As a result, the Cape Town based club has gagged its players from speaking to the press.
It is not the first time Makonese has landed himself in hot water.
Recently, he was on the news for wanting out of Santos but he and his
management resolved their differences.
Also, the return of Kenyan defender Musa Otieno saw the club stripping
him of the team’s captaincy. Makonese was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, Santos recovered from their disappointing form during the
midweek to defeat Thanda Royal Zulu 1-0. Controversial star Graham King
scored the only goal of the tightly contested match.
King, the former Ajax and Maritzburg United winger received up the ball
just inside the area after a cross from Eleazar Rodgers and then picked
out the top corner, beating Thanda keeper Aubrey Mathibe with a well
placed shot.
Thanda came close to finding the target but Peter Ndlovu found Santos keeper Francis Chansa in great form. – CAJ News
Young Warriors hammer Botswana 3-2
KIMBERLEY – Defending champions Zimbabwe Young Warriors clobbered
Botswana 3-2 to pocket three crucial points in the opening encounter of
the Confederation of Southern African Football Association
(Metropolitan-COSAFA Under-20) match tightly contested at GWK Stadium
on November 29.
A brace by Knowledge Musona and another gem of a goal by Khumbulani
Banda were enough to see the Zimbabwe Young Warriors under-20 squad
start the defence of their title on a high note whilst their
arch-rivals South Africa hammered little known football continental
lightweights Lesotho 5-0 in another opening encounter.
It was the hero of last year’s Metropolitan-COSAFA final, Mushona, who
scored a hat-trick against South Africa at Thulamahashe Stadium in
Mpumalanga to massacre the hosts 3-0 before silencing the packed
stadium.
The Zimbabweans, who are looking much stronger this year around, are
leaving no stone unturned in their quest to defend their prestigious
title in this 15-nation tournament. Despite allegations of being denied
enough time to train by their host nation, the Young Warriors were in a
no nonsense mood as they bombarded Botswana.
The Zimbabwe Young Warriors looked too good for their opponents, and
with the presence of kinetic midfielder Ovidy Karuru, hard running,
skilful and sharp shooting Tafadzwa Rusike, Hardlife Mavhundi and
Musona, Zimbabwe are set to defend their title.
In another encounter that is expected to be witnessed by hundreds of
Zimbabweans in South Africa, the Young Warriors will be locking horns
with Mauritius before rounding up with Malawi in order to progress to
the semi-final.
LINE-UPS Zimbabwe:
Francis Nicho, Noel Soko, Khumbulani Banda, Rex Mabeza, Hardlife
Mavundi (Nicholas Alifandika 46th min), Tendai Rantholoane, Gift
Kwaramba, Knowledge Musona, Archieford Gutu, Ovidy Karuru, Tafadzwa
Rusike (Brighton Mugoni 84th min).
Botswana:
Bolweleng, Seosonyeng, Tapela, Paeye, Dira, Leteane, Moeng, Rasuping, Molefe, Maikano, Sikele (Livingstone 51st)â€â€CAJ News.
Eastern Lions hold Lengthens 1-1
HARARE – Relegation bound Eastern Lions produced a scintillating
performance to hold the much fancied Lengthens Football Club to a 1-1
draw in a strongly contested CBZ premiership encounter at Dzivarasekwa
Stadium on November 29.
The hosts, Lengthens were the first to settle courtesy of a brilliant
goal by Ronald Sengu in the 70th minute. But the Mutare boys fired up
their tempo as they stole the match from their opponents.
Eastern Lions levelled terms in the 87th minute through Joseph Mutambirwa to silence the already celebrating home fans.
The draw helped Eastern Lions move one position from the 15th to 14th,
slightly above Masvingo United who are also facing serious relegation
threats.
The CBZ premiership is left with only three games before the league curtain is drawn. – CAJ News
Luphahla out of Platinum Stars
JOHANNESBURG – Joel Luphahla has fallen into trouble with Platinum
Stars management following comments he allegedly made to the media
concerning the team’s failure to register him for the current season.
The former Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints winger said he got a tongue
lashing from the team’s management following comments he made to a
local football newspaper. He said he was misquoted.
"The comments were blown out of proportion. That put me into
unnecessary trouble with the club’s management. They sat down with me
and told me they were not happy," Luphahla said.
He insisted he was patient and hoped to resume his career in January
when clubs register new players. He recently applied for South African
citizenship to be registered as a local player.
The 31-year-old, whose contract expires in June, has not taken part in
any league action after sustaining a horrific injury in a league match
against Jomo Cosmos two seasons ago.
Upon his return to injury last season, he was not registered by Stars
but rather sacrificed for Colombian striker Luis Renteria after the
team had filled its quota of foreign signings. – CAJ News
Kapini on form in SA
JOHANNESBURG – Tapuwa Kapini, who is enjoying a rich vein of form at
the moment, is confident of holding on to a starting berth at Platinum
Stars.
The former Highlanders goalkeeper said he believed he would retain a
starting position at the struggling South African Absa Premiership club.
The 24-year-old, who was a benchwarmer at Stars prior to the current
season, has kept former youth international goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands
on the bench in the current season.
"I am confident of maintaining my abilities and holding on to the first team jersey," said Kapini.
The theatrical player joined the Rusternburg-based club from
Highlanders where he was one of the club’s most likeable players.
Initially he was supposed to sign for Orlando Pirates but the move fell
through after the former CAF Champions League Champions withdrew
interest.
"Stars have been very helpful to me from day one till now and I am
pleased with this family that believes in me. They have good
professional management, Kapini said. – CAJ News
Mushangazhike’s Orlando Pirates reach Telkom final
JOHANNESBURG – Warriors Striker, Gilbert Mushangazhike and his Orlando
Pirates team mates are still in the running for R4.25m first prize
money, after they defeated 10 -men Premiership strugglers, Bloemfontein
Celtic 3-0 in a Telcom Knockout semi-final match played at Durban’s
ABSA stadium on November 29.
Although was not among the scorers, he played his heart out and gave
opposing defenders a tough time when he and Digkang "Terminator"
Mabalane were in possession.
The incident-filled match saw referee Abdul Ebrahim, red-carding the
wrong man in Geofrey Serunkuma, leaving everyone confused as he reduced
Bloemfontein Celtic to 10 men.
The game started slowly with the first of only two attempts on goal
falling to Dikgang Mabalane in the 12th minute, but Pirates created
problems for Celtic when they attacked down the flanks through Teko
Modise and Mabalane leaving their respective markers for dead every
time.
Mushangazhike was pulled down by Ditheko Mototo inside the box and
defender Lucas Thwala made no mistake from the spot in the 40th minute.
In the 74th minute, Benson Mhlongo doubled Pirates lead, when he poked
in a cross from the right, which had been missed by everyone before him.
Substitute Bennett Chenene delivered the knockout blow for Celtic when he scored Pirates’ third goal, four minutes from time.
A beautiful long ball from the back found Modise on the left flank and
the Bafana Bafana star produced a superb flick to steer the ball onto
Chenene, who drove forward and fired off a powerful shot from the edge
of the six-yard box leaving the keeper with no chance.
The game ended 3-0 to Pirates as they moved into the Final of the
Telkom Knockout Cup, where they will now meet Ajax Cape Town, who beat
James Matola’s Free State Stars 3-2. – CAJ News