Friday, April 14, 2023

Dondol: We won’t play as we did against AmaZulu and SuperSport.

 

Orlando Pirates should expect to face a different Dondol Stars side when they clash on Saturday 15 April in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

According to Dondol co-coach, Vincent Rammoni, they have prepared a special giant slaying pot for Pirates than what they dished out against SuperSport United and Amazulu FC. Dondol beat Amantsantsantsa 2-1 in the round of 32, before disposing of Usuthu in the last 16.

"Coming to Pirates, we won't play as we did against AmaZulu and SuperSport. We are now playing a different team that is using different personnel and have different qualities all-round,” Rammoni told the media in the Nedbank Cup press conference ahead of their game against Pirates.

"So, our principles will never change. We will be the same Dondol that played against both AmaZulu and SuperSport.

"But in terms of personnel, we will probably see few changes because we want to adopt few things within our game model."

 

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-learned-that-we-need-to-be-more.html

 

 

Rammoni went on to emphasize that their main focus at the moment, is on winning promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, even though they will not pass a chance to win the Nedbank Cup should an opportunity arise.

 

He also praised the quality of their squad, saying it makes it easy for them to change things around because everyone in the team knows how to get the work done.

 

“As I’ve said, the priority is to win the league and get into the playoffs and get promoted,” Rammoni told the media yesterday.

“That is the biggest goal that we are targeting. On how far we want to go in the Nedbank Cup, obviously, if chances are there for us to go and win it, we will take them.

“But one thing is we have a group of quality players. It’s always easy for us as coaches to make changes, rest some players and bring others as we believe that all the players that we’ve signed this season can get the job done.

“We are not being influenced by what happened in the Nedbank Cup. We are still the very same team that started the season with the very same objectives, and we are working on reaching them by winning the league.

“We are excited to have reached this level in the competition.”

 

Riveiro sings Chaine's praises.


Orlando Pirates head coach, Jose Riveiro has come out in full praise of his goalkeeper, Sipho Chaine.

Chaine, who joined Pirates from Chippa United in the middle of the season, has surpassed all expectations, turning the Pirates number one jersey into his own.

The 26-year-old has since appeared 15 times for Pirates across all competitions, keeping six clean sheets, with 12 goals conceded.

Riveiro, says Chaine's continued selection ahead of Siyabonga Mpontshane and Richard Ofori is not by chance.

"He is a guy who is really putting in everything in order to make it. It is not by chance, I have to say, it's not just a lucky moment," said Riveiro during the Nedbank Cup press conference ahead of their quarterfinal clash against Dondol Stars.

"He is doing everything to be there, to perform, to be at the level that is required to be in the Pirates squad and the starting 11."

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/riveiro-emphasizes-importance-of-team.html?m=1

Besides Chaine, Riveiro is happy with the efforts of other individual players at Pirates, saying their top performances are contributing positively to the teams current good run of form, making him look better as a coach.

"[Other]Individuals are coming to the party as well, and we get a benefit as a collective, and they make me look even better as a coach."

Orlando Pirates are on a four match winning streak in the Dstv Premiership, having last lost a match 1-0 in the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs.

They will be looking to continue with their rich vein of form when they meet Dondol Stars on Saturday afternoon at Peter Mokaba Stadium. 

Jabu Maluleke: It breaks my heart to see guys not doing well after football.


SuperSport United Under-19, and senior team set-piece coach, Jabu Maluleke, has revealed one of the reasons why some ex professional footballers struggle to make ends meet at the end of their careers.

Maluleke, who had a long playing career in the professional ranks, featuring for Black Leorpards, Polokwane City, and SuperSport United, says alcohol abuse is one of the reasons why some of his teammates never reached their full potential, and struggle after their playing days are over.

