Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala is delighted with his rare start in a Man-of-the-Match performance for South Africa at the weekend.

According to the Football411 website, Tshabalala found the back of the net for his 11th goal in a Bafana Bafana jersey as Gordon Igesund’s side dispatched the Central African Republic 3-0 on Saturday in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

A surprise selection out wide ahead of Platinum Stars’ Thuso Phala, ‘Shabba’ delivered an impressive display as he had a hand in every one of Bafana’s goals in Yaounde.

The 28-year-old, though, was just happy the South Africans could come away from Cameroon with all three points ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with Group A leaders Ethiopia.

“I really enjoyed myself. And I think the guys as well, they worked very hard and made things easier for me when I had the ball. So I knew when to pass and where to pass – I had a lot of options,” Tshabalala told Times LIVE.

“I wouldn’t say this was a comeback. I’m just grateful to be given an opportunity. I played my 78th game and scored.

“For me it’s one game at a time. My life has always been like that. It has never been smooth. There will always be hiccups and obstacles. But I’ve always stayed strong and overcome a lot of things – I’m up for any challenge.”

He was a key member of Chiefs’ league and cup double-winning team this past season, and with no less than five Amakhosi players in Igesund’s starting XI against CAR, it is little wonder Tshabalala’s understanding with Bernard Parker led to the latter opening the scoring on Saturday.

“I have a great understanding with Bernard Parker,” he said.

“He knows that when I have the ball he’s going to move and he’ll get it when he wants it. So it was not something that was unusual – it’s something we’ve been working on all along.”

As for his role for his country as a drifting wideman rather than an out-and-out winger, Tshabalala added: “It’s a role I’ve played for Chiefs and I’ve created a lot of goals from there.”

Football411

Banyana Banyana’s preparations for the international friendly match against Zimbabwe moved a gear up on Monday with the coach trimming the squad down from 21 to 18 players.

The match against neighbours Zimbabwe will take place on Saturday, 15 June at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton and coach Joseph Mkhonza admitted it was a very difficult decision to offload the three players from the original squad.

Durban Ladies defender, Charlotte Mshengu (Sasol League, KZN) and two goalkeepers in Mahlatsi Mogola of TUT ladies (Sasol league, Gauteng) and Primrose Ndlozi of TK Stars (Sasol league, Mpumalanga) will not join the Banyana Banyana squad as they continue their preparations for the friendly against Zimbabwe.

“This was not an easy process. I didn’t know who to leave behind and to be honest it was a very difficult decision to make. The three players I dropped were just unfortunate but the door is not shut on them; they should just continue training hard and they will be rewarded,” said Mkhonza.

The Sasol-sponsored senior women’s national team is in high spirits following the 5-0 thrashing of Mozambique in an international friendly match played at the Kanyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday, 9 June.

The friendly against Mozambique allowed the Banyana Banyana mentor to experiment with new combinations and at the same time award five new players with their first caps.

“Following yesterday’s (Sunday) excellent performance, I believe we are growing into a formidable squad. I gave five new players some international experience and I personally felt their performance was outstanding though there are still areas that need attention. But with time, that can be worked out.

“Given what we have seen over the past two weeks, we have the potential to grow as a national team and rise in rankings on the continent as well as in the world.” said Mkhonza.

Banyana Banyana squad for Johannesburg training camp:

NAME

  CLUB

  1. Andile Dlamini

  Mamelodi Sundowns

  2. Nkosingiphile Zungu

  Remax Shooting Stars

  3. Gabisile Hlumbane

  Kovsies Ladies

  4. Nothando  Vilakazi

  Super Falcons

  5. Nelisiwe Mchunu

  Moroka Swallows

  6. Lebogang Mabatle

  Zebra Force

  7. Janine Van Wyk

  Mondeor Meteors Ladies

  8. Nwabisa Kolisi

  City Lads

  9. Amanda Dlamini

  Durban Ladies    

  10. Nocawe Skiti

  Cape Town Roses

  11. Nomathemba Ntsibande

  Springs Home Sweepers

  12. Nomawethu Nyusani

  Coastal United Ladies

  13. Memory Makhanya

  Durban Ladies

  14. Noko Matlou

  MaIndies

  15. Zingawe Phakathi

  United Ladies

  16. Silindile Ngubane

  Durban Ladies

  17. Shiwe Nogwanya

  Celtics

  18. Zamandosi Cele

  Durban Ladies

By Obakeng Maje
Mmabatho-Six suspects who appeared before Mmabatho Magistrate Court for alleged murder of Boikie Molefe at Majemantsho village, near Mahikeng will remain in jail until their next appearance.
Mpho Phuthego(29), Thomas Sophosa(23), Lesego Matsheng(23), Pule Sophosa(33), Tumisang Mocumi(28) and Piet Matsheng(28) appeareared before magistrate today on murder charge.
“The six accused were arrested after the deceased, Boikie Molefe allegedly bludgeoned his ex-girlfriend to death and fled the scene” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
Police said the community members chased Molefe and caught him. The allegedly brought him back to the bloody scene and was stoned to death.
Police arrested six suspects in connection of murder and will remain in custody until their next appearance on the 18th of June 2013.
Police investigations continue.
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

By Obakeng Maje
Vioolsdrift-Police are investigating a case of three counts of attempted murder after a 35 year old husband and father was arrested on Sunday at his residence in Tambo Street, Vioolsdrift.
“It is alleged that the man fed his two children aged 4 and 9 years old and his wife poison earlier in the day. It is further alleged that the father took blue poison that is used by farmers to kill worms and mixed it with tea. The potion was given to his wife and the two children to drink” Lieutenant Andrea Cloete said.

