Chris Katongo nominated for BBC African Footballer of the Year

African champion skipper Christopher Katongo has been nominated for the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year Award.
The list of five nominated players was revealed Thursday morning on the BBC's News Day live show.

The short list also has Ivorians Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Senegalese Demba Ba and Younes Belhanda.

The Chipolopolo skipper is also in the running for the prestigious African Footballer of the Year which will be handed out at a CAF gala dinner in Accra next month.

The winner of the BBC award is decided by fans votes across the continent.

According to the BBC, the winner will be decided by African football fans, who have until 1830 GMT on Thursday, 13 December to vote for their choice.
You can either vote via the BBC African football page or by sending an SMS from your phone to +44 7786 20 50 75:

Text 4 for Christopher Katongo

Standard international text rates apply, please check with your service provider. Texts are limited to one text per mobile phone number.
The winner will be announced on Monday, 17 December.

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South Africa squad for Nelson Mandela Challenge 2012

The South African Football Association (SAFA) held a press conference on Monday, November 5, at SAFA House in Nasrec, Johannesburg, where national team Coach Gordon Igesund named his the squad for the upcoming international friendly against Zambia.

The South African national team will host the defending African Cup of Nations at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday, November 14, in the Nelson Mandela Challenge. It will be Igesund’s fifth game at the helm of Bafana, with his record currently standing at two wins and two loses.

Igesund, a four time PSL winning coach, took over from coach Pitso Mosimane earlier this year and is looking at rebuilding the squad for the upcoming 2013 Afcon, which will be hosted in South Africa. 

Following losses to Brazil and Poland, and wins against Kenya and Mozambique, Igesund’s squad is beginning to take shape and the picture is looking a lot clearer in the Bafana setup.

The national squad selection is showing more consistency in the coach’s progression on the bench, with indications that the squad is coming together as a team.

Igesund and his technical team have selected a 24-man squad for the international friendly, with some notable changes, including re-calls for Moroka Swallows’ Katlego Mashego and Golden Arrows’ Thanduyise Khuboni. The coach explained that his squad is 75% to 80% complete and that there could be a few changes ahead of next year’s Afcon.

Full Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers:

Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

Darren Keet (K.V. Kortrijk) (Belgium)

Defenders:

Anele Ngcongca (Racing Club Genk) (Belgium)

Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates)

Bongani Khumalo (PAOK) (Greece) - captain

Bevan Fransman (SuperSport United)

Ricardo Nunes (MSK Zilina) (Slovakia)

Punch Masenamela (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic)

Midfielders: 

Dean Furman (Oldham Athletic) (England)

Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows)

Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs)

Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows)

Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace) (England)

Teko Modise (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates)

Thuso Phala (Platinum Stars)

Sifiso Myeni (Orlando Pirates)

Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)

Delron Buckley (Maritzburg United)

Strikers:

Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)

Katlego Mashego (Moroka Swallows)

Tokelo Rantie (Malmo FF) (Sweden)

Kermit Erasmus (SuperSport United)

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Zambia squad for Nelson Mandela Challenge

African champion coach Herve Renard has named a 24 man strong squad to face 2013 Nations Cup hosts South Africa in the November 14 Nelson Mandela Challenge match at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Unveiling the list to fazfootball.com, FAZ spokesperson Erick Mwanza said the match was important in setting the tone for the African champions before the provisional squad for Zambia’s title defence is announced.

“As we have demonstrated over the last five years, FIFA International Calendar dates are an integral part of providing the Chipolopolo an opportunity to get together and work together. In playing these matches, we continue our wonderful development path which is aimed at sustaining and enhancing our high levels of competitiveness,” Mwanza said adding: “Herve Renard is taking this match with the seriousness it deserves and while we are going into to win it, the main thrust is for the players to enjoy the time together and keep the African winning championship spirit going. We are looking forward to the match which is the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies and without taking anything for granted, it’s a venue we would like to return to on 10th February next year.”

In a squad which has seen the return of Orlando Pirates robust striker Collins Mbesuma, who was dropped after AFCON 2012, there were no major surprise inclusions or exclusions as The Fox retrained the greater majority of the squad which won the Nations Cup last February. Since calling the duo for the final Nations Cup qualifier against Uganda early this month, Renard has maintained midfield teenagers Mukuka Mulenga and Shadreck Malambo.
Top striker Jacob Mulenga, a leading goal scorer in the Dutch Eredivise, is included and fans who have not seen him a Chipolopolo shirt for a year now will hope the highly rated sharp-shooter will make his long awaited return to action when Chipolopolo take on a Bafana Bafana side which has not been to the last two Nations Cup finals and makes a return only in 2013 as hosts.

The full squad:
 Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, RSA), Danny Munyau (Red Arrows), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos), Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto, Portugal), Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, RSA), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, RSA), Chintu Kampamba (Unattached), Stoppila Sunzu (TP Mazembe, DRC), Hichani Himoonde (TP Mazembe, DRC), Nathan Sinkala (TP Mazembe, DRC), William Njobvu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars, RSA), Isaac Chansa (Henan Jienye, China), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe, DRC), Chisamba Lungu (FC Urals, Russia), Shadreck Malambo (Zanaco), Felix Katongo (Primero de Agosto, Angola), Jonas Sakuwaha (El Merreikh, Sudan), James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates, RSA), Chris Katongo (Henan Jienye, China), Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton, England), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Holland)

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PSL Winter Transfer activities updates