"It is sad because the careers of some of our players were messed up by drinking and smoking," Maluleke told Times Live.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-04-14-i-played-with-people-who-came-to-training-drunk-ex-supersport-star-jabu-maluleke/

"It is sad to see your colleagues not doing well after playing football, it breaks my heart because some of them used to earn a lot of money and were very good. It breaks my heart to see guys not doing well after football.

"Know where to go, know when and what to do. I don’t think it is a problem for guys to be drinking alcohol, but know your limits. You must know when to drink, you cannot drink on Friday knowing you are going to play on Saturday or Sunday."

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-learned-that-we-need-to-be-more.html?m=1

According to Maluleke, he sometimes had to pick up some of his colleagues at ungodly hours from their drinking sprees, with some of them arriving to training drunk.

"I don’t drink, but I have played and hung out a lot with people who drink. I have played with people who used to come to training drunk and I have rescued a lot of people calling me at 2am or 3am asking me to come and pick them up. 

"I had to make sure they wake up the next morning and if they don’t wake up I have to cover for them and say they are not feeling well. You must remember I was a captain and sometimes I had to cover for the guys. 

"If you come to training and you are not in a good state, I will come to you or call the whole team and say this guy is messed up today. Let’s cover for him, let him go home or go to the physio room to sleep there. 

"I used to tell the guys not to come to training drunk, rather make an excuse, because some coaches don’t take it and they will chase you away." 

We learned that we need to be more ruthless - Dondol co-coach, Rammoni.


Dondol Stars will host Orlando Pirates in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal at Peter Mokaba Stadium, on Saturday 15 April.

The ABC Motsepe foundation side have earned themselves a giant killers tag after disposing of SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC on their way to the quarterfinals.

They will be looking to claim an even bigger scalp on Saturday against Pirates.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/riveiro-emphasizes-importance-of-team.html?m=1

Dondol co-coach, Vincent Rammoni has come out to reveal some valuable lessons his side have learned during their Nedbank Cup run.

"I think the Nedbank Cup helped us as a technical team and our players who are featuring in our journey to gain promotion. Now we are able to handle a lot of aspects better than we were doing before participating here," said Rammoni as quoted by The Citizen. https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/local-soccer/class-is-in-session-for-dondol-in-nedbank-cup-ahead-of-pirates-clash/

"For instance, if you check, before playing the Nedbank Cup it was so difficult to play without conceding goals in the league.

"We were winning our matches but with a margin of 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, we were mostly conceding. So, in the Nedbank, we learned that we need to be more ruthless with the chances we created and we need to be a team that doesn’t concede goals in our matches, that’s one aspect that we learned. Because we realised how difficult it was to score against SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC."

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/theyve-given-me-no-reason-to-doubt-them.html?m=1

Being ruthless in front of goal, and not conceding, especially in the early stages of Saturday's game, will be some of the valuable lessons Dondol will have to implement with immediate effect if they entertain any hopes of shocking an in form Pirates.

Kick-off is at 15:00.



Thursday, April 13, 2023

Riveiro emphasizes the importance of team work ahead of Dondol clash.


Orlando Pirates will take on Dondol Stars on Saturday 15 April at Peter Mokaba Stadium in a much anticipated Nedbank Cup quarterfinal.

The match will kickoff at 15:00.

Dondol have already claimed the scalps of two Dstv Premiership sides in SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC en route to the last 8, and they will have their sights firmly set on Pirates on Saturday with a hope of claiming their most famous victory to date.

But it won't be easy for the third tier side, with Pirates currently on a good vein of form.

In the league, Amabhakaniya are on a four match winning run that has seen them climb to the second spot, having scored an impressive nine goals, with just one conceded.

Their head coach, Jose Riveiro has praised the importance of the collective effort in his side's good season so far, with the MTN8 trophy already safe in their cabinet, and the hunt for the Nedbank Cup looking promising.

"It is a collective sport," said Riveiro as quoted by iDiski Times ahead of his side's Nedbank Cup match against Dondol Stars. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/nedbank-cup/riveiro-grateful-for-lorch-return-for-season-finale/

"It’s important that everybody understands the different roles that we are giving to the players in our structure in every game plan.

