By Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini scored the only goal of the match to give her side victory over Zimbabwe in an international friendly encounter played at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 13 October 2012.

Dlamini headed home six minutes into the second half from a neatly played cross from the right hand side of the field, from second half substitute Silindile Ngubane, who was making her Banyana Banyana debut.

Durban Ladies (Sasol League KwaZulu Natal) striker Ngubane, brought on in the second half for Nocawe Skiti, instantly gave the hosts more thrust on attack.

Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni pulled off several superb saves to deny the Zimbabweans from equalising, and was deservedly named as the Sasol Diski Queen (Player of the Match).

The Sasol-sponsored national senior women’s football team will face the Zimbabweans again on Tuesday, 16 October 2012 (15h00 kick-off), with the matches forming part of the national team’s preparations ahead of the eight nation CAF African Women Championship to be played in Equatorial Guinea from October 28 to November 11.

Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A and will face hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on October 28, Senegal in Malabo on October 31, and will travel to the island city of Bata for their encounter with DR Congo on November 3.

Successful group stage results will see the South Africans play in the semi-finals in either Malabo or Bata on November 7, with the 3rd/4th place playoff and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on November 11.

Speaking after the match, Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza said: ““The Zimbabweans are always a tough side to play, either at home or away but the match gave us an opportunity to try out several combinations ahead of the CAF African Women Championship.”

The win over the Zimbabweans, ended Banyana Banyana’s run of reverses against their neighbours, having lost in the Cosafa Cup final and the Unity Day celebrations, both played in Harare last year.

By Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana lost 1-0 to Poland in an international friendly match played on Friday, 12 October 2012. The clash took place in Warsaw’s National Stadium.

South Africa’s head coach Gordon Igesund made five changes to the team that defeated Mozambique in Nelspruit last month.

Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Kagisho Dikgacoi returned to the squad while Sifiso Myeni, Luvhengo Mungomeni and Ricardo Nunes earned their first caps.

The match was used as part of the preparations for Poland who meet England in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier next week, while Bafana Bafana will take on Kenya in Nairobi on Tuesday, 16 October.

Once again, just like his heroics in Brazil, Itumeleng Khune put out a fine performance against Poland, first denying Arkadiusz Piech in a one-on-one situation in the 26th minute.

He was back again to stop Sobiech from what looked like a certain goal and despite having a busy evening; he could do nothing about Marcin Komorowski’s 82nd minute shot which gave the hosts victory.

South Africa did have the ball in the back of the net from Siyabonga Sangweni late header, but the effort was ruled offside.

“Congratulations to Poland for the victory, but I believe we deserved something from the game. I am not disappointed with the performance of my players, but I am unhappy that we gave away a very soft goal. I think we achieved what we wanted from this match. It was a good and worthwhile exercise,” said Bafana coach Igesund.

“Poland started well but Khune did well to keep us in the game. I also believe we did not have enough bodies in the box to punish them. It is better to lose games like these and be ready for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament because I am building a squad for that showpiece. It was a great test for us.”

Igesund was happy with debutant Ricardo Nunes.

“He did reasonably well and he showed some quality. But I still believe he can still improve,” he said.

Bafana Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo believes despite the loss, there are some positives to take out of this result.

“It is a bitter pill to swallow, more so because we conceded so late in the match. We had some chances which we did not capitalise on and at this level we have to bury every opportunity we get, even half a chance.

“Be that as it may, we are forging ahead with our mission of preparing a team for Afcon, so we have to keep on fighting, we have to keep on working hard and the results will eventually come,” said the Greece-based defender.

Bafana Bafana who travel to Nairobi on Saturday, will have one training session before taking on Kenya on Tuesday.

That clash will take place at Nyayo National Stadium and kicks off at 19h00 Kenyan time (18h00 SA time)

By Obakeng Maje

Rustenburg- Yesterday North West police were called at around 20:00 and 21:00 after  received information that people are gathered at Zakhele informal settlement in Rustenburg.

The police monitored the group of about 1000 people.

It became clear that the mobilized march was “heading towards Khomanani 1 shaft and the police had to disperse the determined group” Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said.  

“Teargas and rubber bullets rounds were used to disperse the overzealous group. However the group retaliated with petrol bombs which damaged one of the police Nyala vehicle” he said.

The police managed to extinguish the fire and no reports of injuries were reported from both sides.

“The group eventually disappeared into the informal settlement and four people were detained for public violence and will appear before Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday” said Ngubane.

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Stilfontein, North West –

A man shot his wife and then committed suicide by turning the gun on himself in Khuma, near Stilfontein, North West police said on Friday.

Sergeant Philani Nkwalase said the couple were taken to hospital on Thursday where the 41-year-old man died.

The woman was in a serious condition. – Sapa