Tag Archives: Covid-19

‘…we are all in full swing.’ Bobby Motaung on Kaizer Chiefs preparation for season restart

As you should know by now the PSL is back from lockdown. And we are all excited! 🍾 Well most of us…

After a few months of not having to fret about poor performances, Kaizer Chiefs supporters just remembered that this is the time to feel tense again. Their team is four only points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand so it may soon be one. With 8 games remaining and taking into account their pre-lockdown form, this doesn’t bode well for Kaizer Chiefs.😨

However, Chiefs fans should not be worried because their football manager doesn’t seem to be. Bobby Motaung is excited for the restart of the season.


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“Of course we are happy that we are returning,” Motaung told TimesLIVE.

“And obviously we have been preparing since we were allowed to start training. So we are all in full swing.”

Last week it was reported that a few PSL team bosses wanted the season to scrapped. 

“I think we knew that protocols were to be followed. And we have got sensible leadership in football that has been dealing with this matter,” Motaung said.

“So we have been patient at Kaizer Chiefs, looking at the regulations, looking at the changes that have been going up and down.

“We have always been patient and waiting for the right directions.

“So we were not really panicking as such. The players have been focused on the preparations. So it’s not like we have been poking our nose into the whole thing.”

Kaizer Chiefs are favourites to win the league. I wouldn’t bet on them just yet. Their form going into the lockdown was bad. They only won two of their last five games whilst Sundowns won four. It also doesn’t help that Sundowns have acquired the services of George Maluleka. A midfielder who was key in Kaizer Chiefs’ excellent run to the top of the standings. Sundowns has a better team. Kaizer Chiefs have done well to get this far but I fear in the final race to finish line Downs may have the legs to edge them. 🏃‍♂️

 

 

‘We are a business’: Irvin Khoza on the return of the PSL return…

The PSL return is soon. Around the beginning of August. The 1st to be exact. Well, that’s at least what Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairperson Irvin Khoza is proposing.

The league was supposed to return on the 18th of July but the PSL failed to reach an agreement with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the ‘unavailability of match officials’.

As much as I’m sure Irvin Khoza and his board love watching football this has more to do with as he put it ‘business’.

On Monday Khoza held a press conference where he said that‚ while Fifa will accept a 2019/20 season going past August 31 if informed‚ the league sees such a cut-off date as essential due to pressing financial concerns.


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“That is why it is urgent for us to (restart the season) because beyond the 30th of June we won’t be able to pay the clubs their grants and if that happens it means we must now revert back to section 189 for retrenchments‚” said Khoza.

“That is the reality of the situation‚ it has been stressful for the clubs. Some of the clubs took it upon themselves to do some kind of dealings with the players by asking for reductions of about 30 to 40 percent of their packages.

“The unfortunate part is that from the 30th of June‚ that was the last time we get the grant. What we find is the new season going forward and the sponsors at this point in time‚ especially the broadcaster‚ for the last three months they have allowed for us to pay and be paid without asking questions in terms of what we are giving in return.

“What we have done as the PSL is that we have made sure that we stick to what we promised the players until the 30th of June. I also want to thank Fifa for allowing us to engage the players and the Players Union that they must corporative for sporting integrity.

“All the clubs must play and finish the season with a full complement of the players. Hence we have extended from the 30th of June to the 30th of July‚ but we went beyond that as the PSL to the 30th of August.”

 

 

 

Pitso Mosimane: ‘Teams gaining an unfair advantage…’

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane claims to be aware of certain teams training during the lockdown.

The PSL is set to return early next month. What would the Absa Premiership be without a controversial statement by Pitso Mosimane? The Sundowns coach says he knows of certain clubs returning to training before they were allowed to by the Premier Soccer League.

“There are rumours that teams have been training while there was lockdown Level 5 and Level 4. They want to gain an unfair advantage. So, yeah, there are rumours.”


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“I mean, players talk, players from this team are friends with players from another team and wherever you’re training, people are watching and people are looking and you can’t hide it.

“We just have to prove that somebody is training but how can you prove that? Unless you go training and take pictures of the people who are training.”

Pitso, do spill the tea… 🍵

…Or the rest of us will use our imagination. Are you referring to Kaizer Chiefs? The log leaders that your Sundowns team are four points behind on the PSL table? Or maybe you are talking about one or all 9 teams your side still has to play in the final third of the season? The likes of Orlando Pirates who have an equally strong squad as you do.

Forgive me for not caring or feeling sorry for Mamelodi Sundowns. They have a squad big enough and good enough to have two top 8 teams. Pitso may be priming us for an excuse should his team not win the league. Because as things stand, if Sundowns win the rest of their remaining games they will be crowned champions once again. 🏆