A brief history of Thomas Madigage

who is madigage?
Having come through the Arcadia Shepherds club, Madigage made his debut for Jomo Cosmos in a 2-1 loss to Leeds United in March 1987. Aged just 16-and-a-half, he was at the time the youngest player ever to feature in a South African domestic match, a record that would later be taken by Mkhanyiseli Siwahla.

An attractive midfielder with a keen eye for goal, he played an important role in Cosmos lifting the NSL title that year. His first goal came in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Moroka Swallows, and he would go on to get two more that season.

He was a commanding presence in the Ezenkosi side for the next four years, his performances winning him a move to FC Zurich in Switzerland for the 1990/91 campaign.
It was a rarity in those days for black South African players to go to Europe; the rush would come later in the post-apartheid era.

He netted on debut for the Swiss side, but unfortunately also picked up a knee injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. One wonders what might have been had he not suffered such a cruel fate.

He returned to Jomo Cosmos for the 1992 season but continued to be plagued by injury niggles and never quite managed to get a run of games going.

He did make his Bafana Bafana debut in this time though, featuring in a 0-0 draw with Mauritius in a 1994 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

He would total just four appearances for his country, not nearly enough for a player of his quality. He had to wait another three years before featuring again, replacing Doctor Khumalo in South Africa's famous 3-2 loss at the hands of Brazil (April 1996), then playing further matches against Ghana (September 1996) and his last against Netherlands (June 1997).

He was recalled to the Bafana side in June 1999, but had to pull out of the squad through injury.
He joined Pretoria City from Cosmos for the 1994 season, the year they were relegated to the second tier. He stuck with the side though and helped them to promotion, as well as the Bob Save Super Bowl Final, where they lost 3-2 to Cape Town Spurs.

He would go on to spend 10 seasons as a player with Pretoria City, who morphed into SuperSport United at the start of the PSL era in the 1996/97 campaign.

During that time he won the Sparletta Cup in 1995 and, finally, the Bob Save Super Bowl in 1999.
Madigage took on a player-assistant coach role with SuperSport towards the end of his career, before finally hanging up his boots at the end of the 2002/03 season. By then he had amassed 310 career starts and scored a very healthy 51 goals.

He stayed on at the club as assistant coach to former teammate Pitso Mosimane and together the pair elevated Matsatsantsa to the status of perennial title challengers.

They claimed the SAA Supa8 in 2004 (they were losing finalists in 2005 and 2006 as well) and the Absa Cup in 2005. The side were also losing finalists in the Coca-Cola Cup in 2004 and 2005, narrowly beaten by Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos, respectively.

When Mosimane left for the Bafana Bafana assistant coaching role in 2007, he was replaced by Gavin Hunt, who immediately saw the value in Madigage and was eager to continue working with him.

Together they began to dominate South African football, winning a trio of League titles between 2008 and 2010, as well as the Nedbank Cup in 2012, just two months before Madigage finally ended his love-affair with SuperSport to take up the role of Bafana assistant coach.

Although Hunt will rightly take plenty of plaudits for this period of Matsatsantsa success, the role that Madigage played was immense and should never be underestimated. Certainly it never was by Hunt himself.

Madigage would have turned 42 when Bafana play Zambia on November 14. It is sure to be an emotional night, and one where South African fans will get the opportunity to say their thanks to this fine servant to South African football, but more importantly a fine human being.

Pirates win promote them to be second on the log

Orlando Pirates 2-0 Ajax CT

Second-half goals from Sifiso Myeni and Takesure Chinyama earned Orlando Pirates a 2-0 win over Ajax Cape Town on Tuesday night in Soweto.

The Buccaneers dominated for much of the proceedings at the Orlando Stadium and thoroughly deserved all three points, which moved them into second place on the Premiership table.

Roger de Sa’s men now trail Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs by just three points, the Amakhosi’s 3-1 triumph over Bidvest Wits on Heritage Day having maintained their 100% start to the season.

The Sea Robbers showed their attacking intent early on in the midweek clash, peppering Ajax shot-stopper Sander Westerveld’s goal with several long-range strikes.

