Result: Santos 3-1 Wits

Date: 18 February 2012

Venue: Athlone Stadium

Santos secured their first win in eight games with an impressive 3-1 triumph over Wits at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday.

Tyren Arendse put the People’s Team ahead on the half-hour mark but Masibusane Zongo pulled things level five minutes into the second-half. Santos were still the superior side though and goals form Erwin Isaacs and substitute Tasleem Paulse completed the victory.

Vuyisile Wana forced Emile Baron into a smart save just three minutes in before Subisiso Vilakazi fired over the crossbar at the other end.

Ryan Chapman came close to opening the scoring 20 minutes in but Dembo Touray made the save. The hosts would then snatch the advantage 10 minutes later when Arendse smashed the ball home after Wits had failed to clear a corner.

The visitors suffered a major blow in the 38th minute when Chapman went off injured and was replaced by Sifiso Vilakazi.

Wits started the second-half well and five minutes in they would get their reward when Zongo fired home from the edge of the area.

Their joy would last just two minute though as Isaacs latched onto a ball from Wana and guided it over the line to restore the lead for Santos.

The game became slightly bogged down with neither side creating clear-cut chances but that would eventually change in the 85th minute when Paulse tucked away the rebound after Baron had saved a free-kick from Lehlohonolo Masalesa.

There was still enough time for Matthew Pattison to rifle a shot just wide in the dying minutes as Santos saw out the win without too much fuss.

Santos: Dembo Touray, Wayne Arendse, Vuyisile Wana, Ricardo Skippers, Siyabulela Songwiqi (Graham King 60′, Riaan Eugene 91′), Jurie Basi, Erwin Isaacs, Tyren Arendse, Matthew Pattison, Orlin Powell, Eleazar Rodgers (Tasleem Paulse 67′).

Wits: Emille Baron, Mbulelo Mabizela, Sipho Mngomezulu, Derrick Spencer, Patrick Phungwayo, Lehlohonolo Masalesa, Ryan Chapman (Sifiso Vilakazi 38′), Asive Langwe (Daylon Appolis 82′), Sibusiso Vilakazi, Miguel Timms (Nyiko Tshabangu 67′), Masibusane Zongo.

Goals: Tyren Arendse (Santos 30′), Masibusane Zongo (Wits 50′), Erwin Isaacs (52′), Tasleem Paulse (85′)

Sourced from:-http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/article/south-africa/santos-sink-wits

Match highlights

Teams: Bidvest Wits v Maritzburg

Date: 15 February

Venue: Bidvest Wits

Referee: Victor Hlungwane

In a game of precious few clear chances, Wits and Maritzburg United played to a goalless draw at the Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday night.

The match started at high intensity with both sides eager to burn some energy after the mid-season break and within five minutes, both Kulegani Madondo and Masibusane Zongo were shown yellow for unsporting behaviour.

However, there was little goalmouth action early on save for a few corners from either side which hardly threatened the goalkeepers.

Shu-Aib Walters was eventually called into action eight minutes before the break when Sifisio Vilakazi struck from 25-yards, but the keeper was up to the test on that occasion.

The Students started the second period fastest out the blocks and it was Ryan Chapman who got the first shot of the half, but his 25-yard effort was wide of Emile Baron’s goal.

Just after the hour Masibusane Zongo’s 30-yard strike warmed the gloves of Walters and with neither side able to gain much momentum, the match ended goalless as the teams were forced to go home with a point apiece.

Wits: Emile Baron, Mbulelo Mabizela, Sipho Mngomezulu, Patrick Phungwayo, Derrick Spencer, Ryan Chapman, Asive Langwe, Lehlohonolo Masalesa, Miguel Timms, Masibusane Zongo (Letsie Koapeng 78), Sifiso Vilakazi (Bhongolwethu Jayiya 63).

Subs: Eduan Naude, Katlego Pule, , Brad Phillips, David De Oliveira Junior, Daylon Appolis.

Maritzburg: Shu-Aib Walters, Michael Morton, Peter Petersen, Mor Diouf, Byron Hendricks, Kurt Lentjies, Rheece Evans, Morne Davids (Prince Olomu 46), Kulegani Madondo, Cuthbert Malajila (Wayne Matle 85), Diyo Sibisi.

Subs: Francis Chansa, David Booysen, Sheldon Lawrence, Thabang Matuka, Andile Gabisa.

Sourced from:- http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/article/south-africa/students-and-maritzburg-in-dull-stalemate

Match highlights

Match background

- Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United will resume their Absa Premiership campaign with a match at the Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday evening, kick-off at 19h30.

