Daily Archives: May 24, 2014

Amajita wary of Ethiopia


Johannesburg- The Ethiopian U20 Men’s National Team believes they have what it takes to reverse the result from the first leg against hosts Amajita in the second round second leg of the 2015 Africa Youth Championship qualifier.

The clash will be played on Sunday, 25 May 2014 at the Dobsonville Stadium. Kickoff is at 15h00.

Ethiopia lost their home leg 2-0 in Addis Ababa a fortnight ago.

“My boys played well in that match and it was unfortunate we lost due to our mistakes, but this is football – I believe they have what it takes to turn the tables and win. We were able to rectify our mistakes from the first leg, now I believe we are ready,” said Wenedemagne Kebede, Ethiopia U20 head coach.

“Playing at home is difficult, but playing away is easier that is why I am confident we will do well. In the first round we faced the Seychelles and we played our best football when we played away, and this does not in any way mean that South Africa is a bad team, but I have confidence in my players. I have seen how South Africa plays and I will implement some changes that will see us win the match. The first leg is behind us, this is a new match.”

Siyanda Ngubo and Tsepo Chaine scored South Africa’s goals in the first leg.

Amajita held their final training session at the Dobsonville Stadium shortly after Ethiopia on Saturday evening.

“We have had good preparations this week and managed to get in a lot of work done in the last few days. Time for talking is over and now it’s up to the boys to go and finish the job.

“Even though we have a lead and know how Ethiopia plays, we still have to work hard and get a win. But I am confident the players will continue from where we left off in Addis Ababa, I believe we will be smiling at the end of the day,” said South Africa U20 head coach Shakes Mashaba.

The overall winners in this match will meet Cameroon – on a home and away basis – in the third and final round of the qualifiers.

The victorious nation will qualify for the 19th edition of the African Youth Championships which will be held in Senegal from 8 – 22 March in 2015.

The semi-finalists at the AYC will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup tournament in New Zealand.-TDN
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Nigeria: Boko Haram razes houses, kills 28


Maiduguri – Suspected Islamist Boko Haram gunmen rampaged through three villages in northern Nigeria, killing 28 people and burning houses to the ground in a pattern of violence that has become almost a daily occurrence, according to police and witnesses.

All three attacks happened on Thursday in remote parts of Borno state, the epicentre of Boko Haram’s increasingly bloody struggle for an Islamic kingdom in religiously mixed Nigeria.

One took place right next to Chibok, by the Cameroon border, from where more than 200 school girls were abducted last month.

The most deadly was in the town of Kerenua, near the Niger border. Scores of militants opened fire on residents, killing 20 of them, and burned houses, a police source said.

Since the girls’ abduction on 14 April, at least 450 civilians have been killed by the group, according to a Reuters count.

A spate of bombings across north and central Nigeria has killed hundreds, including two in the capital Abuja and one in the central city of Jos on Tuesday that killed 118 people.

The source said some phone signals to the militants had been tracked to Niger itself, suggesting they may have been directed from there. Dozens had been wounded by bullets, he said.

Regional security

Another attack occurred in a small village of Kubur Viu, a few kilometres away from Chibok, resident Simeon Yhana said.

The police source concurred with the attack and toll.

“They killed five people. This place is right next to Chibok. The military is supposed to be protecting this area but we fear these people [Boko Haram] are coming back,” Yhana said.

Militants shot dead three other people during an attack on the village of Kimba, the police source said.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan was in South Africa on Saturday, his office said, to discuss ways of tackling Islamist militancy across the continent with African heads of state.

Nigeria and its neighbours say Boko Haram – which has killed thousands during its five-year-old insurgency in Africa’s top oil producer – now threatens the security of the whole region.

The insurgents initially attacked mostly security forces and government officials after they launched their uprising in northeast Borno state’s capital Maiduguri in 2009. When Jonathan ordered an offensive a year ago to flush them out, civilians formed vigilante groups to help out – making them targets too.

Nigeria accepted help from the United States, Britain, France and China last week and around 80 US troops were arriving in Chad to start a mission to try to free the girls, who remain in captivity.
Reuters

Zuma thanks ANC supporters


Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma thanked at least 18 000 people on the lawns of the Union Buildings for attending his inauguration on Saturday and for supporting the ANC.

“Thank you very much for coming to be with us today as we take the oath for the next five years,” he said.

“In the last few weeks…we were all over the country campaigning…and finally the people of this country made their choice emphatically to give the ANC once again the opportunity to govern the country.”

Zuma said he was happy so many people came.

