Each week we hero our readers' voices in Soccer Laduma. If you have missed it, here is what they are saying...
Downs Ransack Belouizdad's House!
I was worried about Sundowns' performance in the Nedbank Cup, but they came back with a bang in the CAF Champions League. Playing away was always going to be a challenge, but they overcame all the hurdles on their way. What a thriller of a game that was, and with that the assurance of a spot in the semi-finals. I heard the Al Ahly goalkeeper saying he fears no team, whether in North Africa or elsewhere, but he didn't mention Southern Africa. Is it because he knows something about that region? Such a big win in Algeria has sent a message to those who understand football. Sundowns are representing South Africa well in the Champions League. I urge the Yellow Nation in its entirety to attend the second leg in Tshwane. We are Masandawana.
Terah Maqepula, Mount Fletcher
What an electrifying atmosphere from the hostile crowd who were the 12th man for their team. It was good to see the Sundowns players keeping their nerve and taking the game to the home team. On the day, Shalulile took his chances, but it was Mokoena who screened the defence by just playing in front of the back four. Mbule was the master chef who controlled the tempo of the game. But for now, it's just half-time because there is still another 90 minutes to play. Stranger things have happened in football – a positive result can be overturned in 90 minutes. The only thing for Downs will be to take the game to the visitors from the first whistle, bury their chances and not try to walk the ball into the net. A place in the semi-finals is looming.
Gavin Ryan, Witbank Branch
Congratulations to Sundowns for their emphatic victory over CR Belouizdad in Algeria. They only need to finish the job at home in the second leg. Beating a North African club at home is no easy feat, given the hostile environment often induced by the fans. The Sundowns head coach and his technical department have taken the club to a new level of entertaining football. Rhulani, as young as he is, is evolving to be one of the finest coaches on the continent. What is most admirable about him is that he is an avid student of the Beautiful Game. His work ethic is second to none. He demands the best from his players and dislikes settling for the average. He's the kind of coach who is obsessive about learning. No wonder a few years ago he went to Liverpool to learn more about modern football and how the coaching system works at Anfield. His rise, from being a youthful assistant coach at Platinum Stars to being head coach of Sundowns, is a good lesson to young men and women out there that when you work to acquire expertise, in any field, it pays off. Another reason behind his successful story is that he is willing to learn from his mentors. He learnt a lot from Mngqithi, Komphela and Mosimane. Indeed, the ingredients for success are hard work and listening to advice from the mentors.
Batsirai Kativu, Johannesburg
If the reports that both Pirates and SuperSport are vying for the signature of Dondol Stars FC goalkeeper Gumede are true, I'd advise the lad to go for the latter. That's where he stands a good chance of playing regularly, whereas at Bucs, his chances will be as rare as hen's teeth. The boy is talented, he just needs to choose wisely. Moving on, I'd like to congratulate my team Sundowns for a job well done against an Algerian giant away from home. We are one foot into the semi-finals and stand a good chance of winning the second leg at home. Shalulile has been scoring goals like they are going out of fashion. The guy is in top form and it would be an injustice if the team doesn't win this season's CAF Champions League. The second star is loading. Good to see Mailula on the score sheet again. The whole team played well. Allow me to say this Moroccan defender has made me eat humble pie. It won't be long before he attracts interest from European teams. Marvel to watch. He reads the game well and reminds me of Alje Schut.
Tente "The Brains" Mokoka, Sepharane
Chiefs Second Spot: I Blew It?
We didn't deserve to come out with anything out of our game against Sekhukhune. That is not because Babina Noko were better than us but because we were just so out of sorts that I don't remember Sangare making one decent save throughout the game. The absence of Hlanti was badly felt and as for how and why Solomons finished the game still baffles me. I think Amakhosi should repay the support that they are shown by their fans in Limpopo – the stadium is always full, but the performance on the field is always very poor. The game against Arrows also comes to mind. Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KZN and Eastern Cape always go out of their way to attend games when the team plays in their areas, and the only way Chiefs can repay these fans is through better performances that befit the status of such a side. Let's hope our players' mindset is not focused on the derby because it's still far, and if we're not careful, Bucs will turn their fortunes around at our expense.