- Wits claimed a 2-1 home win over Platinum Stars in their last match before the mid-season break.

- The Johannesburg team has recorded four wins, one draw and three losses from their eight home games so far this term.

- The Cleve Boys are placed eighth on the Absa Premiership table with 23 points from 15 matches.

- Maritzburg played to a 2-2 draw away to Moroka Swallows in their last match before the mid-season break.

- The KwaZulu-Natal side have yet to win away from home this season, recording five draws and three losses from eight matches on the road.

- The Team of Choice are placed 11th on the Absa Premiership log with 19 points from 15 matches.

- In head-to-head stats, Wits and Maritzburg have met in nine league matches since 2006/07.

- Each side has picked up two wins and there have been no less than five draws.

- At home, Wits have picked up two wins, one draw and suffered one loss from four matches.

- When the teams met earlier this season they played to a 2-2 draw in Pietermaritzburg.

- Wits’ line-up from their 2-1 win over Stars: Murambadoro; Mngomezulu, Mabizele, Gumede, Phungwayo, Myeni (Pule 73’), Sibande, Sib. Vilakazi (Maselesa 80’), Timms, Langwe (Sif. Vilakazi 63’), Chapman.

- Maritzburg’s line-up from their 2-2 draw with Swallows: Walters; Matuka, Diouf, Hendricks (Booysen 46’), Petersen, Obada, Morton, Lentjies, Ncubeni (Matle 20’), Olomu, Sibisi (De Jongh 80’).

Previous meetings

All league meetings

Season Result Scorers

2006/07 Maritzburg 0-0 Wits
2006/07 Wits 3-0 Maritzburg Manenzhe, Raselemane, Manuel
2008/09 Wits 4-1 Maritzburg A. Hendricks, Myeni, Studzinski, Rantjie; Mngomezulu
2008/09 Maritzburg 2-1 Wits Mngomezulu, Bageta; Langerman
2009/10 Wits 1-1 Maritzburg Kadi; Davids
2009/10 Maritzburg 1-1 Wits Bester; Myeni
2010/11 Wits 1-2 Maritzburg Koapeng; Bester, Sibisi
2010/11 Maritzburg 1-1 Wits Sibisi; Chapman
2011/12 Maritzburg 2-2 Wits Sibisi (pen), Matle; Mabizela, Spencer

Head-to-Head
(League only, since 2006/07)

Home
P W D L GF GA
Wits 4 2 1 1 9 4
Maritzburg 5 1 4 0 6 5

Away
P W D L GF GA
Wits 5 0 4 1 5 6
Maritzburg 4 1 1 2 4 9

Total
P W D L GF GA
Wits 9 2 5 2 14 10
Maritzburg 9 2 5 2 10 14

Fixtures and results

Bidvest Wits

2011/12 Absa Premiership results

No Date H/A Opponent (HT) Result Goal scorers

1 14/08/11 A Maritzburg (1-0) D 2-2 Mabizela 29’, Spencer 76’
2 17/08/11 H Santos (0-0) W 1-0 Myeni 59’
3 24/08/11 A Chiefs (0-0) L 1-2 Sib. Vilakazi 68’
4 13/09/11 H Sundowns (0-3) L 2-3 Mabizela 62’, Sib. Vilakazi 69’
5 18/09/11 A FS Stars (0-0) D 0-0
6 24/09/11 H AmaZulu (1-1) W 3-1 Chapman 7’, Sif. Vilakazi 49’, Myeni 70’
7 28/09/11 A Cosmos (0-0) D 0-0
8 15/10/11 H Swallows (1-1) L 1-3 Chapman 3’
9 29/10/11 H SuperSport (0-0) L 0-1
10 02/11/11 A Ajax (0-0) W 2-0 Chapman 80’ 86’
11 19/11/11 H Pirates (1-0) W 3-1 Sib. Vilakazi 20’, Chapman 47’ 65’
12 30/11/11 A Celtic (0-0) D 0-0
13 03/12/11 H Arrows (2-1) D 2-2 Sif. Vilakazi 3’ 30’ pen
14 18/12/11 A Leopards (2-1) W 2-1 Sib. Vilakazi 3’ 36’
15 21/12/11 H P Stars (1-0) W 2-1 Sib. Vilakazi 11’, Timms 65’

League position – 8th

P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Home 8 4 1 3 14 12 +2 13
Away 7 2 4 1 7 5 +2 10
Overall 15 6 5 4 21 17 +4 23

