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We have a problem

For this reason, Clinton Larsen was shown the door as head coach, but still, under new mentor Norman Mapeza, the struggle persists, although they did win two games on the trot recently.

They have the character

Cut Lehlohonolo Seema’s skin andhe’ll probably bleed green andwhite – such has been the man’s loyalty to Bloemfontein Celtic. Born and bred in neighbouring Lesotho, the Mangaung outfit is a club that’s always had a pull factor on him. So much that it is they who pulled him from obscure Bantu United from the mountainous kingdom in 1998, and he would go on to represent the club until 2006 when the allure of Orlando Pirates, understandably, proved too great a pull factor. Yet even a five-year spell with the Soweto giants, which included a season-long loan stint at Mpumalanga Black Aces, would not prevent him being pulled back in the direction of Siwelele, albeit to begin a coaching journey in the junior ranks. The next step was to become an assistant, a job he performed with aplomb, before being called on to take the hotseat together with John Maduka after the departure of Steve Komphela at the tail end of 2018. Much against general expectation, the duo has done fairly well, if Celtic’s off-field troubles of the recent past are to be taken into consideration. Soccer Laduma’s Beaver Nazo sat down with Seema to discuss this, that, and the other.

They are on another level

Before signing for Mamelodi Sundowns last season,Lyle Lakay knew that he would be used as a leftback and not in his preferred left wing position, something that he surprisingly did not have a problem with. In his first season with the club last term, he played a key role as they went onto win an unprecedented ninth Absa Premiership league title. This season has been a bit of a slow one for Lakay, who has been used mostly as a substitute, but there’s still a lot of football to be played both locally and on the continent, so he has time to fight for his place in the starting line-up. In this interview, the former Cape Town City and Bloemfontein Celtic player chats to Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane about his time at the Tshwane giants so far, their chances of winning the CAF Champions League and why he believes they can close the gap on current Kaizer Chiefs, who have been in fine form since the start of the campaign.

Siyag bhoza

Middendorp holding a divided Chiefs camp together

Lionel Messi 2019 Ballon d'Or winner

Messi claims record Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo snubs gala

Jose Is Back, Will He Last?

Jose Mourinho has re-turned with a bang! Not many would have thought Tottenham Hotspur would sack Mauricio Pochettino after the Argentine led them to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League final, and even fewer would have thought chairman Daniel Levy would replace him with Jose Mourinho.

It Was Challenging

Imagine the scene…you are playing a game of your life, fighting to qualify for the Olympic Games through the lifeline of the third and fourth place play-off.

No Disrespect To Chiefs, But…

On how he masterminded victory over Chiefs

He Is Not Personal

He may not be gettingregular game-timedomestically with Bidvest Wits, but attacking midfielder Gift Motupa is making a name for himself in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup. The 25-year-old player has bagged six goals in the campaign so far, inspiring the Clever Boys to the group stages of a CAF club competition for the first time in their history. It has not been the same in the domestic league though, with just one start so far and one goal. Having done so well in the Confederation Cup, he will no doubt be hoping that coach Gavin Hunt will give him more opportunities to play in the Absa Premiership as the Braamfontein-based outfit looks to challenge for the title. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane, Motupa expresses his excitement about qualifying for

That's Me Wherever I Go

As a coach, former Kaizer Chiefs striker Wedson Nyirenda prides himself on being blessed with the mentality of a winner. So much that when talking about his past achievements in the realm of coaching, you can almost never miss the sparkle in his eye, and often this trip down memory lane will be accompanied by a smile that tells a story of contentment and achievement. He has built up a reputation, across all three countries he has worked in, of turning socalled ordinary teams into respected outfits. He did it with Baroka FC, helping them to annex the 2018 Telkom Knockout trophy much against many people’s expectations. However, the going has since gotten tougher, and the Limpopo side is (still) struggling to score goals this season. What is going on? Is Nyirenda going to jump ship and go back to his previous role as Zambia national team coach, as the rumour mill seems to suggest? Nyirenda provides the answers in this chat with Soccer Laduma’s Beaver Nazo.

We Need To Find A Balance

On the U23 Afcon so far

Still In Touch With Japie Motale (Part 2)

Japie Motale, who enjoyed a 15-year-long career in the topflight from 1995 to 2010, having featured for the likes of SuperSport United, Maritzburg United and Thanda Royal Zulu, speaks highly of youngster Teboho Mokoena. “We as the SuperSport legends went to watch the MTN8 final and Kaitano Tembo invited us to the hotel after the game. That’s where I managed to have a conversation with the boy, for a whole hour nogal, and found out that the two of us clicked. He’s also got the same characteristics that I had during my time at the club, something that the marketing manager, Coltrane Munyai, even remarked on when he found us chatting,” says the ex-defender. Here is Part 2 of his ‘Still In Touch With…’, complete with funny stories from his playing days.

Rakhale In Chiefs Mix…

Kaizer Chiefs are believed to be in the market for flair – and Siya sources have informed the crew that Amakhosi have reignited their interest in Thabo Rakhale, knowing very well that he could be a free agent as of July 1 next year. According to insiders, the former Orlando Pirates talisman has expressed a desire to return to Gauteng, where he became popular with the Buccaneers supporters for his unique skill and trickery with the ball, and the sources have indicated that Chiefs aren’t the only team monitoring his situation at Chippa United closely, with their rivals also keen on the winger as he contemplates his next move in the coming months. Rakhale can sign a pre-contract with a team of his choice in less than two months’ time, and indications are that three of the Premier Soccer League’s heavyweights could be ready to battle it out for his signature!

