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Mashaba upbeat about Amajita’s road to CAF Champs


Johannesburg- Outgoing Amajita coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba has vowed to make the country proud when the national U20 team takes on Cameroon in the second leg of the CAF African Youth qualifying match at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, 31 August 2014.

The winner in Sunday’s game qualifies for the CAF African Youth Championships scheduled for Senegal next year.

“This is a big match but having come so close, we cannot afford to let it slip away. I know Cameroon has some really good players but we are fully prepared to take matters into our own hands,” said Mashaba, who will leave the Amajita post to focus on Bafana Bafana after Sunday’s encounter.

The squad had light training at the match venue on Saturday morning where the emphasis was on set pieces, penalties among other tactics. They boys will relax for the remainder of the day and will have a late meeting in which the starting line-up will be announced.

“We have done everything possible, now we wait for the day of reckoning – but I am very positive with our focus. These players want to make history and you want such an attitude,” said Mashaba.

The new Bafana Bafana coach said the general mood in the country regarding football within ‘our national teams’ was the best for a long time since the country was readmitted into FIFA.

“Everything is beginning to fall into place and taking shape whether it is the U17, U20, Banyana Banyana; the gods of soccer are really starting to smile on us. I would therefore want to call upon the entire country to rally behind the nation and help build this great sport,” he said.

Mashaba also urged critics to be fair in their criticism and dwell on negatives.

“Let us support those called up to the national team and avoid unnecessary criticism. I will continue to monitor all players doing well but I can only have a certain number of players in a squad.”

He said his motto was to select players who were focused, passionate; those who respect the national flag and were prepared to die for the country.
“As I said when I named the Bafana Bafana squad that I was not cleaning up but renovating the system. And that renovation must begin to take shape with our match against Cameroon as we drive towards the road to Moscow,” he said.
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Solomons Disappointed With Defending


Speaking after his side’s 3-0 loss to Orlando Pirates, Polokwane City boss, Boebie Solomons, says his defence let them down.

Goals from Kermit Erasmus, Thabo Qalinge and Lehlohonolo Majoro condemned Rise and Shine to defeat and Solomons says they have have been working on other aspects of their game.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

SA not sending troops to Lesotho


Pretoria – The South African government was not immediately sending troops to Lesotho following claims that the neighbouring country had been taken over by the military, the department of international relations (Dirco) said on Saturday.

Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said diplomacy should be given a chance and the situation should be resolved through peaceful means.

He was speaking at a media briefing held at Dirco’s offices in Pretoria.

The Lesotho soldiers had reportedly taken over the police headquarters, radio and television stations resulting in a blackout in broadcast.

– Are you there? Send us your eyewitness accounts and photos.

Concern

Monyela said government was concerned about the situation.

It called for the Lesotho defence force to restore order in the country.

“[We]… call on the commander of the Lesotho defence force to order the army to return to their barracks and allow the democratically elected government of the kingdom to carry on with its business,” Monyela said.

“These activities of the Lesotho defence force have wrongly forced the constitutionally elected prime minister, the right honourable Dr Tom Thabane and the one of the leaders in the coalition government honourable Thesile Maseribane to go into hiding.”

He would not confirm that Thabane had fled into South Africa.

No one had officially claimed taking over the Lesotho government.

SADC

Monyela said Southern African Development Community (SADC) was engaging with all the roleplayers.

He called for a dialogue to resolve the issues.

“Political problems need to be resolved through political channels which is actually dialogue,” said Monyela.

He said all the South African officials in Lesotho were safe and accounted for.

Travel to Lesotho

However, Monyela urged people wishing to travel to Lesotho to “consider the situation”.

“The SA government encourages the leaders of the coalition government to work together and implement the Namibia declaration which was presented at the recent Victoria falls SADC summit,” said Monyela.

“In this regard, South Africa in her capacity as the chair of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security remain committed to assisting the leaders of the coalition government to find a lasting solution to their current challenges,” he said.

SAPA

We need to focus on our own play – Vera Pauw


Johannesburg- Preparations for the African Women’s Championship (AWC) are well on track for the South African women’s national team, Sasol Banyana Banyana.

Vera Pauw’s charges are set to continue with the hard work as they work towards their ultimate objective of finishing first at the Championships when they host Tanzania at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, 31 August at 18h00.

Banyana Banyana will have just over a month left after Sunday’s match against Tanzania to prepare for the biggest women’s football tournament on African soil, which will be hosted in Namibia from 11-25 October.

Pauw is confident that the team will perform well at the tournament, though it will not be easy as Sasol Banyana Banyana are drawn in the group of death against, nemesis Ghana, Cameroon and Algeria.

“Our objective of finishing in the top 3 at the tournament is very much possible, although it is not going to be easy. The friendly matches are good preparation for us, we are not focusing much on how Tanzania plays as we don’t know much about them, but on continuing with making sure that we are ready come October,” Pauw said.

The match against Tanzania will be the seventh friendly match they would have played as part of the preparations. Thus far, they have played twice against Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, winning five of the matches and playing to a goalless draw against Zimbabwe.

