ABSA Premiership

Result: Ajax Cape Town 2-2 Mamelodi Sundowns

Date: 17 September 2013

Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Ajax Cape Town and Sundowns played to a thrilling 2-2 draw, after an exciting second-half, with all four of the goals coming in the last 45 minutes, including a controversial penalty. Former Ajax man Khama Billiat also hit the woodwork twice and could easily have won the game for Downs.

In just the third minute Eleazar Rodgers got on to the end of a Keagan Dolly cross, but his shot went straight into the hands of Kennedy Mweene.

In the eighth minute Rodgers had another golden opportunity as he beat the offside trap and raced free, but he chose to cross rather than shoot over an advancing Mweene and couldn’t find Dolly and Rashid Sumaila was able to clear.

In the 12th minute Khama Billiat was set up by Punch Masenamela after the left-back ran down the touchline and pulled it back for Billiat, but his first touch was too strong and he had to stretch to make a shot which went straight to Brandon Peterson.

A minute later Billiat made a good run down the touchline and his cross across the goalmouth got the better of Peterson but no Sundowns players could get onto the end of it.

In the 23rd minute Telinho had a half chance for Ajax, after receiving a good ball from young Bantu Mzwakali, who was impressing on debut, but he needed two touches of the ball and his shot deflected off the back of Bryce Moon and went over the goal.

The rain began to fall after the half hour mark as Sundowns dominated the possession, Ajax seemingly happy to counter attack at pace when they did get the ball.

Dové Womé made a good run to collect a long ball in the 36th minute and laid it back to Billiat but his shot from the edge of the box went straight at Peterson.

In the 40th minute Manyama, got a brilliant little pass from Dolly and was surging forward but was brought down by Sumaila on the edge of the box. Mzwakali stepped up to take the free kick but his curling shot clipped the cross bar and went over.

In the ref’s optional time Rodgers set Dolly up with a good pass, but Dolly’s shot from just outside the area flew straight at Mweene who blocked it and recovered to gather the ball, and at half-time it was 0-0.

Bongani Zungu scored the opener in the 51st minute, a great low shot past Peterson into the opposite corner. Masenamela delivered a good cross from the deep into the box, and Dominic Isaacs and Cuthbert Malajila both jumped to make the header. Isaac’s clearance fell into the path of Zungu, who finished superbly.

But Sundowns lead was short-lived. Dolly equalized in the 55th minute as he picked up a loose pass from Sumaila on the edge of the box, charged down the left and his powerful shot-come-cross snuck into the near post under a diving Mweene.

A minute later Billiat should’ve given Sundowns the lead but his shot, from a good Zungu cross, struck the post and bounced clear.

In the 66th minute Nathan Paulse, who had replaced Rodgers at half-time, won a penalty as he fell over Alje Schut’s leg. Manyama blasted the penalty past Mweene to give Ajax a 2-1 lead.

Katlego Mashego came on for Sundowns in the 75th minute and immediately took a free kick which forced a great save from Peterson.

Cuthbert Malajila equalized for Sundowns in the 80th minute after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. Malajila got onto the end of the corner kick and headed it at Peterson who saved, but couldn’t hold onto the ball. It fell to Zungu but his shot was also blocked by Peterson, however Malajila had got back to his feet and this time he made no mistake, and the ball flew into the goal.

Sundowns could have been in the lead a minute later, but Billiat, after dribbling into the box, hit the woodwork once again, his shot flying into the crossbar and bouncing clear.

How they started today:

Ajax Cape Town: Brandon Peterson, Dominic Isaacs [c], Cecil Lolo, Ritus Krjauklis, Thato Mokeke, Abbubaker Mobara, Stélio Ernesto (Telinho), Bantu Mzwakali, Eleazar Rogers, Lebogang Manyama, Keagan Dolly

Mamelodi Sundowns: Kennedy Mweene, Alje Schut [c], Rashid Sumaila, Punch Masenamela, Bryce Moon, Hlompho Kekana, Teko Modise, Bongani Zungu, Khama Billiat, Dové Womé, Cuthbert Malajila
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen says that he has mixed feelings about his side’s 0-0 draw with Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday night.

