The South African U20 Men’s National Team are confident going into their second match of the 2013 COSAFA U20 Youth Championships currently underway in Lesotho.

Amajita take on defending champions Zambia on Saturday, 7 December 2013 in what is seen as the clash of the titans.

The match will take place at the Maseru Stadium.Kickoff is at 17h00.  

South Africa is fresh from a resounding 4-nil victory over the Seychelles in their opening match, while Zambia played to a 2-all draw against Namibia.

“The first match is all in the past, we started well and we want continue that way. This match is important for us to keep the momentum of our win going, and six points is key for us to keep alive the chances of qualifying for the semi-finals because only the top teams go through,” said South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba.“We are facing very tough opponents, who are also the defending champions but I believe we can do well if we continue from where we started.

“Mashaba’s charges will play on the same as their women counterparts who are out in Tanzania for a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. We would also like to wish our female counter-parts Basetsana, the u20 National team, all the best as they take on Tanzania in the quest to qualify for the FIFA u20 World Cup in Canada early next year. We know they are capable of coming back with positive results so they can finish the job at home,” added Mashaba. 

Meanwhile the team also took time to mourn the loss of former South African State President, Dr Nelson Mandela.

“Tata Madiba was the father of our nation, and we want to dedicate this match to him, not just this match against Zambia but we also want to lift the COSAFA Championship’s trophy on the 14 December 2013 in loving memory of Tata Madiba who ensured that we as a continent can unite through sport,” said goalkeeper Jody February.

Through football we can celebrate who we are and Madiba made sure that this became a reality during his time. Madiba formed part of the team that brought us the first ever FIFA World Cup to Africa, he was there when the Springboks won the world cup in 1995, and also during Bafana Bafana’s AFCON victory in 1996. 

All we can do as the future of South African sport, is to carry on the legacy that Madiba left us,” said 

Amajita defender Tebogo Moerane.“Nelson Mandela was no ordinary man, he is the founder of the Democratic Republic of South Africa, no man can measure to the icon that Nelson Mandela is, he loved South Africa,” concluded Mashaba. 

Messages of support to the South Africans also came from the other participating teams in the COSAFA Cup.

“Mandela was known to everyone in all corners of the continent and the world, thus everyone is feeling the pain of losing Africa’s icon. May you cherish the life and works of Tata Madiba, and continue his legacy,” said officials of Namibia, Angola and Seychelles.‬

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By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-Celebrities across the world set through their message of condelences to the fallen hero Dr Nelson Mandela. The former president died last night at his home in Houghton, near Johannesburg.

Yfm presenters Hlelo and Ntando Masina along with their gorgeous mother came to pay their last tribute to Nelson Mandela on Friday at Houghton, near Johannesburg.

“We are speechless and we can only say thank you to u’Tata. We are very grateful for whatever he has done and sacrifices for this country” Hlelo Masina said.

The Twinz as Yfm presenters are affectionately know said Madiba showed the world at large that nothing is impossible.

The beautiful twinz were in their shades and looked calm and relaxed.

Other public figures who came in numbers to pay tribute, Kaizer Chiefs Director of Football Bobby Motaung was there, Former Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe also was there.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Johannesburg-South Africans and the world at large are mourning the passing of the former Stateman Dr Nelson Mandela who passed away last night at his residential area in Houghton, near Johannesburg.

President Jacob Zuma announced Mandela’s death late last night and said Madiba departed peaceful at 20:50pm sorrounded by his family members.

ANC Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the media outsode Mandela’s home in an upmarket surburb, Houghton and declared that Madiba will be buried on the 15 December 2013 at Qunu village, in Eastern Cape.

“We really lsot a great leader and we as a nation have to mourn his death. The president will announce the schedule and on the 14 December 2013, Mandela’s memorial service will be held at FNB Stadium” deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa told Taung DailyNews.

“We’re very most fortunate country ever to have a humanist like Nelson Mandela and we need to emulate want he fought for” said Ramaphosa.

Various media houses from abroad came in numbers and Ramaphosa said after the news has settled in everyone’s minds, the continent and the world at large will really understand how sad the news is.

