Cape Town – Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego says he is not putting himself under any sort of pressure to open his goal-scoring account for the Brazilians.

The former Moroka Swallows man is yet to score this season after joining the Pretoria-based outfit at the beginning of the season after a tremendous campaign last season.

“Mahoota” won the Lesley Manyathela golden boot award after grabbing 13 league goals for the Dube Birds and also got an MTN8 winners medal to his name.

The 31-year-old goal poacher also stressed that once he starts scoring for his new team, Sundowns, goals will flow.

“I’m really enjoying my time at Sundowns because we play possession football. I’m not desperate to score my first goal but helping the team do well. When the goals do come, I can assure you that there will be more,” Mashego told the Sundowns website.

‘Downs will face Dikwena in the Telkom Knockout quarter-finals at the Moruleng Stadium on Saturday evening.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about Platinum Stars being the hoodoo team for us but that doesn’t bother us at all, because the Sundowns team that will be playing is made up of totally different players and would not have experienced that hoodoo.

“Look, one might also argue that, they (Stars) are on a high especially after winning the MTN8, but that does not guarantee them a straight win against us because we are also unbeaten this season and we also drew against the very same Platinum Stars in the league.”

Mashego is yet to start a game for Pitso Mosimane’s charges this season as the striking department is very competitive this season but has made a few substitute appearances.

The game against Allan Freese’s charges will kick off at 19:30.
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Johannesburg – Defender Siboniso Gaxa says Kaizer Chiefs have suffered a stuttering start to the season, but he is confident the Soweto giants will improve as it progresses.

“Winning the league last season and also the Nedbank Cup, coming into a new season, it wasn’t going to be easy for us and everyone wants to beat the champions,” Gaxa said in Johannesburg on Thursday.

“… For Chiefs, it hasn’t been smooth…, but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“It’s been a roller-coaster since the start of the new season, but we’ve picked up the form, which is good. We’re not far from anybody in the league and it’s not a big difference in terms of points.”

Chiefs are preparing for their Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash against Free State Stars on Sunday and Gaxa said the Amakhosi were determined to add to the success of last season.

The Glamour Boys claimed the Premiership title before lifting the Nedbank Cup trophy to round-off a successful campaign under coach Stuart Baxter.

The form that resulted in Chiefs triumph last season has been slow to arrive this season. Chief lost out to SuperSport United in the league and missed out on a place in the final of the MTN8.

However, Gaxa was confident Chiefs could give their campaign a kick-start by edging Stars at the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Bethlehem over the weekend.

“It’s a massive game for Chiefs, not only for us but for Stars as well,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the match and on Sunday we’ll do what we normally do best and try and play some good football.

“Fortunately, we’ve picked up [form] and hopefully we stay in the form that we are in right now and continue to play good football.”

The game is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off and with temperatures already rising well past 30 degrees Celsius, Gaxa said there was no point speculating about the weather conditions in the Free State.

“The weather is the same for both teams, not only for Chiefs but also for Free State,” Gaxa said.

“Irrespective of what the conditions are, we can’t change the weather, we can’t change the heat or the cold.

“The only thing we can change is to apply ourselves and play good football.”

Meanwhile, fellow defender Tefu Mashamaite said he was looking to continue his good form in front of goal, having already bagged two goals from set-plays in Chiefs’ 3-0 victory over Polokwane City in the opening round.

“For me it’s just about what is required of a modern player,” Mashamaite said.

“I’m finding my feet and I’m just happy right now that I’m getting into the thick of things and getting into scoring positions.

“Scoring from set-pieces requires that we get good service. If balls are put into good spaces, it gives me an opportunity to attack them.

“It’s one of my strengths and I’m looking to exploit that, which maximises my chances of scoring.”
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Cape Town – A transfer fee has been paid by Bloemfontein Celtic to Maritzburg United after the move of coach Ernst Middendorp to the Free State club, the clubs have confirmed more than a week after the deal.
A compensation fee, which has not been made public, has been agreed by Celtic to buy out the existing contract of Middendorp, official said.

It was agreed almost immediately after Middendorp’s resignation last week as the German-born coach still had a binding agreement with Maritzburg.