“Today we are taking the oath as mandated by the overwhelming majority of this country. We are happy you are with us here.” The crowd waved and cheered as he spoke, some waving South African flags.
– SAPA

Serero out to spoil party


Sydney – Bafana Bafana midfielder Thulani Serero says South Africa will be out to rain on Australia’s farewell parade when the teams clash in an international friendly in Sydney on Monday evening.

The game will serve as Australia’s final game before their 23-man squad, which is still to be whittled down from its current 30, depart for the World Cup in Brazil, just 18 days away.

Australia play their first match against Chile on June 13, while defending champions Spain and 2010 runners-up, the Netherlands, make up the rest of a stellar Group B, with Australia already given little to no chance of advancing past the group stages.

The 23-year-old Ajax Amsterdam playmaker is South Africa’s headline act for the games against Australia and New Zealand, four days later, following a hugely successful third season with the Dutch club, who celebrated winning their 33rd domestic league title earlier this month.

“We always want to win,” Serero said at a training session in Kogarah, a southern suburb of Sydney on Saturday evening (Australian time).

“We wouldn’t have travelled all this way for a loss or a draw.

“It means a lot to play for your country and I always want to win. Even if I play against a six-year-old at chess, I want to win.

“Every game, I try to do my best and I try to give as much as possible and that’s what I’ll do if I play on Monday.”

Serero was instrumental for the Dutch champions this season and played a major role in helping the country’s most successful club to yet another Dutch title.

With the season having reached its end, Serero said he was hoping to improve on a fairly successful campaign, feeling that he could have done better. He was hoping to up his ante ahead of the next season, starting with a solid performance for his national team.

“It went well but I’m not happy with it… I can be much better. I wasn’t happy with the season, but it was my first season as a regular,” Serero said.

“I was more worried about staying in the team and playing more games, so I think next season will be much better.”

Having come up against the Socceroos’ duo of Tommy Oar and Jason Davidson in Holland, Serero said he was looking forward to meeting the two Aussies again on Monday, predicting a tough encounter against the pair.

“They’re very good players. I’ve played against them before and I had difficulties in the league in Holland against them, so Monday should be the same.”

Meanwhile, Anele Ngcongca, who plies his trade with Belgian outfit Racing Genk, had a similar warning for the Bafana camp when it came to goalkeeper Matthew Ryan, who had had a solid season with Club Brugge. He had stifled Ngcongca on a few occasions when two met in the Belgian top-flight.

“He’s a good goalkeeper, he’s got a good technique and he’s always mobile on the goal. He’s a goalkeeper who has lots of flexibility and he’s a good keeper,” Ngcongca said.

“I’m lucky that I’ve played against a goalkeeper like that. I played four games against him this season, so I think he’s one of the best goalkeepers in Belgium.”

Ticket sales for Monday’s friendly had already hit the 50 000 mark by Saturday afternoon, with 60 000 supporters expected to pack the ANZ Stadium, the multi-purpose venue built for the 2000 Olympic Games.

SAPA

Mixed reaction to Zuma’s speech


Pretoria – There was mixed reaction to President Jacob Zuma’s inauguration speech at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday.

Some people from an 18 000 strong crowd outside the Union Building welcomed the speech while others did not.

Louis Geldenhuis, 22, an engineering student at the University of Pretoria said Zuma’s speech was positive and encouraging.

“It was very positive, he spoke very well about [the] future and economy. What he says is encouraging but what he does will be even more interesting,” he said.

Dito Maine from the North West said he was impressed when Zuma spoke of radical changes.

“I’m waiting to see that radicalness….We want to see at least 2% of disabled people employed,” he said.

However, Joyce Ramogase was not moved by the speech. She said she wanted to hear Zuma speak about employment.

“I would have loved for the president to touch more on issues of employment and what government will do. Us on the ground level are suffering and need government to help us,” she said.

Nonky Bogatsu agreed saying the country needed a leader not a president.

“All that these people do is talk, we need someone who is not power hungry and has the interest of the people at heart,” she said.
– SAPA

Vaaltar FM presenter shows sign of ‘contentment’ on-air


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- Vaaltar FM presenter has vast experience when coming to broadcasting and he still want to learn more. The Youth Connection show host Amogelang “Agee” Moremongwe said his background could not determines his future and is a living testimony.

The hardships of life and all tribulations he went through never deterred him.

Mokgareng village-born presenter was introduced to the world of broadcasting through Vaaltar FM as sport presenter back in 2005.

