Phakaaathi - Ballz 2 the Wall

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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 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 2023 29 min

Can Bafana Bafana seize the Afcon moment?

Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana face the moment of truth in the next few days in terms of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations finals. The equation is simple for Broos' side - if they can beat Liberia at Orlando Stadium on Friday, and in Monrovia on Tuesday, they will…

22 Mar 2023 27 min

Can Pirates fend of the Nedbank Cup giant-killers?

Orlando Pirates' reward for scraping past Venda Football Academy in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup was a meeting with the surprise outfit of this season's competition, Dondol Stars FC. The Tshwane-based side from the third-tier ABC Motsepe League has beaten the top gliht's SuperSport United and AmaZulu en…

15 Mar 2023 27 min

Middendorp flies the Birds' nest

Ernst Middendorp left Swallows FC for the German third division and SV Meppen this week, the well-travelled coach returning to his homeland just under three months after joining the Birds. Middendorp signed a three-year contract with Swallows, but hasn't been able to drag them away from relegation trouble and hinted…

8 Mar 2023 11 min

Is it boiling point for Chiefs and Zwane in Soweto derbv?

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will face off in the Soweto derby on Saturday, a game that always sets the pulses racing however well or badly the two sides are doing. In Amakhosi's case it is certainly badly, Arthur Zwane on the end of boos from a section of Chiefs…

22 Feb 2023 30 min

Saile and Lorch bring cheer to Chiefs and Pirates

Christian Saile scored his first goal for Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup last weekend, and even if it was a tap in from on the goalline, his overall performance has sparked hope that the Congolese attacker could be the answer to Amakhosi's striking problems this season. Phakaaathi editor Jonty…

15 Feb 2023 33 min

Pirates play well but its' Sundowns who keep on winning

Even when they are 'outplayed', Mamelodi Sundowns win. Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro was at pains to say how well his side had played on Saturday, even after they lost 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns at Orlando Stadium. Yet while Sundowns rode their luck at times against the Buccaneers, with…

8 Feb 2023 20 min

Transfer deadline day, and can Pirates beat Sundowns?

Transfer deadline day came and went in the Premier Soccer League with a bit of a whimper, with only a few moves concluded in the final hours before the window slammed shut. Orlando Pirates did get Makhehleni Makhaula from AmaZulu six months early, while Zakhele Lepasa went on loan to…

3 Feb 2023 19 min

New Year, same old Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs have started 2023 in fairly dismal fashion, losing their opening three DStv Premiership fixtures of the year. Arthur Zwane has preached a long-term vision for the side and surely deserves the continued backing of Amakhosi management, as Chiefs' problems hardly started with him. The most popular side in…

23 Jan 2023 27 min

The Atlas Lions fly the flag for Africa

Morocco sprung the surprise of the last 16 of the Fifa World Cup when they stunned Spain to reach the quarterfinals, leaving Africa as the only continent outside of Europe and South America to have a team in the last eight. The Atlas Lions have defended brilliantly in this tournament…

7 Dec 2022 29 min

2022 Fifa World Cup Matchweek 1 wrap - Unedited

It was quite the first round of matches at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, with two massive surprises (see Saudi Arabia and Japan), some absolute hammerings (see England and Spain), and a wonder-goal from Brazil (see Richarlison). In this week's Ballz to the Wall Podcast, Phakaaathi editor Jonty…

25 Nov 2022 28 min

Who will win the 2022 Qatar World Cup?

The 2022 Qatar World Cup kicks off on Sunday, a tournament mired in controversy, where organisers will hope the football can distract from the myriad of issues that mean a World Cup really shouldn't be taking place in Qatar at all. It's hard to pick a favourite for the competition,…

17 Nov 2022 30 min

The Beer Cup - Do Chiefs and Pirates fans know what they want?

Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu will do battle in the Carling Black Label Cup on Saturday, the final action of the domestic season before a break for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. The Black Label Cup used to be only for two teams - Chiefs…

10 Nov 2022 23 min

The Soweto Derby - will Chiefs or Pirates fans leave on a high?

Kaizer Chiefs head into the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates on Saturday in no sort of form at all. Arthur Zwane's Amakhosi have been as unreliable as British Prime Ministers this season, and were booted out of the MTN8 last weekend by AmaZulu. Pirates are in much better form in…

26 Oct 2022 23 min

The Bimenyimana boogie - Are Kaizer Chiefs dancing their way to the top?

Whisper it quietly, but Kaizer Chiefs' season is on an uptick, with three straight DStv Premiership win propelling Arthur Zwane's Amakhosi up the table. Caleb Bimenyimana, Chiefs' new Burundian striker, has been at the heart of this revival, bagging six goals so far, including a hat-trick of penalties against Stellenbosch…

13 Oct 2022 31 min

Feeling Kaizer Chiefs-y? Is it time for Amakhosi fans to start to panic?

In the latest Ballz to the Wall Podcast, the team discuss another poor result for Kaizer Chiefs and whether patience with Arthur Zwane is starting to wear thin. Phakaaathi editor Jonty Mark, along with football writers Sibongiseni Gumbi and Tshepo Ntsoelengoe, also discuss another win for Orlando Pirates, with some…

15 Sep 2022 27 min