Latest news with #TekoModise
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Modise highlights short turnaround facing Sundowns
'It will be a short stint when they come back for pre-season,' said the former Sundowns star. Teko Modise believes it could be tough for Sundowns given the short gap between their return fro the USA and the start of next seasin. Picture: Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise believes the short turnaround before the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season kicks off will present a major challenge for head coach Miguel Cardoso and his technical team. ALSO READ: Sundowns' Maboe faces uncertain future The Brazilians have just returned from the FIFA Club World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stages. Their participation in the global showpiece in the United States means the squad will have little to no rest before the new domestic campaign begins. Sundowns need to manage fitness Several PSL clubs have already reported for pre-season camp, following the conclusion of the previous campaign at the end of May. Cardoso will now need to manage his squad carefully to maintain fitness and sharpness ahead of what promises to be another demanding season. 'It's going to be a long season. I think it's going to be longer than the previous one so it's a privilege to be in such a space where you are regularly playing football in big tournaments,' Modise said on the club's pitchside podcast. 'Other footballers around the world envy you and the space that you are in. Yes, it's a lot of load that has been on the players but it's expected when you are playing for a team of sundowns calibre. Yes, it's going to be tough and it will be a short stint when they come back for pre-season.' Adding to their congested schedule, Sundowns players are once again expected to form the backbone of the Bafana Bafana squad set to compete at the Africa Cup of Nations later this year in Morocco. 'Mindful of the load' 'I'm expecting the technical team and management to be mindful of the load that the players have had,' Modise added. 'And be cognisant of the fact we're going to have a quick season and a break again where a core of the players are going to go to the national team and it's going to be very tricky. ALSO READ: Chiefs ready to go Dutch 'It needs a lot of planning but I don't think it will be different from any other season for Sundowns. The team always has to plan a little bit carefully because of how long the season may be.' Modise highlights short turnaround facing Sundowns ahead of new season
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Teko Modise calls on Mamelodi Sundowns to capitalise on Club World Cup success
Teko Modise urged Mamelodi Sundowns to leverage their Club World Cup success and aim for greater international achievements, highlighting the team's mental strength and potential for future growth. Picture: Gavin Barker, BackpagePix At the Club World Cup, Sundowns drew with Brazilian side Fluminense, pushed German Giants Borussia Dortmund all the way in a 4-3 defeat and were 1-0 victors against South Koreans Ulsan. It has to be said though, Sundowns are the dominant team in South Africa as they won their eighth successive league title in a row this past season. The former Bafana Bafana and Sundowns midfielder was heavy in his praise while looking to the future for the club. Following Mamelodi Sundowns ' exploits at the Club World Cup , the Pretoria side needs to build on the performances, believes Teko Modise. Modise Challenges Mamelodi Sundowns to Rise to the International Stage 'I would say the message is to the team, the technical staff, the management and everyone that is involved with Mamelodi Sundowns that now the world, the international stage knows who you are, can you go to the second?,' said Modise on Pitchside Podcast. 'For the players, those who didn't play and didn't participate, can you come back and actually participate and go further? I think that is the challenge I'm putting on the team, and I'm putting on the players.' Modise, who won the CAF Champions League with Sundowns in 2016, lauded the mental strength of the side. 'This is where we belong. We need to come back here, but there is a lot that needs to be done. To the players themselves, to everyone who was involved with this trip. I am very, very proud. 'We played our way, and we never panicked. We never showed any stress, and this is how we have to play. 'I'm very, very proud to be here, and I just hope that this experience is going to go to everyone in the team so that we can come back stronger next season.' @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Modise calls for Sundowns tweaks ahead of Fluminense clash
'We can't always press high, we can't always build from the back and always try to draw them in,' Modise said. Mamelodi Sundowns legend Teko Modise has identified key areas for improvement ahead of their decisive FIFA Club World Cup group stage clash against Fluminense on Wednesday night. Sundowns must win The Brazilians suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in their second match of the tournament. Heading into the final Group F fixture, Sundowns must secure victory if they are to progress to the knockout stage. ALSO READ: Pirates announce surprise new head coach! Fluminense currently top the group standings with four points from two matches, level with second-placed Dortmund, who trail on goal difference. Masandawana sit third on three points and require a win to reach the last 16. Dortmund will be overwhelming favourites in their final group match against Ulsan HD, with the South Korean side already eliminated after losses to both Sundowns and Fluminense. Modise has urged the Tshwane giants to show more tactical variation, particularly in possession, after three costly errors led directly to Dortmund's goals. 'We had issues with the weather the same as Dortmund and there were moments where we saw players going down and the tempo going down and those are the lessons that we need to learn,' Modise said to the club's pitchside podcast. 'With Dortmund, there were times where they were not pressing hard because they were reserving their energy and we need to play the game in phases as well. We can't always press high, we can't always build from the back and always try to draw them in. Modise – 'We need to be adaptable' 'We need to have variations in how we play and these are the tournaments that will actually teach us those things because we meet different teams from different countries that have a different way of playing. We need to be adaptable in how we play and this tournament will teach us that.' Despite the result, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder praised Sundowns for their spirited showing against the Bundesliga side, noting the team's character and attacking intent at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati last Saturday. 'This is high level but for the fact that we still play the Mamelodi Sundowns way, and for the fact that we still command respect from a coach of Dortmund's calibre, it says a lot about the quality that the team has,' Modise added. ALSO READ: Man City hit six to reach Club World Cup last 16, Real Madrid win with 10 men 'Yet again, nobody remembers how you lost, people remember the winners and I think that's where the team needs to evolve into by playing in such games we need to win. I know for sure that we got into the game trying to win it and we showed that we wanted to win it and even the substitutes had a lot of energy.'