Fees of this nature have previously been paid between South African club but are a rarity.

Middendorp jumped ship at Maritzburg on Thursday to take up the vacant Celtic job. But, in a delicious twist of irony, his predecessor at Celtic, Clinton Larsen bounced back into management just eight days after departing Bloemfontein as he was appointed coach of Maritzburg United last Tuesday.

Maritzburg kept silent for several days after Middendorp’s surprise departure but Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia finally made a formal response to the departure, in a tersely-worded statement on the club’s website.

“In light of the coach’s outburst in the media after the league games against Mpumalanga Black Aces and Moroka Swallows, and the fact that he was already in contact with Bloemfontein Celtic regarding their head coach vacancy before having even submitted his resignation to us, clearly showed that the coach’s commitment to the club no longer existed.

“I am really disappointed with (his) behaviour as this (is) not what is expected of a head coach. The reaction to the fans was unprofessional and this behaviour is not condoned by the club.”

Larsen and Middendorp are scheduled to go head to head when Celtic host Maritzburg at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday, November 5.
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Cape Town – Following their heroics in the CAF Champions League over the weekend, Orlando Pirates’ supporters are expected to turn out in numbers to welcome their heroes at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday afternoon.

Roger de Sa ‘s charges eliminated Esperance Sportive De Tunis from the continental showpiece after the semi-final second leg encounter ended in an ecstatic 1-all stalemate at the Stade Olympique De Radès Stadium in Tunisia.

Having played to a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium two weeks ago, the Buccaneers advanced to the final on the away-goals rule.

Defender Rooi Mahamutsa’s 52nd minute header was enough to hand the Sea Robbers a passage to the continental title decider against Egyptian giants Al Ahly – also to be played over two legs.

Al Ahly defeated Cotton Sports of Cameroon, 7-6, on penalties on Sunday after both legs ended in a 1-1 draw.

The two sides will renew their rivalry in the first two weeks of next month, having already met twice in the group stages.

Pirates triumphed 3-0 at El Gouna in Egypt before sharing the spoils in the last group game back on September 22.

The first leg of the final is scheduled for November 2 at the Orlando Stadium (15:00), with the return leg scheduled for November 9 at the Cairo National Stadium (20:00 SA time).

The Pirates players are due to land in Johannesburg at 14:30.
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Cape Town – Following the appointment of their new head coach Ernst Middendorp, Bloemfontein Celtic have revealed the appointment of former captain, Lehlohonolo Seema, as an assistant to the former Maritzburg United mentor.

Seema will fill the void left by Bobbie Solomons who departed from the Siwelele camp to take the helm of the Premier Soccer League strugglers, Polokwane City, a week ago.

“I am really looking forward to this new career path and I believe that with the likes of Ernst Middendorp to guide me, that I will rise to this challenge,” Seema told the Celtic website.

“I have always been given a leadership role at any club I was at and this is an extension of that and I would like to thank Jimmy Augousti, and the rest of the senior management for believing in me.

“I would like to tell the supporters that the technical team will work around the clock to see the team excel,” said Seema.

Celtic did not enjoy their start to the current PSL season, managing only a single victory out of the six games and are currently at the bottom half of the table.

Their next game will be against Zeca Marques’ Moroka Swallows at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday night.

Kick-off is at 19:30.
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Cape Town – Platinum Stars tactician Allan Freese hailed Dikwena supporters following his team‘s victory over Mamelodi Sundowns last Saturday.

Stars defeated ‘Downs 2-1 in their Telkom Knockout quarter-final match played at the Moruleng Stadium.

Togolese international, Dove Wome, gave Pitso Mosimane’s side a deserved lead in the 13th minute before Botswana international, Mogakolodi Ngele, levelled matters from the penalty spot six minutes before the interval.

Mduduzi Nyanda scored the winning goal in the second period.

Freese gave credit to the massive support for his boys.

“I would like to thank the people who came out to support us; it’s a long time since we have had support like that,” he told the club’s official website.

“We planned for the game, how we wanted to play; yes we went a goal down.

