Sundowns through to the CAFCL semi-finals.

Mamelodi Sundowns put on a business-like performance at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon to defeat CR Belouizdad 2-1.

Goals from Themba Zwane 45' and Thapelo Morena 49', were enough to see Sundowns progress to the semi-finals for the first time since 2019, where they will face familiar foes in Wydad Casablanca.

While the game did seem beyond Belouizdad's reach, with the Algerian outfit having lost 4-1 at home, a backlash was expected from them at Loftus.

Instead they gave a lukewarm performance, showing too much respect to Sundowns, despite getting on the score sheet first with a well taken header from Bouchar in the 24th minute.

Sundowns, who had nothing much to do at Loftus except to manage the game, did just that.

The Brazilians averaged 70% possession in the match, doing just enough to keep the ball away from the frustrated Algerians.

When opportunities presented themselves, Masandawana did look to threaten Belouizdad's defence, which saw them managing eight goal attempts, with four on target.

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As for Belouizdad, they didn't do enough to make a game of the quarter-final.

They saw only 30% of the ball, which was disappointing for a team looking to overturn a 4-1 score line.

Added to that was their inability to threaten the Sundowns defence. They only managed two goal attempts, with just a single one on target, which was their goal.

With the business of reaching the Caf Champions League semi-finals done and dusted, Sundowns next match will be against Amazulu FC on Wednesday 03 April at Princess Magogo Stadium. 

Themba [Zwane] advised me to stay focused - Says Siyabonga Mabena.

Themba Zwane is a model professional footballer, a player youngsters can look up to for inspiration, and that is exactly what Siyabonga Mabena is doing.

The Mamelodi Sundowns youngster says he has been looking up to Zwane since his days with the School of Excellence.

Now that Mabena is sharing the same dressing room as his hero, things have become even better, as he is able to get valuable advice from his hero.

"Themba advised me to stay focused and not pay attention to negative things that people may say about me, he said I must only focus on my career," he said as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/sa-u17-starlet-siyabonga-mabena-inspired-by-themba-zwane

"Themba Zwane is a player that I looked up to even when I was still at School of Excellence. Sharing the same changing room with him pushes me to work hard knowing that one day I may achieve what he has already achieved in football."

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/this-has-been-our-disease-zwane-on.html?m=1

Mabena, who is currently with the national U17 side for the Under Afcon, where he hopes to catch the eyes of overseas scouts, is not the only Sundowns youngster who has declared Themba Zwane as their role model.

Red hot forward, Cassius Mailula, who is amongst the best young footballers in South Africa, is also one of Mshishi's biggest admires. 

This has been our disease - Zwane on Chiefs missing chances.

No team in the Dstv Premiership comes close to Mamelodi Sundowns when it comes to creating big goal scoring chances than Kaizer Chiefs.

But the difference is Sundowns converts their chances, while Chiefs are struggling.

That has been one of Chiefs' head coach, Arthur Zwane's headaches.

Going to their next match against Swallows FC, Zwane will be hoping his players bring their scoring boots and find the back of the net several times, something that will give them confidence for another Soweto derby on May 6.

While not scoring as much as they create opportunities, Zwane believes his side will eventually find their scoring touch.

"Look it’s the nature of the game, I don’t think there’s any player that wants to go onto the field and miss chances you know deliberately, they tried their best," Zwane said as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/dstv-premiership/zwane-on-mashiane-recall-wasteful-chiefs/

"On another day, they will get it right and score more than two, three, or four, and it’s coming. the only thing we have to do as a technical team is keep on believing in them and encouraging them to do the right things."

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Zwane says missing valuable chances has been Chiefs' biggest disease this season, and he is right.

While a team like Sundowns, with an xGF (expected goals for) of 1.89 has managed to turn the big chances they create into goals, not the same can be said for Chiefs, despite an impressive xGF of 1.73.

"You must have seen this has been our disease, the story of our season, missing chances – it could have been a different story on the log, if we take maybe half the chances we created," Zwane added.

"But having said that I can’t falter the players effort, they did everything right it’s just that missing link of being clinical in front of goals."

Sundowns, Mokwena, have earned CR Belouizdad's respect.

Ahead of the Caf Champions League second-leg quarter-final match between Mamelodi Sundowns and CR Belouizdad, the Algerian giants coach has come out in praise of Downs.

Nabil Kouki, who saw his Belouizdad side humiliated 4-1 by Sundowns in their own backyard, believes the quality of the Sundowns squad, and Rulani Mokwena's tactical acumen, have been their recipe for success.

