BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic yesterday got yet another home quarterfinal against Soweto
giants in a cup competition.

Having beaten Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Knockout at the same stage in November, Celtic will be lifted by that emphatic come-from-behind victory when they welcome Kaizer Chiefs to their slaughterhouse for the last eight of the Nedbank Cup next month.

Celtic were eventual winners of the Telkom Knockout, and striker Lennox Bacela said although Amakhosi were tough opponents, playing them in front of their Free State crowd in three weeks’ time would help Phunya SeleSele to be more daring.

“I think after we won the Telkom Knockout, a lot of people thought the wheels would come off. But we just kept going,” said Bacela after the draw in Johannesburg.

“That has helped us go for even bigger things this season, and the way we beat Pirates shows how important our home record is.”

Like their bitter rivals Pirates, Chiefs often huff and puff away to Celtic. The Premier League cup committee is yet to decide the date and venue for the pick of yesterday’s draw, but it is likely to be the Free State Stadium.

Celtic and Chiefs will have an opportunity to asses each other before the cup game. The two meet in the league on March 31, something that will comfort Amakhosi hardman Willard Katsande.

“History will tell you that we are not that good against Celtic, but this is a different stage and a different competition,” Katsande said.

In October, Amakhosi were held to a goalless draw by Celtic in a league clash played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Katsande said the possibility of winning the league double – they are five points clear at the top of the PSL standings with eight matches to go – was tough to ignore. We really need this cup, but we want to take it one game at a time.

Other quarterfinal matches include Mamelodi Sundowns against Platinum Stars and United FC taking on African Warriors.

The PSL said the last 16 fixture between Tembu Royals and Maritzburg United, delayed because of an arbitration process after AmaZulu complained Royals had fielded an illegible player, would be played on Friday.

The winner of this encounter will then face SuperSport United in the quarterfinals.

For more details go to www.sowetanlive.co.za

The South African Open Summer Games for the Intellectually-impaired sportspersons got off to a flying start on Monday in Rustenburg, with athletes competing in various sporting codes.

The contestants hope to qualify for international competitions, including the Paralympics in 2016.

Organised under the auspices of the South African Sport Association for the Intellectually-impaired (SASA –II), the games are supported by the North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.  All nine Provinces are represented in Rustenburg, although they do not all participate in all codes.

The five codes are Cricket, Athletics, Indoor Rowing, Swimming and Table Tennis.

SASA – II President Lizzie Vogel said her organisation was disappointed that red tape had deprived their athletes from competing in London last year.

“Our immediate Olympic goal now is to clear every hurdle and make sure that our athletes make it to the next Paralympic Games,” said Vogel. 

“As we select our international athletes, we will test them properly to make sure that they meet Paralympic requirements.” Vogel adds.

After the week-long event, the organisers will select players for international participation in the following World Championships events: Athletics in the Czech Republic (June), Swimming in France ( August), Table Tennis in China (November) , Cricket in England (2014).

The venue for the international Indoor Rowing event next year is yet to be confirmed.

On the international front, South Africa are a keen player, scheduled to be hosting the next World Athletics Championships for People With Down Syndrome in 2015.

The SA Open Summer Games are an annual event that has been taking place since the formation of SASA – II in 1992. Provinces bid for the right to host, with the support of the Provincial Government and the relevant national structures.   

(Edited by Obakeng Maje –Twitter@IceT_)

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BY Staff Reporter

Bafana Bafana were warmly received upon arrival in Mother City on Monday afternoon, and immediately visited sponsors Absa’s branch in Khayelitsha Mall where they were mobbed by hundreds of adoring fans.

They were met at the Cape Town International Airport by Grant Pascoe, an Executive Mayoral Committee Member of the Tourism, Events and Marketing portfolio.

Bafana take on Central African Republic at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening (20h15) in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifying match.

“We are proud to have Bafana Bafana back in the City again, and we are confident they will do well on Saturday. We would like to appeal to all the people of Cape Town and surrounding areas to come out in numbers to show their support to the players, like they did last year. As the City, we are proud to host our heroes again,” said Pascoe.

