ShakingInk

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola The Carling Cup has been glorified as the most unique tournament in the world- but the truth is- there is nothing extra ordinary about the competetition. South Africans must be sober minded to take football in the country foward. This is nothing much than promoting the biggest two teams in the country. Soweto derby needs no markerting- it is the most firce rivalry in our domestic calender. Telkom Charity cup was sacrificed for the most exaggerated competition. We should let go of the pretence. There is no logic in pretending this beer tournament is benefiting anyone- except the breweries. Four teams that participated in the one day Telkom Charity spectaculer have been trimmed to two. Black Label is using the same method used by Telkom by allowing fan participation. Football supporters were voting for their teams to take part in the charity cup- by no virtue of coincidence- Black Label urges fans to vote for their favourite player. In both competetions ...

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola Mamelodi Sundowns is set to lock horns with the- Egyptian giants Al Ahly in a highly anticipated Caf Champions League first leg quarter-finals clash at- Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane. Sundowns is arguably going into this encounter as favourites- given their good run at home in the group stages. The Brazilians boasts a hundred percent win record at home. The Tshwane giants won all their three Caf Champions League home games on their own backyard to book a spot in the quarter-finals. Their visitors have had it hard on the road. Al Ahly has managed to secure a single point away from home- something Sundowns will surely capitalise on. With Ahly being bad travellers- one can't take away the fact that- they know how to handle pressure away from their familiar surroundings. Sundowns mentor- Pitso Mosimane- has alluded to the fact that his side always has a goal at home. In his words Pitso said that- you can bully them anywhere but not- in Atteredgeville. ...

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola When Orlando Pirates lock horns with Mamelodi Sundowns in a fierce- El Kasico encounter- there is barely a draw. This clash has a champions league pedigree. Sundowns mentor, Pitso Mosimane, has said that Pirates is the only team in the Premier Soccer League [PSL] that can match his side pound for pound. Though when Sundowns hosted Pirates in the first leg at Loftus Versfield- they played to a goalless draw- but usually there is a feast of goals in this encounter. This is not a derby match but it is the closest rivalry to the derby. When Pirates faces their fierce rivals in one of the biggest derbies in the world- Kaizer Chiefs- the Soweto derby produces little to no goals. Sundowns play Supersport United in the Capital city derby. But the Tshwane derby is so one sided- with Sundowns dominating. One cannot be as in denial and write off this fixture as one of the baddest fixtures in a domestic calender. Going into this fixture- Pirates rely heavily on form...

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola When John Commitis bought Mpumalanga Black Aces back in 2015- a little was expected- from the relocated and renamed club. Not a big fan of club sales myself- but Cape Town City- gave the people of Cape Town a sense of belonging. Commitis appointed Eric Tinkler to lead his team. Tinkler's two seasons stay at City exceeded expectations. Surely Commitis must have had a headache of finding Tinkler's successor. But he couldn't have appointed any other better man to take charge of his club than Benni Mccarthy. McCarthy has taken City to new heights. The future looks bright for a team that has a Capetonian coach and a drive to play a total brand of footbal. City is set to lock horns with Kaizer Chiefs at Mbombela Stadium- in a fierce Nedbank Cup quarter-finals clash. With the two sides having already met twice this season- each team claiming victory at their own backyard- this match will be more than a grudge encounter. Benni has outdone himself ...