Opinion: Ofori has every reason to believe Bucs can compete in Africa.

Having a born again Orlando Pirates team that won a cup double last season in the domestic league competing in the CAF Champions League in the coming campaign, is a boost for South African football, more especially for Bafana Bafana. 

Players like Innocent Maela, Monnapule Saleng, Miguel Timm, Zakhele Lepasa and Nkosinathi Sibisi, who are national team players will welcome the prospect of competing  against the best that Africa has to offer in club football. 

They should be able to transfer their CAFCL experience to the national team. 

But for the above players to really get the feel of what it is like to play in Africa, Pirates will have to at least make the group stages. 

The big question is whether they have what it takes to get that far. 

In my opinion, Pirates have enough ammunition in their arsenal to reach the group stages and even go further. 

Besides the Bafana Internationals in their ranks, they also have capable players like Thabang Monare, Makhehlene Makhaula, Thapelo Xoki, and the experienced Kermit Erasmus to name only a few. 

Individuals aside, as a team, Amabhakaniya showed enough tactical/technical maturity to be able to do well in Africa. 

Their defense is solid, and offensively they are a team capable of unlocking defenses and create goal scoring opportunities. 

It is maybe in psychological aspects of the game where Bucs might be found wanting, which is unfortunately the most important aspect for a team hoping to do well in Africa. 

If they can be well prepared mentally to withstand the pressures of travelling, fixture congestion, and opposition antics on and off the pitch aimed at unsettling them, there is no reason Bucs cannot go far. 

Like Ofori, I also believe Bucs can compete in Africa. 

Opinion: With Jali in their nest, the Birds can only aim for the sky.

From having Steve Komphela as their head coach, to changing their name to the original Moroka Swallows, and now Andile Jali's signing, the Birds are in serious business of getting their nest in order. 

Having found themselves flying close the ground, the relegation zone that is, for the past two seasons, it seems like Swallows management have decided enough is enough, it is time to aim for the sky. 

Komphela and Jali can be just the wind that the Birds needed beneath their wings in order to fly higher. 

Jali, most importantly, can be the catalyst in the Swallows revival. 

His presence in the team, coupled with his experience and leadership skills can rub off positively to the less experienced Swallows players. 

Add to that the fact that AJ is still one of the best defensive midfielders in the country, and you can just imagine the impact he may have at Swallows. 

But that will depend on which AJ shows up at the Birds. 

Will it be an AJ who is determined and committed to the course of taking Swallows back to the top where it once belonged amongst the likes of their Soweto rivals like Orlando Pirates and Kaizer chiefs? 

A Jali who is still willing to give 100% on the field of play any given Sunday? 

Because if Swallows are getting that AJ, they might just have won the lottery, because that AJ is a beast in midfield. 

What would be sad is if Swallows have signed an AJ who is going there just to wind down his playing career, preparing for his retirement while earning a salary. 

That is not an Andile Jali the Birds would like to have in their nest, trust me. 

Hopefully, it is the former rather than the latter that they have signed, an AJ who will be the glue that keeps the Swallows wings intact as they take to the sky. 

Opinion: Sorry Caleb, we expected better.

Eight goals in 21 games is not at all a bad return for a striker in the DStv Premiership. 

In fact, Caleb Bimenyimana should be looking forward to banging in more goals for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2023/24 season. 

Unfortunately, it seems like Bimenyimana is on his way out of Amakhosi, not that I am surprised, Caleb is just not by any means Chiefs material. 

His case is made worse by the fact that half, if not more than half of the eight goals he scored for Amakhosi were penalties. 

Obviously, Chiefs were looking for much more than a penalty specialist when they signed Caleb, they were looking for someone who could score goals in open play, something he didn't seem to be good enough in. 

If Caleb was actually good with the ball at his feet, if he could interact well with his teammates in possession and create goal scoring opportunities if he could not score himself, it would have been easier to plead his case. 

But Caleb can't even play, too awkward he looks with the ball at his feet eKasi we would call him inkomo. 

He makes you wonder how the hell did he make it to Naturena in the first place. 

The fact that there are teams actually interested in him, Wydad for that matter, is amazing, his ancestors are definitely rooting for him. 

The only thing I for one will miss about Caleb is his "Black Panther" celebration after converting yet another penalty. Nothing else. 

Oh! and maybe the way his face lit up when Amakhosi were awarded a penalty. 

How Dzvukamanja turned yours truly into one of his converts...

In January, when there were reports that Terrence Dzvukamanja was on his way out of Orlando Pirates, I said good riddance! He was, after all, one of the deadwood Pirates had to get rid of.

Instead, it was Zakhele Lepasa who was allowed to head SuperSport United, where Dzvukamanja was allegedly supposed to go and reunite with his former coach at Bidvest Wits, Gavin Hunt.

At that time, I was convinced that Orlando Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro, is a crazy man.

How could he possibly let Lepasa go, and keep a passenger like Dzvukamanja in the team?

Five months down the line, with the season having just ended, I am eating humble pie, and I must say, it tastes like embarrassment.

ALSO READ: Belief is key to Manchester United's resurgence, says Ten Hag: http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/believe-was-key-for-united-this-season.html

Dzvukamanja ended the season with eight goals and two assists in 19 appearances across all competitions.

He is currently Pirates' second best hope when it comes to scoring goal, next to DStv Premiership Players player of the Season, Monnapule Saleng.

Do I still believe he should leave Pirates?

Hell no!

