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By Herrold Lamola Bafana Bafana has failed to live up to their billing against the minnows lately, it's worth bearing all that in mind when assesing the South African national team ahead of the African Cup of Nations qualifier against yet another smaller nation- Seychelles- on Saturday. Write off The Pirates at your own peril. It is a bit of a cliché to some but a reality when dealing with Bafana Bafana. It is an open secret that at Nasrec, survival is dependant on keeping out of trouble. Stuart Baxter's rule is sinking into uncertainty. He might have dodged the bullet after failing to qualify for the Fifa World Cup. His survival remains a mystery. He is the only coach that lived to tell a tale amid poor displays ditched by his men. None of his predecessors have survived the axing after failing so dismally. With nations like Mauritania and Cape Verde having gave Bafana a hiding before, Seychelles, might be hoping to have their claws fully injected on the South African squad

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola The gap is narrowly closing between the so-called giants and the small teams in the Absa Premiership. For a team of AmaZulu FC’s stature to hold a star-studded Mamelodi Sundowns to a 3-all draw in the six-goal thriller shows that money can’t buy you success.  Although, Sundowns fielded most of their fringe players, those players are quality as compared to the regulars at the Durban-based club. It came as no shock to me because football is not played on paper but on a hardened turf. Head Coach, Cavin Johnson’s charges didn't show too much respect to the reigning PSL champions and that fighting spirit yielded them results. Usuthu gave Pitso Mosimane’s men a run for their money. The big teams aren't becoming weak, but the minnows are stronger now. There will be plenty of surprises this season compared to the previous once.  Usuthu travels to the bright lights of Jozi to face the glittering Glamour Boys. Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundown

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola Like a couple that has conceived, it is  then subjected to an estimated 288-days of gestation period, before delivering their bundle of joy. Kaizer Chiefs supporters witnessed the arrival of Andriamirado Aro Hasina 'Dax' Andrianarimanana at Naturena but that was just a conceiving proccess.  The Amakhosi family had to wait fifteen more days after the official closing date of the Premier Soccer League window period to see 'Dax' in action. All good things are worth fighting for. Kaizer Chiefs rumbled with 'Dax' former club Fosa Juniors FC. With the  Malagasy football club accusing Chiefs of tapping on their player. Not all fights are fair but Chiefs chose to be a law obeying citizen.  As FIFA emphasises 'Fair play' to all its members. Chiefs decided to take a fair route to the football highest office prior capturing 'Dax's signature officially. Dax has been cleared fit and ready to make his debut at Chie

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola Not all those who wonder are lost. It needed a stroke of luck for the former Orlando Pirates star midfielder, Thandani Ntshumayelo to revive his football career. After his dosing the 28-year old passed positive for cocaine. The Premier Soccer League allows only passes but puffs are against the league's set of rules. His tipsy mood was then replaced by a real hefty ban of four years from the beautiful game. Following his ban it was expected of Orlando Pirates to cut ties with Ntshumayelo. Pirates terminated 'Bibo's’ contract with immediate effect. Things were falling apart for the then 26-year old star. Ntshumayelo was oblivious of what lies ahead. It is true that your actions today will be your biography tomorrow. When Ntshumayelo's world dimmed out reality stroke and lost some of his valuable assets including Mercedes Benz CLA and some people he trusted left. Time flies when you are with your dear ones but with time you realise

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola After a performance that goes beyond industrious, Amazulu Football Club, has counted home a 3-1 victory over Orlando Pirates to secure maximum points in their opening Multichoice Diski Challenge game of the season. Orlando Pirates went for experienced campaigners at the back- with Jackson  Mabokgwane at goals and Justice Chabalala- marshaling the defence. This seems to be a solid wall. The spear-armed Usuthu didn't hesitate to demolish that Berlin wall. Like a classical tale: Amazulu started the game like a house on fire. The Kwa Zulu-Natal based outfit took the game to the Buccaneers. Bucs defence started to crack and commit fouls. In the first minute of the game Amazulu found the back of the net through a penalty kick.  Even the freezing Durban couldn't stop the on fire Usuthu. Just before the half time break- the attendees at the- Mpumalanga Hammarsdale Stadium in Kwa Zulu-Natal went into ruptures when Amazulu got their second goal.