Larsen admits that his side had enough chances to snatch all three points, and that’s what he was hoping for with Celtic hosting the game.

The coach, though, believes that his squad is still looking to gel and feels that they will grow stronger as the season rolls on.

“Mixed feelings about the game. I felt at times we could have won the game, but I am really happy with the spirited performance of the boys,” he said.

“They have been showing us this game in and game out. Sometimes the results haven’t been coming but the commitment has never been questioned in this team.

“I think we are still trying to gel, a lot of new players still trying to find their feet. But I think we are heading in the right direction.

“Results may not be coming but we believe in what we are doing and we believe in our players and I’m sure as the season progresses we’ll get stronger as a unit.

“We never really had competition in a lot of positions and now I believe that there is a better balance in the team.

Regarding the end result, he said, “Disappointed. We are never happy with a point in the Free State.”
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter believes that the condition of the pitch prevented his side from leaving the Free State with a win as they drew 0-0 with Bloemfontein Celtic.

Chiefs created numerous good chances throughout the game but failed to find their finishing touch as they had to settle for a point.

“I think probably the pitch beat both teams at the finish. It was very difficult to play on it. With regard to our performance I thought we were quite good in the first-half,” he said.

“We played some nice football but it was difficult to finish. It was difficult to finish on this pitch because your balance was affected, it was hard and bumpy.

“In the second-half, the first 15-20 minutes, we allowed Celtic to get some momentum. They took the initiative away from us. But I thought that after that we took it back and we created chances again.

“And again, we just tried to get the finishing touch which was so difficult on the pitch. I don’t think the boys could have played better on this surface.”

Asked if he was satisfied with the result, he continued, “We won the championships last year, and we drew with them in our home game. So, a point away from home… given the fact that we’ve won here before maybe at the moment I’m a bit disappointed. But I think once I realise that a point away from home is not a bad result… a lot of teams will come here and not get a point.”
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

ABSA Premiership

Result: Celtic 0-0 Chiefs

Date: 17 September 2013

Venue: Free State Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs were left to rue missed chances as they played out a 0-0 draw away to an organised Bloemfontein Celtic at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday night.

Amakhosi created the better of the opportunities throughout the first 45 minutes but some poor finishing allowed Celtic to start coming into the game. Celtic then looked to put the defending league champions under pressure in the second-half but neither side was able to find a goal.

Morgan Gould had the first real chance nine minutes into the game when he got up to meet a set-piece and sent his header inches over the crossbar.

Willard Katsande had an equally good chance from a corner three minutes later but his acrobatic attempt at the far post was just too high.

Siphiwe Tshabalala went down rather dramatically as he looked to earn a penalty soon after before Celtic finally responded with Joel Mogorsi thumping a low drive just wide with Itumeleng Khune scrambling.

Three minutes later the Phunya Sele Sele attacker was in the book after powerfully booting Tsepo Masilela who went in bravely with a header.

Knowledge Musona was showing signs of his confidence coming back as he was ready to fire at goal whenever he was given the slightest gap. The Zimbabwe striker first sent a free-kick just wide before a long-range volley dipped over the crossbar.

George Lebese picked out Reneilwe Letsholonyane perfectly in the 42nd minute but the Bafana Bafana midfielder powered his header off target while Khune was not convincing with a low shot that looked set to bounce in front of him but no Celtic player was following up to gobble up the rebound.

Chances dried up a bit in the second period with Musona hitting a shot off target three minutes in before Chiefs had to clear off the line 10 minutes later.

Ruzaigh Gamildien had his head in his hands after unleashing a superb shot which whistled just past the angle while Chiefs fans started getting restless with 22 minutes to go as Tshabalala sent a free-kick well over.

Kingston Nkhatha saw the ball drop for him in the 77th minute after Celtic messed up their clearance but the forward struggled to get the ball under control and his shot was closed down from inside the area.

Letsholonyane then set up the Zimbabwe striker with a sensational backheel off of a pass from Tshabalala but his final shot was scuffed and rolled wide while a patched up Tefu Mashamaite failed to power his header home with seven minutes to go.

Chiefs were desperately looking for a late winner and a composed passing move ended with Letsholonyane stretching to head over from close range while substitute Lehlohonolo Majoro just missed a cross from Tshabalala.

