ABSA Premiership

Result: Leopards 1-3 Chiefs

Date: 20 Febraury 2013

Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs held on to top spot on the league table with a superb 3-1 win away to Black Leopards on Wednesday night.

The Glamour Boys started the game brilliantly and just four minutes in Junaid Mashamaite poked home from the edge of the six-yard area after Siphiwe Tshabalala’s corner had been flicked on by Morgan Gould.

The visitors had another chance two minutes later when Willard Katsande got onto the end of a cross from Tshabalala but his header flashed wide of the target.

Despite conceding early, Leopards settled well and looked dangerous on the counter. They almost created a great chance in the 18th minute when Joshua Obaje skinned his defender before running up the byline. His attempted low cross was blocked by Katsande and Gould got in front of Abbas Amidu to block his shot from close range.

Itumeleng Khune then made two spectacular saves in the 21st minute. First the Bafana stopper went full stretch to push Amidu’s shot onto the post with his fingertips before springing back up to deny Mongezi Bobe on the follow-up.

Keegan Ritchie saw his cross deflected behind after getting in on the flank and although Mashamaite got above the goalkeeper from the resulting corner, his header looped out harmlessly.

Leopards would strike with just four minutes to go in the half though as Obajes converted at the near post after a superb cross from Bobe.

Chiefs started the second period brightly and saw Mandla Masango played in brilliantly but after rounding the goalkeeper, he could only find the side netting.

The visitors then felt Ernort Dzaga should have been sent off on the hour mark after a professional foul on Reneilwe Letsholonyane who was bursting through on goal. The referee awarded the free-kick and produced a yellow card, and Parker saw his strike from the set-piece tipped away by the goalkeeper.

The pressure continued for Chiefs though as they saw a header from a corner blocked on the line and in the 64th minute they would restore their lead as Kingston Nkhatha fired a thunderous strike in at the near post.

Leopards desperately looked for a way back into the game but Chiefs were confident and limited the opportunities for the home side.

Chiefs almost wrapped up the game in the first minute of stoppage time when substitute Sthembiso Ngcobo snatched the ball at the back but he was unable to beat the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

The visitors would finish on a positive note though as Lucky Baloyi smashed the ball into the roof of the net with the last kick of the game after being played in beautifully by Parker.

Leopards: Azwindini Maphaha, Humphrey Khoza, Nkosiyabo Xakane, Harry Nyirenda, Samuel Mabunda, Mongezi Bobe, Raymond Monama, Jean Mugananga, Ernort Dzaga, Abbas Amidu, Joshua Obaje.

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Junaid Mashamaite, Keegan Ritchie, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Willard Katsande, Mandla Masango, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bernard Parker, Kingston Nkhatha.

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Absa Premiership

Result: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Platinum Stars

Date: 20 February 2013

Venue: Orlando Stadium

Referee: Khulasande Qongqo

Daine Klate scored the winner as Orlando Pirates edged Platinum Stars 1-0 in their Absa Premiership clash.

The victory kept Pirates in second place, two points behind Kaizer Chiefs who also picked up a victory at Black Leopards on Wednesday.

There was a good chance on 18 minutes for Pirates when Klate swung a free-kick into the area, but Takesure Chinyama couldn’t quite get enough power on the header to beat Siyabonga Mpontshane.

On the half hour Dinaledi should have taken the lead when Mogakolodi Ngele ghosted past the challenge of Happy Jele and while his shot had the better of Senzo Meyiwa, it came crashing back off the upright. Patrick Malokase then looked to bury the rebound, but shot just wide.

Seconds later at the other end Innocent Mkhabela was easily dispossessed by Sifiso Miyeni, but his long-range effort failed to draw a save out of Mpontshane.

Platinum Stars’ shooting continued to let them down and shortly before the break it was Robert Ngambi who smashed a chance from the edge of the area well over the bar.

It took seven minutes into the second period for The Sea Robbers to take the lead as Thandani Ntshumayelo did all the hard work by beating two defenders before playing in a perfect cross for Klate to slot into the back of the net. It was a third league goal of the season for the Pirates winger.

Thereafter both teams were lucky to continue with 11 men on the park as Thabo Matlaba reacted angrily to a harsh challenge from Vuyo Mere.

A brilliant reaction save from Senzo Meyiwa then kept Pirates ahead and Mkhabela would have counted himself unlucky not score with his header off a corner.

Matlaba then went on an exciting run up the left and with a fierce shot gave Mpontshane a massive  shock as the ball struck the outside half of the near post.

Dinaledi refused to give up and nearly got the leveller on 88 minutes when substitute Siphelele Mthembu turned his marker and pulled the trigger, but his strike also met the woodwork, much to the frustration of coach Cavin Johnson on the sidelines.

Pirates: Senzo Meyiwa, Happy Jele, Ayanda Gcaba, Lucky Lekgwathi, Thabo Matlaba, Oupa Manyisa, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Andile Jali (Onyekachi Okonkwo 90), Daine Klate (Rudolf Bester 64), Sifiso Myeni, Takesure Chinyama (Collins Mbesuma 71).

Subs: Brighton Mhlongo, Mark Mayambela, Bheki Nzunga, Ndumiso Mabena.

