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With a sold-out 76 700 crowd, and the presence of president Jacob Zuma and Bafana Bafana, the opening of  Soccer City with this afternoon’ s Nedbank Cup Final between AmaZulu and Bidvest Wits is expected to be a heluva event.

But the question is – can AmaZulu beat Wits this afternoon in the first ever match at the revamped at Soccer City? (kickoff at 3pm) The game between Usuthu and the Clever Boys will be broadcast to over 22 million viewers worldwide.

Bafana Bafana at Soccer City

The presence of Bafana, less than three weeks before they play the opening World Cup match against Mexico at the same venue on June 11, will no doubt see the national team given a reception that will lift the roof of the awesome revamped stadium.
AmaZulu vs Wits – Even Match

AmaZulu is my hometown team, based at Moses Mabhida Stadium you are talking about, so I agree with Usuthu coach Neil Tovey that the boys can do it. I hope they just keep their discipline tight, having suffered a red card in each of their last three games, while two games ended in penalties.

Usuthu last brought home some silverware in 1992 and this could be the year that two Durban teams write their names into the history books of South African soccer – Golden Arrows have already taken one trophy this season (MTN8).

Even Match

All experts seem to agree that this Nedbank Cup Final is a very even match.

According to football365.com Wits coach Roger de Sa believes AmaZulu have the edge going into the final.
“Sure we have had an easier run-in, and that gives AmaZulu the edge. I do not have a problem with that. But it will be close,” he said.

“There was little to choose between the teams in the league. AmaZulu finished ninth and we ended 10th. We have not won a cup in 15 years and they have gone 18 years without a trophy, so there is nothing in it.

Nedbank Cup Final R6 million

The winning team of the Nedbank Cup Final today will pocket R6 million, but for the loyal Usuthu supporters it will be a joyous celebration after years of pain and defeat.

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AmaZulu will play Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup final at Soccer City on Saturday after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in a sudden death penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1-1 in extra-time.

The dramatic penalty shootout, which they won 4-3, included three saves by goalkeeper Nicolas Gindre.

Goals Scored bye Mokoena for Downs and Gumede for Usuthu

The goals were scored by Lebogang Mokoena for Downs 74th minute and Sandile Gumede got the equaliser in the 89th minute to take the game to extra-time.

Usuthu had the better of first half exchanges, looking more threatening and energetic in attack.

Big-spending Sundowns dominated possession with their calculated passing, but were not so hot in front of goal and it was AmaZulu who enjoyed the sharper opportunities.

Bafana Bafana vs Thailand

With the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand Match on Sunday 16 May, it was accepted that Sundowns were without six players currently with Bafana Bafana’s World Cup training squad but in their defense, the boys from Durban can point to a string of suspensions that depleted them as well.

In the end, it was left to Litha Ngxabi to seal the game for Usuthu, and he did so, sending the ball past Baloyi’s outstretched hands.

AmaZulu: (4-4-2): Gindre, Biyela, Mkhonza, Chintu (Siboniso Gumede 46’), Ishaka; Mabaso, Sangweni, Sikhakane (Ngxabi 74’), Mokoro; Ngwenya (Sandile Gumede 80’), Dlamini.

Sundowns: (4-4-): Baloyi; Mere, Xulu, Mungomeni, Mayinga; Mmotong, Nyandoro (Ncaca 112’), Pattison, Mokoena; Vilakazi, Katongo (Phala 67’)

Read about the Amazulu vs Mamelodi Sundowns Match

Image: AmaZulu Celebrate. football365.co.za

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Action is heating up in the PSL and the matches being played around South Africa this weekend will certainly make a difference for some of the teams who are on the brink of either moving up to become contenders, or who are losing the plot and dropping way down in the standings.

Kaizer Chiefs v Bloemfontein Celtic

Kaizer Chiefs will be sporting their 40th Anniversary kit when they tackle Bloemfontein Celtic at the Super Stadium on Saturday night.

After a poor start to the Season Amakhosi have consistently been picking up speed and hope to make this encounter with Bloemfontein Celtic four on the trot which could see the team move up to second in the PSL standings.

Santos v Lamontville Golden Arrows

Santos have the chance to close the gap on SuperSport United when they entertain Golden Arrows at the Coetzenburg Stadium on Saturday night.

The People’s Team are seven points behind Matsatsantsa and will be looking to their home matches as a source for the points to catch them.

Abafana Bes’thende head have struggled of late and will look to put their slump behind them when they travel to the Western Cape.

Arrows currently find themselves ninth in the standings, and they head into the match against title-hopefuls Santos on the back of a defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Free State Stars.

SuperSport United v Jomo Cosmos

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt is refusing to underestimate Jomo Cosmos when they entertain them at Loftus Versfeld Saturday night.

United currently sit seven points clear at the top, and the team will be looking to Anthony Laffor to continue his fine form following the midfielder’s second brace of the season in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Moroka Swallows.

Jomo Sono’s charges are currently rock bottom of the PSL standings with the defending champions sitting pretty seven points clear at the top of the standings.

Hunt will have a fully fit squad to choose from and will welcome back midfielder Jabu Maluleke, who returns from suspension.

Free State Stars v Mpumalanga Black Aces

Mpumalanga Black Aces will be hoping that the addition of new striker Darrel Smith will inspire them to victory over Free State Stars at Goble Park at the weekend.

The Mpumalanga outfit are currently second-from-bottom in the PSL standings, but a win on Saturday will see them leapfrog Stars in the table.