2011/12 Absa Premiership fixtures

No Date Time H/A Opponent Venue

16 15/02/12 19h30 H Maritzburg Bidvest Stadium
17 18/02/12 20h15 A Santos Athlone Stadium
18 25/02/12 18h00 H Chiefs Mbombela Stadium
19 13/03/12 19h30 A Sundowns Loftus Stadium
20 17/03/12 15h30 H FS Stars Bidvest Stadium
21 20/03/12 19h30 A AmaZulu Moses Mabhida Stadium
22 28/03/12 19h30 H Cosmos Bidvest Stadium
23 04/04/12 19h30 A Swallows Dobsonville Stadium
24 07/04/12 18h00 A SuperSport Lucas Moripe Stadium
25 18/04/12 19h30 H Ajax Bidvest Stadium
26 21/04/12 20h15 A Pirates Orlando Stadium
27 28/04/12 15h00 H Celtic Bidvest Stadium
28 02/05/12 19h30 A Arrows King Zwelithini Stadium
29 12/05/12 15h00 H Leopards Bidvest Stadium
30 19/05/12 15h00 A P Stars Royal Bafokeng Stadium

Maritzburg United

2011/12 Absa Premiership results

No Date H/A Opponent (HT) Result Goal scorers

1 14/08/11 H Wits (0-1) D 2-2 Sibisi 73’ pen, Matle 77’
2 17/08/11 A Ajax (0-1) D 1-1 Davids 78’
3 24/08/11 H Pirates (0-1) W 2-1 Sibisi 49’, Diouf 77’
4 14/09/11 A Celtic (1-0) D 1-1 Sibisi 38’
5 18/09/11 H Arrows (1-0) W 2-0 Obada 9’, Lentjies 78’
6 24/09/11 A Leopards (0-0) D 0-0
7 28/09/11 H P Stars (0-0) W 2-1 Obada 85’, Diouf 90+3’
8 14/10/11 A SuperSport (0-3) L 0-7
9 28/10/11 A Santos (0-0) L 1-2 Sibisi 86’
10 01/11/11 H Chiefs (0-0) D 0-0
11 20/11/11 A Sundowns (0-1) L 0-1
12 30/11/11 H FS Stars (0-1) L 0-2
13 04/12/11 A AmaZulu (0-0) D 0-0
14 17/12/11 H Cosmos (1-0) W 3-1 Diouf 43’, Obada 64’, Olomu 80’
15 21/12/11 A Swallows (1-0) D 2-2 Sibisi 2’ 64’

League position – 11th

P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Home 7 4 2 1 11 7 +4 14
Away 8 0 5 3 5 14 -9 5
Overall 15 4 7 4 16 21 -5 19

2011/12 Absa Premiership fixtures

No Date Time H/A Opponent Venue

16 15/02/12 19h30 A Wits Bidvest Stadium
17 19/02/12 15h30 H Ajax Harry Gwala Stadium
18 26/02/12 15h30 A Pirates Orlando Stadium
19 14/03/12 19h30 H Celtic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
20 17/03/12 18h00 A Arrows King Zwelithini Stadium
21 21/03/12 19h30 H Leopards Harry Gwala Stadium
22 28/03/12 19h30 A P Stars Royal Bafokeng Stadium
23 04/04/12 19h30 H SuperSport Harry Gwala Stadium
24 07/04/12 20h15 H Santos Harry Gwala Stadium
25 17/04/12 19h30 A Chiefs Peter Mokaba Stadium
26 21/04/12 18h00 H Sundowns Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
27 28/04/12 15h00 A FS Stars Goble Park
28 01/05/12 19h30 H AmaZulu Harry Gwala Stadium
29 12/05/12 15h00 A Cosmos Sinaba Stadium
30 19/05/12 15h00 H Swallows Harry Gwala Stadium

League standings

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts

1 Mamelodi Sundowns 15 9 4 2 30 12 +18 31
2 SuperSport United 15 8 4 3 25 13 +12 28
3 Kaizer Chiefs 15 8 4 3 16 10 +6 28
4 Moroka Swallows 15 7 5 3 22 18 +4 26
5 Orlando Pirates 15 7 3 5 16 11 +5 24
6 Free State Stars 15 7 3 5 17 13 +4 24
7 Ajax Cape Town 15 7 3 5 20 21 -1 24
8 Bidvest Wits 15 6 5 4 21 17 +4 23
9 Bloemfontein Celtic 15 6 4 5 15 12 +3 22
10 AmaZulu 15 5 5 5 13 10 +3 20
11 Maritzburg United 15 4 7 4 16 21 -5 19
12 Golden Arrows 15 4 2 9 16 25 -9 14
13 Platinum Stars 15 3 4 8 14 18 -4 13
14 Santos 15 3 3 9 15 26 -11 12
15 Black Leopards 15 2 4 9 14 31 -17 10
16 Jomo Cosmos 15 1 6 8 12 24 -12 9

