Platinum Stars would like to dismiss out of hand media reports that coach Steve Komphela is about to be relieved of his duties at the club.

The management of Platinum Stars is fully behind the coach and his technical team and not once has the issue of Komphela’s discontinued employment been raised within the club.

When Platinum Stars appointed Komphela in June this year it was with a long-term view to the success of the team. The club is delighted with the choice that it has made and we remain convinced we have found the right man to take this team forward into what we see as a bright new future, said the Club’s Managing Director, Ian Riddick. Continue Reading

The 27-year-old is the first Asian player to ply his trade in the South African top-flight having joined from Home United in Singapore, and adds to coach Steve Komphela’s front-line options for the new season.

Stars fans got a first sight of Murakami in Saturday’s Telkom Charity Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace and he did not disappoint, providing a clinical finish to Dillon Sheppard’s pass in the Final against Orlando Pirates.

Komphela is delighted with his capture, who stood out immediately after his arrival in the country two weeks ago.
“I have really been impressed by him,” the coach says. “He has played in the J-League in Japan and played in Brazil. He really is a good player and I wanted to sign him as I know he will be an asset to Stars.” Continue Reading

Patrice Motsepe publicly declared, a couple of years ago, that Sundowns would play their part for the country by providing Bafana Bafana with outstanding players for the World Cup. However, what has happened is actually the exact opposite because they have become the place where footballers’ careers die.

The club’s policy of willy-nilly buying any player that is talked about has resulted in a bloated squad of players, bought without strategy. As a result, once promising players such as Thando Mgomeni and Manqoba “Shakes” Ngwenya have been wasted and their economic value has plummeted. Continue Reading

Orlando Pirates players can’t wait to lace up their boots for the 10th anniversary of the Vodacom Challenge against Manchester City, at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane, on Saturday, July 18 (15h00 kickoff).

Teko Modise said: “Manchester City is a class side. We have been watching Robinho play since his days in Santos, Brazil and this talented player can do almost anything with the ball. They have other fine players too including Shaun Wright Phillips who has lots of pace. But we also have skilful players like Katlego Mashego, Benson Mhlongo and Dikgang ‘Terminator’ Mabalane.  If we are committed enough on the day, we can win.”

“Manchester City plays a fast game but so do we. As for my free kicks, I am putting a lot of extra training into them and in the new season I am going to try and get even better and hopefully become the best free kick taker in SA.”

“Ruthless” is how Katlego Mashego described his approach to the goal-scoring chances that will come his way against Manchester City.

“We probably won’t get as many goal-scoring chances against Manchester City as we would get in a local league match so we need to be ruthless in our approach to scoring, but the English club have some fine players and I am really looking forward to the challenge of playing against them,” said Mashego.

Benson Mhlongo has made the Orlando Pirates centre midfield his own since arriving from Mamelodi Sundowns at the start of the 2008/2009 season, and is eager to help his club put in a good showing against The Blues. Continue Reading

I predicted that Mamelodi Sundowns would make a spectacular move in the close season and it seems they have done just that with the signing of Hristo Stoichkov as Head Coach on a two year contract. He will take over from Ted Dumitru who had taken charge of the club on a caretaker basis.

This is the second very high profile coach Sundowns have roped in having parted ways with Henri Michel who was unable to complete a full season at the club. Stoichkov made his name as a player when he was part of Johan Cryuff’s ‘dream team’ at Barcelona that won four league championships in a row and a European Champions Cup in 1992.

He was also named European Player of The Year and was the top goal scorer at the USA ’94 FIFA World Cup which earned him the Golden Boot Award. Unfortunately it seems as if his signing was preceded by allegations of match fixing at his previous Romanian club after his charges drew a match under very controversial circumstances. Continue Reading

Just like many youngsters I grew up playing football in the township streets of Manzini in Swaziland. Football for most of us was real passion as we would play for hours till dark without worrying about food. Back then, at that innocent age, football was pure dedication without limit only for the love and passion of soccer.

As we grew up to play more organized soccer at different club levels from under 14 to the senior squad, football became more complex. Growing up playing soccer gives you the ambition to become a soccer star like Pele. We had to start training like professionals to be on top form. It was at this stage that I learnt that in football especially African football there was more to endure to make it as a soccer star. Continue Reading

The official opening of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 has silenced a lot of critics over whether or not South Africa is capable of successfully hosting an event like the World Cup. The opening ceremony presented an image of South Africa that will sell South Africa to any doubting Thomas.

Congratulations to Lebo M – he of ‘The Lion King’ fame – for putting on a truly magnificent opening show with a very uniquely African theme. The singers coming out of the hut at the centre of the pitch was an absolute winner for me with everything revolving around the ‘home’. This show could not happen anywhere else but Africa. Although it was African in look and feel it used universal devices for expression such as the beautiful mosaics that were created by the performers. Continue Reading

The business of soccer, like life in general, is dynamic with continuous improvement required to face new challenges. Continue Reading