Latest news with #MTN8
The South African
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates transfer news: 7 new players, Ouaddou, Tito
Orlando Pirates new coach Abdesalm Ouaddou will get a chance to assess his squad this coming week as the team starts their pre-season training. The Buccaneers had a disappointing 2024/25 season, finishing second and winning just the MTN8 trophy. Under Jose Riveiro, the Sea Robbers claimed five trophies in three seasons, making them the new 'cup kings of South African football'. With Riveiro gone and Ouaddou taking over, Orlando Pirates are looking for an improvement next season. Marumo Gallants defender Vusi Sibisi described the Moroccan coach as someone who doesn't show favouritism to his players. 'Coach Abdee is a good coach;. All I can say to Pirates is that he demands hard work from his players,' he told SNL24. 'As long as you put in the effort, you'll get a chance to play in his team. He doesn't show favouritism, and he selects players purely on merit. 'If you perform in training, you will play. It's as simple as that, regardless of your age.' 'Whether you're a youngster or an experienced player, performance is what earns you a spot. 'He's a man of principles who values a high work rate, and when it's time to work, there's no room for messing around. With that coach, if you're not giving your best, you're only hurting yourself, because you won't play,' he concluded. Earlier this week, Orlando Pirates announced the signing of seven new players. More players are Yanela Mbuthuma, Masindi Nemtajela, Tshepang Moremi, Nkosikhona Ndaba, Tsepo Mashiloane and Sihle Nduli. The likes of Patrick 'Tito' Maswanganyi will need to pull up their socks. Tito has had a very underwhelming season as compared to his debut campaign with the Buccaneers. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Transforming Golden Arrows: Manqoba Mngqithi's ambitious plans for 2025/26
Golden Arrows Manqoba Mngqithi is settling back in KZN following his return to the club. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Manqoba Mngqithi has committed to building a long-term project at Golden Arrows, with wholesale changes expected at the club ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season. The 54-year-old coach, who returned to the KwaZulu-Natal outfit in March following his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns in December, has wasted little time in reshaping the squad and technical team. Arrows ended the previous campaign in 12th position, securing 31 points from 28 matches. Mngqithi's return to the club that helped launch his professional coaching career has signalled a renewed sense of ambition in Durban. After spending over a decade at Sundowns, where he played a significant role in their domestic dominance, his decision to rejoin Arrows indicates a desire to build something sustainable. In one of the club's recent documentaries, Mngqithi outlined his vision, which includes the dream of delivering Arrows' first-ever league title—adding to the 2009 MTN8 triumph, which remains the club's only major trophy to date. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading His long-standing connection with the club has been a driving force behind his commitment to the project. Behind the scenes, changes are already being implemented. Arrows have brought in Yardaan Valodia as part of their technical team. The 20-year-old analyst arrives from Mamelodi Sundowns and was part of the South Africa U20 setup that won the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo last month. Valodia, one of the youngest performance analysts in the country, joined Sundowns at the start of last season and quickly adapted to the demands of the elite level. His close working relationship with Mngqithi appears to have played a role in his move to KwaZulu-Natal. The decision to bring in such a young yet experienced figure points to Mngqithi's intention to modernise Arrows' technical approach, blending experience with innovation and data-driven planning—an approach he was exposed to during his tenure at Chloorkop. MANQOBA MNGQITHI Next season, Golden Arrows will be a team you have never seen before. You will even doubt yourselves that you are part of that team. My biggest dream is to win a League title with a small team. I want Golden Arrows to win the PSL league trophy next season. I… — Constitution First 🇿🇦 (@Constitution_94) June 8, 2025
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Kick-off times for Kaizer Chiefs' matches in the Netherlands confirmed
Kaizer Chiefs have announced their 2025 pre-season training camp will be held in the Netherlands, from 4 to 19 July, as the team looks to build momentum ahead of the new 2025/26 season. Apeldoorn, a town situated about 80km from Amsterdam, will serve as the team's base for the duration of the camp. The team will face five Dutch clubs, including opponents from both the Eredivisie (top flight) and the Eerste Divisie (second tier): Date Opponent Time 8 July SBV Vitesse Arnhem 19:00 11 July FC Utrecht 16:00 12 July NEC Nijmegen 14:00 15 July PEC Zwolle 19:00 16 July FC Twente 19:00 NOTE: All times SA Selected training sessions will be open to media , offering interview opportunities with players and technical staff , offering interview opportunities with players and technical staff Kaizer Chiefs will be accompanied by supporters selected through the Vodacom Tsamaya campaign, highlighting the club's focus on fan inclusion and engagement. Kaizer Chiefs stated that the camp aims not just to prepare the squad physically and tactically, but also to foster football relations between South Africa and the Netherlands. This European pre-season marks a significant step as Kaizer Chiefs look to return to winning ways. Amakhosi finished a disappointing ninth in last season's Betway Premiership, missing out once again on a spot in next season's lucrative MTN8 tournament. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
