Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he'll buy new players yet again ahead of next season

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has admitted that he will be dipping his hand into the transfer market yet again, noting that there is always a need to strengthen as is the trend worldwide. 

With his second league title won in the three-and-a-half years at Chloorkop, Mosimane has already started planning for next season – and key to that is the recruitment of new players.

 An important addition will be a player the gap left by Bongani Zungu who is leaving for Portugal while should Khama Billiat also move abroad as is expected, then there will definitely be a need for another equally exciting talent in his position.

 “I have never heard of one coach in the world who says I have got a perfect team and I am not strengthening,” reasons Mosimane.

 “I look at Luis Enrique [of Barcelona] - out of the [UEFA] Champions League. Does he say his team is perfect? Otherwise he would have been in the final. I am talking about Messi, Neymar and Suarez.

 “When I look at Barca every year they bring a minimum of two players. Now, they have brought Arda (Turan) from Atletico Madrid, they brought (Ivan) Rakitic to strengthen the midfield since Iniesta and Xavi are old … they needed to strengthen the team.

 “I look at Bayern (Munich), a big team, they have already signed players,” he continued. “The defender (Mats Hummels) from (Borussia) Dortmund is going to them - every year they are taking from Dortmund, every time, they strengthen their team.

 “So who am I not to strengthen the team? If you don’t strengthen the team then you should be able to win Champions League easily, but we have not arrived there though we are improving in the Champions League. Sundowns is a team that has ambitions and wants to play Champions League football and that is why I came here.

 “[In my] first year we went to the Champions League which is very good and this year we went to Champions League, good. Next year we are going again.”

 ‘Jingles’ has a habit of bringing in new players in large numbers at the start of every season.

 At the start of every of his first season in charge in 2013, the new arrivals were Glenn Verbauwhede, Rashid Sumaila, Sibusiso Kumalo, Katlego Mashego, Bryce Moon, Rodney Ramagalela, Raymond Monama, Tiyani Mabunda, Cuthbert Malajila, Bongani Zungu, Dove Wome, Kennedy Mweene, Emmanuel Mathias, Khama Billiat, Mukuka Mulenga and Therlo Moosa.

 The next season Luyolo Nomandela, Bonginkosi Ntuli, Siyanda Zwane, Mario Booysen, Rheece Evans, Mame Niang, Lindokuhle Mbatha, Uzoenyi Ejike, Kudakwashe Mahachi came in while Mumuni Abubakar, Method Mwanjali, Themba Zwane, Nyasha Mushekwi, Therlo Moosa, Hichani Himoonde and Eleazar Rodgers returned from loan spells.

 At the beginning of the current season the new men at Chloorkop were Leonardo Castro, Bangaly Soumahoro, Keagan Dolly, Fiston Abdul Razak, Mogakolodi Ngele with Khayelihle Shozi and Flavio Bento promoted, as Samuel Julies, Moon, Verbauwhede, Kumalo, Nomandela, Mulenga, Mabunda all returned from various loans.

 Guaranteed to make signings, the question is: who will Mosimane be signing this year?

 Article by: Lovemore Moyo

Lionel Messi reveals his disappointment at not joining his Argentine teammates at this year's Olympic Games ‪

Argentine skipper Lionel Messi has expressed his disappointment at having to sit out this year’s Olympic Games in Brazil. The Barcelona superstar would have been a shoe-in as one of the three over-aged players to represent the Argentines in Rio, yet with the games coinciding with this year’s special Copa America Centenario, national team coach Gerardo Martino

 Messi, who has previously played at the Olympic Games, winning gold in 2008, said he is sad to be missing out on this year’s spectacle in Brazil.

 "I would have liked to go because it was a spectacular experience for me to play in the [2008] Olympics, just as it was for the [2005] U20 World Cup," the forward told ESPN.

 "Not just because we won, but for the experience I gained.

 "It was a great experience to stay in the Olympic Village and meet other elite athletes from other sports and to be just another athlete among them; that was very spectacular even though we didn't spend a lot of time in the village.

 "World Cup is great but Olympics are something special."

 The Argentine talisman will now set his sights on going one better at the Copa America, having lost last year’s final to Chile.

 "It is a new Copa, different,” he said. “Very nice in the United States and very different from what I have played before because of the people, the stadiums," Messi said.

 "That will make it different and for us, a new chance."