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola I don't have any reason to show any sympathy to the mediocre Bafana Bafana.  The only thing I am pity of- is this keyboard- I might have to see 'My friend'- a Pakistan national guy at my street corner to fix it after crashing all the keys of my PC. Like a guy who has been dumped by a girl of his dreams- my heart bleeds- everytime I think of the overrated Bafana Bafana. Bafana has failed to live up to their billing yet again. Stuart Baxter's men were hosted to a dull draw by Libya in front of their home supporters. Libya was a better side of the day and created more chances than  Bafana Bafana. Going into the half time break with only one shot on target was adequate to prove that Bafana was under performing. After failing so dismally to qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup finals- the least Bafana can offer us- is to qualify for the 2019 Afcon finals.  Amid their Saturday's performance- I don't see- this mediocre quali

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola It is disheartening to see a coach of; Pitso Mosimanes'; calibre standing on players way to reach greater heights in their careers. Mosimane is a successful coach and there is no doubt about that. He has won every piece of silverware available in Africa . But his despicable stunts reflect another side of the coin. No one wants to see themselves as bad- even the devil- doesn't recognise itself in a mirror. Mamelodi Sundowns produces players of high quality and it is a given that- European teams- will come knocking for such talent. In the most recent past, Sundowns has exported more players than any other local team.  Some of those players had to fight tooth and nail for their releases. Keagan Dolly's buyout clause has almost been his barrier. Percy Tau nearly fell into the same trap. Thanks to Rob Moore's intervention. Pitso's stunts are creating commotion within the Sundowns camp. Sundowns is poaching on other clubs

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola The clock is certainly ticking for the Kaizer Chiefs mentor, Giovanni Solinas, at Naturena.  Solinas is yet to taste a league victory as the Amakhosi coach. The first piece of silverware has eluded him already- after being dumped out of- the MTN8 by Supersport United on Saturday night. It will be hard to convince the hard to please Chiefs fans that he is the right man for the job. The Italian is still new at Kaizer Chiefs but with a club of Chiefs stature there is no time to build. You have to hit the ground running. His predecessor- Steve Komphela's-dismissal was solely based on results and not performance. As the cynical adage has it: the more things change- the more they remain the same. Chiefs club manager; Bobby 'Bobsteak' Motaung, promised to make wholesale changes at Naturena but it seems like Solinas is working through Komphela's blueprint. Bobby Motaung has signed quality players this season compared to previous seas

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola Africa is a jungle and only predators survive.  Known for its infomous big five - survival is never guaranteed. Mamelodi Sundowns hosts the Guinean side Horoya in their crunch final group match on Tuesday afternoon at the South African capital- Tshwane. In a jungle everyone can fall prey, it can go either way. The bare statistics suggests that Mamelodi Sundowns are the favourites; given that they are the 2016 Kings of African football. Sundowns are third in Group C with five points- three behind Horoya. The South African league champions have managed a single victory and two draws after round five of group matches. Anything less than a win won't be enough for Sundowns to progress through to the next phase of the competition. A draw will be enough for the visitors to secure a spot in the knockout stages. Though the statistics are in favour of Sundowns- their recent poor run of form might deter their chances. Sundowns has not scored a

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola The Special One will be forced to tinker with his squad ahead of tonight's clash against the high flying Tottenham Hotspur. The partnership of Eric Baily and Victor Lindelof has looked a bit shaky. Mourinho has options in his squad should he opt against playing the duo.  The duo have to be at their best in order to keep Spurs’ lethal attack at bay. United fans questioned Mourinho's tactics in the season opener against Leicester City.  Though Mourinho has depth in his squad - Spurs poses a threat to the once mighty United. Unlike Leicester City that didn't capitalise on United's blunders, Spurs present a much more lethal threat.  With the visitors’ attack led by Harry Kane, Mourinho is therefore forced to tinker with his shaky defence. One needs not read too much into the stats - Although the numbers never lie.  Spurs look sharper to defy the cynical adage. Numbers are in favour of United but their recent displays will n