Lamine doesn't seem like a 15-year-old - Xavi on Yamal.

Making your debut for FC Barcelona at the age of 15 is no small feat, and Lamine Yamal, who is of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent has done it with great aplomb.

The Barca youth sensation made his senior team debut in Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Betis, breaking a record previously held by another top youth talent, Gavi, who went on to represent Spain in Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Barcelona coach, Xavi, has come out in full praise of the teenager, saying the way he plays doesn't seem like that of a 15-year-old.

"I told him to try things and he did," he said. "At 15 years old, just imagine it... He is special and he could have even scored tonight, but Rui Silva saved," said Xavi as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/xavi-compares-record-breaking-yamal-to-messi

"He played with confidence and he showed what he is about. He has no fear and bags of talent. Some of his passes in the final third were really good.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/pirates-beat-ts-galaxy-to-claim-second.html?m=1

"He's a similar player because he has that innate talent in the final third which is difficult to find.

"Lamine doesn't seem like a 15-year-old, he's very mature. He's ready [to play] and he is training well. He can mark an era at this club as part of this team."

Pirates beat TS Galaxy to claim second spot.

Orlando Pirates strengthened their Caf Champions League spot hopes when they defeated TS Galaxy 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Mbombela Stadium.

Goals from Terrence Dzvukamanja 2' and Deon Hotto 59', were enough to see Pirates brush aside TS Galaxy to stretch their winning streak to six games in the Dstv Premiership.

Pirates enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, after scoring the opening goal within two minutes, looking more comfortable of the two sides, averaging 57% of the ball, and could have gone 2-0 ahead within six minutes after a ball deflected by Given Msimango almost ended up at the back of the net.

But Galaxy were not lying down and playing dead either, with Orebotse Mongae and Kamogelo Sebelebele threatening on quick offensive transitions.

Given Msimango headed Galaxy level on the 39th minute with a glancing header from the near post, before Hotto put Pirates back ahead nine minutes after half-time.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/its-like-being-fed-honey-on-knife.html?m=1

While Pirates enjoyed most of the ball, TS Galaxy once again relied on their good defensive organization to keep the score line respectable, limiting Pirates to 11 goal attempts, much lower than Amabhakaniya's standards, although they still managed to put five shots on target.

With offensive play not their strength, Galaxy still managed seven goal attempts and four shots on target.

With this win and only three matches to go, Pirates are now hot favorites to join Mamelodi Sundowns in the Caf Champions League next season.

Pirates next play Royal AM on Wednesday 03 May at Orlando Stadium, kick-off is at 15:00.

It’s like being fed honey on a knife - Mokwena on Kouki's compliments.

CR Belouizdad coach, Nabil Kouki, showered Mamelodi Sundowns with praises after the latter knocked his side out of the Caf Champions League 6-2 on aggregate.

Kouki went as far as saying Sundowns are the best team in Africa at the moment, but Sundowns coach, Rulani Mokwena, says Kouki's compliments are like more like being fed honey on a knife.

The Sundowns tactician pointed to the Stellenbosch loss in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, saying his side were the worst team in the match.

"We receive the compliments with a lot of humility and appreciation, coming from a very experienced coach on the continent, but you know like I always say with the pleasantries, it’s like being fed honey on a knife," Mokwena told iDiski Times https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/rulani-responds-to-koukis-praise-after-thumping-belouizdad

"I don’t have to go too far back because a couple of weeks ago, we lost to Stellies and we were the worst team, I was the worst coach and so… this is football.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/amazulu-coach-defends-his-players-over.html?m=1

"In football, you have to take the good moments, just like you take the bad moments, not too high in the good moments, not too low in the bad moments."

Sundowns will travel to KwaZulu Natal, Durban on Wednesday 03 May to take on AmaZulu FC.

The game will be played at Princess Magogo Stadium, with the kick-off at 19:30.

Amazulu coach defends his players over alcohol abuse allegations.

Allegations recently surfaced of a strong drinking culture at Dstv Premiership side, Amazulu FC. But their coach, Ayanda Dlamini says those allegations come from bitter individuals.

This is after former Amazulu coach, Brandon Truter confirmed as reported by SABC Sport, that indeed, players used to come to training drunk at Usuthu.

"People who are saying these things are bitter," said Dlamini as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/brandon-truter-lifts-lid-on-drinking-culture-allegations-at-amazulu

"Do you think these players would have played like this[winning against Sekhukhune] if they were drinking during the week or the night before? I am the coach right now, and if these things are being said I have to protect my players because I need them – they can’t speak for themselves." 

