WeeklySA_AdminPRE-season: The Pirates of Orlando aims to conclude Spanish sojourn in style
By Sports Reporter
Orlando Pirates conclude their pre-season tour with a clash against Qatari outfit Al-Sadd at Banùs Football Centre on Friday night.
An action-packed Spanish voyage closes with another exciting fixture, pitting one of South Africa’s top sides against Qatar’s most successful team.
Match Overview
It’s a clash between two sides that tasted silverware in the 2023/24 season, with the men from Doha set to take to the field for only the second time time since clinching a domestic double
Having bagged the Qatar Stars League and the Emir Cup titles, Al-Sadd had a confidence-boosting outcome in their only practice match so far. They won 8-0 against Gibraltar Football League outfit Manchester 62, with the clash also taking place at Banùs Football Centre.
With a season comprising of competition against Asia’s top teams on the horizon, they will be eyeing another commanding performance against the Soweto Giants who take to the field one last time before heading back to South Africa.
For Pirates, the fixture presents another opportunity to return to winning ways after playing to a stalemate against Granada on Wednesday. It was their second draw on tour, with the first coming in their opening pre-season fixture against English Championship outfit Plymouth Argyle.
The Buccaneers have tasted victory in Spain, beating La Liga outfit Sevilla 2-0 at Ramon Cisneros Palacios, and they will be eager to leave their adopted home base in Marbella with another win in the bag.
Team News
Bucs coach Jose Riveiro has tested out several combinations throughout the tour, and will likely shuffle his pack once more.
The Buccaneers had an injury concern early in the clash against Granada, with Evidence Makgopa stretchered out midway through the first half. The striker will be in a race against time to be fit for the clash, while experienced forwards like Tshegofatso Mabasa and Zakhele Lepasa could step up in his absence.
Al-Sadd meanwhile handed an unofficial debut to Spanish forward Rafa Mujica, who made a switch from Portuguese top-flight outfit Arouca in the off-season. He’s the club’s only new signing so far, while winger Nayef Hamid has departed for a loan spell at Al-Shahania.
Players to Watch
Gonzalo Plata will be high on confidence, having carried his goal-scoring form from the previous campaign into the off-season with a hat-trick against Manchester 62. The Ecuadorian had 14 goal contributions in 21 league appearances last season, and is a potent threat on the right wing.
He will be ably assisted by Mujica, who netted a brace in his first outing for the club.
In defence, goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham boasts valuable international experience having claimed close to 50 caps for Qatar, and will be playing behind the likes of Brazilian defender Paulo Otàvio.
Sports: Briefs
ANTI-DOPING KHOTSO
outh African long-jump legend Khotso Mokoena has been appointed Athletes’ Education Ambassador for the World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA initiated discussions with Mokoena during the All-Africa Games in Ghana on a trial basis in March, and has since been appointed for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
As the Chairperson of the SASCOC Athletes Commission, Mokoena is eager to share his extensive knowledge with athletes from various countries at the Olympic Village when he departs for Paris. “They have now made their Athletes’ Education Ambassador for programmes that we’ll be running for athletes within the Athletes’ Village and so on at Olympic Games,” said Mokoena.
JANINE VAN SPONSORS
Former Banyana Banyana captain, Janine van Wyk has made an impassioned plea to sponsors, businesspeople and the community for assistance for women’s football in South Africa.
The ex-defender, who is now one of the assistant coaches at JVW, has put out a crowdfunding request as the financial situation gets dire. It is a well-known fact that teams in the Hollywoodbets Super League are having real challenges, and it has become very difficult to sustain.
“A lot of teams are struggling financially to be stable to be able to perform and to have some real stability when it comes to finances. There are a lot of teams that don’t have sponsorships to back them, we, I’m saying we because JVW is one of those clubs that are struggling financially,” van Wyk said.
NO SMOKING
Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata has been sent home and will not compete at the Olympic Games after breaking a team smoking ban.
The 19-year-old left Japan’s training camp in Monaco on Thursday as officials investigated the alleged incident. The teenager – captain of her country’s women’s artistic gymnastics team – returned to Japan that night after the investigation concluded she had violated the Japan Gymnastics Association’s rules.
Smoking is in violation of the association’s code of conduct.
CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA
Argentina won the Copa America, but lost the respect of many with the manner of their celebration. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez faces disciplinary proceedings at Chelsea after posting a video on social media that the French Football Federation said included alleged “racist and discriminatory language”.
Fifa is also investigating the video, in which several members of the Argentina squad – celebrating their 1-0 win over Colombia in the final – take part in a song originally sung by Argentina fans questioning the heritage of France’s black and mixed-race players.
The global repercussions of that song have sparked a reaction from the Argentine government.
NO PEACE AND FIRST FOR LUXOLO ADAMS
Athletics South Africa (ASA) claims to have removed sprinter Luxolo Adams from the Olympic Games squad due to his inability to prove his fitness.
In an exclusive letter obtained by SABC Sport, ASA outlines the reasons for Adams’ removal from the squad, emphasizing why he should not compete in Paris later this month.
A reliable source informed the national broadcaster that the figures, including Jean Verster (ASA Track and Field Chairperson), Hendrick Mokganyetsi (ASA Athletes Commission Chairperson), Paul Gorries (relay coach), Perrie Posthumus (Adams ‘coach), Hezekiel Sepeng (ASA official), and Adams himself were made aware of the reasons for his removal. The letter states, “You did not compete in any local or other competitions during the 2024 season due to injury, and ASA was hopeful that you would recover in time for the national championships. Your evaluation as part of the OPEX athlete program was also scheduled for the championships, but unfortunately, you were unable to participate due to your injury.
