sapa

Kenya on a learning curve at 8-Nations International Tournament

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BY Obakeng Maje

Kenya head into their final match of the 8-Nations International under-20 Tournament on the back of two defeats, but remains upbeat about their experiences in Cape Town.

The east African side faces Cameroon on Wednesday (30 May) night at the Athlone Stadium in the final game of Group B. Kickoff is at 20H30.

Neither side can qualify for the semi-finals – Kenya having lost 3-0 to Japan and 4-0 to Brazil, while Cameroon went down 1-0 to Brazil and 2-1 to Japan.

However, for the Kenyan contingent, the outing down south has been a constructive and rewarding exercise, even if results have not gone their way. 

Long-serving former Santos and Kenyan captain Musa Otieno is one of the most respected players in his home country, where he runs a football academy.

Otieno has been working in an advisory capacity with the Kenya technical team down in the Mother City, and is upbeat in terms of how his country’s participation in the prestigious tournament will be of future benefit.

“It’s good for us to get a chance to play in this kind of tournament. We have learnt a lot and I believe we have been beaten through little mistakes the boys made.

“It’s a learning process for us and it’s a good chance for the federation to look at the players. The average age of this team is only 16 or 17, they are very young compared to the other countries.

“For us losing was not a big deal. Yes we feel bad, but the boys are learning fast and I’m very happy with the way they are performing, it’s all part of a building process,” he said.

For Japan coach Yasushi Yoshida and his team, it’s been a successful tournament thus far, with wins over Kenya and Cameroon.

The Asian side have been highly impressive, showing superb technical and tactical ability, setting the tournament alight with some wonderful football.
Yoshida can lead his charges into battle against Brazil without any pressure upon their shoulders, a place in the semi-finals already secured. The match kicks off at 18H00, at Athlone Stadium.

For Yoshida, the excursion to Africa has been a success in that it has given his team the chance to play against the kind of opposition they would not normally come up against.

“Cameroon had a really high level of playing – they are very strong and very fast and we don’t have a strong team like Cameroon in Asian countries, so it was a very good experience for us.

“Our players come from all over Japan – playing professionally in our two leagues with 40 clubs – J1 and J2. We gathered our greatest players and we are happy with the chance to come and play in this tournament.

“Now we look forward to a rare opportunity for us to play against Brazil, so we are looking forward to the occasion and will be giving it our best effort,” he said.

Mphela confident goals will come

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BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela believes that the days of Bafana Bafana not scoring goals will now come to an end.

Killer, as he is commonly known, was speaking to the media after the South African Senior Men’s National Team’s training session on Tuesday, 29 May 2012 at the Royal Marang Sports Complex in Phokeng near Rustenburg.

Bafana Bafana will play in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil qualifier against Ethiopia. The match will take place on Sunday, 3 June at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng.

This is the national team’s second week in camp.

“We all know goal scoring has been a problem but I believe with time we will get it right. There is a healthy competition for strikers which is good. Siyabonga Nomvethe and  Eleazar  Rodgers did very well during the PSL season that just ended and it’s good to have them here, we are all hoping they will continue scoring goals even for the nation,” said Mphela.

Killer was full of praise for Nomvethe.

“He has been scoring goals, and at the moment is on a high. I think he is one of the most confident players in the team, he has the experience as he has been there before so I believe he will bring a different dimension to the team,” added Mphela.

“As for Ethiopia we are in for a busy afternoon. They have very fit players who run the entire match and will give our defence a hard time, but we are ready for them.”

Defender Anele Ngcongca agrees with Mphela on the strength of Ethiopia, but also points out that the Bafana Bafana defence has been doing very well in the last few matches.

“If you look back the defence has been solid, just that the team did not score enough goals. We believe we now have enough firepower with the kind of strikers in camp. On paper it’s an easy match, but on the field it’s a different story altogether, but we will do our best to overcome them,” said Ngcongca.

“For most teams playing South Africa is like a cup final so they will make things difficult for us. They are stubborn in defence and have lots of energy, but they will not come at us and instead try to catch us on a counter. This could be a tricky clash let’s just hope we come out on top this Sunday.”

The defender also believes a good crowd at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace could be the boost the team needs.

“Crowds play a big role for us as players. I know we haven’t been winning games but this is one of the matches where we need our supporters behind so we start the 2014 campaign on a good note,” said Ngcongca.

Bafana Bafana defender Siyabonga Sangweni will miss the team’s afternoon training session after a recurring ankle injury he aggravated in the morning training session.

The medical department is awaiting results from the MRI scan.

SAFA President congratulates Manca for sterling work in the Cup final

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BY Obakeng Maje

The appointment of Baaitse Manca in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday, 26 May 2012 is a first for women in the history of South African football.

South African Football Association (SAFA) President, Kirsten Nematandani congratulated Manca for the magnificent manner in which she executed her duties and responsibilities on Saturday in the match between cross-town rivals Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns, adding that the official had done South Africa proud.

“This is great news which should even hog the international limelight. Not only was she in the thick of action but was meticulous and made great calls especially the offside calls. She has a great future in this game which in the past has been a preserved of male species,” said the SAFA President.

SAFA’s Head of Referees, Adeel Carelse said the Association took the bold step in her appointment in view of the success of Project Equity (The Development of Female Referees).   This project is in its second year and has borne results beyond what was initially envisaged.

“Manca earned her appointment purely on merit. She has also been appointed as the Fourth Official in the upcoming Banyana Banyana match against Nigeria. This is good both for her and the country,” said Carelse.

Already a member of the FIFA Panel of Referees, Manca is destined for even greater honours.  She has been a member of the National Panel of Referees since 2007 and gained valuable experience since being exposed to the rigours of officiating in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Project Equity is one of five projects currently being run by the referees department in order to increase the skill level of referees.   

At present there are 5 females on the National Panel of Referees.   For the operational season 2012/2013 a further 3 ladies have been earmarked for possible promotion depending on their assessment at the Higher National Certification Course due to commence on 15th July 2012.

Two of Manca’s fellow referees, Nomvula Masilela and Assistance Sokhela have been invited to join the CAF Elite Referees Panel and will be going to Cameroon to complete the pre-requisite course on the 18-23 June 2012.

Gallery agrees to remove Spear from site

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Johannesburg – The Goodman Gallery agreed to remove The Spear painting from its website, it was reported on Tuesday. 

This followed a march to the gallery in Rosebank, Johannesburg, by about 3 000 ANC supporters.

The ANC has also called off a boycott of City Press newspaper.

More details to follow.