There was to be no late drama though as the game ended goalless with both sides settling for a point.

This is how they line up:

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Tefu Mashamaite, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Willard Katsande, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, George Lebese, Kingston Nkhatha, Knowledge Musona.

Celtic: Patrick Tignyemb, Tumelo Mogapi, Thabo Nthethe, Clayton Daniels, Wandisile Letlabika, Vuyani Ntanga, John Arwuah, Lerato Lamola, Musa Nyatama, Letsie Koapeng, Joel Mogorosi.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.com

Durban – The father of a Durban bank trainee, who died when a concrete slab thrown from a bridge smashed into her face, said the 10-year sentence imposed on his daughter’s killers was no consolation.

As the trio were hearing their fate in the Durban Regional Court, on Monday – their anguished families in tears – Vukile Zuma spent the day at his daughter, Siphesihle Zola Zuma’s, grave.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Cape Town – A policeman in Diep River, Cape Town, grabbed a Nigerian man’s car keys and demanded money for their return, the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court heard on Tuesday.

Three policemen, Constable Nkosinathi Mdiya, Warrant Officer Mogamat Meniers, and Sergeant Heinrich Gordon, all based at the Diep River police station, are in the dock.

Mdiya is charged with two counts of theft, two of robbery and one of extortion (blackmail); Meniers is charged with one count of theft and one of corruption; and Gordon is charged with three counts of theft, two of corruption, two of extortion, and two of robbery.

On an extortion charge, Nigerian Daniel Animalu told the court he was driving in the Diep River area on the night of February 26

last year when he heard a police siren approaching from behind. At first he ignored it, but when the police vehicle started flashing its headlights at him, he stopped.

He said the police vehicle stopped behind him, and Gordon approached him. Gordon reached into his car, snatched the ignition keys, gave him a cellphone number to call, and drove off.

Animalu said when he called the number, Gordon told him he would have to pay R500 for the return of his keys.

Animalu said he reported the incident to the Wynberg police, who said he should call Gordon again, from the charge office, and demand that Gordon bring the keys to the Wynberg police charge office.

He did so, but Gordon had switched off his cellphone. Animalu tried a second time, got through, and demanded that the keys be returned to him at the police station.

Soon afterwards, Gordon called and said he had placed the keys on the bonnet of Animalu’s car. Animalu said the Wynberg police insisted Gordon return the keys to him at the Wynberg police station, which Gordon did.

On one of the theft charges, drug addict and pedlar Anton Pillay alleged that the three broke down the door of his shack in an informal settlement on the night of February 20. He said they confiscated money and drugs, and took him to the Diep River police station.

There, they demanded R200 each for his release, which he paid. When they returned the confiscated money, he noticed some of it was missing. No charges were pressed against him, he said.

Pillay was cross-examined by defence counsel Yvette Isaacs, representing Gordon. He admitted being confused in his main testimony about the payment of money to Gordon, to share between them to secure his release.

Asked if he had lied when he said he had given the money to Gordon, he said he was not sure to whom he had given the money.

Isaacs asked if the court could accept that he had not in fact given any money to Gordon. Pillay replied: “Yes.”

The trial continues on November 7.

Sapa

Cape Town -The government is dedicated to rooting out corruption, its senior counsel told the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.

Renata Williams SC, for the justice department and the government, was arguing in a challenge of the SA Police Service Amendment Act by businessman Hugh Glenister and the Helen Suzman Foundation.

The amendment act, which was passed in Parliament last year, sets out the way in which the Scorpions’ successor, the Hawks, should operate and function.

It was drafted last year in response to a previous Constitutional Court victory by Glenister, in which the executive was ordered to change the legislation to provide the Hawks with independence from political interference.

Glenister brought his case following the dissolution in 2008 of the Scorpions, which was an investigative unit under the jurisdiction of the National Prosecuting Authority.

Following the amendments in 2012, he said he was not convinced the Hawks was sufficiently insulated from undue influence.

On Tuesday, Williams said the government was well aware that corruption existed and was “endemic”.

“We have the government’s commitment in dealing with corruption. It’s been there for two decades,” she said.