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/fortunately-we-didnt-bleed-lot-around.html?m=1

"The things being said can destroy their careers. Some people might say they will never hire players from AmaZulu ever again. There are still youngsters here who could still go overseas, and if people are saying this…what does it do to their image? If you have a problem with the team, address it respectfully. If you say they are drunkards, maybe they were getting drunk with you while you were here." 

Player power has also emerged as something big at Amazulu, which is allegedly one of the reasons Romain Folz lost his head coaching position.

Amazulu's next match will be against champions, Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday 03 May at Princess Magogo Stadium, kick-off is at 19:30.

Fortunately we didn’t bleed a lot around the box - Mokwena.

Rulani Mokwena watched his Mamelodi Sundowns side come from a goal down to beat CR Belouizdad 2-0 to advance to the Caf Champions League semi-finals 6-2 on aggregate.

Mokwena believes they were fortunate not to have given away a lot of free-kicks around the box, where CRB could have punished them.

CRB opened the scoring from a corner kick that was headed in by Bouchar in the 24th minute, before Themba Zwane 45' and Thapelo Morena 49', salvaged the game for Sundowns.

“The feeling I got in the first half before they scored was that we were closer to scoring than they were. I thought we were in control, " said Mokwena as quoted by iDiski Times. https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/rulani-my-biggest-disadvantage-as-coach/

The only disappointment of the first half is that the first five minutes after they scored, I think emotionally we were rattled a little bit

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/they-have-quality-players-and-money-cr.html?m=1

“Fortunately we didn’t bleed a lot around the box because if you bleed a lot around the box against North African sides, they get free-kicks, they get corners and then they go for the second and that could’ve complicated issues.

“But after that we then stabilised ourselves again, we showed very good leadership and the senior players took charge of the game again and [we scored] a very good goal from Mshishi.”

They have quality players and money - CR Belouizdad coach on Sundowns.

Mamelodi Sundowns beat CR Belouizdad at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon to reach the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League, and CRB coach, Nabil Kouki, can't stop singing their praises.

Money is almost always part of the conversation where Sundowns are concerned, but Kouki believes it is not only money that is pushing Sundowns ahead of the rest, but their ability to identify and sign quality players.

"Mamelodi Sundowns, in my opinion, is the best team in Africa right now. It's a challenge to play this team, their football has everything," Kouki told the media after the game.

"Football always has new things, but nowadays if you talk about football, it's money.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/boutouil-another-victory-for-sundowns.html?m=1

"All the coaches around the world can see Sundowns is ahead of the others. They have quality players and money, yes other teams have money as well to buy players, but the Sundowns technical team has the technique to find and buy quality players. You can see them on the field, how they finish, in my opinion, Sundowns is far ahead of the other teams."

Sundowns will face Moroccan giants, Wydad Casablanca in the semi-finals.

The first leg will be played away in Morocco on the weekend of the 12th-13th of May, with the second leg scheduled for 19-20 May. 

Boutouil, another victory for Sundowns scouting department.

It took the Moroccan defender long enough to make and appearance, but Abdelmounaim Boutouil has taken to the Mamelodi Sundowns way of playing like fish to water.

Boutouil, who has played for Raja Casablanca, FAR Rabat, and SCC Mohammadia amongst other clubs, has impressed for Sundowns ever since he was introduced.

The 25-year-old left-center-back, who can also play comfortably as a defensive midfielder, looks like a player who was tailor-made for the Sundowns game model.

Being left-footed, Boutouil gives Sundowns balance during build-up play from the back, which is one of the key features in their model.

Boutouil is comfortable on the ball, even under opposition pressure. He can play accurate short and longer passes, which gives Sundowns more opportunities to vary their build up play.

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/sundowns-through-to-cafcl-semi-finals.html?m=1

A big plus is his height and the ability to defend high balls.

Off the ball, Boutouil has proven himself capable of dealing comfortably with one vs one situations, meaning he can provide safe cover for his left-back during opposition counter-attacks from the left, something he might have to deal with a lot considering how Sundowns prefers to have their full-backs constantly joining offensive play.

In a nutshell, from reading the game, to excellent positioning, and physical presence, Boutouil is another real coup for Sundowns, and the likes of Rushine De Reuck and Mosa Lebusa will have to work extra hard for some game time.

Credit must go to the Sundowns scouting department for continuously bringing quality imports to the Dstv Premiership.