The South African
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Where is former Pirates midfielder Teko 'The General' Modise now?
Teko Modise remains one of the most talented local players who never played overseas. At the peak of his career, he earned the nickname 'The General' for his ability to direct play and dictate the tempo of the match. Modise began his career at Ria Stars before joining City Pillars, where he spent four years. His breakthrough came in 2006 when he joined SuperSport United. Although he only spent one season with Matsatsantsa, The General scored 10 goals in 33 appearances, which prompted Orlando Pirates to come knocking. In a recent interview, Teko Modise revealed that he was a Kaizer Chiefs fan growing up and always wanted to play for the club. In 2007, he had an opportunity to join his boyhood club, but the former Bafana Bafana midfielder chose to join rivals Pirates instead. He expressed a desire to play for Chiefs but was put off by how the club approached him. Modise became a star at Pirates and won two PSL Footballer of the Year awards with the Soweto giants. He played some of his best football in black and white, which earned him a call-up to the national team. From 2007 onwards, The General became a regular for Bafana Bafana, earning 66 caps and scoring 10 goals. After falling out with then-Pirates coach Ruud Krol, Modise left for Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011. At Sundowns, he revived his career and evolved his playing style. No longer the star player, his experience helped the club win the 2016 CAF Champions League title. A year later, Teko Modise joined Cape Town City, where he played for two years before retiring. At the peak of his powers, everyone wanted a piece of Teko Modise. He achieved more success at Sundowns but played his best football at Pirates between 2007 and 2010. As for Teko Modise now, he is a brand ambassador for Mamelodi Sundowns, alongside Tiyanda Mabunda. He is also a pundit for S uperSport TV . 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
20-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Green Shoots: When having a flutter is no longer fun
I was caught up in Johannesburg traffic the other day, and crawling along the M1 highway allowed me to take in the many billboards whose sole purpose is to convince you to buy what it is they are offering. And most of these offerings were from online gambling services. I saw Betway and Hollywood Bets promising me great excitement and wealth with minimal effort – I can place my bet anywhere, anytime, and on almost anything. You will have seen these adverts all over our television screens, and heard them on radio. Some of our favourite sports teams have been renamed according to their sponsors – Hollywood Bets Sharks is my rugby team of choice, and they play their home games at Hollywood Bets Kings Park Stadium, up the road from Hollywood Bets Kingsmead Stadium where cricket is played. And fan favourite rugby world cup winner Makazole Mapimpi is their brand ambassador, along with soccer legends like Teko Modise and Jerry Sikhosana. Gambling in this country is big business. Gross gambling revenue (GGR) was R59 billion in 2024. Since COVID in 2020, this revenue growth has been at 42% per year. Gambling is a significant contributor to economic activity and apparently supports 32 000 jobs, with most revenue generated in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. I'm a little concerned about this phenomenon. We are suckers for a slick advertising campaign, and the saturation messaging of these betting platforms should be cause for concern – indeed, alarm – in more sections of our community, including government and the appropriate regulatory authorities. I found online information on gambling fairly easily, and so I clearly am not alone in feeling uneasy. Industry research says that the reasons respondents give for their gambling appear to be increasingly connected to financial strain, with more than half of surveyed punters saying they gambled because they needed the money. This survey clearly provided the option for multiple answers, because more than two thirds were hoping to win a large sum of money, and down the list somewhere 14% said they had lost their job. When the bet is placed because you need to survive, you know you're in trouble. The online source of my data is an investment firm, and they say that 'problem gambling' prevalence has increased five-fold since 2017, with 21% of problem gamblers unemployed and 84% earning under R15,000 per month. People, we have a problem. And this isn't even considering those for whom gambling is an addiction they cannot beat. Imagine trying to quit a habit when every corner and screen and broadcast is almost brow-beating you to place the bet. Some may say the tax revenue that is generated should be able to ameliorate the social costs ofgambling. Apparently casinos paid about 10% of their revenue in taxes last year, and betting platforms a paltry 7%. Is that supposed to ease the destruction that this practice has for people who are not recreational gamblers? For perspective, cigarettes are taxed at 40% and spirit alcohol at 36%. You don't see your favourite tipple on the telly anymore, and we're a short step from having cigarette packets with no branding expect really disturbing pictures of what happens to your gums when you smoke (I saw those in Thailand recently). I am no prude, and I have been known to wager a bit every now and then. I am no advocate for a nanny state – we cannot over-regulate the choices and behaviour of grown up people. And I know that jobs are at stake. Apparently Tsogo Gaming and Sun International employ half the gambling industry's workforce. With the lower cost and greater accessibility of online platforms, there is a real danger of job losses. For all these reasons, will the authorities please see reason and common sense, and control the bombardment of advertising of these online betting platforms.