AmaZulu v Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to keep the pressure on SuperSport United with a win over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Brazilians are currently in fifth position after their 1-0 win against Bidvest Wits, nine points behind log leaders SuperSport United.

Maritzburg United v Ajax Cape Town

Ajax Cape Town will be looking to affirm their place in the top four of the league when they take on a confident Maritzburg United side at Woodburn Stadium.

The Urban Warriors go into the match on the back of a 0-0 draw against AmaZulu but they will be buoyed by the possibility that a win might move them from fourth to second of the league.

Bidvest Wits v Moroka Swallows

BidVest Wits’ run of 12 matches without a win can no longer be descried as a slump. Roger de Sa’s men face a crisis and must attain a result against Moroka Swallows on Saturday.

The Clever Boys’ atrocious form has seen them free fall down the table and they now lie 14th, just two points clear of second-from-bottom Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Both sides find themselves in the bottom-half of the standings.

Platinum Stars v Orlando Pirates

Platinum Stars coach Steve Komphela is hoping his side will be on the right end of some well-deserved luck on Saturday when Orlando Pirates are the visitors to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The former Bafana Bafana captain is gaining a reputation for his outbursts against referees. It was his great misfortune therefore when, he was forced to watch as his side went down 3-1 to Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday due in large part to a dubious penalty decision. Wednesday night’s result was the second time this season against Amakhosi that Komphela could rightly feel aggrieved.

The Buccaneers will be looking for their first away win in over three months when they travel to Platinum Stars for Saturday’s PSL clash in Rustenburg.

Sources and pics: www.football365.co.za and www.soccerladuma.co.za

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This was a high scoring weekend of excitement and upsets at the ABSA Premiership around South Africa – seven goals were scored on Sunday.

Sunday Matches in the ABSA Premiership

Ajax Cape Town 0 – Kaizer Chiefs 3

Kaizer Chiefs showed their class once again at Newlands Stadium on Sunday afternoon when they beat Ajax Cape Town 3-0. Fortunately for them their supporters behaved this time, not like the previous encounter between the two sides at the same venue when Amakhosi fans behaved like true soccer hooligans when their side was unceremoniously dumped out of the MTN8 tournament by the Urban Warriors . OK, the ref was dodgy, but the violence and damage resulted  in Chiefs getting the biggest fine in PSL history.

This time it was a different Kaizer Chiefs that ran onto the pitch and lifted themselves smartly from the bottom of the PSL league. I know that the fans, who will never loose faith in their team will be on a high now, expecting  their team to perform like this for the rest of the season.

Stunning Opening Goal by Kaizer Motaung Jnr

Kaizer Motaung Jnr, who has had to endure boos and ridicule from his own team’s supporters after struggling to find form this season, started Chiefs’ dramatic return to form with a stunning volleyed opening goal in the 29th minute that made keeper Hans Vonk looking like he was standing still, waiting for a taxi.

The other goals were scored by Thabang Rooi and Nkosinathi Nhleko, as the visiting side enjoyed superiority throughout the match.

In fairness to the Cape Town side, however, it needs to be pointed out that the Urban Warriors have a contingent of five players currently in Egypt with the South African team at the World Under-20 championships and some others on suspension.

Bidvest Wits – Jomo Cosmos 1

Bidvest Wits fortunes in the PSL continued to soar after they beat struggling Jomo Cosmos 3-1 in a hard fought clash at Milpark on Sunday.

Clever Boys Great Season Continues

The win sees the Clever Boys enjoy one of the best starts to a Premier Soccer League season.

Coach Roger De Sa’s men are in second spot with the same points as Bloemfontein Celtic – 17 points from their nine)fixtures, only two adrift of leaders Orlando Pirates. (Wits have a better goal difference than Celtic).

Fabricio Rodrigues, Calvin Kadi and Marawaan Bantam scored for the Students, while Koena Mathopa countered for Ezenkosi.

Saturday Matches Absa Premier Leagues

SuperSport United 1 Golden Arrows 1

SuperSport United and Golden Arrows  drew 1-1 at the Super Stadium on Saturday night.  It was Arrows’ seventh draw in 10 league fixtures played so far this season and the result ended United’s three match winning streak

Free State Stars 0 – Orlando Pirates 0

Free State Stars managed to hold league leaders Orlando Pirates to a 0-0 draw at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Saturday.

Bloemfontein Celtic 2 – Platinum Stars 1

Bloemfontein Celtic continued their impressive unbeaten run by claiming the three points from their encounter with Platinum Stars at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday evening.

AmaZulu FC 2 – 1  Moroka Swallows

Check out the 2009/2010 Log

Photo: Kaizer Motaung Jnr - Kickoff

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The second edition of the MTN8 competition kicked off on 4 August 2009.  The eight teams that have finished in the top eight of the Absa Premiership will slug it out to see who will be the last man standing. The winners take home an R8 million first prize.

2009 MTN8 Wafa Wafa -  Results 4 August

Kaizer Chiefs 3 Bidvest Wits 1

Amakhosi’s goals were scored by Nkosinathi Nhleko, David Mathebula, Knowledge Masona, and Mark Haskins scored Wits’ goal.

AmaZulu 2 Supersport United 2

(Match ended 33 after extra time and AmaZulu won the lottery of penalties to advance to the next round)

On Saturday Chiefs will welcome Engen Santos in an Absa Premiership opener at Orlando Stadium. Kick off for the game is at 20h15.

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