Round fixtures

Wednesday 15 February 2012

19h30 – Orlando Pirates v Black Leopards – Orlando Stadium
19h30 – Moroka Swallows v Santos – Dobsonville Stadium
19h30 – Ajax Cape Town v Platinum Stars – Cape Town Stadium
19h30 – SuperSport United v Free State Stars – Lucas Moripe Stadium
19h30 – Jomo Cosmos v Kaizer Chiefs – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
19h30 – AmaZulu v Mamelodi Sundowns – Moses Mabhida Stadium
19h30 – Bloemfontein Celtic v Golden Arrows – Botshabelo Stadium
19h30 – Bidvest Wits v Maritzburg United – Bidvest Stadium

Club information

Bidvest Wits

Coach: Roger de Sa (South Africa)
Nickname: The Clever Boys
Formed: 1921
Physical address: 2nd Floor, The Atrium, 41 Stanley Avenue, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2092
Tel: +2711 726 8781
Fax: +2711 726 8902
Email: info@bidvestwits.co.za
Website: www.bidvestwits.co.za
Major honours: Top Eight Cup titles: 2 (1984, 1995); League Cup titles: 2 (1985, 1995); FA Cup titles: 2 (1978, 2010).
All-time PSL record: (Not including 2011/12 season results)
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
444 148 151 145 487 466 +21 595

Maritzburg United

Coach: Ernst Middendorp (Germany)
Nickname: The Team of Choice
Formed: 1979
Physical address: 397 Victoria Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
Tel: +2733 345 5666/7
Fax: +2733 345 5672
Email: info@maritzburgunited.co.za
Website: www.maritzburgunited.co.za
Major honours: None
All-time PSL record: (Not including 2011/12 season results)
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
252 61 74 117 230 388 -158 257

RYAN CHAPMAN MATCH PREVIEW

Bidvest Wits technical team during this transfer period has been scouting replacements for positions, a good example being the recent selling of Sifiso Myeni. These types of moves by players opens gaps that need to be filled within the squad. This has seen six new arrivals at Bidvest Wits. The six players are illustrated above. Top left Piere Kok (19), Masibusane Zongo (21), Kyle Timm (25), Conley Miller (19), Zaid Petel (18), Daylon Appolis (20).

Zambia’s success at the 2012 African Cup of Nations has served to highlight Bafana Bafana’s absence from the continental showpiece.

It’s not much fun following a tournament without a team to support, so I decided to back Zambia, based on their status as a southern African nation, and due to their close ties with South Africa in the form of the numerous current and ex-PSL players in their squad.

It was a bonus then when discovering that their national anthem sounded rather (exactly) like our own Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. (Some research showed me that they had adopted this anthem in 1964, the original composition by a South African, Enoch Sontonga, in 1897).

More importantly, it was a further bonus and pleasant surprise to watch Chipolopolo humble Senegal and then cruise through the group stage before beating Sudan to secure a semi-final spot with Ghana.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game (which I feel Zambia have every chance of winning, even if on penalties), it’s been a showing in which Zambia can rightly feel very proud of.

Standout performers in attack for me have been Emmanuel Mayuka, Chris Katongo and Rainford Kalaba, a player that has impressed for many years now, yet plays his football in the DRC.

In the middle of the park Nathan Sinkala has been a superb anchor, while Orlando Pirates’ Isaac Chansa has been pretty useful. At the back, Free State Stars keeper Kennedy Mweene has been a rock, so too Golden Arrows defender Joseph Musonda, hardly a star in the PSL.

None of these players are big name stars – they don’t play for Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur/Everton or Barcelona.

They play for clubs such as Young Boys in Switzerland (Mayuka), Henan Construction in China (Katongo), TP Mazembe (Kalaba), Zambian side Green Buffaloes (Sinkala), and as mentioned, Pirates, Free State Stars and Golden Arrows.

Zambia’s success has been based largely on togetherness – both and on and off the field, and tactical discipline.

I spoke to several of the Zambian players before they left, and all of them banged on about the team spirit within the squad.