“But we relaxed and then we started to play how we wanted to play. It was a hard game, unlucky to Sundowns, but we showed great character and played some good football.”

Dikwena are on a current hot streak, having won the MTN8 last month.

It remains to be seen who they will be drawn against in the semi-finals of the R4.25m competition.
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Cape Town – SAFA referee Clifford Malgas accused of match fixing was granted R5 000 bail by the Cape Town District Court on Monday.
He appeared before magistrate Alfreda Lewis, who transferred the matter to the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville, where he is to make his first appearance on October 31.

Malgas, 26, faces charges of perjury and corruption.

Malgas has to report to police on Tuesdays and Fridays, as bail conditions, and was ordered to surrender his passport to the police official investigating his case.

He was banned from making any contact with listed State witnesses.

The magistrate warned him: “If you know any of the witnesses, you may not make contact with them, directly or indirectly.”

Malgas told the court he had appointed a privately funded attorney, who was not at the proceedings.

It later transpired that his lawyer had not left Johannesburg yet.

The magistrate warned Malgas to ensure his lawyer was present when he appeared in the commercial court.

Malgas was arrested last Thursday at the school in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, where he works as an administrator, and first appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court before his transfer, in custody, to Cape Town.

He allegedly “fixed” soccer matches in the Vodacom Tournament in June 2011.

Earlier this year, former Bafana Bafana assistant coach Phil Setshedi, 57, was jailed for eight years for paying a police official, posing as the chief referee, R2 000 to manipulate the outcome of soccer matches in the tournament.

Setshedi was arrested on June 8, 2011, after SAFA reported him to the police following representations to officials, in an alleged attempt to influence the outcome of a match.

He had travelled to Cape Town to bribe the referee to ensure the Mpumalanga Sevutsa Stars won two matches.

Malgas was one of three witnesses to testify against Setshedi. It is alleged Malgas lied to the court under oath, which forms the basis for the perjury charge.

After Setshedi’s prosecution, Malgas and the two other referees who testified were suspended from the sport.

On the corruption charges, Malgas allegedly manipulated the outcome of a match during the 2011 second division play-offs in Cape Town.
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Johannesburg – On the back of their CAF Champions League success over the weekend, Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa has praised the mental strength of his soccer team.

“The most difficult thing is the mental attitude,” De Sa said at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday evening.

“The players have been great. We spent four hours this morning sitting in an airport. At no stage did (I) see the players complain.

“They sat there, no food, no drink, and that’s what has been good about this bunch of players.

“The players are like soldiers.

“They get on with the job and they just live through all the difficulties, and they do the business between the four lines.”

The Buccaneers beat Tunisian side Esperance on the away goals rule in Tunis on Saturday night, booking their place in the final of Africa’s premier club competition.

Pirates secured their passage to the final with a 1-1 draw after holding the Tunisians to a goalless draw at the Orlando Stadium a fortnight ago.

Pirates are the only South African club to have won the Champions League trophy — in 1995 — and have an opportunity to add a second African title to the club’s honours roll.

Having been in transit since Monday afternoon, Pirates will have to make a quick recovery before taking on Golden Arrows in a Telkom Knockout quarter-final clash on Wednesday, leaving no time for De Sa’s troops to rest on their laurels.

“When you’re listening to the final whistle and the guys are embracing, those moments are priceless and unforgettable,” De Sa said.

“But, the reality is that we’ve got a game on Wednesday.

“So straight away we start thinking in the change-room about the game on Wednesday.

“The players know that we have to move forward. There are no reverse gears here.”

Pirates meet Al-Ahly in the two-legged final, set for November 2, with the return fixture to be played a week later on November 9.

The Egyptian giants reached the final by beating Coton Sport, of Cameroon, 7-6 on penalties after the teams drew 1-1 in both semi-finals legs.

Pirates will fancy their chances against the seven-time African champions, having already played them twice in this year’s tournament.

De Sa believes the South African outfit will still be considered underdogs in the final.

“I still believe they (Ahly) are favourites,” he said.

“Because of the experience they’ve got and the pedigree they’ve got as well, and also playing at home in the second game, I think that probably gives them the edge as well.