And it wasn’t long before Tlou Segolela almost put the hosts in front when in the 22nd minute he found himself unmarked and free to shoot inside the box.

But having flummoxed the onrushing Westerveld, defender Nazeer Allie was well-placed on the goal-line to clear the Pirates winger’s shot at goal.

Pirates continued to probe for the opener before the break as Daine Klate cracked on the pace on the left. He then tried to cross the ball onto the head Myeni inside the box, but the ball flew over his head and into Westerveld’s arms.

The home side resumed their barrage on the Capetonians’ 18-yard area after the restart, but it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the second stanza.

Allie’s bullet shot from a lay off from Koen van de Laak crept just under Bucs number one Moeneeb Josephs but struck the right upright.

Unlucky for Maarten Stekelenburg’s charges that it didn’t go in because moments later Pirates were ahead on the scoreboard through Myeni.

The Bucs attacker, who put in a Man-of-the-Match performance, dummied centre-back Matthew Booth on his right before he smashed home from well outside the box with his left.

Myeni’s 55th minute strike only encouraged the Sea Robbers to press even further upfield and create wave after wave of attacking surges, only a dogged Urban Warriors keeping them at bay

Yet it wasn’t until the final seconds of the encounter that Pirates notched up their hard-fought second goal through replacement forward Chinyama’s brilliant left-footed turn-and-shoot from the edge of the area. 

Masilela’s blood is now gold and black

Amakhosi bring back another international player home

Kaizer Chiefs went all out again to bring back the Bafana Bafana international Tsepo Masilela home, from the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa.

Masilela spend last season in Spain’s La Liga with Getafe on loan. He played almost all the games for the Spanish team, but that did not earn him a place in the Maccabi Haifa’s books.

He was considered surplus to requirements by the Israeli club, and the Spanish team couldn’t afford to add him permanently as their player.

However, the Soweto based team managed to bring him back home. The club has confirmed that they have completed Masilela’s move to Naturena this morning, after agreeing terms and conditions with the player.

"Kaizer Chiefs would like to confirm the signing of Tsepo Masilela from Maccabi Haifa. We welcome him into the Amakhosi Family," said the club

Amakhosi family was in bad mood after losing out their new signing Morgan Gould for six months due to Achilles tendon injury, but now the worry has become happiness after the arrival of Masilela.

The coming back of Masileal will not only benefit amakhosi family, but will also help the national team coach to access his players with a close range microscope.

A new start for Mashigo

Mahoota signed for The Dube Birds

Former Orlando Pirates striker Katlego Mashigo hace final found a new home after been shown a door at the Sewoto based club.

The striker singed for The Buccaneers from Supersports United in 2009. At the time he was on top of his game, and that earn his a national team call up.

Mahoota spend two seasons with The Buccaneers but due to high competitions at the club, sidelined for some time before he was loaned to Golden Arrows.

However, former Bafana Bafana player says he is very happy to have signed with a team of  Moroka Swallows caliber.

"I am very excited to have finally signed with Moroka Swallows. They are one of the big teams with a great history in the country” says Mashigo

It won’t be a new complele home for Mashigo like a foreign country because he know some from nation team and his former team Pirates. That will hel him to settle well according to him.

“I know some of the players from the national team which has helped me settle down very well.” Said ‘Mahoota’

He confirmed that he signed two years deal with the Dube Birds, and added that he is aware that he won’t just into the first eleven but hard work will help him to fit into the team.

"I just want to work hard and fit into the style of the team and then we will take it from there. Hopefully I will contribute a lot to help the club achieve success this season." He concluded.

Pirates failed to outplay ten man of United

Another draw for MTN 8 semi finals

Orlando Pirates faied to outplay ten man of Supersport United this evening at Peter Mokaba Stadium on the first leg of the  second leg.

Pirates started the first half with a very high mood, playing Supersport United half ground. However, matsatsantsa’s young goalkeeper Ronewn Williams was not doing any fovours .