a day ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates reveal contract details of new coach Ouaddou
Orlando Pirates have officially appointed Abdeslam Ouaddou as their new head coach, turning the page on a successful era under Jose Riveiro. The Buccaneers have backed the French-Moroccan mentor with a two-year contract, which runs until June 2027. This bold move came after negotiations with Rulani Mokwena collapsed due to unresolved stumbling blocks. Despite intense speculation linking Mokwena with a sensational return, Pirates opted for Ouaddou instead, catching many supporters off guard. The club's decision to appoint Ouaddou follows the end of a triumphant spell under Jose Riveiro. During his three-year tenure, Riveiro guided Orlando Pirates to five major titles, including a hat-trick of MTN8 trophies and back-to-back Nedbank Cup victories. His departure left big boots to fill, and the Pirates hierarchy believe Ouaddou is the right man to continue the winning legacy. Ouaddou arrives at the Soweto giants with a clear mandate. Maintain and build on the success of the Riveiro era. According to information, the 46-year-old coach has signed a contract valid until June 2027. He will kick off his tenure by leading the team into their upcoming pre-season camp in Spain. Where preparations for the new campaign are set to begin in earnest. Ouaddou made his entry into South African football earlier this year when he joined Marumo Gallants in March. Tasked with steering the club clear of relegation, he managed to secure five wins, four draws, and only three losses in 12 matches across all competitions. He led Gallants to a respectable 10th-place finish, ending the season with 32 points after 28 games. His performance quickly drew interest from various clubs. Is the length of contract enough to win a league title for Orlando Pirates? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates' latest coaching gamble echoes Jose Riveiro's yesteryear surprise appointment
Orlando Pirates have rolled the dice again. Three years ago, when Orlando Pirates made the controversial choice to recruit relatively unknown Spaniard Jose Riveiro as their head coach, scepticism flooded sports forums. Many questioned the wisdom of one of Africa's most storied clubs looking to Finland's First Division for inspiration, especially considering the nation's modest ranking of 69th in the world. Fast forward to this week, and the sea of doubt has resurfaced, but this time directed at the new head coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou. Riveiro's tenure did not start very well, but instead of firing him, Pirates persevered with him, much to the disgust of the club's demanding supporters who mocked him by labelling him a 'plumber'. This is a common term used by locals as a veiled reference to an unknown coach, hailing from a relatively obscure coaching background. The quiet Spaniard surprised many by leading the Pirates to significant victories, including lifting the MTN8 trophy in 2022. His adept blend of strategy and a fresh take on football impressed both supporters and critics alike. The calculated risk had yielded unexpected rewards. The Moroccan-born Ouaddou's first coaching appointment was with Algeria's national football team as an apprentice coach in 2020. He worked alongside Frenchman Djamel Belmadi, a vastly experienced coach. When Ouaddou joined Marumo Gallants last season, he brought a fresh approach that was needed to save the club from relegation, and he did so in style with a shock win over Pirates. The Pirates, known for their rich history and passionate following, have opted for Ouaddou instead of coaches like Pitso Mosimane and Rhulani Mokwena, both of whom are presently jobless. Pirates' management will need to harness patience and support for Ouaddou as he embarks on this challenging journey. Like Riveiro, Ouaddou must navigate the complexities of South African football, which is fraught with expectations from a fanbase eager for success. The pressure to perform is immense. If results do not materialise sooner rather than later, the fog of inefficiency will cloud the Mayfair-based team's ambitions for success. The risk was glaringly apparent during Riveiro's tenure, but the initial gamble became a defining chapter in the club's recent history, culminating in exciting performances and revitalised enthusiasm among supporters. As Ouaddou begins crafting a philosophy that aligns with Pirates' ethos, he may yet become the next unexpected success story in the club's illustrious narrative. No doubt, fans will be wondering if Ouaddou will replicate the magic that Riveiro and hope that this audacious move pays dividends in the quest for glory.
