If anything, Pirates should win the Nedbank Cup.

Orlando Pirates survived scary moments to defeat a stubborn Dondol Stars 5-4 on penalties on Saturday afternoon at Peter Mokaba stadium.

The match had ended 1-1 after extra time, with Thembinkosi Lorch netting for Pirates in the 55th minute, before Tebogo Makungo quickly replied for Dondol in the 57th minute.

At the end of the match, statistics spoke of a dominant Pirates that should have won the game in regulation time, with 66% ball possession, 23 attempts on goal, and eight on target.

Compare that to Dondol's 44% possession, seven goal attempts, and just three on target.

It was a mismatch right? Wrong!

Dondol were determined to claim another Dstv Premiership scalp, having disposed of SuperSport United, and AmaZulu FC in the round of 32 and the last 16 respectively.

With the 'prize' of winning against Pirates much higher, they were not just about to roll out the red carpet for Bucs, stand on the side, and clap for them on their way to victory.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/after-stellenbosch-loss-how-deep-can.html?m=1

Dondol fought like a team possessed, and Pirates should thank their guardian ghosts for avoiding an embarrassing defeat.

Ironic this might sound, but Pirates slayed a giant in Dondol Stars.

It must be said, Pirates looks like a team ordained to win the Nedbank Cup.

From getting what may be called the luck of the draw, which is not so lucky if you ask me, and actually making it to the semi-finals without playing a Dstv Premiership side, now, what is the worst that could go wrong?

Pirates have survived the worst, which is the threat of the unknown when it comes to second and third tier teams.

Whoever is left in the semi-finals will be an open book to Bucs.

On that note, with the football Gods having played their cards in Pirates favor from the beginning of the tournament, it will be a disappointment to them if the team fails to lift their second trophy of the season with the Nedbank Cup. 

After Stellenbosch loss, how deep can Sundowns dig for the CAFCL?

        Image: iDiski Times Twitter

Mamelodi Sundowns succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Stellembosch FC in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal match played at Athlone Stadium on Saturday evening.

The loss came on the back of three consecutive draws in the Dstv Premiership, with Sundowns being held by Cape Town City, Swallows FC, and Lamontville Golden Arrows.

If the three draws in a row were a sign of some kind of a decline in standards when it comes to Sundowns performances, the Nedbank Cup was nothing but full confirmation.

Having not lost a game since Rulani Mokwena took over as a coach, and with them not being invincible, a loss was always going to come, it was just a matter of when.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/today-we-didnt-deserve-to-win-mokwena.html?m=1

To be fair to Sundowns players, they have outdone themselves, winning going on a long unbeaten run, and winning the league with seven games to spare.

Added to that is the high pressure of playing Caf Champions League football, which they have handled well so far.

But they are humans too, with all the pressure and expectations, they are bound to crack.

The game of football demands a lot physically, but it is the mental aspect that is vital, looking at Sundowns' latest results, one can tell that their success is starting to take its toll on the players.

Unfortunately, it comes at a time when Sundowns needs their players to be on their top condition when it comes to the mental part of their game.

The Caf Champions League, which is one trophy they are truly after, comes with huge mental demands on players.

The big question is, do Sundowns players still have enough mental fuel in their tanks to go the distance in the CAFCL?

Their latest results in domestic competitions scream a big NO as an answer to the above question.

Sundowns look more like a team that is just going through the motions at the moment, they are doing what they know how to do, but without real hunger.

On the other hand, the loss to Stellenbosch could be just the kind of shock therapy they needed to wake up from their slumber.

Maybe, just maybe, they will remember that the season is not over yet, that the biggest catch they are hunting for, the CAFCL title that is, is still on the loose.

The results from Saturday 22 April in Algeria against CR Belouizdad, will give us all the answers. 

'Today we didn't deserve to win' - Mokwena.

Having suffered his first defeat as Mamelodi Sundowns coach courtesy of a determined Stellenbosch FC in a Nedbank Cup encounter played at Athlone Stadium, Rulani Mokwena admitted his side didn't deserve to win the game.

If there is one thing, it seems, that Stellenbosch enjoys doing, it is ending winning streaks where Sundowns are concerned.

Stellies also broke Sundowns' 15 match winning streak when they held them to a 1-1 draw during the middle stages of the season.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-warning-signs-were-there-for.html?m=1

Nonetheless, Mokwena congratulated Stellenbosch, saying they were a better side and deserving winners.

"Let’s just congratulate Stellenbosch and wish them all the best for the rest of the cup, today we didn’t deserve to win and that’s competitive sport, if someone is better than you, you put your hands up, congratulate them and wish them all the best," he told SuperSport TV as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/nedbank-cup/mokwena-reacts-to-nedbank-cup-exit/

"They were not much better, but they were better."

"We lost a lot of the duels today, from the first minute but okay we go [on], as I said congratulations to Stellenbosch and wish them all the best."

Sundowns will have no time to lick their wounds, with CR Belouizdad awaiting them in a Caf Champions League quarterfinal match in Algeria next Saturday. 

The warning signs were there for Sundowns as they lose to Stellies.

    Image: Lorenz Kohler Facebook

Stellenbosch FC dumped Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup with a hard fought 2-1 win at Athlone Stadium, Cape Town.