“We know each other well, there is a great team spirit in the camp and we are determined to do even better this time around. In the Zambian team there are no individuals. It’s tough to point out the reason for our success, but I think it’s mainly due to the team-work ethic we have,” is what Chansa told me.

At the time, on hearing it over and over from each player, it all seemed rather a cliché, but I was proven wrong – Chipolopolo really do appear a united bunch, on a mission.

I say on a mission because they are fighting for a cause: the honouring of their compatriots who were killed nearly two decades back while on national team duty.
It was 19 years ago that the Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D which was carrying the team to Senegal for a 1994 World Cup qualification match crashed off the coast of Gabon, killing all 30 passengers, including 18 players and a number of coaches.

Fate saw to it that Zambia’s first game of the 2012 AFCON finals was against Senegal, in Gabon. Not much more motivation needed than that.

Chipolopolo played with pride and purpose, with pace and guile, and went on to shock the mighty Taranga Lions, showing too, that physical size counts for little if heart, skill and unity are applied.

Under coach Hervé Renard, Zambia have expertly combined a disciplined and well-organized defence with a creative midfield and a lethal and speedy attack. They have showed patience and maturity in their approach, and the results have followed.

For example, they never under-estimated lowly Sudan, but stuck to their guns, even when the Sudanese threatened to make things difficult, and eventually ran out comfortable winners, without raising too much of a sweat or really getting into top gear.

Man for man, I don’t believe Zambia have better players than South Africa. They have a population one fifth the size of ours, and have a domestic league that does not come close to matching the PSL. And they do not have any players in the bigger European leagues, like Bafana Bafana does.

With what on paper appears to be a good, but not brilliant squad, including eight players from the PSL, Chipolopolo are a game away from the 2012 AFCON final.

Now that the continental show-piece has been shifted from Libya to South Africa next year, I can only hope that the Bafana players and management team are taking notes and finding inspiration in Zambia’s performances – national pride, a lack of personal egos, unity and a common goal can take a team a long way.

Twitter: @soccer_ant

Anthony McLennan

Sourced from:- http://www.kickoff.com/features/26923/zambias-lesson-for-bafana-bafana.

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO KAMPAMBA CHINTU

The Monday Reserve League did not fail to impress again even if it was Bidvest Wits on the end of a good old beating.

The Gauteng Monday League, otherwise known as the Reserve League, features teams in the Premier Division and National First Division. The clubs that will participate are: Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Jomo Cosmos, BidVest Wits, Atlie FC, FCAK and University of Pretoria.

With Bidvest Wits Reserve League table standings on 3 points, the Clever Boys where eager to gain a win against Super Sport Utd away.

The technical team once again took the opportunity to field a youthful team, while Gavin Hunt featured mainly seasoned players. With the inclusion of the new loan player Sameehg Doutie who scored the first goal.

Bidvest Wits Starting line up:- 1 Naude Eduan, 3 Adolph Enricho, 22 Phillips Brad, 8 Batabaire Timothy, 15 Rodrigues Fabricio, 17 Miller Conley, 7 Pule Katlego, 6 Timm Kyle, 11 Kok Piere, 10 Jayiya Bhongo, 7 Patel Zaid, 9 Koapeng Letsie, 30 Goncalves Filipe, 5 Lecki Markus, 25 De Oliveira David, 14 Ntshangase Phumlani

Football dignitaries, coaches, club officials and fans were all part of the breathtaking event which marked the start of the PSL’s final cup competition in the 2011/2012 football calendar.
32 teams from all parts of South Africa, representing SAFA, the NFD and PSL, will battle it out for the main prize of R6 million as well as a spot in next season’s CAF Confederations Cup.
The launch and the draw for the round of Last 32 was beamed live to the country on SuperSport4.

The last four years of the Nedbank Cup have seen true David and Goliath matches take place and this year the expectation is no different.
Memories are still afresh following little known Baroka FC’s conquests in last year’s event that saw them account for two PSL giants in the form of Moroka Swallows and Kaizer Chiefs.
Who will be the Baroka FC of 2012?
“With the minnows taking on the big guns, the Nedbank Cup has always provided imagination and excitement to our football calendar,” said PSL CEO, Stan Matthews.
“This year’s tournament is also a celebration of five years of collaboration between two of South Africa’s biggest brands that has seen this tournament grow enormously and football fans showing great support for Ke yona – the One.”
“We certainly look forward to continuing this relationship and growing this tournament even further,” added Matthews.
“The fifth anniversary of the Nedbank Cup is a significant occasion and we are delighted that the Cup continues to make things happen for local soccer. In 2012 we are introducing the ‘goals for goals’ campaign’ where Nedbank will donate towards soccer development, R2 000 for every goal scored. This donation and other initiatives will result in a combined development investment of just under R1 million for this season,” says Thulani Sibeko, Group Executive: Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs.