Mompati Panyaza Ndlovu, Lekubu village, Zeerust
I'm disappointed with Chiefs. They must forget about playing in the CAF Champions League next season. Management must try by all means to sign quality players. Mendieta and one quality striker are the missing link. I don't think Bimenyimana is a soccer player even where he comes from. Basketball player that one. He can score a difficult goal but fail to convert an easy goalscoring opportunity. The management must bring an experienced coach to assist Zwane, as that seat is too hot for the man.
Nghamula Rikhotso-Nkon'wana, Mageva village
What a hopeless performance from Chiefs. We lost the game from the starting line-up. I don't understand the inclusion of Alexander, for many reasons. He is coming from a long lay-off. We are struggling to score goals in open play, hence haters say "no penalty, no goal" for us. The coach sacrificed number 10 for him and he didn't have a good game. There was no creativity at all and we never looked like scoring. It appeared we were a man down. There were never enough bodies in the box for crosses. No sense of urgency. Defensively, if Chiefs were one of those teams always rumoured to not be paying their players consistently, I was going to put my head on the block and say they are taking bribes. This is unseen and unheard of from a big team like this. Seventy percent of the goals we conceded are from our own individual mistakes, which resulted in a lot of points lost. As things stand, Royal AM and Chippa have conceded the most goals, but I doubt the errors were so identical to the Chiefs ones. This is not the performance you give after celebrating drawing your biggest rival, Pirates, in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
Lucky Khunou, Meriting
Chiefs have thrown away any little chance they may have had of finishing in second spot. It's the continuous schoolboy errors that are costing us the most. The void left by Sithebe was there for everyone to see on the weekend. On a positive note, Sundowns and Gallants keep hoisting our flag very high on the continent. Pity about that penalty that the latter conceded towards the end of the game.
Siyabonga Nkalambela, Delft
The truth hurts, but we will tell it, nonetheless. I'd also like to corroborate Cardoso's views that Chiefs will struggle to win anything without experienced players. His inference drew scathing criticism from Kaizer Jnr and a horde of the club's followers. Cardoso may himself and other experienced players have failed to win a trophy at the side in the past, but his assertion is not far off the mark either. Inexperience is rife in the squad, ranging from the playing personnel to the technical team. We have good up-and-coming youngsters, but the burden to change the fortunes of the team seems to be unbearable for them. The technical team also chops and changes the team unnecessarily. Sekgota has been dropped from the starting XI. He was our go-to guy in the early stages of the season in terms of wing play. Saile, who looked promising in his debut games, is now huffing and puffing all over the field. Management, please beef up the technical team for next season and acquire at least one experienced striker.
George Sithole, Honeydew
Disappointing display from the side I'm most besotted with, Chiefs that is, against Sekhukhune. You'd be forgiven for thinking the players were summoned from the jungle prior to kick off, Jacob Sakala style, and informed to go honour the fixture and win the bloody thing. That's just how cold the display was. I really don't understand why Zwane had to tinker with the team that played against Royal AM in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals because that team did fairly well despite the game going into extra time. I'm bereft of speech, so will keep it on the brief, suffice to say the CAF dream is over. We'll have to settle for fourth spot. They say form goes out the window when it comes to the Soweto Derby, but the way we are committing silly mistakes at the back, it's going to be a long day for our defence against the likes of Saleng and Dzvukamanja. But as a Khosi through and through, I have no choice but to rally behind the boys. Will we beat Bucs for a record sixth time in a row, bar the Carling Black Label Cup hiccup? Time, as always, will tell. Gold and Black!
Marvin Matseke-Mabula, Burgersfort, Leboeng Rutseng.