 The Albiceleste have been drawn in Group D of June’s 100-year commemorative tournament, where they will face defending champions Chile, Panama and Bolivia.

 Article by: Staff Reporter

Despite having already won the League, Pitso Mosimane insists Downs won't go easy against Wits on Wednesday

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane insists his side will approach Wednesday’s League encounter against Bidvest Wits with greatest amount of professionalism.

The Brazilians’ have already secured League honours after beating University of Pretoria in Tshwane last week, and face second-placed Wits this week as a mere formality.

But Mosimane is hungry for more, wanting his side to achieve the initial objective they set for themselves. “We’ve got nothing to lose, but we’ve got pride to play for and we have integrity to play for,” he said.

 “We have set our goals for the number of points we want to achieve. We want to pass our target of 65 points that won us the league before. So we are competing with ourselves - we want to do better and we don’t want to lose against Wits.

” Downs will end the season against Platinum Stars on May 21 where they will be handed the Absa Premiership trophy, and Mosimane is determined to end the campaign in style. “I don’t want other coaches to be upset with me now if I let [the game] go,” he said.

“I have to be a gentlemen and play my best team even against Platinum Stars. I wouldn’t like to raise the trophy after losing [against Stars].”

 Article by: Ernest Fakude

Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng has died after collapsing while playing for Dinamo Bucharest on Friday.

Cameroon international midfielder Patrick Ekeng has passed away after collapsing while turning out for Romanian club Dinamo Bucharest on Friday night. 

 Ekeng fell to the ground seven minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute during Dinamo's match against Viitorul Constanta.

 The 26-year-old was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, with the cause of the incident yet to be confirmed.

 "Resuscitation attempts were made for an hour and half without success," Dinamo team doctor Liviu Paltinean said.

 A statement on Dinamo's official Facebook page read: "Dinamo tonight lost footballer Claude Patrick Ekeng Ekeng forever.

 "On behalf of all of Dinamo, sincere condolences to the bereaved family. God rest his soul.

" Ekeng made his Cameroon senior debut as a second half substitute in the 1-1 draw against DR Congo in his home city of Yaounde last year.

 "What a tragedy. We have just learned of the death of our international footballer Patrick Ekeng on the field during a league match between Dinamo Bucharest and Viitorul," said a statement the Cameroon Football Federation's official website.

 "Cameroon and the great family of Cameroonian football are in mourning. Pending an official report on this tragic incident, we have lost a son and a brother.

 "The president and the executive committee of Fecafoot present their sincere condolences to his family and relatives. RIP Ekeng Ekeng, RIP indomitable lion."

 In 2003, another Cameroon midfielder, Marc-Vivien Foe, collapsed and died during an international match against Colombia.

 Last week Bidvest Wits midfielder Papy Faty collapsed under no pressure in the 20th minute during their 1-1 draw against Chippa United at the Bidvest Stadium, but astoundingly came back onto the pitch after two minutes of treatment.

 Article by: Staff Reporter

Cyril Nzama honoured to lead Kaizer Chiefs Legends in commemorative match for 'Ace' Ntsoelengoe

Legends from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will play each other in Randfontein on Saturday in honour of the late Patrick 'Ace' Ntsoelengoe.

 The match is set to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Ntsoelengoe's passing at the age of 54 on 8 May 2006.

 Cheifs' Legends captain has described it a "big honour" to play for one of South Africa's greatest ever midfielders.

 “It’s a big honour to play for Ace, who was one of our all-time best players,” Nzama tells the club's official website.

 The former Bafana Bafana full-back has also shared a touching memory from the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.

 “Before the 2002 World Cup, there was a legends game held in South-Korea. Ace was part of that match. He asked to borrow my boots, which I did," he adds.

 “And those same boots Ace used for the legends game, I used thereafter for my three matches with South Africa at the World Cup. 

"It felt wonderful and I played a great World Cup, thanks to Ace.” The match is scheduled to start at 15h00 at Randfontein's Mohlakeng Stadium, which will also officially be renamed the Ace Ntsoelengoe Stadium.

 Article by: Staff Reporter

Sundowns move past Pirates, close in on Chiefs on league champions list

Mamelodi Sundowns have moved past Orlando Pirates on the list on all-time championship winners and are now second only to Kaizer Chiefs after securing their 10th title.

