Latest news with #CosafaCup
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Khumalo confident Broos will pick promising Cosafa players for Bafana
Despite failing to win the Cosafa Cup, losing Sunday's final at Free State Stadium 3-0 to Angola, Bafana Bafana B coach Vela Khumalo feels his side had a good tournament and several players raised their hands for selection to Hugo Broos's senior combination. Khumalo emphasised the invaluable experience his squad gained. 'I think this was a good tournament,' he said. 'It was more about us seeing other players that we need to have for Bafana Bafana to beef up. 'I think credit must go to the boys being called from recess and bringing them in for two days [and then] to come in and start playing. ๐๏ธ โ๐๐ธโโ'๐ โ๐ผ๐ธโ๐๐๐โ ๐๏ธ ๐ฃ๏ธ "๐ธ๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐" South Africa coach Vela Khumalo reflecting on their 3โฃโ0โฃ loss in the #COSAFACup2025 final against Angola! #SABCSportFootball #COSAFACup โ SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 15, 2025 'The preparations went well. I think people can see we have a big number of players who are ready to help Bafana. 'These are the tournaments that are going to help us identify our strong points. I think we played good football, and one can say that out of the tournament itself, what we are lacking is that we are not scoring goals. 'We will need to get strikers who will come and score the goals.' Khumalo said it will be up to senior national coach Broos to decide which players he might select from the Cosafa squad, but he is confident some will be called. ๐ โ๐๐๐ธ๐ฝ๐ธ โ๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ โผโโถโ: Black Sable Antelopes are now in control of the match! ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ด 3โฃโ0โฃ ๐ฟ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐จ LIVE ๐ฅ Final ๐บ SABC 1 ๐ฑ ๐ #SABCSportFootball #COSAFACup โ SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 15, 2025 'This [tournament] was more for Broos to be able to identify one or two players, to say these are the ones I can take to Bafana Bafana first team. 'This tournament is definitely something that is helping us because we have a large number of players who are not getting call-ups, and if they are called for this kind of tournament, it is a plus for us and the country. 'So it is up to Broos to say who he needs to pick and [where to] beef up.' Players Ime Okon, Aden McCarthy and Kamogelo Sebelebele had a strong tournament.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Chiefs midfielder desperate to play for Bafana
Cele was originally selected in the Bafana squad for this year's Cosafa Cup but was unable to make it due to injury. Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele says he is chomping at the bit to play for Bafana Bafana. Cele was originally selected in the Bafana squad for this year's Cosafa Cup but was unable to make it due to injury. ALSO READ: Ahly and Sundowns face defining World Club Cup campaigns 'Any opportunity I'm given to represent the country, I'd wake up even at 2 AM to play for the nation. But it's just that I've been struggling with an injury,' Cele told FarPost. Chiefs' Cele โ 'I want to be part of that' 'I do watch Bafana games because it's football and I support the national team. I want to be part of that. When we grow up as young boys, we have dreams of representing the country. 'So, this is something I've been fighting for even with the Under-20s and U-23s. Even the soldiers, when they go to fight, wear a South African badge. So we want to be part of that. 'When I got that (COSAFA Cup) call-up, I was here in Durban, and instantly the doctor indicated that it was not possible (to join the team),' he added. Cele, 28, joined Chiefs in January and had a decent second half of the season with Amakhosi, who won the Nedbank Cup, but finished a disappointing tenth in the Betway Premiership. Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has previously indicated that he cannot select Chiefs players for the Bafana first team, because of the side's poor performances. 'I can't' 'For me, for the moment I can't select players from Kaizer Chiefs,' said Broos. ALSO READ: Sundowns set for tough CWC group stage 'I hope that they make a better season next year. Ok, they've won the Cup, but I think that was the only highlight in Chiefs' season. All the rest was not so good.'
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Mkhuhlu physiotherapist's passion for soccer soars with Amajita
A passionate 29-year-old sports physiotherapist's dedication has taken his career to great heights. Felix Nkuna is living his dream as the physiotherapist for the 2025 African Cup of Nations winners, the South African men's U20 team, dubbed Amajita. He has held this position since 2022, when Amajita participated in the Cosafa Cup tournament in eSwatini. Although the team came third that year and did not qualify for the U20 FIFA World Cup, Nkuna said his first year with Amajita gave him the opportunity to work with two talented soccer players, Relebogile Mofokeng and Mduduzi Tshabalala. Nkuna pursued a degree in physiotherapy at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria before specialising in sports medicine for his master's degree. He has worked as a physiotherapist at Shongwe Hospital in Nkomazi and Mmamethlake Hospital near KwaMhlanga. ALSO READ: Six higher education institutions unite in football at Nelsville Sports Ground Nkuna said that support from his family has contributed greatly to his success as a sports doctor. 'My family encouraged me to study hard as they are academics themselves. They played an important role in shaping my educational path. Soccer is my passion, and I have the privilege of merging education and sports into a career I love,' he said. He played soccer from the age of six, which helped him become street-smart and learn soccer skills and tactics from a young age. As a physiotherapist, Nkuna shared some advice for up-and-coming players on how to take care of themselves for a successful career in sports. ALSO READ: Pienaar coach empowers young girls through soccer 'Stay away from bad habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, and having multiple sexual partners. These behaviours are major obstacles that can destroy your dreams,' he said. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
13-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Bafana B to play against Angola in Cosafa Cup final
Bafana Bafana B have booked a place in the Cosafa Cup final after a comfortable 3-1 semifinal win over a ten-man Comoros at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday night. With this win, that was secured through a goal from Boitumelo Radiopane and a brace from Kamogelo Sebelebele, they have secured a date with Angola in the final on Sunday. Comoros scored from the effort of Ibrahim Madi but it was not enough as they once again failed to book a place in the final of the tournament. In the other semifinal match played earlier on Friday at the same venue, Angola thrashed Madagascar 4-1 with Laurindo Aurelio scoring two goals and Antonio Salvador and Alberto Miguel found the back of the net once.
The Herald
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Bafana B striker Radiopane urges attackers to be ruthless against Comoros
South Africa striker Boitumelo Radiopane is urging attackers to be decisive in front of goal when they take on Comoros in their Cosafa Cup semifinal clash at Free State Stadium on Friday (6pm). Bafana finished top of Group A but the Orlando Pirates attacker said they missed a lot of opportunities but he is confident they have learnt from those moments and ready to deliver against Comoros. 'We tried every day to finish the chances we get in training because that is where the work starts,' he said. 'I am happy with the group of players I'm surrounded with because we all want to reach the same goal, which is to win, and to do that we have to score as many goals as we can. 'All I can say regarding our decision-making in front of the goals is we need to be calm and not be selfish. If I'm not in a good position to score, I have to give it to the next player who is in the better position and to win the game for us. 'The only way to reward our defence is to score for them because they are doing everything well and everything they can for the opposition not to strike at us.' Radiopane said the mood in the South African camp is a mix of calm confidence and quiet determination.