At this point, Judge Siraj Desai lifted his head and questioned the statement that corruption had been present in only the past two decades.

“I don’t think the previous government was not guilty of corruption,” Desai said, before allowing Williams to continue.

Williams said the Constitutional Court found it permissible for the Hawks to fall under the police, and that its location did not pose a threat to its independence.

Earlier in the day, Michael Donen SC, for Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, suggested there had been no convincing argument that the Hawks unit would not be autonomous.

“The directorate (Hawks) constitutes a cocooned, autonomous group,” Donen submitted.

Donen contended that the amendment act met all the requirements of establishing an independent crime-fighting unit focusing on, among others, corruption.

Because the appointment of the Hawks’ head was led by Mthethwa, this did not mean it would be unduly politically influenced.

“The appointment by the minister of the head cannot be described as a political appointee,” Donen said.

His arguments were in line with those of President Jacob Zuma’s counsel, Kemp J Kemp SC, who earlier said the police minister’s discretion took effect only when deciding who he wanted to appoint as Hawks chief from those who met the objective criteria as set out by the act.

The case was postponed to October 14 for further arguments.

Sapa

Mbombela – The police did not assault three men accused of killing an Mpumalanga mine worker three years ago, the Nelspruit Circuit of the High Court in Pretoria ruled on Tuesday.

Judge Mmonoa Teffo made the judgment in a trial-within-trial on Tuesday, a Sapa correspondent reported.

“After listening to all the submissions regarding this matter, the court is satisfied with the State’s evidence.

“All the statements from the accused and the pointing out at the crime scene were made freely and voluntarily, without any undue prejudice,” Teffo found.

Isaac Sebokuboku Phala, 29, Calvin Tjatjie, 24, and Tshepo Seloane, 24, are accused of murdering Madingwana Max Matlou, 43, and robbing him of his Samsung cellphone in Mashishing on August 22, 2010.

The cellphone was later sold to Cash Crusaders in Emalahleni.

Phala, Tjatjie and Seloane have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, armed robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

They told the court the police had tortured them to confess to the crime and forced them to do the pointing out at the scene.

Teffo ruled that all the confession statements, the pointing out of the crime scene, and albums of the photos taken during the process were admissible as evidence.

The defence team accepted the judge’s ruling.

Teffo postponed the case to Thursday for trial.

Sapa

Potchefstroom – The African National Congress is combat ready for the Tlokwe by-elections in the North West, the party said on Tuesday.

“We will utilise this opportunity to place resources at our disposal and our energies in winning the three ward by-elections we are contesting tomorrow,” spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

“The ruling of the court today is neither a victory, setback nor a loss for the ANC.

The Electoral Court in Bloemfontein ordered on Tuesday evening that five out of the nine by-elections in Tlokwe be postponed.

This was after the court heard an application by five independent candidates who were disqualified from taking part in the by-elections by the Independent Electoral Commission.

A sixth by-election, in Ward 13, was earlier postponed after an out-of-court settlement.

ANC leaders campaigned in Tlokwe on Tuesday.

Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula and ANC Youth League convenor Mzwandile Masina were among those campaigning.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe was scheduled to address party volunteers in Potchefstroom on Tuesday evening.

Sapa

Johannesburg – Four men have been arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Tuesday.

They were caught in bushes after a police chase on Monday, said police spokesperson Jay Naicker.

He said the police gave chase to a white bakkie that drove through a red traffic light in KwaMashu.

“When they tried to stop the vehicle, the driver turned to Nkonjane Road at K Section where the vehicle crashed and came to standstill.”

The men, aged between 35 and 48, jumped out and ran towards bushes while shooting at the police.

“Dogs were released to give chase and the men were found in possession of firearms and ammunition,” said Naicker.

Police confiscated a .38 special Taurus revolver with six rounds of ammunition, a 9mm pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition, a 7.65 pistol, a .38 Taurus revolver and an AK-47 assault rifle with 30 rounds.

Six cellphones, an identity document and five rubber gloves were also seized.

Naicker said the firearms would be sent for ballistics tests to determine whether they had been used in any other crimes in the province.

The men would appear soon in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court, said Naicker.

– SAPA