"I’m really happy to be part of the group, to have the opportunity to work with such quality players. Versatile players as well, ready to modify their roles in the game – sometimes to sacrifice things as well.

"And that’s the important thing that everybody understand that when the collective is shining, there are looking [like] better players, better coaches.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/chiefs-set-their-sights-on-nedbank-cup.html?m=1

"We are in that stage, so we really want to have all of our quality players to perform and we love that Thembinkosi made it to be part of the group in the last part of the season and he’s been very important for all of us – like every other player before.

"I think we managed through the season to be competitive, it doesn’t matter who was available for selection, I think Pirates were a competitive team throughout the season.

"Fortunately now we are also in a good moment with regards to our injuries and we have almost all of our players available."

Do Sundowns really need Mabena for Stellenbosch match?


The South African national Under-17 side will be taking part in the African youth championships to be hosted by Algeria this month.

The tournament serves as a qualifier for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2023, to be held in Peru.

While SAFA are busy trying to get their necessary preparations under way, they have encountered a problem with Mamelodi Sundowns allegedly refusing to release their youth sensation, Siyabonga Mabena, in time to join the camp, according to a report by iDiski Times.

Sundowns next match, which could be the reason for them not releasing Mabena, is on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup against Stellenbosch FC.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/theyve-given-me-no-reason-to-doubt-them.html?m=1

During the Cosafa U17 tournament,  which served as a qualifier for the AFCON, Mabena was a revelation for Duncan Crowie's side, scoring nine goals and winning player of the tournament.

He is expected to take Algeria by storm when the tournament begins, and possibly help the national U17s make it to Peru.

"This week, they said they will not release Mabena due to PSL commitments and we won’t be surprised if he plays 10 minutes against Stellenbosch," the source stated as quoted by iDiski Times.
https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/africa-cup-of-nations/safa-outraged-by-sundowns-mabena-decision/

"They want to release Mabena when the tournament begins but we need to do our own MRI tests tomorrow – before going to Algeria."

The source also highlighted the fact that they have had some challenges with some overseas players, but a few have joined the camp, and they don't expect to be fighting a local club to release a player.

"Some overseas-based players will not be part of the squad, but some as far as the United States traveled but we have to fight with a local club," he added.

"We have nothing against Sundowns, but we facing issues to have the best possible preparation for the tournament."

They've given me no reason to doubt them - Mokwena on his Sundowns team.

   Image: Lorenz Kohler Facebook

Mamelodi Sundowns will visit Athlone Stadium on Saturday 15 April to battle against a tricky Stellenbosch FC side in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal at 18:00.

Sundowns, who go into this encounter on the back of three consecutive draws against Cape Town City, Swallows FC, and Lamontville Golden Arrows in the league, will be hoping to rediscover their goalscoring form when it matters most against Stellenbosch.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/komphela-on-sundowns-vs-stellenbosch-we.html?m=1

Their head coach, Rulani Mokwena, has insisted that not scoring in two of their last three games is no reason to start doubting his team's abilities.

Instead, he has praised their second half performances as the part of his team's personality that has impressed him the most.

"It's a team that has scored a lot of goals and they've given me no reason to doubt them, so we keep going," Mokwena said as quoted by Sowetan Live. https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-04-13-im-paid-to-find-solutions-mokwena-after-sundowns-third-straight-draw/

"We had six big chances in total [against Arrows] and we only had one big chance in the first half. So there was big improvement in the second half, a [part of the] personality of the team that I like.

“It's a team that has scored a lot of goals and they've given me no reason to doubt them, so we keep going.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/is-mamelodi-sundowns-ladies-suffering.html?m=1

"We had six big chances in total [against Arrows] and we only had one big chance in the first half. So there was big improvement in the second half, a [part of the] personality of the team that I like."

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