The Sasol sponsored women’s national team has come second on two occasions already in previous AWC tournaments, and now have their minds set on qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

FS Stars and Maritzburg United played to a 1-1 draw


Absa Premiership

Full Time: Free State Stars 1-1 Maritzburg United

Date: 30 August 2014

Venue: Goble Park

Free State Stars and Maritzburg United both failed to take their opportunity to move up the Absa Premiership table when they played to a 1-1 draw in a league match at Goble Park on Saturday afternoon.
For more http://www.soccerladuma.co.za

Pirates hammer Polokwane


Orlando Pirates outclassed Polokwane City 3-0 in the Absa Premiership on Saturday, with Kermit Erasmus, Thabo Qalinge and Lehlohonolo Majoro getting the goals at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Full report to follow shortly:
For more http://www.kickoff.com

World renowned writer Mokae fly SA flag higher abroad


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- Award winning author and poet, Sabata Mpho Mokae has found his niche in writing industry and is currently representing South Africa as one of the 35 writers in the world. Mokae is taking part in International Writing Programme at the University of Iowa in United State of America.

Christiana-born writer said he is very excited to represent South Africa at the biggest and oldest writing workshop in the world.

“I am at the University of Iowa to take part in the International Writing Programme, which is the biggest and oldest writing workshop in the world. I am enjoying my stay so far as one of the 35 writers from around the world as writer-in-residence at the university. I’ll do public readings and present a lectures on South African writing, write a new book and attending a course on International Literature. I am looking forward to share my wonderful experience with aspiring writers in South Africa” Mokae said.

Mokae who is a Master Degree Graduate in Creative Writing from Rhodes University says he is planning to gets doctorate soon.

Mokae,37, won two M-Net literary Awards for his debut setswana novel Ga Ke Modisa, just published his fourth novel called Dikeledi. He launched an anthology of poetry, Escaping Trauma.

He also wrote a sequel to the award winning book, Ga Ke Modisa.

“I enjoyed writing the book because I believed in the story. But I did not expect an award, let alone two because this was my very first work in my mother tongue. These awards were a pleasant surprise” he concludes.

Mokae will be in America until mid- November before he brings back his exclusive experience to Mzansi.-TDN
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World renowned writer Mokae fly South African flag high abroad


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- Award winning author and poet, Sabata Mpho Mokae has found his niche in writing industry and is currently representing South Africa as one of the 35 writers in the world. Mokae is taking part in International Writing Programme at the University of Iowa in United State of America.

Christiana-born writer said he is very excited to represent South Africa at the biggest and oldest writing workshop in the world.

“I am at the University of Iowa to take part in the International Writing Programme, which is the biggest and oldest writing workshop in the world. I am enjoying my stay so far as one of the 35 writers from around the world as writer-in-residence at the university. I’ll do public readings and present a lectures on South African writing, write a new book and attending a course on International Literature. I am looking forward to share my wonderful experience with aspiring writers in South Africa” Mokae said.

Mokae who is a Master Degree Graduate in Creative Writing from Rhodes University says he is planning to gets doctorate soon.

Mokae,37, won two M-Net literary Awards for his debut setswana novel Ga Ke Modisa, just published his fourth novel called Dikeledi. He launched an anthology of poetry, Escaping Trauma.

He also wrote a sequel to the award winning book, Ga Ke Modisa.

“I enjoyed writing the book because I believed in the story. But I did not expect an award, let alone two because this was my very first work in my mother tongue. These awards were a pleasant surprise” he concludes.

Mokae will be in America until mid- November before he brings back his exclusive experience to Mzansi.-TDN
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Do you know him? Daughter longing to meet with dad


By Obakeng Maje
Taung- A 28 year-old woman is looking for a man who is believed to be her father by the name of George Mogorosi Tong.

According to Karabo Phawene,28, Mr Tong met her mother Patricia Phawene in Sandton, Johannesburg while working there and George Tong was residing in Johannesburg visiting his relatives by then.

“I am a 28 year-old woman from Pankop, near Hammanskraal in Pretoria. I am looking for a man by the name of George Mogorotsi Tong who is believed to be my father. I am longing to meet with him and know my roots, so anyone who knows him can contact me so that I can meet with him” Phawene.

Phawene’s mother was born in 1962 and Karabo said her father was also born around 60s.

Anyone who know George Mogorotsi Tong can come forward and help Karabo to meet with her father.

Please contact our newspaper on 082048093/0763880959 to make Karabo’s dream possible.-TDN
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Drugs worth R1.2m confiscated in Kimberley


By Obakeng Maje
Kimberley Police are investigating a case of possession of drugs after the arrest of two suspects with approximately 30kg of suspected mandrax pills with an estimated street value of R1.2 million.

On Saturday at approximately 00:05, police received information that two people with suspected Mandrax pills were held by police deployed to work at Shosholoza Mail in Kimberley Train Station.

Kimberley police swiftly attended to the complaint and a 72-year-old man as well as a 49-year-old woman were found to be in possession of about 12 439 suspected Mandrax pills which were contained in two bags.

“The two suspects were immediately arrested and the drugs were confiscated. They will be charged with possession of drugs. During this time of their arrest the two were in a train that was coming from Johannesburg to Cape Town and their exact destination is unknown at this moment” lieutenant Donald Mdhluli said.

Whilst on the scene police managed to also search and arrest a 42-year-old man for being in possession of about 1.8 grams of cocaine. He is also facing a charge of possession of drugs.

Three were detained and are expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate Court on Monday.

The Kimberley Cluster Commander, Major General Jean Abrams applauded the SAPS members working at Shosholoza Mail as well as the Kimberley police as they displayed their commitment to their work. She said this is “a job well done” and reiterated that “the police will continue to ensure that the society is safe and free from drugs, even if it means doing stop-and-searches on daily basis in trains, taxis, private cars, liquor outlets, and everywhere where we suspects that drugs can be found”.

The investigation continues.   
-TDN
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