Kaizer Chiefs eyes Ngele
Sport
Mogakolodi ‘Tsostso’ Ngele’s nomadic ways are set to continue this transfer period as South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams, Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City are gunning for his signature. Ngele is contracted to ABSA premiership title winners Mamelodi Sundowns and was on loan to Super Sport United last season.
It is indicated that Kaizer Chiefs are on pole position to clinch the tricky forward to Naturena fold to help galvanize their attack. It is said Ngele’s future will be determined by a Sundowns’ management that is willing to negotiate. While is it reported that Chiefs also want the now rejected Sundowns attacking player Anthony Laffor, it remains to be seen if the Pitso Mosimane led technical team will easily trade with Kaizer Motaung’s club. Upon hearing about Chiefs enquiry on Laffor, it is said that Sundowns counter proposed for Chiefs midfielder George Maluleke.
Also monitoring the situation behind closed doors is Cape Town City. The team drilled by Benny McCarthy believes Ngele can play a starring role to his side during the coming season. Sundowns over the years has developed a hard nose when negotiating for Ngele. It is said the Brazilians still admire the Botswana international but are not eager to hold discussions over his future soon. It is reported that the Pretoria based outfit is prioritizing player’s affairs with Khama Billiat‘s case on top of the agenda.
On one hand, it is believed that Ngele still recognizes Chiefs as one of South Africa’s leading clubs, capable of competing for the grandest prizes. In the event of leaving Sundowns, whom he joined from Botswana’s Township Rollers, he has always dreamt of playing for a rich paying club with more game time.
He has enjoyed his years at Sundowns as a professional where he is feted by the supporters, but feels that the time is right to move on. It is impossible to dispute the value and service that he has given to the club. Twice, Sundowns has loaned him to different teams, first to BidVest Wits where he helped them win the league and secondly to Supersport United where he also aided them to avoid relegation.
However as the fan favourite, who has had an on and off relationship with the national team, Zebras, he is still contracted to Sundowns and Mosimane is yet make a pronouncement on his future. Those close to developments say that Ngele is not shocked by the stubborn position held by Pitso Mosimane and Sundowns. It’s not clear if Sundowns will surely hate losing such a prized possession to their fiercest rivals. Both teams have traded players before.
Ramatlha Mphahlela and Leornado Castro have left Sundowns for Chiefs while George Lebese crossed the floor from Chiefs to Sundowns- the scenario gives Ngele and his negotiators hope. Zebras head Coach, Major David Bright has thrown weight behind Ngele’s lack of game time. He has made his concerns known to Mosimane and Sundowns that Ngele is an international player who deserves due attention.
Sport
It’s do or die for Zebras
The senior national team, the Zebras, is currently in Equatorial Guinea to for an African Cup of Nations Qualifiers tie. Before they departed, the team’s coach, Mogomotsi Mpote, had his troops train in Morocco. This was through the agreement between the two countries.
The agreement between the BFA and the Fédération Moroccan Football Association states that the two nations will work together to organize friendly matches between their respective national teams. It also allows the establishment of football camps for the youth categories (U-15, U-17, and U-20), this includes women’s national teams.
The national team has played over 180 minutes in its two qualifying matches against Tunisia and Libya. Currently, the Zebras, Lesotho and Liberia are the only teams that haven’t scored yet in the competition (this is correct by press time on Friday).
Before the match against Equatorial Guinea match, the local boys who were once known as the whipping boys of Africa in the early 2000s, were languishing at the bottom of the log standings in group J. They lost their first match away to Libya on June 1, 2022. However, they managed to salvage a point against Tunisia last year.
Before the team left for Equatorial Guinea, coach Mpote urged his players to focus on keeping their hopes of making a return trip to the AFCON finals alive after an 11 year absence since the maiden appearance in 2012. He noted that they would not allow their opponents to score and would ensure that they would get a draw.
Despite the various changes that have occurred in the two countries’ football landscape, the two teams have only met once before. In 2010, the local boys defeated the Equatorial Guinea team in a friendly match, which ended in an emphatic win for the visitors. Since then, the two sides have realised different fortunes in FIFA rankings, with Equatorial Guinea ranked 51 places above the Zebras.
Meanwhile, in their last six games, Guinea has only managed to win one of them. They drew with Rwanda and Togo in September 2022 friendlies. They have found the back of the net just twice in their six games. On the other hand, the Zebras, won one match against Zambia and lost four on their way to finishing at the bottom of the group with four points. At the conclusion of their previous AFCON campaign, the local boys traveled to Zambia and secured a draw.
MPOTE CONFIDENT
Despite the recent results of the Guinean team, which have only managed to draw with Rwanda and Togo in their last six matches, coach Mpote is still confident that his team will perform well against the hosts.
According to the head coach, the local boys have the necessary skills and resources to perform well against any country. He noted that the team’s coaches have been studying abroad to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of football.
“Tactically they should also be ready. We need your (Botswana fans) usual support, when we come back from Equatorial Guinea, we will go to Francistown, and we will need you. You are our 12th player, and you are very important to us.”
OBED ITANI CHILUME STADIUM CERTIFIED
This week, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) Tuelo Serufho revealed that the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will host the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the local boys and Equatorial Guinea. The venue had initially failed an inspection test conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, following the completion of the necessary works, the stadium was allowed to host the match.
According to BNSC Chief, Tuelo Serufho, the various requirements that the stadium must meet included having a designated parking area for the media and spectators, as well as having signage that will guide the spectators. He also noted that the venue now has a world-class media area.
Sport
Jagdish Shah rejects Rollers society
Township Rollers, one of the country’s most decorated football clubs with 15 premier league titles, is finding itself in a precarious situation as its long-term chief financier, Jagdish Shah, threatens to dump them if the society does not bow down to his demand of forfeiting their 20 percent interest in the company.
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Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.