Head coach Gordon Igesund has this whole week to look for a combination in central defence following the withdrawal of Siyabonga Sangweni due to a knee injury. Bafana Bafana will also be without the injured Tsepo Masilela at left back.  Igesund though is not losing sleep over the spate of withdrawals.

“It is unfortunate that the two players are out with injuries, but it is part of the game. I believe I picked the squad with enough depth on the side and I am quite confident with the central defenders I have.  Mulomowandao Mathoho has been playing well, Siyanda Xulu was just recently selected man of the match, we also have Thabo Nthete who is a very good player;  so I have a lot of cover in those positions,” said Igesund.

“It is just unfortunate that they might not have played together in the positions, so I have to give a lot of work into that. I am also aware that Mathoho and Gould play together at Kaizer Chiefs, but it does not mean that is the combination I will go with. It is just disappointing as no one wants to lose any player to injury.”

Igesund, who was hospitalised recently, said he had fully recovered from the operation and there were no health concerns for him.

“I am feeling much better now after the operation. I had good rest and am fine, fit and ready to lead my country in such a crucial match,”he said.

The Bafana Bafana mentor also believes that even though this clash is a must-win encounter, the players are not under pressure like in the AFCON 2013 tournament.

“We have come a long way in a short space of time. As the tournament went on the players started to believe in themselves and played good football. Now there is a lot confidence, a lot of camaraderie in the team and good spirit,” said Igesund.

“Our mission is to qualify for Brazil in 2014, yes it is a tough task but I don’t think we will feel the kind of pressure we felt when we started the AFCON 2013 tournament, where we were not given a chance. I have no doubt in my in my mind that we will do well because we are not under the same pressure as we were then.”

Tickets for the match are still available and going for R50 and R100.

They can be purchased at Shoprite, Checkers and Shoprite/Checkers stores as well as at Computicket outlets around the country.

By Obakeng Maje

KHUMA-Police have arrested the second suspect who was linked to the murder, attempted murder and house robbery that happened on Sunday at Sterkstroom outside Ventersdorp. 

“A 21-year-old was arrested today at about 9:15 at Extension 5 in Khuma township near Klerksdorp while hiding at his aunt’s house. Ventersdorp police managed to track the second suspect and asked Khuma Police for assistance. The  suspect whom the police were questioning earlier was not linked to the case” Brigadier Tulani Ngubane said.

The first suspect,  a 22-year-old was arrested on Sunday night at about 23:00 after Police received a tip-off from a member of the community.  Allegedly the suspect was seen with the stolen items and Police were alerted. The suspect was found in possession of three firearms, a digital camera and knives that the Police confiscated.

A 67-year-old farmer and his 64-year-old wife were attacked by two suspects on Sunday, 17 March 2013 at about 09:45. It is alleged that the two suspects surprised the 67-year-old farmer outside the couple’s house and assaulted him with a blunt object on the head and   dragged him into the house. While inside the house, the suspects saw the victim’s wife and they assaulted her too. Police suspects that the woman was raped in the process and the medical report is awaited.

Allegedly after the suspects assaulted the woman, they took two cellular phones, tied the woman with ropes and fled the scene on foot. The 64-year-old woman managed to untie herself and went to seek help at the neighbouring farm.   The 67-year-old farmer died at the scene and the woman was taken to a hospital in Klerksdorp where she is recovering.  Police suspects that the motive for the incident to be a house robbery.  The 22-year-old suspect is expected to appear before Ventersdorp Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday,  20 March2013 on charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of stolen property and house robbery. Investigation continues

Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Jimmy Tau could finally make a return to competitive football after almost a year since his last official match.

Entries for the Metropolitan SASFA U16 Cup are open and schools have until 20 March 2013 to enter their teams into this national competition, which is open to all South African schools.

Since its inception four years ago, the Metropolitan SASFA U16 Cup has had a significant impact on youth soccer development in South Africa.  Last year’s winners, Rosina Sedibane Modiba School from Gauteng, represented South Africa in Brazil at the ISF World Championships in 2012 and this year they will once again have this honour when the travel to France.

The competition format comprises three main phases prior to the national play-offs, including zonal, regional and provincial phases. The zonal segment consists of a round-robin league phase for schools registered with the Department of Education in the 1016 designated districts across the country, in which each team play a maximum of seven matches.

