Sports Focus

Kaizer Jr Explains Blom Sale

Kaizer Jr 🗣️

“It’s a bittersweet departure because I think it’s no secret to the Amakhosi faithful how highly we value Njabulo Blom. He is the epitome of what our Academy has been able to produce over the last couple of years,” Motaung Jr told the Chiefs website.

“This is part of the plan for us to unearth talent of international standard. More so, we want to ensure that we produce talent that can go out to explore opportunities abroad. From a personal point of view, it’s great to see a young man who grew up in the system now being afforded the opportunity to expand his horizons.

“It’s a great story given our past historical link with US football… Dr. Kaizer Motaung, our Executive Chairman, having played for Atlanta Chiefs and being named Rookie-of-the-Year in the NASL, opening that territory for us, and the inspiration he got from the American League to come back and form our team here.

“This one was a while in the making. I feel it’s a great time for Njabulo to go and exercise the next phase of his life. The opportunity came about, and it has been months in the working now, sorting out the nitty gritty of the deal.

“I think there was a bit of a divine touch because we were fortunate to interact with a great Sporting Director on that side, Lutz Pfannenstiel, who was formerly at Hoffenheim. He had the foresight to bring in Bradley Carnell as head coach for his St. Louis team, and having a former Kaizer Chiefs player who is experienced in the MLS, things fell into place very well and very timeously.

“We are very happy and excited to be part of Blom’s journey. I want to congratulate Blom on his achievement and wish him the best for the future.”

A controversial penalty shattered Bafana Bafana's dream to qualify for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Kata after a 1-0 loss away to Ghana.
Ghana who finished on top of the log in their group with 13 points, same as a Bafana Bafana proceed to the next round as they have a better goal difference as opposed to the South African side

Absa Premiership Quarter 4: Three clubs battle for big prize on

Today afternoon, as the 2019/20 Absa Premiership championship and relegation battle plays itself out in front of millions of viewers,
another contest will be unfolding in the Absa Premiership.
With just one block fixture remaining, three clubs will be challenging for top honours in the Absa Premiership Q-Innovation Quarter Four (Q4)
SuperSport United currently lead Q4 log with 13 points from six matches and a healthy goal difference of seven (7). SuperSport United have won four of their six matches: with one draw and one loss. They have also scored a total of 11 goals – the most number of goals scored by any club during this Quarter.

Q4 comprises of seven matches for each club.

Second on Q4 log is Cape Town City who are on 12 points from six games having scored nine goals.
Mamelodi Sundowns, one of the two contenders to the Absa Premiership log, have 10 points.
The team that wins Quarter Four will take home R1,5 million.
The 2019/20 Absa Premiership Quarter Three winners, Orlando Pirates, are seventh with nine points from six matches.

ABSA PREMIERSHIP: LEAGUE TITLE AND RELEGATION BATTLE CONTINUES

UNCERTAINTY for future life in the top flight league remain a misery for five clubs at the bottom of the Absa Premiership log.
While bottom rock side, Black Leopards produced a sterling performance to win a five-goal thriller, a 3-2 over Maritzburg United at the FNB Stadium on Sunday (August 16), the same can’t be said about fellow relegation candidates such as AmaZulu, Baroka, Chippa United and Polokwane City who didn’t some positive results.
Despite their victory, Lidoda Duvha however still remains in the basement of the log with 23 points from 25 matches.
Meanwhile, Polokwane City who narrowly lost 3-2 to log leaders Kaizer Chiefs remain on second from the bottom of the log with 23 points and it remains to be seen if they will be able to redeem themselves.
AmaZulu and Baroka who played to a goalless draw against each other are still hanging on to their 14th and 13th positions with 24 each while Chippa United who lost 1-0 to Cape Town City hanging by a shoestring on the 12th position with 26 points.
On top of meanwhile, the mighty Amakhosi have managed to open a six-point gap between themselves and the title chases Mamelodi Sundown. Chiefs are topping the log with 52 points with the Brazilians second with 46 points and a game in hand.

IT’S BACK TO BUSINESS AS PSL MATCHES RESUME

THE National Soccer League Board of Governors unanimously agreed to resume the season on August 8
This was announced by PSL Chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday (July 27) in which the decision was taken that the first fixture will be the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
This will be followed by the Absa Premiership and GladAfrica Championship fixtures.
Dates and kick-off times will be confirmed in due course.
Khoza said: “This announcement will assist in lifting the mood of the country and also in mitigating some of the challenges faced by our country and the global community.
We have informed our stakeholders including the Minister of Sport, the MEC of Sport in Gauteng, SAFA, the broadcasters SuperSport, Absa, Nedbank, GladAfrica and SAFPU about the plans. All the clubs in the PSL have made it possible in making sure they comply with the protocols.”
Khoza confirmed that the remained of the season will be played in a biological safe environment (BSE).

Tension brewing as Ria Ledwaba prepares to fight her dramatic removal as Safa vice-president Long-time SA football administrator Ria Ledwaba is heading for a collision course with the SA Football Association (Safa) after she vowed to challenge her removal from her seat as one of the mother body's vice presidents.

FREE STATE STARS’ MIKE MOKOENA PASSES ON

MIKE Mokoena, the Chairman of Free State Stars Football Club, one of the founding members of the NSL and longstanding member of the Executive Committee, has departed.
Our prayers are with the Mokoena family, especially its Matriarch, Ausi Joyce Mokoena who has been a pillar of strength that propped Bra Mike up over the years.
Mokoena was a self-made man that took the fruits of his toil, which he could have used for his personal benefit and that of his family and invested selflessly into football. The Free State Stars payroll that he created and maintained, sometimes under very trying circumstances, is a source of viable livelihood for many.
Bra Mike was an epitome of practicality. People do not come more practical that Mokoena lived.
He shined a spotlight on a little known town in South Africa. He literally put Qwa-Qwa and the town of Bethlehem on the map. The economic activity generated by Free State Stars in that part of our country is a powerful legacy of a passionate man that always maintained that “where there is a will, there is a way”
Mokoena, through his toil, left this world a better place than he found it.
May his soul rest peacefully.