BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana have started their training camp at Orlando Stadium in Soweto which runs from Thursday, 27 December until Saturday, 29 December 2012.

 

The squad consists of 31 players – the 24 that was selected for the international friendly match against Malawi last weekend (Saturday, 22 December) in Durban and an additional seven more.

 

Head coach Gordon Igesund will announce the final 23-man squad on Sunday, 30 December.

 

Almost all players reported for national duty with the exception of striker Benni McCarthy and defender Eric Mathoho who have been withdrawn from the camp due to injuries. McCarthy is suffering from a troublesome hamstring while Mathoho has a knee injury.

 

“It is a blow when any player called up for the national team pulls out due to injury. It would have been a great situation to have both of them here,” said Igesund.

 

Ayanda Patosi and Andile Jali were given a break as a precautionary measure. Both have niggling ankle injuries but are expected to join their compatriots at training on Friday, 28 December.

 

Due to club commitments, England-based Kagisho Dikgacoi and Dean Furman, as well as Darren Keet who plays in Belgium will not be part of the training camp.

 

“I already have 19 players in my mind but I still have some decisions to make for the rest, so there are still some places up for grabs.

 

“These are exciting but also testing times for me and the players because at the end of the day only 23 players can make the squad. We saw in the match against Malawi that all players want to be part of this fiesta. But it does not mean if players are excluded from the AFCON squad it is the end of the road, we still have plenty of tournaments to come,” added Igesund.

 

“What I am happy about is the great vibe in the squad and you can see all the players are eager to do their best which makes life harder for me and my technical team.”

 

 

 

BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD FOR TEAM FOR TRAINING CAMP

 

NO.

 

  PLAYER’S NAME

 

  CLUB

 

                     GOALKEEPERS: 1.

 

  Itumeleng 

 

KHUNE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  2.

 

  Wayne 

 

SANDILANDS Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

 

  3.

 

  Senzo 

 

MEYIWA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  DEFENDERS:

 

  4.

 

  Bevan

 

FRANSMAN Supersport United FC (SA)

 

  5.

 

  Thabo 

 

NTHETHE Bloemfontein Celtic (SA)

 

  6.

 

  Siyabonga

 

SANGWENI Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  7.

 

  Siyanda 

 

XULU FC Rostov (Russia)

 

  8.

 

  Siboniso 

 

GAXA  Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  9.

 

  Tshepo 

 

MASILELA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  10.

 

  Thabo 

 

MATLABA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

               MIDFIELDERS: 11.

 

  Oupa

 

MANYISA Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  12.

 

  Reneilwe

 

LETSHOLONYANE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  13.

 

  Siphiwe 

 

TSHABALALA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  14.

 

  Sifiso 

 

MYENI Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  15.

 

  Thanduyise 

 

KHUBONI Lamontville Golden Arrows FC (SA)

 

  16.

 

  May 

 

MAHLANGU Helsingborg IF (Sweden)

 

  17.

 

  Delron

 

BUCKLEY Maritzburg United FC (SA)

 

  18.

 

  Lerato 

 

CHABANGU Moroka Swallows FC (SA)

 

  19.

 

  Thuso 

 

PHALA Platinum Stars FC (SA)

 

  20.

 

  Ayanda

 

PATOSI Lokeren FC (Belgium)

 

  21.

 

  Daine 

 

KLATE Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

 

  STRIKERS:

 

  22.

 

  Bernard 

 

PARKER Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  23.

 

  Lehlohonolo 

 

MAJORO Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

 

  24.

 

  Tokelo 

 

RANTIE Malmo FF (Sweden)

 

    

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS:

 

1.

  Anele 

NGCONGCA Racing Genk FC (Belgium)

  2.

  Andile 

JALI Orlando Pirates FC (SA)

  3.

  Teko 

MODISE         Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

  4.

  Bongani 

KHUMALO Paok FC (Greece)

  5.

  Ricardo 

NUNES MSK Zilina FC (Slovakia)

  6.

  Thulani

SERERO Ajax Amsterdam FC (Holland)

  7.

  Katlego 

MPHELA Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)

    

 

It was a dog-eat-dog world on Twitter on Thursday as people argued over President Jacob Zuma’s comments that caring for a pet dog was part of “white” culture.

 

While a flurry of users seemed indignant that Zuma didn’t name Jock of the Bushveld his favourite four-legged South African or ask Lassie to come home, many others agreed with the president’s sentiments.

 

One user, YanelaJ, said Zuma’s comments were accurate: “How many blacks vs whites do u c walking/running dogs..don’t count domestic worker?”

 

Young Communist League spokesman Khaya Xaba tweeted that a “rich man’s dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich man’s wealth is built.”

 

The Star reported on Thursday that Zuma, in a speech given at Impendle in KwaZulu-Natal, had said that spending money to buy a dog and taking it to the vet and for walks, belonged to “white” culture.

 

He was also reported to have said that those who loved dogs more than people had “a lack of humanity”.