In the regional phase, the top two teams that emerge from each district will be divided into 63 regions where they compete in a knock-out competition for qualification for the provincial phase.

The top two finishers in each region then enter their respective provincial play-offs in another knock-out round from which the top two teams in each of the nine provinces proceed to the national play-offs.

To register, fill in the form below and fax to (011) 494 4109 or contact Themba Tshabalala on 084 290 0602 themba.tshabalala@safa.net

Cape Town – Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund revealed on Monday he had brought their 2014 World Cup qualifying match against the Central African Republic to Cape Town for a reason.

Saturday’s match will be played at the Cape Town Stadium in what is a must-win game for Bafana, who currently lie third behind Ethiopia and Botswana.

“I brought it to Cape Town because we have always had a very good feeling here,” Igesund said.

“In the game against Norway, the vibe was fantastic.

“The stadium will suit us, it’s a nice big stadium, CAR is a team that like to play on a small ground. They want to close people down. They want to kick. They are a physical side.”

Igesund believed the excellent playing surface, and the size of the pitch would give his team an advantage, as would the potentially adverse weather conditions.

“I think the Cape Town Stadium is ideal for our game,” he said.

“If the players play the type of football they can, we can knock the ball around, don’t let them get it, play attacking football with a lot of possession, and get the crowd here behind us.

“Over the years, teams come to Cape Town and always battle. It’s not easy here.”

The Bafana contingent arrived in Cape Town on Monday and will have a full week to prepare for the encounter.

Igesund will fill his players in about what to expect from the CAR on Saturday, the opposition being a closed book to most South Africans.

“I’m very aware of them, and this week I’ll pass the info on to my players.

“I have watched their tapes against Egypt, against Burkina Faso.

“We do know a lot about them, but both those games were at home, so they may play a little bit more effective, a bit more on the counter-attack.”

The Bafana mentor said most of the opposition’s players – with the exception of two – played in Europe.

“Some are in France, some in Morocco, some at West Ham.

“So they have a formidable team and are no slouches. We won’t underestimate them.

“Playing a team like the Central African Republic, it’s not too bad because with the latest technology (analysis software), I get a lot of information and individual snips of players.”

For more details go to www.news24.com

Pretoria – Tshwane metro police officers have been accused of assaulting an elderly woman and locking her up for two days in a police cell.

Sindiswa Hejena, 60, of Silverton, told The Sowetan how she was assaulted by a female officer and two male colleagues after a church service last Tuesday.

“A Nigerian man, a congregant at our church, was given a traffic fine for parking incorrectly and he was begging them not to give him a ticket,” she said.

“My husband and I told him to take the ticket and that’s when the woman officer told my husband ‘voetsek you old man’.

“I told her not to speak to him like that because he was elderly,” Hejana said.

She said the female officer became angry and attacked her.

Hejana was taken to the Pretoria Central police station and was allegedly attacked again.

A police spokesperson said the matter would be investigated.

For more details go to www.news24.com

Former ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema has missed the deadline to challenge the SA Revenue Services’ application for the sequestration of his estate to cover a R16 million tax bill, The Times reported on Tuesday.

Malema filed a notice of intention to oppose the application in the High Court in Pretoria on February 18. He had until last Monday to file his answering affidavit.

According to a court document dated March 14, Malema failed to file the affidavit. As a result the application was set down on the unopposed motion court roll.

The hearing has been scheduled for April 17. Malema’s lawyer Tumi Mokwena refused to comment, the newspaper reported.

In December, Sars secured a court order for the attachment of Malema’s assets.

In January, sheriffs seized his Sandton and Polokwane homes. Sars then rejected a R4m settlement offer and auctioned Malema’s assets in the Sandton and Polokwane homes in February. – Sapa

A Pietermaritzburg father has admitted to raping his 13-year-old daughter on several occasions over four months, the Witness reported on Tuesday.

According to the paper, the 39-year-old man admitted in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court to having committed sexual acts with his daughter on various occasions between December and March.

This was contained in a statement read by his Legal Aid attorney, Amsha Narain.

The man’s wife caught him raping their daughter when she unexpectedly returned home. The man was found guilty on a single count of rape. He would appear in court again on April 9. – Sapa