Stars: Siyabonga Mpontshane, Vuyo Mere, Tshepo Gumede, Benson Mhlongo, Luvolwethu Mpeta, Innocent Mkhabela (Roger Majafa 88), Robert Ngambi, Thuso Phala, Patrick Malokase (Siphelele Mthembu 57), Mogakolodi Ngele, Thabani Mthembu (Sibusiso Msomi 65)

Subs: Kagisho Mlambo, Elias Ngwepe, Thabiso Semenya, Solomon Mathe

Goal: Daine Klate (Pirates 52)

For more details go to http://www.soccerladuma.com

Kimberley – A woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing R3.8 million from Child Welfare SA in Kimberley, Northern Cape, the Hawks said on Friday.

The 57-year-old woman was recently appointed assistant financial director in the province’s education department, Captain Paul Ramaloko said.

She was arrested on Thursday.

The woman is accused of transferring social grants into her personal account during 2009 and 2011.

Ramaloko said she would appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on April 12 on 158 counts of fraud. – Sapa

Pretoria – The State is confident about its murder case against paralympian Oscar Pistorius, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday.

Investigating officer Hilton Botha had not been “discredited” by the defence’s examination earlier in the day, NPA spokesman Medupi Simasiku told reporters in Pretoria.

“It is normal for the cross-examination to happen like that. We believe that he (Botha) is strong enough to stand that (examination),” said Simasiku.

“The bail application is still on, but as the State we remain confident that we will get what we want. Until tomorrow (when the bail application resumes), the status quo remains the same.”

The State is opposing Pistorius’ application for bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

On Wednesday, advocate Barry Roux accused the police of contaminating the scene while investigating the St Valentine’s Day shooting of Pistorius’ girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

He accused Botha of walking around the house, in Pretoria, without protective shoe covers.

Botha said he should have worn them, “but they were not around”.

Roux again asked Botha if there was nothing in Pistorius’ statement that was inconsistent with the scene.

“Yes, at this stage,” said Botha.

For more details go to www.iol.co.za

PSL general manager Derek Blanckensee says the League will not preempt what will happen to FC AK after they refused to honour their fixture against Witbank Spurs today.

Orlando Pirates have confirmed that defender Siyabonga Sangweni will be out for six weeks.

BY Staff Reporter

The South African Senior Women’s National team (Banyana Banyana) has settled down well  as the squad prepares for the annual 12-Nation Cyprus Women’s Cup that takes place at the Tasos Marajou Stadium in Paralimi from Wednesday 6 – 13 March 2013 in Cyprus.

Head coach of the Sasol sponsored senior Women’s National team, Joseph Mkhonza is impressed by the showing of all of his players who have reported for camp and is the first to admit selecting the final 22 players will not be an easy task.

Mkhonza will be without the services of all three international based players in Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker for the coming assignment.

Nyandeni has pulled out of the Banyana squad due to club commitments as her Russian club, Rossiyanka is preparing to take part in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Kylie and Roxanne who play their club football in the United States will not be joining the national squad due to study commitments.

Banyana Banyana will continue with their preparations at the North West University High Performance Centre in Potchefstroom before their departure for Cyprus on Monday 25 February 2013.

While coach Mkhonza will have a tough time selecting his 22-player squad to compete in the Cyprus Cup, he will also be using this camp to look at younger players and groom the squad that will compete for the FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Banyana Banyana will open their Group C campaign at the Cyprus Women’s Cup against South Korea on Wednesday, 6 March at the Tasos Marko Stadium, Kick-off is at 14:30. The next group stage encounter to be played at the same match venue will be against the Republic of Ireland on Friday 8 March (Kick-off: 1430), while the final group stage encounter against Northern Ireland will be played on Monday 11 February in Paralimi. 14:30 Kick-off.

England, Italy, New Zealand and Scotland will play in the Group A while Group B will contested by Canada, Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland .

“I want to use the Cyprus Women’s Cup to bring in new players and prepare the country for future tournaments. The 22 players I will select will form the core of Banyana Banyana squad that will take part in the World Cup, the Olympics as well as the African Women’s Championship next year.

“Those that will not form part of the trip to Cyprus must not lose hope as my bigger aim is to create a bigger pool of this Banyana squad. That will put the team in good steady in case of injuries and suspensions,” said the Banyana mentor, Joseph Mkhonza.

The 25 Banyana Banyana players in camp:

Cape Town will host a 2014 World Cup qualifier between Bafana Bafana and the Central African Republic next month.

Pretoria – Magistrate Desmond Nair asked on Wednesday whether if murder accused paralympian Oscar Pistorius would flee South Africa if granted bail.

“Yes”, replied investigating officer Hilton Botha. “It is possible, lifetime imprisonment is no joke.”

He said he knew of instances where people had fled to avoid spending even five years in jail.

Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home in Pretoria on February 14. He has denied the charges.

Nair asked even if a person who had won Olympic gold would jeopardise his career before the case ended.

Botha maintained that life in prison was “no joke”.

Pistorius’ bail application has been postponed to Thursday by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Magistrate Desmond Nair ruled that he would remain in custody again at the Brooklyn police station holding cells. – Sapa

By Obakeng Maje

Kimberley-A warrant of arrest has been issued for Merlyn Booysen, on the murder case that is being investigated by the Galeshewe police. 

“Merlyn was arrested for murder, and she escaped during her appearance in Galeshewe Magistrate Court on 2013-01-28” Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana said. Merlyn is well-known in Galeshewe at Number two area. 

“It is suspected that she could be hiding either in Kimberley or somewhere in Cape Town” police said. 

“We appeal to any person with the information of her whereabouts is requested to contact the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Attie Browers on 082 4690 138 or Galeshewe police on 053 8076 000.

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