 

The presidency later sent out a statement in which it explained that Zuma was only trying to “decolonise the African mind” with his statements.

 

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said that Zuma wanted “to enable the previously oppressed African majority to appreciate and love who they are”.

 

Meanwhile on Twitter, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi tweeted a picture of himself with his Boerboel “Superhero” and his Jack Russell “Maradona”.

 

Some tweeters gently suggested that “Superhero” was a bit on the chubby side, but Vavi reassured his followers that he has managed to get the Boerboel’s weight down since the photograph was taken.

 

Vavi also mentioned that he had given ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe a puppy years ago. “He keeps dogs too,” tweeted Vavi.

 

Nevertheless, Vavi said that he was not offended by Zuma’s comments. “As an animal lover & proudly black I don’t feel insulted by that comment – I do have compassion for humans too!!”

 

However, internationally renowned author Zakes Mda refuted the essentialism behind Zuma’s statement.

 

“There are many ways of being African. Of being black even. Those who love animals are not less African than those who don’t.”

 

Journalist Reuben Goldberg suggested that South Africans buy Zuma a dog “and name it #Nkandla”.

 

Even “Bazil the Bulldog” gave his opinion into the matter, tweeting: “Zuma needs a history check, as the Africanis breed of dogs have been the companions of Southern Africa’s San Bushmen since 800 AD…”

 

Ayanda Mlotshwa questioned Zuma’s linking of race and dog ownership, stating: “I’m black & I love my dog. He’s part of my family. We’ve always had dogs in my family. Can’t imagine life without them.”

 

A number of people also tweeted an old photograph of former president Nelson Mandela beaming alongside a jubilant canine companion.

 

The Christian Democratic party sent out a statement in which they said it appeared from his remarks that Zuma’s second term would be “even more sectarian and divisive” than his first.

 

“This playing up of one culture against another, describing them, not as different, but rather that one has superior moral values to the other, is totally unacceptable and counterproductive,” said party leader Theunis Botha. – Sapa

LENASIA – A woman was electrocuted on Thursday after she allegedly fiddled with an electric cable in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg Emergency Services Robert Mulaudzi said they responded to a call earlier and found the woman’s body, who is believed to be in her forties.

“She was lying next to an electrical box. It looks she was trying to connect electricity illegally.

“She was declared dead on the scene.”

Mulaudzi said they have seen an increase in incidents of this nature. 

City Power was called in to switch off the power as the cable was believed to be live and posed a danger to residents.

The public was also urged to refrain from these illegal activities.

For more details go to http://www.ewn.co.za

Johannesburg – A 29-year-old Tshwane metro police constable has been arrested after being found in possession of suspected stolen goods and explosives similar to those used during ATM bombings.

 

The constable was arrested in Akasia on Monday when police responded to a complaint about domestic violence.

 

She had allegedly poured hot water on her boyfriend, and he had to be taken to hospital.

 

While at the house, police spotted a Toyota Quantum minibus with no seats.

 

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Mathews Nkoadi said the officers then searched the vehicle and also circulated its particulars to check if it was stolen.

 

“Upon its circulation, it reflected as a hijacking case in Loate (North West) that happened in September,” said Nkoadi.

 

While searching the property and house, police officers found a .38 firearm with live ammunition, 26 rounds of live ammunition for a 9mm pistol and three explosives – the type used in ATM bombings.

 

“We also recovered a police bulletproof vest. She could not account for any of the items found at her house and she was taken into custody.

 

“She is facing charges of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of suspected stolen goods. She is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court soon,” said Nkoadi.

 

Police are now checking whether the constable had been involved in other crimes in Pretoria and will also check if she had been involved in ATM bombings.

 

“Investigations are ongoing to see if she is linked to any other crimes and to see if she was directly involved in the hijacking of the taxi,” said Nkoadi.

 

Tshwane metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said they were aware of her arrest and would undertake disciplinary measures against her.

 

The constable was the second Tshwane metro police officer to be arrested in less than a week

.For more details go to iol.co.za

 

The IFP Youth Brigade yesterday voiced its concern over the decision of the SABC to flight the movie, The Bang Bang Club, saying it gave the impression that the organisation had been in an alliance with the apartheid government during the years of oppression.

 

National chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said there was escalating political bias being showed by the SABC.

 

He said the public broadcaster was “killing multi-party democracy” in the country while driving many people from opposition parties to the ANC.

 

“It is shameful and disturbing by all measures or standards for the SABC to continue airing The Bang Bang Club. I pay my TV licence as many South Africans do. For the SABC to show us lies is not fair.

 

“These lies push people away from the opposition parties to the ANC.”

 

He said the movie had been flighted on Friday night on SABC1.

 

“This action film paints a negative picture of the IFP, but it has been proven many times that our organisation fought against the apartheid government.

 

We are prepared to explore every avenue to ensure that this onslaught on the IFP comes to an end,” Hlengwa said.