Bennie McCarthy made an attempt but was blocked by Fransman’s hand, however the referee denied them a penalty. Few minutes later matsatsantsa was also denied a penalty from the some incident.

Manti Moholo and Andile Jali were controlling the midfield, but the striker did not utilize all the chances.

The Tshwane based club came back to win the possession in the midfield. They tried to penetrate The Buccaneers defense, but it was two organised for them to break it down.

United midfield Edwin Gyima got a red card few minutes before the end of first half.

Matsatsantsa stared the second half with one man down. They stayed at the back and aimed at attacking the Soweto giants on counter-attack.

Pirates used that at their advantage and put much more pressure but United was well organised at the back to let anything pass through.

Segolela and Myeni came in and change the mood of the game. The Buccaneers  started to attack from the wings by the new two man on the field, but still, Williams and his back four stood up to deny The Buccaneers to score even a single goal and end the game on 0-0 draw.

A well-structured United was all over in the Pirates way to score.

The ill-discipline of Mahamutsa caused him a place to play in the next league game against the same team after he was given a red card.

The first lag of the first semi-final come with surprises

Six goals scored on the first lag of the first semi-final of WAFA WAFA

An amazing semi-final between two longstanding PLS teams, Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows that took place at Lucas Maripe Stadium last night.

Sundowns started the game dominating, winning most balls in the midfield and attacking from both sides. However, that did not stop Swallows to score two goals within eight minutes of the first half.

Swallows scored their first goal from Obada on a count-attack by the first five minutes. Few minutes afterward, Hendricks scored the second goal from a corner.

The Brazilians got a penalty on the fourteen minutes of the game after Kekana tried to cross ball but hit Lekgothene’s hand. Etafia saved the first penalty from Modise but the line man said it must be a retake. Teko did not made a mistake and convert it into a goal to make the score line 2-1.

The speeds of the game stated to be slow after Swallows set at the back and play it simple, while downs did not want to commit the same mistake try to re-organise from the back.

From the first minute of second half all team wanted nothing but a goal but their efforts earn them nothing, because both teams were organised at the back.  

Few minutes later, The Brazilians put much pressure on The Dube Birds and kept control of the game like they did on the first half.That made the Soweto based club to make a slip up mistake that saw Kekana scoring a well composed goal to equalise.

However, The Dube Birds came on top again by Chenene’s goal a gifted Chabangu’s right foot. That goal bring Swallows back into the game, but Manqele toke them back to square  one by scoring a wonderful goal from a close range, just six minutes before the final whistle.

Thamsanqa Sangwen dined his team to be the winner on the day by missing an obvious chance on the last seconds of the game.

Not a good start for Babyana Banyana

A road for Banyana start seem to be problematic

South Africa was humbled by Sweden ladies team last night at City of Coventry stadium in the in opening game of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

From the first whistle of the game, Banyana Banyana was under a thrilling pressure from the Swedish ladies, who were dominating the Middlefield.

Swedish team hit the bar post several times before scoring from a deflection to make the score 1-0. Afterwards, the Swedish kept on putting lots of pressure on Banyana. 

After Fourteen minutes, South African ladies started to put the ball on the ground and challenge the opponents. However, that was not enough to stop Swedish from scoring two quick goals in a minute.

Banyana striker Portia Modise tried to bring her team back in the game by a wonderful strike, but it was off target. That was followed by a superb counter-attack, but Noko Matlou was too late to convert it into a goal.

The second half of the game was different. Banyana Banyana started with a better attitude toward the Swedish side. They used their skills to challenge the opponents. That led Modise to score a cracker goal few steps from the center –line to make the score 3-1.

From that moment, Banyana got their confidence back. They kept the control of the game and threaten the Swedish from the Middlefield to the goal line.

 Banyana lost focus at the back and concentrate much on attacking, which gave the Swedish side a good chance to finish them on a counter-attack to win 4-1.

In the last minutes of the game, the back four of the South African team was outplayed, but Banyana keeper stood on her feet and covers most of their mistakes. Banyana tried their best to score as many goals as they can, but they last touch let them down.