 The midweek win over the University of Pretoria puts Sundowns on the throne again but only for a fourth time in the last 10 years.

 It is a second title for coach Pitso Mosimane, who also guided the club to success in 2014 in his first campaign in charge of the big-spending club.

 Mosimane is now among the top 15 coaches in the history of South African professional football in terms of league success. His two titles equal the achievements of Stuart Baxter, Elkiam ‘Pro’ Khumalo, Kaizer Motaung, Chris ‘Speak-it’ Ngcobo, Stanley ‘Screamer’ Tshabalala, Mario Tuani and Butch Webster.

 Jeff Butler, Ted Dumitru and Gordon Igesund have won four championships and Clive Barker, Alex Forbes, Joe Frickleton and Gavin Hunt three each.

 Mosimane will be heavily fancied to join their ranks after next season as all-conquering Sundowns look set to dominate the local scene for some time to come.

 They are two titles away from matching Chiefs as the club with the most championship wins. Orlando Pirates are now in third place alone with nine league titles followed in a distant fourth by SuperSport United with three.

 But while Chiefs won the first of their 12 league titles in 1974 and Pirates were inaugural National Professional Soccer League winners in 1971, Sundowns only claimed their first championship in 1988, which means they have been the country’s most successful side over the last three decades.

Leicester City win English Premier League title

Leicester-based musicians film a video for their latest music project "Fearless" in central Leicester, eastern England, on 2 May, 2016. The song has been recorded to celebrate Leciester City Football Club's performance in the 2015/16 season of the Premier League. Leicester emerged champions for the first time in their 132-year history without kicking a ball on May 2 after second-placed Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 2,2016. PHOTO | AFP

LAST PIECE OF SILVERWARE

Their previous best season in the English top flight was a second-place finish in 1929 and their last piece of silverware had been the 2000 League Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino's young Spurs team needed to win all three of their final games to stand any chance of claiming a first league title since 1961, but having been held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion on their previous outing, they failed to close out victory again.

Ranieri had never previously won a league title and was sacked by Chelsea in 2004, but chants of "There's only one Ranieri!" rang around the game as the final whistle approached.

Bringing the story of his association with the Premier League full circle, the 64-year-old Italian will return to Stamford Bridge for his miracle team's final game of the season on May 15.

Hazard, last season's Player of the Year, had scored the goal that brought Chelsea the title a year previously and after a dismal campaign, he resurfaced to write another chapter in English football history.

Spurs, meanwhile, could face disciplinary action from the Football Association after midfielder Mousa Dembele appeared to eye-gouge Diego Costa in one of several fractious incidents.

LEICESTER FACTFILE

Name: Leicester City Football Club
Founded: 1884
Stadium: King Power Stadium, Leicester (capacity: 32,262)
Nickname: The Foxes
Colours: Blue shirts, blue shorts, blue socks, all with gold trim
Estimated value: £436 million ($637 million, 556 million euros; Private Company Financial Intelligence, Feb 2016)

Owner/Chairman: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (THA)
Manager: Claudio Ranieri (ITA)
Assistant first-team coaches: Paolo Benetti (ITA), Craig Shakespeare (ENG), Steve Walsh (ENG)
Captain: Wes Morgan (JAM)

Honours:
Premier League champions: 2015-2016
League Cup (3): 1964, 1997, 2000

Most appearances:
Graham Cross (ENG): 599

Most goals:
Arthur Chandler (ENG): 273

Record transfer fee paid
Andrej Kramaric (CRO); £9 million ($13 million, 11 million euros) to Rijeka/CRO, January 2015

Record transfer fee received
Emile Heskey (ENG); £11 million ($16 million, 14 million euros), to Liverpool/ENG, March 2000

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2015-16: Leicester City
2014-15: Chelsea
2013-14: Manchester City
2012-13: Manchester United
2011-12: Manchester City
2010-11: Manchester United
2009-10: Chelsea
2008-09: Manchester United
2007-08: Manchester United
2006-07: Manchester United
2005-06: Chelsea
2004-05: Chelsea
2003-04: Arsenal
2002-03: Manchester United
2001-02: Arsenal
2000-01: Manchester United
1999-00: Manchester United
1998-99: Manchester United
1997-98: Arsenal
1996-97: Manchester United
1995-96: Manchester United
1994-95: Blackburn Rovers
1993-94: Manchester United
1992-93: Manchester United