Pirates Have To Do The Right Thing
Soccer Laduma|20 November 2019
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.
Pirates Have To Do The Right Thing

Tshepang Mailwane: Tyson, a 1-0 win for Bafana Bafana over Sudan in the Afcon qualifier last Sunday, although based on the profile of the opposition and the chances created, you should have put them to the sword.

Thulani Hlatshwayo: The most important thing for us was to recover… Yes, we can’t be happy with the performance overall because we could have scored more goals, but we’re happy with the three points that we’ve got.

TM: How important was it to start the 2021 Afcon qualifiers well?

TH: We need to make sure that we do qualify because we set the bar in Egypt. We became a threat after knocking out Egypt and everyone was cautious because they know we are a team that plays football. We started our qualifiers with Ghana and they were a difficult side. We don’t have the physicality that they have, but we are mobile, we have skill and move. When we start moving, these African countries can’t match South Africa.

TM: As captain, has the coach spoken to you about what he expects from you and what the future holds?

TH: We just played two important games against Ghana and Sudan. The coach will introduce his style of play slowly. The core of the team that was at Afcon is still there. Coach Stuart Baxter did build a structure and we have stuck to that structure and everything has been good. The good thing is that coach Molefi (Ntseki) was in Egypt and the level of respect is there. Yes, we did have a chat to make sure that everyone is comfortable around the team. Coach Ntseki has been there and he has seen it all. The national team is everyone’s team, it’s not like at club level.

TM: What are the benefits of having a local coach in charge of Bafana?

Bu hikaye Soccer Laduma dergisinin 20 November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Soccer Laduma dergisinin 20 November 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

SOCCER LADUMA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
We have a problem
Soccer Laduma

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.

time-read
9 dak  |
4 December 2019
They have the character
Soccer Laduma

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.

time-read
8 dak  |
4 December 2019
They are on another level
Soccer Laduma

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.

time-read
8 dak  |
4 December 2019
Siyag bhoza
Soccer Laduma

Siyag bhoza

Middendorp holding a divided Chiefs camp together

time-read
5 dak  |
4 December 2019
Lionel Messi 2019 Ballon d'Or winner
Soccer Laduma

Lionel Messi 2019 Ballon d'Or winner

Messi claims record Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo snubs gala

time-read
3 dak  |
4 December 2019
Jose Is Back, Will He Last?
Soccer Laduma

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.

time-read
6 dak  |
27 November 2019
It Was Challenging
Soccer Laduma

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.

time-read
8 dak  |
27 November 2019
No Disrespect To Chiefs, But…
Soccer Laduma

No Disrespect To Chiefs, But…

On how he masterminded victory over Chiefs

time-read
4 dak  |
27 November 2019
He Is Not Personal
Soccer Laduma

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

time-read
9 dak  |
27 November 2019
That's Me Wherever I Go
Soccer Laduma

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.

time-read
7 dak  |
20 November 2019