With his contract set to expire at the end of June, I now believe Dzvukamanja should be one of the players Pirates should be looking to tie down for next season, and beyond maybe.

His contribution to their rise to a second spot finish in the league, and his Nedbank Cup final winning goal against Sekhukhune United has turned me into one of his converts.

Speaking to iDiski Times about his future, Dzvukamanja was coy in his response, giving nothing away.

"That one I don’t think I have a say and maybe if you can contact my agent and I think he can explain a little better than me because I was focusing on my job here," said Dzvukamanja. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-premiership/nedbank-cup-hero-dzvukamanja-comments-on-pirates-future/

"I still have a contract here."

Dzvukamanja, it seems, feels he has done his job, and now it is up to the club to do the right thing, something that he has no control over.

"I don’t know,"said Dzvukamanja.

"If they come, they will come. As I have said, that is from my agent to say ‘Terry, this is what is on the table’ and if it is something good or not good, I will take it from there."

However, with Pirates having qualified for the CAFCL, Dzvukamanja sounds keen to stay, and probably keep banging them in for the club in Africa's premier club competition.

"Every player wants to play for a big team and there is also CAF Champions League [for Pirates next season] and everyone wishes to play for this team."

Will he stay? Will he go? I think Riveiro would be crazy to let him go. 

Believe was key for United this season - Says Ten Hag.

Speaking at the club's end of the season awards ceremony, Manchester United boss, Erik Ten Hag, said belief in themselves and each other was key to United's improvement this season.

United, finished third on the English Premier League table, won the Carabao Cup, and are in the final of the Emirates FA Cup to played against Manchester City on Saturday at the Wembley Stadium.

But one of the most important achievements for Ten Hag and his troops is the UEFA Champions League qualification, a tournament they missed out on last season.

"Many things are key, but belief that you [can] win the game is the most important,” said Ten Hag as quoted by manutd.com

"When you show confidence on the pitch and believe in the plan and believe in your colleagues and your team-mates, then you will win."

"I think we did it [believe] in so many games – but we also dealt with setbacks. 

ALSO READ: Marcus Rashford wins big at Manchester United awards: http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/rashford-wins-big-at-man-united-awards.html

Ten Hag applauded his team's resilience, saying it is what they need to win trophies.

He added that the team is happy that they are going towards the right direction, although they are not yet satisfied.

"[This] is a resilient team of character and personality, that are all attributes that you need for a successful season [and] for winning trophies."

"We have seen it before the season, after the start of the season, and then where we came from – we are happy, we are [going] in the right direction, but satisfied? No, we are not."

Rashford wins big at Man United awards.

Marcus Rashford was the biggest winner on Monday night during the Manchester United end of the season awards ceremony.

Rashford walked away with the Player of the Season Award, which made him only the second Man United Academy graduate behind club legend, Ryan Giggs, to win the award.

And it didn't end there for the forward, as his teammates voted him as the Players players of the Season, ahead of another top contender, David De Gea, who has won the award a whopping four times.

It must be said, Rashford deserves his accolades, having been a notable contributor in the team's revival.

Rashford scored 30 goals, while contributing eleven assists across all competitions, playing a major role in helping United finish third in the English Premier League table.

Another winner was Antony Matheus Dos Santos, simply known as Antony.

ALSO READ: Riveiro says if Sundowns can do as well as they did in the CAFCL last season, so can Pirates.

http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/riveiro-sets-his-sights-on-cafcl.html

The 23-year-old Brazilian winger scooped the Goal of the Year Award for his sublime strike against Barcelona.

Although he didn't contribute as much as he was expected for United this season, he did however, score four goals, and provided two assists in 25 matches.

Former Bafana Bafana forward, and AmaZulu coach, Benni McCarthy, who currently working at United as a forward's coach, must be satisfied with his contribution in Rashford's resurgence this season,

Benni was credited for his help with the player finding his scoring boots and hunger for goals, with Rashford himself, speaking highly of him.

United will be hoping to wrap up their season on a high note by winning the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at Wembley Stadium against Manchester City. 

Riveiro sets his sights on the CAFCL.

Having had a fantastic domestic season, where they won the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup titles, also finishing second on the league, Orlando Pirates have every right to dream of bigger fish to fry, like the CAF Champions League.

And that is exactly what Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro, has set his sights on.

Riveiro says he is optimistic that Pirates can go all the way in Africa.

With their rich history in the continent, having managed to reach four finals, with two Champions League, of which they won one, and two CAF Confederations Cup, plus their recent revival, anything is possible.

"What are we going to do in Africa, dream…dream and we have the potential to go all the way, I’m a very optimistic person, I told you guys many times, don’t get me wrong with my face, I’m very optimistic," Riveiro said as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/riveiro-makes-bold-cafcl-statement-citing-sundowns/

"So when I start a tournament, I’m going with the intention to go all the way. Then let’s see, we’re going to find difficult trips, difficult opponents, difficult decisions from the referees, it’s a difficult competition, it is."

Riveiro says if Sundowns can do as well as they did in the CAFCL last season, so can Pirates.

ALSO READ: David De Gea on the FA Cup final: http://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/05/we-will-try-absolutely-everything-to.html

"But Sundowns did a fantastic job this season, they showed it’s possible for South African teams to compete until the last stages, so why not? We go little by little, we all start from zero again in every competition and we will face everyone with the intention to compete."

Bucs are also expected to put on a real fight for the DStv Premiership title next season, having shown great promise in the previous campaign, and finally end Sundowns dominance in the domestic football scene.