By Obakeng Maje

The fight against cross border crime and illicit cigarettes scored another success when the police at Kopfontein Port of Entry arrested a 27-year-old suspect on Saturday at approximately 19:30, North West police said.

“The police were allegedly on duty when a truck entered the country through the Port of Entry from Botswana, was stopped and searched” colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. 

Police said it was during the search that 5150 cartons of Pacific Blue illicit cigarettes with estimated street value of R1 073 343 (One million seventy-three thousand three hundred and forty-three rand)  were found inside the truck’s false compartment. 

“The driver allegedly informed the police that he was transporting the consignment to Gauteng. The suspect, who is Zimbabwean national was arrested and is expected to appear in Lehururtshe Magistrates’ Court soon for smuggling of illicit cigarettes” Mokgwabone said.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Zukiswa Mbombo thanked the members for their hard work and a job well done.-TDN

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The South African U20 Women’s National team (Basetsana) has arrived back from Tanzania following their 4-1 victory against the hosts in the first leg second round FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier played on Saturday, 7 December.

Two first half goals from Shiwe Nogwanya and another two from Mosili Makhoali in the second half gave the South Africans a well-deserved first leg victory.

Head coach Sheryl Botes said she is impressed with how the girls performed on the day to keep Tanzania at bay.

“We started off well and were able to keep Tanzania at bay although we conceded one goal. The girls played well throughout the entire match and it was a befitting performance to honour the memory of the late Tata Mandela. The job is not done though and we will take a few days off and regroup to work on certain aspects ahead of the return leg here at home,” said Botes.

Basetsana will assemble for camp on Sunday, 15 December in preparation for the second leg qualifier penciled in for Saturday, 21 December at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.

Two spots are up for grabs on the continent for the 2014 edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup to be staged in Canada from 5-24 August.

The third and final round of the continental qualifiers will be played in January 2014.-TDN

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Platinum Stars have proved beyond any reasonable doubt to the people of the North West Province that they deserve their support by winning two cups in one season, Premier Thandi Modise said in congratulating Platinum Stars for winning the Telkom Knockout Cup on Saturday.

“The year 2013 was a turning point for Dikwena who beat Orlando Pirates in two successive cup finals in less than three months. Platinum Stars proved in both David vs Goliath encounters that they are worthy champions and a team that will not disappoint its growing supporters in the province. Beating the second best team on the continent for this year twice in a row is a strong statement that says that we are the home champions,” said Premier Modise in congratulating the Phokeng based team.

“Though Orlando Pirates narrowed the score from the 3-1 MTN 8 Wafa Wafa Champioship encounter with a 2-1 loss at Mbombela Stadium, Vuyo Mere and his charge have proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Premier Soccer League,” highlighted Modise.   

The Premier has expressed confidence that the celebrations will after the period of mourning for former President Nelson Mandela reverberate in every town and village and solidify the support base of the team as a provincial team. 

Platinum Stars was the first South African side to beat the Egyptian club Al Ahly, when they won 2–1 during the first leg encounter of the African Champions League in 2008.-TDN

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The South African Men’s Under-20 National Team (Amajita) defeated Zambia 1-nil to cement their place at the top of Group C of the 2013 Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships currently underway in Lesotho.

The clash took place on Saturday, 7 December 2013 in the capital Maseru.

A moment of silence was observed at the start of the match in honour of the late former state President of the Republic of South Africa, with the SA flag also flying at half-mast.

The players also wore black armbands to show their respect.

The match got off to a flying start and both teams missed the opportunity to grab the opener two minutes after kick-off. There were several other chances and Zambia almost punished Amajita on the 21

st minute but the effort went off target.

Centre-back Rivaldo Coetzee was at his best as he kept Zambian striker Ronaldo Chibwe at bay. The match went into the break deadlocked at nil-nil.

The second half started much like the first half and Amajita appeared to have taken coach Shakes Mashaba’s halftime talk to heart. Playmaker Nhlakanipho Ntuli fired a cracker on the 57

th minute following an impressive move by the South Africans to give his side the lead.

Zambia sought to make a quick reply with a double substitution on the 61

st minute with captain Musonda replaced by Mbewe and Dave Daka making way for his namesake Patson Daka. South Africa tightened things a bit with winger Fagrie Lakay coming off for centre-back Madisha Motjeka.

Things went from bad to worse for Zambia 10 minutes before the final whistle when striker Ronaldo Chibwe was red carded after a second bookable offence for a late tackle on Amajita’s Maraisane.

Zambia piled on the pressure in the dying stages of the match but South Africa held on against the defending champions with Coetzee been chosen as the Man of the Match.

“We are happy for the win, it was never going to be an easy match against Zambia especially because they had a great plan to us, but I think our plan was more solid. I am proud of the way the boys performed. Our plan is to get nine points from the three group stage matches, and so far we are still on track. We are still on top of the group and we will have to continue from where left off today when we face Namibia in our next match on Tuesday (10 December). We know our work is not done yet we have to keep on working hard for more success,” said Mashaba.

South Africa now has six points following two victories (against Seychelles and Zambia) while Zambia has just one after a draw against Namibia and a loss to Amajita.

This is how they lined up:

South Africa:

February, Seriba, Magqwaka, Coetzee, Maraisane, Ngubo, Ntuli, Lakay, Leepile, Moerane, Luthuli

Substitutions:

Lakay off; Motjeka on 67

th min

Zambia:

Banda,Chepeshi, Mkandawire, Tembo, Ngwenya, Chibwe, Mwanda, Musonda, Sauta, P.Daka, S. Daka

Substitutions:

Musonda off, on Mbewe,s Dave Daka off, on Patson Daka 61min, Salaka off on Lwandamina 76th minute.-TDN

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The South African Under-20 Women’s National team (Basetsana) defeated Tanzania 4-1 in the second round first leg of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier.

The match was played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Saturday 7 December.

It was an inspired performance by Basetsana as they turned on the heat with an impressive performance.

Basetsana head coach, Sheryl Botes said she was happy with the result and commended the girls for executing the game plan well. The coach urged the girls to carry the winning mentality into the second leg that will be played in a fortnight (Saturday, 21 December 2013) at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.

The South Africans return on Sunday, 8 December and are expected to land at the O.R. Tambo International Airport at 09h25.-TDN

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