“Agee” as Amogelang is affectionately known worked his way up into the Youth Connection production team and later have his own Hip Hop show called Special Flavour on Saturdays.

His growing on-air experience was fully recognised when he was elevated to the afternoon-drive show Youth Connection as a presenter.

Armed with a Building Construction certificate from Vuselela FET college, the vibrant Amogelang is on the Vaaltar FM Drive time show and is very excited to be part of history by building a legacy with the rest of the Vaaltar FM family.

Moremongwe sees himself as jack of all trade and wants to master the art of empowering others.

“I won the award of The Best Sport Presenter and The Best Newcomer back in 2008. And to me, radio is theater of art. In life one must not give up and strive for what you believe in” he smiles.

A 29 year-old presenter took a few moments out of his busy media schedule to talk to TDN about how young people can get in to a career in presenting.

How did you first get interested in presenting?

“I discovered my love for radio at the tender age and quickly realised that broadcasting was the career path I wanted to follow. When I arrived here, I never presented before but learnt how to play records and present a show. Within few years, now I’m running the afternoon drive show and I’m still learning, albeit on a small scale, how a radio station operates because of its changing landscape” he said.

Moremongwe was inspired by the likes of Motsweding FM duo Solly Ramathudi Mputle and Douglas “Dmos” Mosadi. His parents passed on and he was forced to go and live with extended family at the young age.

Vaaltar FM presenter Agee is the second born and have three siblings.

Why he chose Radio presenting?

Radio offers a great training ground and is the medium that is so powerful to communicate with the masses. Personally, radio taught me so much about talking to people, interview techniques and timing that was invaluable.

How much easier or harder do you think it is today for young people to break into presenting?

There’s a lot of competition and many people want to present. But as always, if you are determined to put in the effort and work your way up then there’s no reason why you can’t succeed. Technology has made things much easier.

Even though sassy presenter said he wanted to become a soldier if his wish hadn’t flourished….he could not follow that dream because of things beyond his control, but advices the youth to take their education very seriously.

The elegant presenter said he would like to become sport commentator one day, either on radio or TV.

You can listen to Amogelang “Agee” Moremongwe on Vaaltar FM 93.6 Mhz from Monday- Friday or log on to http://www.vaaltar.co.za for live streaming.

-TDN
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Zuma honoured to lead the country


Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma on Saturday said he was honoured to be able to lead South African for another five years.

“I am greatly honoured to stand before you today and accept the mandate bestowed on me… to lead this great nation for the next five years,” he said at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

“This year we mark 20 years of freedom and 20 years since [former president] Nelson Mandela took his oath of office at this very amphitheatre.”

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng swore Zuma in as president of the country at the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre.

The amphitheatre was named after Mandela died in December last year.

Zuma said a lot of progress had been made in the country since democracy.

“The democratic government set out to implement policies and programmes that would change the quality of life of all especially the poor and workers.

“A lot of progress has been made,” he said.

– SAPA

Zuma inaugurated as new president


PRETORIA – Inauguration proceedings for President Jacob Zuma have begun at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. More than 40 heads of state and government, VIPs and royalty are attending as well as thousands of ordinary South Africans.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

Cosatu calls for peace on platinum belt


Rustenburg – Striking workers should desist from violence against other workers during their industrial action, Cosatu said on Friday.
“It is possible for workers to lead a peaceful, bloodless and effective legal strike…,” said spokesperson Patrick Craven.

He said the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) led a peaceful strike at Northam Platinum in Limpopo.

He said Cosatu condemned the brutal murder of a NUM member who was killed in Rustenburg on Thursday.

“This is the fifth such killing in the past two weeks in the platinum belt.”

NUM said Felix Manjate, who comes from Mozambique, was stabbed to death at the Sondela informal settlement near Rustenburg while leaving for work at Anglo American Platinum’s Union mine in Limpopo.

He had apparently been threatened and warned by striking workers not to go to work.

“The federation shares the NUM’s concerns over the dire situation in the platinum mines – the long strike, the employers’ arrogance and the escalating violence which has been allowed to continue unabated by the law enforcement agencies and mine security,” Craven said.

Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at Lonmin, Impala and Anglo American Platinum downed tools on 23 January demanding a basic monthly salary of R12 500.

They rejected the companies’ offer that would bring their cash remuneration to R12 500 by July 2017.

SAPA

Churches call for relief in Marikana


Rustenburg – The South African Council of Churches called for more humanitarian relief for the striking miners and their families on the platinum belt.

About 24,000 Lonmin miners who are Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members, have been on strike for four months, demanding R12,500 entry level salary.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za