_Date__Player Name_________From_________________To_______________
23-May Nhlanhla Khuzwayo___Amazulu_______________ Kaizer Chiefs
22-May Ayo Oluwafemi______ Free Agent______________Bidvest Wits
22-May Thokozani Mshengu___Bloemfontein Celtic_______Bidvest Wits
22-May Mxolisi Gumede______Free State Stars__________Released
22-May Aleni Lebyane________Free State Stars__________Released
22-May Manti Moholo________Free State Stars__________Released
22-May Stanton Lewis________Amazulu_______________Released
22-May Moses Chavula_______Amazulu_______________Released
22-May Thamsanqa Sangweni__Amazulu______________Mamelodi Sundowns
21-May Brett Evans__________Ajax Cape Town_________Released

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Zambia squad announced for World Cup qualifiers

A 26 men Zambian squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Ghana & Sudan has been announced

Full squad:Goal Keepers:Kennedy MWEENE, Kakonje KALILILO and Danny MUNYAU
Defenders:Davies NKAUSU, Emmanuel M'BOLA, Stoppilla SUNZU, Chintu KAMPAMBA, Hichani HIMONDE, Aaron KATEBE, Nyambe MULENGA and Francis KASONDE
Midfielders:Nathan SINKALA, William NJOBVU, Isaac CHANSA, Thomas NIYRENDA, Joseph SITALI, Chisamba LUNGU, Raindford Kalaba, Noah CHIVUTA and Felix KATONGO
Forwards:Jonas SAKUWAHA, Chistopher KATONGO, James CHAMANGA, Emmanuel MAYUKA, Rodger KOLA and Given SINGULUMA

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Round 1 of CAF Champions league and CAF Confederations cup(first legs)

This weekend is first round of CAF competitions (both CAF champions’ league and CAF Confederations cup), we now look at the remaining COSAFA region teams that are still left in the highlighted 2 competitions post the preliminary round that was very-very tough and which saw 5 COSAFA teams getting knocked out(Orlando Pirates (RSA), Green Mamba (Swaziland), Japan Actuel's (Madagascar), Lesotho Correctional Services (Lesotho) and Coin Nord (Comoros) while 3 other teams in Motor Action (Zimbabwe), Red Arrows (Zambia) and Extension Gunners (Botswana) bit the dust in the preliminary round of CAF Confederations cup.

A total of 8 COSAFA region teams were eliminated during the preliminary rounds of the continental show pieces. We are now left with 5 teams representing the region in CAF Champions’ league and 6 in CAF Confederations cup.

This round looks very interesting, it sees 3 COSAFA teams hosting 3 other teams from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 3 other COSAFA teams will be hosting 3 different teams from Sudan. Interesting isn’t it? Look at fixtures below

We have only 2 matches that will be an all COSAFA region affairs and 1 thing is certain there, 2 COSAFA teams will not proceed to the second round of both tournaments and the flip side to that is – “we are guaranteed 2 teams from our region to proceed to the second round”

11 teams from COSAFA are still left and 7 countries represented:

Angola (2 teams)

Madagascar (1 team)

Mozambique (2 teams)

South Africa (1 team)

Swaziland (1 team)

Zambia (1 team)

Zimbabwe (3 teams)

A good thing to note is that all the matches (excluding all COSAFA region affairs) will be hosted by teams from the region, this gives our teams a chance to take an advantage going to the second leg. We have to win our home games convincingly so that we can have less pressure when going out for the second legs.

CAF Champions league Fixtures:

Recretivo do Libodo (Angola) vs. Sunshine Stars (Nigeria)

Liga Muçulmana (Mozambique) vs. Power (Zimbabwe)

FC Platinum (Zimbabwe) vs. Al-Merreikh (Sudan)

Power Dynamos (Zambia) vs. TP Mazembe (DRC)

CAF Confederations cup Fixtures:

Black Leopards (South Africa) vs. Saint Eloi Lupopo (DRC)

Royal Leopards (Swaziland) vs. US Tshinkunku (DRC)

Ferroviário de Maputo (Mozambique) vs. Al-Ahli Shendi (Sudan)

Tana (Madagascar) vs. Inter Luanda (Angola)

Hangwe (Zimbabwe) vs. Amal Atbara (Sudan)

All the best to our representing teams, we know that you will make the region proud

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PSL Log: Matchday 21 update

Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Mamelodi Sundowns	21	11	8	2	37	15	22	41
Orlando Pirates	21	11	4	6	25	19	6	37
Moroka Swallows	21	10	7	4	31	26	5	37
Kaizer Chiefs	20	10	6	4	25	15	10	36
Free State Stars	21	10	5	6	26	19	7	35
SuperSport United	21	9	7	5	28	17	11	34
Ajax Cape Town	20	9	4	7	26	28	-2	31
Bloemfontein Celtic	21	8	5	8	21	21	0	29
AmaZulu	20	7	6	7	18	14	4	27
Bidvest Wits	21	6	8	7	25	27	-2	26
Platinum Stars	21	6	5	10	24	27	-3	23
Golden Arrows	21	7	2	12	29	35	-6	23
Maritzburg United	21	5	8	8	19	29	-10	23
Santos	21	5	4	12	25	34	-9	19
Black Leopards	21	4	5	12	22	41	-19	17
Jomo Cosmos	20	1	10	9	15	29	-14	13

It is interesting to see that Amazulu are the lowest conceding team in the league although they are lying on number 9 in the log standings.

Top 5 leading goalscorers

1. Edward Manqele (Free State Stars) - 10 goals in 19 starts and 1 substitute appearances

    Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns) - 10 goals in 13 starts and 7 substitution
    appearances

    Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows) - 10 goals in 21 starts

4. David Mathebula (Moroka Swallows) - 8 goals in 19 starts and 2 substitution appearances

    Lehlohonolo Majoro (Kaizer Chiefs) - 8 goals in 11 starts and 6 substitution appearances

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