Chiefs are busy signing or rumoured to be signing this and that player as if they are making a collection of items with no proper plan to utilise them. Every player they are going to sign is going to fail as long as they have Zwane alone at the helm. The Chiefs jersey alone intimidates players and, coupled with improper coaching methods, equals disaster. Zwane will never be consistent because he's still a novice. What is painful is that the incompetent and stubborn management is not going to be of help either. Bring in Mngqithi and Doctor in the background to guide Zwane or else he'll fall victim of the unhappy fans soon. And keep Billiat so long.
Hofmeyr Kwitshana, Pietermaritzburg
What a sad weekend for the Khosi Nation. It's all over, there's no way that we can beat SuperSport and Pirates to second spot. But three lessons to be learned here. Firstly, make substitutions on time. Secondly, schoolboy errors must be cut out at all costs by our defenders. Thirdly, players must cease squandering many goalscoring opportunities. As I've mentioned before, the race for the second CAF Champions League spot ended in Polokwane. Better luck next season, Khosi. But all is not lost, you can still redeem yourself with the Nedbank Cup and qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup. I must say Sundowns eased my pain when they outsmarted, outplayed and outclassed an Algerian giant on their home turf. For that, big ups, Yellow Nation as you always represent the country with distinction. I now believe that form is temporary, but class is permanent. The second star that has eluded Sundowns for a long time is coming.
Boitumelo Vanrooyen, Schweizer-Reneke
Can Mr. Arthur Zwane please look into fielding Shabalala, Sekgota, Zwane and Saile at the same time? Please buy Rayners from Stellenbosch FC and get us a Scara Ngobese type player.
Leon White, via email
With Pirates and SuperSport winning their respective games over the weekend, it almost seals Chiefs' fate as far as fighting for second spot is concerned. It's not a nice feeling to lose, but sometimes we just have to accept that our boys had a bad day at the office and hope they bounce back faster as the season's almost over. I understand we should leave coaching to the coaches, but I don't think it was wise of the technical team to play Alexander in such a demanding game after being out for so long. Having said that, credit to Truter for extending his good record against my beloved team. Now we don't have a choice but to win the Nedbank Cup to get a chance to play in CAF competition, albeit the "Mvela version". In conclusion, allow me to congratulate Sundowns for their emphatic win in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals first leg and Marumo Gallants for drawing away in the Confederation Cup.
Malesela "Dance" Boya, Kanana, Hammanskraal
The management at Naturena Village must revisit the goalkeeping department. The club's good record of the past, in recruiting the best keepers, is fast becoming history. Here, we are talking about the likes of Banks Setlhodi, Gary Bailey, Botende Eshele, Brian Baloyi and the present legend Itumeleng Khune. The likes of Brandon Peterson and Bruce Bvuma are not the material for a club of Chiefs' stature. We cannot tolerate amateurish mistakes week in and week out, especially Peterson failing to stop goals coming from freekicks. We are heading towards the end of the PSL season and are appealing to our management to hunt for a quality keeper to strengthen our last line of defence. From the beginning, they made a very big mistake when they parted ways with Daniel Akpeyi.
Sipho Robert Mpungose, Eshowe, KZN
Now that Chiefs have progressed past the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, it's high time that players raise their hands and give their all if we are to be crowned champions. It's been more than half a decade without silverware. It's now time to bring a smile on the supporters' faces and bring glory so that at the end of the season, we have something to talk about and celebrate. But they must remember we are going to play the Derby, so past results and form don't count in a game of that magnitude. Pirates will throw everything they have at their disposal knowing that they haven't won against Chiefs in a couple of games. They will come out guns blazing. Chiefs should guard against being complacent as a lacklustre display won't be accepted by the supporters. As for Sundowns, it's good riddance that they have bowed out of the Nedbank Cup.
Thembela Ndzombane, Stellenbosch