The unsuspecting victims drank the poisoned tea. The community found the victims writhing in pain and alerted police who found them to be in a serious condition. They were immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The mother and 9 year old boy are in a critical but stable condition in the Springbok Hospital and will be discharge today.
A 4 year-old daughter was transported via an emergency medical helicopter from Springbok hospital to Kimberley Hospital. She is also in a critical condition.

“The suspect was arrested and will appear in the Springbok Magistrate court tomorrow. The reason for poisoning his family is not yet known. Police have seized the poison containers and other exhibits which will be sent for analysis” Cloete said.
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews

Ethiopia maintained their two point gap over South Africa after the weekend’s round of 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, ahead of the two nations’ clash on Sunday, June 16.

Bafana Bafana defeated Central African Republic 3-0 in Yaounde, Cameroon, on Saturday, while Ethiopia defeated Botswana 2-1, which leaves Ethiopia at the top of Group A in the CAF region with 10 points.

A win for Gordon Igesund’s side on the weekend will see Bafana leapfrog the East Africans and the coach admits that their immediate future is within their own control. After the convincing display against CAR, the four time league winning coach said that if they overcome Ethiopia, they will be in a strong position to finish top of Group A.

“We have the future in our own hands. We know that if we win in Ethiopia then we have a great chance of finishing the group in pole position. We are not interested in what happened in the other match, we have to play both sides and we will be looking forward to the challenge.

“We do not expect favours from anyone. We must do all the work ourselves. It is about time we take the responsibility, like we did in Cameroon against CAR, and win in Ethiopia. All we need is a win so that when we go into the final match against Botswana we will be on top of the group.

“All we need is to win all the games. We have won one and we have two to go, starting with Ethiopia on Sunday,” said Igesund.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

The problem of people buying their driving licences is so bad that seven out of 10 Durban driving schools, randomly selected by the Daily News, were willing to be involved with bribing officials.

Two of the schools were so blasé they quoted a price over the phone, with five being more cautious and requesting a face-to-face meeting before talking about money.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Former president Nelson Mandela’s family has denied barring government officials from visiting him in hospital, the ANC said on Monday.

“We have spoken to the family about this report and they deny that they issued such an instruction or spoke to the media on barring the ANC and government from visiting Madiba,” said spokesman Jackson Mthembu in a statement.

“What we know is that given the pressure associated with the admission of president Mandela, there are general restrictions that permit only relevant people to have access.”

The Star newspaper reported on Monday that the Mandela family had taken charge of the 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner’s hospital stay, banning everyone – including government leaders and senior party officials – from visiting him.

Mthembu said: “We will continue as the ANC to pray for his recovery and call on all South Africans and the world to keep him and his family in their prayers… we appreciate the good work that is [being] done by his medical team.”

Mandela has spent two nights in hospital.

Earlier, the Presidency said Mandela’s condition was “unchanged”.

“Former president Nelson Mandela remains in hospital, and his condition is unchanged. Madiba was admitted on Saturday, 8 June 2013, for treatment in a Pretoria hospital for a lung infection,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

Mandela has been in and out of hospital in the past few years. At the end of March and in April this year he spent nine days in hospital receiving treatment for recurring lung problems. – Sapa

Limpopo – Julius Malema’s Schuilkraal farm went under the hammer on Monday, selling for R2.5 million.

Park Village Auctions sold off the R4 million farm outside Polokwane to bidder Callie Calitz of Wencor Holdings. Calitz’s company owns a farm neighbouring Malema’s property.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

The ANC Youth League’s national task team has disbanded the organisation in four provinces, convenor Mzwandile Masina said on Monday.

“The meeting of the task team decided to disband four provinces; they are Limpopo, Free State, North West, and Northern Cape,” Masina told reporters in Johannesburg.

“We have communicated with them and made sure our organisational structures are informed of this development.”

The NTT had visited eight provinces to assess their structures.

KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape were “reconstituted”.

The NTT would work to strengthen them, said Masina.

The NTT’s assessment of Gauteng was not yet complete and it would only visit the Eastern Cape in the next seven days.

“We have come to a conclusion that some drastic measures need to be taken.

“We are more convinced that the ANCYL is in a weaker state since its disbanding (of its national executive committee),” said Masina. – Sapa