Mandela will be buried on the 15 December 2013 in Qunu village, Eastern Cape were he was born 95 years ago.-TDN

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BY Obakeng Maje
Mbombela- Platinum Stars Football Club spokesperson Aubrey Molobi said they are very upbeat ahead of the Telkom Knockout Final. North West-based club will lock horns agains Caf finalists Orlando Pirates tomorrow where we likely to see MTN 8 Finale.

Two teams were against each other in the final of MTN 8 and Stars triumphed winners.

“The boys are very ready and the mood in the camp is electrifying. We are very excited to play in the final and we will try our level best to do well. What really transpired between this two teams in an MTN 8 Final, is now a history” said Aubrey Molobi.

Molobi said the team will be without their captain Vuyo Mere and striker Siphelele Mthembu due to injuries.

“We will be without our skipper Mere and Mthembu who were ruled out by our medical team because of injuries” he said.

The team arrived safely in Nelspruit and Molobi said on Friday they will visit Mbombela taxi rank to meet with their supporters.-TDN
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Cape Town – The business premises of a Goodwood businessman who is alleged to be central to a probe focusing on provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer were searched on Thursday and items, including documents and computers, were seized.

Saliem Dawjee runs the business Towbars Cape.

It recently emerged that Crime Intelligence was investigating Lamoer for allegedly accepting a bribe from an alleged criminal.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – Former Hard Livings gang leader Rashied Staggie phoned his wife to find out what was happening as he was being transported to Pollsmoor Prison on Thursday after his parole was revoked, his legal representative said. Staggie was released on day parole on September 23, but this was withdrawn on Thursday.

Hours after the Correctional Services Department announced that Staggie was back behind bars, his advocate, Janos Mihalik, told the Cape Times: “It’s terrible, his parole was revoked without even telling him why.”
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Johannesburg – Skinny dog wasn’t meant to have a chance. Her muzzle was taped and a heavy chain prevented her from fleeing the pitbull that kept savaging her.

She appears on video footage, taken on a cellphone, which showed how she attempted in vain to escape the American pitbull that had been set on her.

Days later, she would be dead.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe has paid a touching tribute to the late world icon Nelson Mandela.

Radebe states that Madiba, who passed on yesterday, taught him lessons of “leadership, humility, generosity, courage and integrity.”

Dearest Tata,

There is much I want to say to you, and regret I will no longer have the chance. Having said that, I feel privileged to have known you, and to have benefited from your wisdom and example.

You taught me lessons of leadership, humility, generosity, courage and integrity. To say that you inspired me and my generation, would be an understatement.

My career would not have been possible but for you. The chance of playing at the highest level in football outside of South Africa did not exist before your release from prison. When times were tough in my early days in Leeds, away from South Africa, I drew motivation from your courage and tenacity. When captaining teams, whether Bafana Bafana or Leeds United, you were my role model for leadership. Your ability to bring people together for a common cause, despite their differences, was a great gift.

I think I speak for every player who pulled on a Bafana Bafana, Springbok or Protea jersey, and any other South African sportsperson, when I say that we never ever played just for ourselves or even our country. We played for you and the special ideals that you stood for. You taught me how sport could be an indomitable force for social change, and how it could impact individuals, communities and nations.

I was so proud to welcome you to Leeds, my home away from home, and I know the pride you felt in my accomplishments. It was so humbling. You will never know how much that visit meant to Feziwe and me. It was a day that will forever be etched in my mind. I always felt special that you had your own name for me, Mthimkhulu.

I know children were at the heart of your philanthropic vision and I promise to continue working in your image to motivate, help and galvanise South Africa’s next generation. Part of your legacy is that so many of us are stirred to carry the torch.

The sports history books in South Africa will show statistics and victories. What they won’t show, however, was that it was Madiba Magic that forged those results and performances; and united a country and its people along the way. No doubt, that Madiba Magic will live on. Thank you Tata.

Much love,
Lucas Radebe
For more http://www.kickoff.com

News reaching the Siya crew is that Mamelodi Sundowns striker, Rodney Ramagalela, is making progress in his recovery from injury.

Ramagalela is unavailable for Pitso Mosimane’s side for the rest of the year, having been ruled out for that long after picking up a hamstring injury.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

AmaZulu defender, Larry Horaeb, could miss the team’s remaining games this year, as he is still trying to recover from a hamstring injury that has been troubling him.

The Namibian, who joined AmaZulu this season, has played six games so far for the KZN outfit under Craig Rosslee.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za