Players incentives will also be a key focus with man of the match receiving R5 000, player of the tournament receiving R100 000 and the most promising young player of the tournament picking up R25 000.

The full draw: (teams mentioned first will play at home)

Golden Arrows v North West Shining Stars
EThekwini Coastal FC v Orlando Pirates
Free State Stars v Sivutsa Stars
Santos v University of Pretoria
Maritzburg United v Bloemfontein Celtic
Roses United v Bay United
SAFA play-off winner v United FC
Batau FC v SuperSport United
African Warriors v Jomo Cosmos
Moroka Swallows v Bidvest Wits
MP Black Aces v Witbank Spurs
Kaizer Chiefs v Cape Town All Stars
Platinum Stars v The Dolphins
Black Leopards v Blackburn Rovers
Amazulu v Ajax Cape Town
Powerlines FC v Mamelodi Sundowns

The PSL will announce the venues and dates at a later stage.

The 21-year-old has developed some reputation for being a ‘problem child’, but De Sa tells KickOff.com he has previously got the best out of players who were on the path to self-destruction.

“Let’s give him [Zongo] a chance and let’s see what would happen,” De Sa says.

“I wasn’t concerned about Emille Baron’s history or Wayne Roberts or OJ [Mbulelo Mabizela] or Thando Mngomeni. They all performed for me… Respect and trust them and they will respect you and that goes for Zongo,” he says.

Zongo will fill the void left by Sifiso Myeni, who has signed for Orlando Pirates.

“Also, Thando and Nyiko [Tshabangu] are out injured so we needed a player there [left wing],” De Sa concludes.

Article by: Tiyani wa ka Mabasa on Kickoff.com

The Gauteng Monday League, otherwise known as the Reserve League, features teams in the Premier Division and National First Division. The clubs that will participate are: Kaizer Chiefs, Moroka Swallows, Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Jomo Cosmos, BidVest Wits, Atlie FC, FCAK and University of Pretoria.

With Bidvest Wits Reserve League table standings on 0 point, the Clever Boys where eager to gain a win under their belt. The Reserve League is seen as an opportunity for the squad to gain competitive match time while developing structures with in the club, such as young players being allowed competitive match time.

This chance was taken with two hands by Bidvest Wits technical team with both Reserve League matches having allow the youngsters within the club structures to gain the needed experience. The team sheet had five Bidvest Academy players in the team line up 17 Miller Conley – new signing from Academy, 7 Patel Zaid – new signing from Academy, 30 Hoffman Steven – new signing from Academy, 5 Lecki Markus, 14 Palton Mathew.

The match against Moroka Swallows was no different with young new signing Zaid Patel, who gained his first hatrick in the Bidvest Wits senior colours. Well done Zaid, take a look at the match highlights below.

Bidvest Wits Starting line up:- 1 Naude Eduan, 3 Adolph Enricho, 22 Phillips Brad, 4 Gumede Siboniso, 24 Batabaire Timothy, 17 Miller Conley, 27 Rodrigues Fabricio, 8 Fredericks Stanton, 10 Jayiya Bhongo, 7 Patel Zaid, 9 Koapeng Letsie, 30 Hoffman Steven, 5 Lecki Markus, 25 De Oliveira David, 14 Palton Mathew

New Orlando Pirates signing Sifiso Myeni admits that breaking into the team’s starting XI won’t be a walk in the park, but he is ready to fight for his place.

The 23-year-old joins ‘Ezimnyama Ngenkani’ on a three-year contract and says he is raring to go in the black and white jersey.

“It is a privilege and honour to join Orlando Pirates. I know it won’t be easy to walk into the team because of the quality in the team, but I am prepared to fight for a place in the line-up,” Myeni says.

Meanwhile, Thandani Ntshumayelo, who joins Pirates from SuperSport United, also says he is not at Pirates to add to the swelling numbers.

“Football is football, the harder you work the luckier you become.

“Pirates is a strong team, with strong players…but I’m not here to make up the numbers. I want to make a mark at the club,” Ntshumayelo concludes.

Tiyani wa ka Mabasa

Sourced from:-http://www.kickoff.com/news/26792/new-orlando-pirates-signing-sifiso-myeni-will-fight-for-his-place.php