"When talking about coach Rulani, I guess previously he has the opportunity to have good players that have been in the Champions League. I can credit him that he has a good formula to associate players that played for Sundowns before and the new players. They are not playing just good football but they're so pragmatic as they play. They are also scoring a lot of goals," Kouki said as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/cr-belouzidad-coach-sings-rulani-mokwena-mamelodi-sundowns-praises

Kouki credited Sundowns' investment in good players as a master stroke.

He believes having good players who can apply the coach's tactics on the pitch is key, and that is exactly what Downs have at their disposal.

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"I would like to add something, Sundowns has invested a lot into bringing in good players. As a tactician, even though I can give a tactic, good players can convert those and Sundowns are doing that. They have invested a lot in the team by bringing very good players," he added.

Sundowns will host CR Belouizdad this afternoon [29 April] at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Kick-off is at 16:00.

Ngcobo's performance against Chippa was a statement.

When Kaizer Chiefs beat Chippa United 1-0 on Thursday afternoon at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the Njabulo Ngcobo they signed from Swallows showed up.

Ngcobo was tipped for big things when he joined Amakhosi, he was expected to become the rock in the center of their defence, and eventually move on to do the same for the Bafana Bafana.

But things didn't go according to the script for the 28-year-old Folweni born defender.

His performances for Chiefs have been inconsistent, and sometimes downright poor, which has led to him spending most of his stay at Naturena on the bench.

The former uThongathi FC and Swallows defender, has appeared only 12 times for Chiefs this season.

And this has been a season where Amakhosi needed their best defenders to stand up, with their defence, especially at center-back, in shambles.

Chiefs have been conceding some silly goals, something that has been a huge let down, costing them a better position on the log.

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To remedy the situation, they have swiftly moved to sign Thatayaone Ditlhokwe from SuperSport United, and Given Msimango from TS Galaxy.

With those signings, Ngcobo was one of the players who was alleged to be on his way out, along side the likes of Eric Mathoho.

But on Thursday, Ngcobo marshalled the Chiefs defence with aplomb, keeping things simple and playing with the confidence we saw him playing with at Swallows.

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His impressive display looked more like a statement, to say, I am good enough and I want to stay and fight for my place at Naturena.

Xoki back, doubts over Lorch.

Orlando Pirates will travel to Mbombela Stadium on Sunday 30 April to take on TS Galaxy, with the imminent return of Thapelo Xoki a huge boost.

Xoki was injured against Dondol Stars in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, and the Pirates medical team has reported he is likely to be fit for selection.

Thembinkosi Lorch's situation is still being monitored by the medical team, and he is a doubtful starter for Sunday.

Pirates coach, Jose Riveiro will be happy with the return of his right-backs, Bandile Shandu and Craig Martin. The pair have resumed full training with the team.

While they were out, left-back Paseko Mako did a good job of filling in the right-back position.

But the return of Shandu and Martin, will give Pirates more balance and options at right-back, especially with the Soweto derby looming on the horizon.

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Goalkeeper, Richard Ofori, and Cameroonian forward, Bienvenu Eva Nga have also resumed full training, while Vincent Pule and veteran forward, Ndumiso Mabena could resume full training during the coming few days.

The return to action for many of the Pirates players comes at a crucial time when depth will be key.

Bucs are competing for their second trophy of the season in the Nedbank Cup, as well as in the Dstv Premiership for the Caf Champions League spot.

Playing Swallows before the derby worries Zwane.

Kaizer Chiefs will host Swallows FC on Monday 01 April at Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, at 15:00.

But it is the Nedbank Cup semi-final derby clash against Orlando Pirates on 6 May that worries coach Arthur Zwane.

While the Swallows game is important for Chiefs in terms of their ambition to finish second on the log, the upcoming derby clash might affect them negatively, splitting their focus.

Zwane believes it is key for himself and his technical team to manage the mental side of their players going into the Swallows game.

“It's key that, as the technical team, we manage the players and, fortunately, some of us played in these games and we know how important it is for us to keep collecting points before the derby,” Zwane said after his side beat Chippa United 1-0 as quoted by Times Live. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-04-28-it-gets-to-our-players-ears-worry-for-chiefs-coach-zwane-before-soweto-derbies-against-swallows-and-pirates/

“Sometimes the derby [against Pirates] can make you forget what's important. What's key is to take one game at a time and focus on this one.

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“As soon as we've played the game on Monday, we'll start focusing on the Pirates one. It's a bit difficult because people are already talking about the derby, especially after a great performance like this. People are already thinking Pirates, not Swallows.

“It gets to our players' ears and they start thinking about the derby. We have to manage it and we've [when he was a player] been in that situation and I think we have that advantage of helping these players manage the entire squad.”