 

He called on the SABC to be objective, adding that his organisation would approach the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to seek its intervention.

 

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the broadcaster aired the movie because it had a licence agreement with the person who created it.

 

It is not our movie and we will continue to play it as per our licence agreement with its owner,” Kganyago said. He said the Brigade had the right to lodge a complaint with Icasa.

For more details g tO http://www.thenewage.co.za

An “irresistible” Iowa dental assistant fired for threatening her boss’s marriage – even though she turned away his advances – has lost her discrimination lawsuit.

 

Melissa Nelson, who is married with children, had worked for James Knight for 10 years before his wife complained about his infatuation with her.

 

Nelson told the court that she had seen Knight as a father figure and a man of “integrity” who generally treated her with respect.

 

But about nine years into the job, Knight started to complain that her clothes were “distracting” because they “accentuated her body,” and he sometimes asked her to cover up with her lab coat.

 

At one point, Knight told Nelson that “if she saw his pants bulging, she would know her clothing was too revealing,” court records showed.

 

After she told him that his complaint about the tightness of her shirt wasn’t fair, he texted back that it was a good thing she didn’t wear tight pants too “because then he would get it coming and going,” the court records showed.

 

And at one point when Knight discussed infrequency in Nelson’s sex life, he told her “that’s like having a Lamborghini in the garage and never driving it.”

 

Knight’s wife, who also worked in the dental office, put her foot down when she discovered the two were texting each other.

 

After meeting with their pastor, Knight agreed to fire Nelson because she was a “big threat to our marriage”.

 

Knight had his pastor by his side when he told Nelson that their relationship – even if there was no sexual affair – had become a “detriment” to his family and that for the sake of both their families they shouldn’t work together.

 

He later told Nelson’s husband she had not done anything wrong or inappropriate, but that he was worried “he would try to have an affair with her down the road if he did not fire her”.

 

Since Nelson did not consider Knight’s behaviour to be sexual harassment, the Iowa Supreme Court determined the question to be “whether an employee who has not engaged in flirtatious conduct may be lawfully terminated simply because the boss views the employee as an irresistible attraction”.

 

While Iowa law prohibits discrimination against employees based on gender, the all-male court ruled that Knight’s conduct was “unfair” but “did not amount to unlawful discrimination.”

 

“I’m trying to stay strong. It’s tough,” Nelson told CNN on Saturday, two days after the ruling was released. “I don’t think it’s fair. I don’t think it’s right.”

 

She denied wearing provocative clothing, telling the television network she wore loose-fitting scrubs to work under her lab coat.

 

Knight’s attorney said there was a clear precedent to allow employers to fire employees who aroused jealousy in their spouses.

 

“He and his wife really agonized about it,” Stuart Cochrane told CNN. “He didn’t want to terminate her.” – Sapa-AFP

Fake bank notes – used in a scam whereby paper “magically” turns into money – were found on an East London beach, police said on Thursday.

 

A young child found a heap of photocopied money bundled into piles of R100 notes at Leaches Bay on Wednesday, said police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais.

 

“There were blank papers in between the fake notes.”

 

Police were called to the scene.

 

Marais said it was likely that the money had been used in a scam known as the “Black Dollar Scam”.

 

He said in this scam, criminals would approach people, particularly the elderly, and promise them that if they handed over their money, they could increase or even double the amount.

 

“They would trick the people by showing them a box in which they would place blank paper in the size of notes.”

 

The scammer would then add what they called a “special chemical” to the paper. They would close the box and wait about half an hour for the chemical to “work”.

 

The con artist would then pull out some real notes and put them on top before showing the box to the victim of the scam – who now would believe the paper had turned into money.

 

“Once the victim paid over some money to the agents to buy more ‘chemical’ the agents would disappear.”

 

Marais said police had confiscated the fake money found at the beach. He said people must not fall for these kind of scams.

 

“There is no get rich quick scheme.” – Sapa

Cape Town – Gunshots and petrol bombs ended the lives of three people in Philippi East on Christmas Day.

 

Thembisa Mondleki, 26, and Garry Dladla, 38, died in hospital after their shack was set alight by Mondleki’s ex-boyfriend in the early hours.

 

Nolusindiso Batyi, 30, owner of the house at which the couple was renting a shack, said they had been sitting together with the couple and a few friends enjoying a few drinks on Christmas Eve.

 

“Then my friends and I decided to leave and go hang out elsewhere in the neighbourhood, leaving the couple by themselves,” Batyi said.

 

Batyi said Mondleki’s ex-boyfriend, known only as Warren, apparently came over while the couple was sitting outside and started quarrelling with them.

 

“Warren wanted to fight, but the couple decided to lock themselves inside their room to avoid a fight. He went away and came back at about 2am (on Christmas Day) with petrol bombs which he had made inside small bottles.

for more details go to http://www.iol.co.za