“One thing we mustn’t be is too complacent and think about the two results we had against them.”

The Soweto side thrashed Ahly — who are the defending champions of the Champions League — 3-0 in El Gouna and played to a goalless draw at the Orlando Stadium.
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Pretoria – A Beit Bridge police captain was “acting as if he was power drunk” when he unlawfully arrested an export manager, a North Gauteng High Court judge in Pretoria said on Monday.

This led to the manager being detained in a shipping container for three days.

Acting Judge Piet Ebersohn ordered the minister of police and Captain Edwards Sello Sekelele to pay R344 162 damages to Louw Erasmus van der Laarse, 34, a former export manager at a customs clearing company at the Beit Bridge border post.

He said the court could only hope the matter received attention from some senior officer and that Sekelele’s conduct was not left unpunished.

“He is particularly unsuited to be an officer and to be in charge anywhere,” Ebersohn said.

Van der Laarse instituted a damages claim against the police after Sekelele arrested him at the border post for the alleged unlawful possession of unlicensed firearms in May 2010.

Van der Laarse was asked to help a client who had brought eight firearms, four of them registered in South Africa, from Zimbabwe to South Africa in his car with clearance procedures.

It was eventually agreed that the four weapons should be sent back to Zimbabwe. While waiting with the client’s car for customs officials to come and do the necessary checks, and after enquiring why they were taking so long, Van der Laarse was arrested.

Sekelele refused to listen to any explanation and refused to see the documentation for the clients’ weapons and the car.

Van der Laarse was taken to the Beit Bridge police station in the client’s car. He was escorted by another police vehicle with its blue light flashing from Beit Bridge to the Musina police station as if he was a dangerous criminal.

He was forced to sit on the floor under the counter at the Musina police station. He was never questioned and was taken to a holding cell in a 6mx2m shipping container.

He was detained in the container with about 24 Zimbabweans who took what remained of his belongings.

The prisoners had to lie head to toe and when it was time to turn, the head-prisoner would shout that everybody should turn. The container smelled of urine and sweat and ticks and fleas bit Van der Laarse all over his body.

His lawyer told the court the container was “as hot as hell” and prisoners “were basically cooking”.

When Van der Laarse was taken out of the container for questioning he broke down and cried uncontrollably. He begged not to be put back in the container, but was put back, where he was unable to sleep for three nights before he was taken to court and granted bail.

He developed severe depression and still suffered from sleeping disorders. He resigned from his job and found another one because he wanted to work in a better environment.

The charges against Van der Laarse were withdrawn, but he had to spend over R60 000 in legal costs.

Ebersohn said Van der Laarse had been treated cruelly and kept under horrifying circumstances from the moment of his arrest.

“He was arrested by Sekelele who acted as if he was power drunk and in a disgraceful display to all those who beheld what was going on,” Ebersohn said.

In a similar case, tradesman Clifford Victor Cope was awarded R220 000 damages in February after he was unlawfully arrested at the Beit Bridge border post and held captive in a shipping container with 26 other men for six days.

– SAPA

A 47-year-old woman, her two sons and a 40-year-old woman were shot dead by a policeman in Southport, Port Shepstone, early on Monday morning, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

“It is alleged that the police officer had an argument with his family and shot and killed them before turning the gun on himself,” police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said.

“Police first received a report of a murder at South Port at approximately 02:00, where a 40-year-old woman was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds to her body.”

The woman was identified as Jabu Cele, an administration clerk at the police crime intelligence division.

Several hours later, the policeman’s colleagues went to his home to investigate why he had not arrived for work.

“When colleagues went to his house… they found that his wife [Fikile Shange] and two sons [Snakekelo, 10, and Snakhokonke, 15] were shot and killed in the house.”

The policeman, Warrant Officer Linda Shange, 49, was found alive with gunshot wounds to his body, but he died en route to hospital.

“Three counts of murder and an inquest docket were opened at Southport police station for further investigation,” Zwane said.

“The recovered firearm will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if it was used in the killing of his family and the 40-year-old woman.”

– SAPA