In Touch With... Raymond Monama

Unattached (Part 2)

Pirates Have To Do The Right Thing

Before the July/August transfer window slammed shut, one of the hot topics was that of Thulani Hlatshwayo possibly joining Soweto giants Orlando Pirates from Bidvest Wits, where he’s been for the last five years. Despite all that talk, the burly defender, who goes by the nickname ‘Tyson’, has remained with the Clever Boys and even penned a new deal with the 2016/17 Absa Premiership champions. Despite his expressed wish to don the famous Black and White colours of the Buccaneers, the 29-year-old is still happy to stay with the Braamfontein outfit and challenge for titles. In this interview, the Bafana Bafana captain speaks to Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane about why he did not move to Pirates, new Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki and the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

I Just Can't Pack Up And Leave

After missing out on the Af-rica Cup of Nations in Egypt earlier this year, SuperSport United winger Aubrey Modiba is back in the Bafana Bafana set-up and is determined to keep his place going forward. With the great start he has made to the season, the former Mpumalanga Black Aces player has a good chance of getting regular call-ups and maybe even attracting overseas interest, as it’s his dream to make a move abroad. A move to Mamelodi Sundowns did not materialise in the last transfer window, but he has put that behind him and is fully focused on serving Matsatsantsa. They’ve already won the MTN8 this season and now the big challenge is to see if SuperSport can go on to challenge for the Absa Premiership title. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane, Modiba shares his excitement about being back in the national team, winning the MTN8 and why he was not too disheartened after the Downs move did not happen.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

From local lad to Liverpool legend

That's Why I'm In The Bafana Camp

This week we hear from Thato Mokeke– Bafana Bafana midfielder

You Can't Afford To Do That

Since joining Orlando Pirates from Mamelodi Sundowns in2017, Wayne Sandilands has not really established himself as the Buccaneers’ number one shot-stopper.

Chiefs' Castro U-Turn!

Leonardo Castro was well on his way out of Naturena during the off-season, with Kaizer Chiefs desperate to have their Colombian striker agree to a settlement to terminate his contract a year before it was up. Fast-forward to four months later and there has been a drastic U-turn, Siya sources having exclusively informed the crew that the attacker is on the verge of fresh talks at Amakhosi to extend his stay!

We are not afraid of anyone

SuperSport United away from home

Soweto Derby

What Chiefs need to get right

It's a bit confusing for me

When PhakamaniMahlambi burstonto the scene as a teenager for Bidvest Wits four years ago, he was tipped for great things and many had expected that he would be playing his football abroad by now. After leaving the Clever Boys for Egyptian giants Al Ahly in 2017, things did not go so well for the speedy attacker, who returned to the Premier Soccer League after spending just one season in the North African country. He scored the goal that helped Mamelodi Sundowns win a ninth league title last season and had hoped he would carry on from where he left off when the 2019/20 got underway. Injury has kept him out in recent weeks, and just as he came back and hoping to fight his way back into the team, injury has struck once more. In this interview, the 22-year-old chats to Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane about his career and hopes that he will one day have an opportunity to play in Europe and join the likes of Percy Tau and his U23 teammates Gift Links and Lyle Foster.

Can BVB put more misery on Bayern?

It does not get bigger in Germanfootball than Bayern Munichagainst Borussia Dortmund, the game known as Der Klassiker. Another clash between the two German giants is upon us this weekend, when the Bavarians host the Black and Yellows at the Allianz Arena. Bayern find themselves in unknown territory after losing their last Bundesliga game 5-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt, which led to Niko Kovac’s departure from the club. Dortmund, meanwhile, will want to make up for their massive 5-0 loss the last time the sides met in Munich. Ahead of this weekend’s clash, Soccer Laduma chatted to BVB’s assistant coach and former UEFA Champions League winner Jörg Heinrich to discuss what makes these games so special.

Before I'm a Pirates Coach,I'm Pirates fan

Wien the 2019/20 Absa Premiership season got underway, Rhulani Mokwena never imagined that within a few weeks he would occupy one of the hottest seats in African football, as the man in charge of Orlando Pirates. Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic resigned as head coach of the Buccaneers to take charge of Egyptian giants Zamalek and the 32-year-old Mokwena was given the task of leading the Soweto giants, who ate determined to end their trophy drought this season. It has not been the easiest of starts, but the ambitious Mokwena is determined to crake a success of the opportunity h? has been given by chairman Dr Irvin Khoza. The forme Mamelodi Sundown assistant coach set aside some time for an interview with Soccer Leduma's Tshepang Mailwane, to peak about the last few months it charge of Pirates, as well as the belief Khoza has in him.

TKO Soweto Derby - One Must Die!

Telkom Knockout Quarterfinal: Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates - 2 November - Moses Mabhida Stadium - 15h00

That Is Why I'm Their Coach

Some days are good, others not so, and to find out how true this statement is, one need only ask Jozef Vukusic, who performed miracles with Polokwane City last season but seems to currently be having a mountain to climb with AmaZulu FC, whom he joined shortly after the commencement of the 2019/20 campaign.

Pitso Shopping For A Centre-back – Will He Go Local Or Abroad?

Pitso Mosimane has exclusively revealed to the Siya crew that Mamelodi Sundowns are shopping for a modern center-back! Speaking exclusively to the Siya crew, the serial-winning coach confirmed that the Brazilians are on the lookout for a young and experienced defender who can fit their style of play at rear-guard.

I Thought It Was The End Of Me

He got his first opportunity to impress during the Shell Helix Cup at FNB Stadium last year, but promising Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise did not get many first-team chances last season after his performance against Kaizer Chiefs.

I Hope To See Sanity Prevailing

David Notoane is every young South Africanplayer’s dream coach, having played the game at the highest level and earned his stripes as a coach in the junior ranks.