Phakaaathi - Ballz 2 the Wall

Have Kaizer Chiefs turned a corner?

Kaizer Chiefs finally picked up another victory this week, beating Sekhukhune FC 2-1 in a DStv Premiership encounter at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Wednesday. Amakhosi have been playing quite well under head coach Molefi Ntseki, without picking up results, though this has not stopped fans from pelting…

28 Sep 21 min

Can Kaizer Chiefs still make the MTN8 final?

Molefi Ntseki's Kaizer Chiefs came close to beating Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal on Saturday. Khuliso Mudau's stoppage time header, however, grabbed a 1-1 draw swung the tie the way of Rulani Mokwena's Brazilians. In this week's Ballz to the Wall Podcast, Phakaaathi editor Jonty…

6 Sep 25 min

Kaizer Chiefs and the dilemma of style or substance

Kaizer Chiefs got their second win of the season, and their first of the 2022/23 DStv Premiership last weekend against AmaZulu, and while the 3-0 scoreline gave the three points a glossy feel, the performance was more about grit than glamour. Amakhosi keep talking about wanting to go back to…

30 Aug 27 min

Chiefs' woes continue, Sundowns look unstoppable ... or do they?

Kaizer Chiefs continue to be about as thrilling as an all-day work meeting, Molefi Ntseki's tenure starting in poor fashion, with just one win, in the MTN8, to go with a draw and two defeats in the DStv Premiership. The latest of those defeats came at TS Galaxy last weekend,…

23 Aug 30 min

Can Banyana bounce back and beat Argentina?

Banyana Banyana suffered the most agonising of defeats in their Fifa Women's World Cup opener against Sweden on Sunday, leaving their hopes of qualifying for the next round hanging in the balance. It was a superb performance from Desiree Ellis side, a tactical plan that came so close to working…

26 Jul 11 min

Do Safa actually want Banyana to do well at the World Cup?

Desiree Ellis' Banyana Banyana will begin their Fifa Women's World Cup campaign on Sunday against Sweden. Banyana's tournament starts against a backdrop of bonus rows with the South African Football Association, which appeared to have been resolved, but which have simmered to the surface again. South African face a hard…

19 Jul 24 min

Chiefs and Billiat - is it over and out?

Kaizer Chiefs issued a statement on their official website last Saturday about striker Khama Billiat, who is no longer their player after his contract expired on June 30. Chiefs said that there was a new contract offer on the table, but that they could not get hold of the Zimbabwean…

12 Jul 21 min

Molefi Ntseki - A Kaizer Chiefs masterplan or a Kaizer Chiefs without a plan?

Kaizer Chiefs crashed their own website on Wednesday evening when they announced that Molefi Ntseki was their new head coach. The problem for Amakhosi is that it is fair to assume that most of the traffic sent Chiefs' way was fans not quite believing what they were seeing, as Chiefs…

29 Jun 28 min

Are Bafana Bafana back or are we simply watching the same movie?

Bafana Bafana beat World Cup semifinalists Morocco 2-1 at FNB Stadium on Saturday, no doubt a huge confidence-booster for Hugo Broos' men ahead of the Fifa World Cup qualifiers in November and the Africa Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast in January. This was a competitive match of…

21 Jun 17 min

Kaizer Chiefs chase a new coach - but what exactly is the plan?

Kaizer Chiefs have been widely linked to a new head coach in the last week or so, with Tunisian Nasreddine Nabi said to be high on the wanted list of Amakhosi management. If Chiefs do decide against keeping Arthur Zwane on for another season, it will go against the public…

14 Jun 19 min

Will Pirates throw the book at assault convict Lorch?

Thembinkosi Lorch's future at Orlando Pirates and in professional football was thrown into doubt this week, when he was found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend Fundiswa Mathithibala in September 2020. Pirates issued a vague statement on Wednesday, saying they were waiting for Lorch to provide details on the conviction, having…

7 Jun 16 min

Lorch makes history at Loftus

KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST PHAKAAATHI NEWS Phakaaathi (in Zulu phakathi means “inside”) brings you the latest local and international soccer news, player profiles, and discussions about everything and anything football-related. Phakaaathi editor Jonty Mark hosts a weekly chat with expert columnists and armchair football pros, to give you…

1 Jun 18 min

Nedbank Cup Final time

KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST PHAKAAATHI NEWS Phakaaathi (in Zulu phakathi means “inside”) brings you the latest local and international soccer news, player profiles, and discussions about everything and anything football-related. Phakaaathi editor Jonty Mark hosts a weekly chat with expert columnists and armchair football pros, to give you…

25 May 18 min

Sundowns edge closer to the final

KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST PHAKAAATHI NEWS Phakaaathi (in Zulu phakathi means “inside”) brings you the latest local and international soccer news, player profiles, and discussions about everything and anything football-related. Phakaaathi editor Jonty Mark hosts a weekly chat with expert columnists and armchair football pros, to give you…

18 May 32 min

Pirates' heads held high, Chiefs reach for the handbook of excuses

Orlando Pirates finally got the better of Kaizer Chiefs this weekend, after a series of defeats to the old enemy, continuing an increasingly impressive debut season for the Buccaneers head coach Jose Riveiro. It is the Buccaneers who will face Sekhukhune United in the Nedbank Cup final, following their 2-1…

10 May 22 min

Pirates move closer to Champions League, but can they beat Kaizer Chiefs?

Orlando Pirates are heavy favourites now to wrap up Caf Champions League football for next season, whatever the result of Wednesday evening's DStv Premiership game at home to Royal AM. Jose Riveiro has done a superb job in his first season with the Buccaneers, winning the MTN8 and getting to…

3 May 31 min

Chiefs and Pirates prepare to do battle in the Nedbank Cup semifinals

For Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the season has got that bit spicier, with another Soweto derby on the horizon, as the pair have been drawn to meet in the Nedbank Cup semifinals. The draw was conducted just moments after Chiefs had beaten Royal AM in the quarterfinals, and the…

19 Apr 25 min

Do Kaizer Chiefs need a new goalkeeper?

Kaizer Chiefs' draw with Marumo Gallants on the weekend was a setback in their bid to finish as runners-up in this season's DStv Premiership, another defensive calamity hampering Arthur Zwane's side. In this week's Ballz to the Wall Podcast, Phakaaathi editor Jonty Mark, along with football writers Sibongiseni Gumbi and…

12 Apr 29 min

Will anyone ever stop Mamelodi Sundowns?

Mamelodi Sundowns wrapped up a sixth consecutive DStv Premiership title last weekend without even playing a match, as SuperSport's draw with Chippa United meant no one can catch them at the top of the table. Masandawana's dominance of the domestic game shows no sign of slowing down, with Kaizer Chiefs…

4 Apr 29 min

Bafana Bafana qualify for Afcon, but is this really an achievement?

Bafana Bafana beat Liberia on Tuesday in Monrovia to make it to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals, Hugo Broos' side qualifying in the end with a game to spare for the tournament in the Ivory Coast in January. Hugo Broos' side, however, made heavy weather of getting past…

29 Mar 29 min