Iqraam Rayners was Stellenbosch's hero as he bagged a brace, scoring in the 48th minute to cancel Sundowns' lead, before putting his side ahead in the 57th minute.

Starved of possession, with Sundowns controlling 78% of the ball, Steve Barker's boys remained resolute at the back, limiting the Brazilians to just four shots on target, despite having fashioned 20 attempts on goal.

In attack, Stellies thrived on efficiency, managing four shots on target, two of them converted to goals, from seven attempts.

Going into this game, concerning signs were there for Sundowns.

They had drawn three league games in a row, despite dominant performances, Sundowns didn't look convincing in the final third, uncharacteristically so for a team that is ruthless in front of goal.

Having lost to Stellenbosch, means Downs have won just one out of their last six matches, a 2-1 victory over Coton Sport in the Caf Champions League.

ALSO READ: https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/sa-stars-abroad/solinas-praises-mosimane-ahead-of-clash-in-saudi-arabia/

With hopes of a treble gone, Sundowns will now turn their attention to the Caf Champions League.

They travel to Algeria to face CR Belouizdad on Saturday 22 April at Stade Nelson Mandela.

Coach Rulani Mokwena will hope his side recover in time from their Stellenbosch loss, rediscover their scoring boots, and be ready for what is expected to be a tough encounter. 

'It’s a big pleasure to fight with Pitso again' - Solinas

Former Kaizer Chiefs coach, Giovani Solinas, who recently joined Al Faisaly in Saudi Arabia, says he is looking forward to facing Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahli Saudi.

The two sides will clash in an all-important Saudi Arabia second tier encounter tonight (Saturday) at 21:00.

Solinas, who is one of the least loved coaches ever to coach Chiefs, went on to sing Mosimane's praises, saying he is a good coach that a lot of people can learn from.

"It’s pleasure for me to be meeting Pitso again because he’s my friend,” Solinas, told iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/sa-stars-abroad/solinas-praises-mosimane-ahead-of-clash-in-saudi-arabia/

"I have a good relationship with him and I like the football style of Mosimane. So it’s a big pleasure to fight with Pitso again, because he’s a very good coach and everyone can learn from him.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/why-south-africa-is-no-longer-relevant.html?m=1

"You can see since he arrived here, Ahli has improved a lot and they are strong – it is a team that doesn’t deserve to be playing in Division 1 but in the Premier League."

Mosimane's Al Ahli Saudi are top of the table and looking good for promotion to the Saudi Arabian premier league.

As for Solinas' Al Faisaly, they are fifth on the log, and still in with a chance at gaining promotion. 

Why South Africa is no longer relevant in world football - Rob Moore.

Super football agent, Rob Moore, who represents Njabulo Blom amongst other plays, says South Africa is no longer producing gee whiz (highly skilled) footballers anymore.

"Where are those 'Gee Whiz' players, they aren't around anymore, they haven't recruited them," Moore told This Is Football Africa's Peter Du Toit. https://youtu.be/S6L67C51Sws

"If I look particularly close at Chiefs in the first six months of the season, because obviously I was following them with Njabulo Blom playing there, I looked at their recruitment and what they had brought in, there wasn't one gee whiz out of those guys that had come in.

"I just think that's been lost a little bit. But looking at a bigger picture, how many of South African players are gee whiz nowadays?

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/mokwena-reveals-privilege-enjoyed-by.html?m=1

Moore says South Africa's failure to produce top players, and not qualifying for international tournaments like the world cup, has rendered the country irrelevant in the eyes of Europe.

"We have fallen a little bit off an edge, off a cliff in the eyes of Europe. We are not a factor in Europe anymore, and that's because we don't qualify for the world cup, we have rarely qualified for AFCON, though we have done now," he said.

"And if you are not relevant at these international tournaments, you are not relevant in world football anymore, it is as simple as that.

"That's a pity because Pirates and Chiefs are not able to recruit gee whiz, because there are not many gee whiz out there anymore."

Mokwena reveals a privilege enjoyed by Sundowns youngsters.

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, is slowly introducing some talented youngsters in the senior team.

The likes of Ntando Nkosi, Siyabonga Mabena and Jerome Karelse have had a taste of what it is like to play for the Dstv Premiership serial winners.

Mokwena has highlighted how much of a privilege it is for Sundowns youngsters to be training with, and learning from the likes of Themba Zwane and Marcello Allende.

"I try so much to guard my words and don’t misinterpret me. What I am saying is that the privilege of training with Themba Zwane, Marcelo Allende and doing extra training with Denis Onyango and Ronwen Williams is something that as a 16, 17 or 18-year-old teenager I would do anything for that," said Mokwena as quoted by Times Live. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/

"They will grow, they will get to that space and we will coach and help them to become better and better."

According to Mokwena, Siphelele Mkhulise, and former Sundowns forward, Percy Tau, had to go through a more difficult route, with loan spells to continue their football education and gain experience.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/do-you-really-wanna-tell-me-players.html?m=1

"With the young ones you have to accept, unfortunately you are paying school fees. They can only learn by making mistakes and they will get better. If you look at Sphelele Mkhulise, he had to go to Black Leopards to get game time and learn. 

"Let’s look at Percy (Tau), he had to go out on loan to get his minutes and learn. They are very fortunate and privileged and they should never forget this. They are actually learning from some of the best already."