by Staff Reporter | Jun 12, 2014 | Sport
World Cup 2014 mascot Fuleco. Graphic: FIFA
The 2014 Fifa Football World Cup kicks off tonight with hosts Brazil taking on Croatia at 10pm. Wits Vuvuzela has confirmed that screenings of the matches will take place at the following venues in Braamfontein:
The venues will screen games during the day and at night.
Most of the bars and restaurants along 7th Avenue in Melville will also open their doors to soccer fans:
Many of these places are having specials on drinks and food throughout the month of the World Cup.
The Stanley Beer Yard, in 44 Stanley will also screen all of the games at night and stay open till late.
But this year’s hotspots for students and fans are the Biccard Street and De Korte Street (just outside the Easy Hotel) big screens.
Both were “mini” fan parks during the 2010 World Cup and Southpoint management hopes to see the same interest this time around.
Finally, all Wits residences, on and off campus will be screening the games. The Wits Postgrad Club will also screen all games for the enjoyment of staff members, postgraduates and alumni.
For the full match schedule, visit the official Fifa website. For daily screening times, visit the SABC website. On Twitter, follow #WC2014.
by Lameez Omarjee | Jun 12, 2014 | Sport
NEW KID IN TOWN: World Cup mascot Fuleco will become a familiar sight in the coming weeks of the tournament which starts tonight. Graphic: FIFA
Tonight, the one of the world’s biggest sporting showcases kicks off in Brazil. The 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony will launch football’s biggest international spectacle and despite the absence of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, Witsies are still looking forward to the month-long tournament.
“I am really excited about the World Cup. We wait four years to witness the best players competing against each other. A part of me is sad that South Africa won’t be participating in this World Cup,” said Phelelani Mpanza, Masters Business Sciences.
“I see Spain defending this one. They play really good football, but as an African, I will be supporting Ghana. BaGhana BaChana!”, added Mpanza.
“I think this is probably going to be one of the most competitive World Cups ever, which makes it highly unpredictable. But I think Brazil might take it this time around,” said Lloyd Uta, Masters Business Sciences, Marketing.
Some Witsies pledged their allegiance to African teams. “I’m supporting Ghana because it’s the closest one to home and they play good soccer,” said Pretty Makgabo, final year BAccSci.
Makgabo was excited about watching her favourite players, “I am looking forward to seeing Boateng, Gyan and Essien on the field.”
Makgabo is also looking forward to the opening ceremony, “I love those,” she said.
The European teams have a number of Witsies behind them. “I’m with Germany. I think Brazil is a cliche. I think Germany deserves to take it this time, Brazil has taken it too many times so personally I now have Brazil fatigue,” said Tinashe Chuchu, Masters Business Sciences.
Obakeng Motshome, final year BAccSci, is also keen on Germany. “I like their style of football. They really play to the whistle, they’ll keep scoring until the referee blows the final whistle.” Motshome expects an all-European final between Spain and Germany. “It would also be great to have the first European team to win the World Cup in South America,” he said.
Some Witsies were spoilt for choice. “I’m supporting Brazil, Germany, Portugal and Netherlands in that order,” said Hitekani Makhubele, final year BCom.
Makhubele holds a soft spot for Brazil as she says, “I got introduced to football in 2002, when I was 11 years old. And Brazil was wearing yellow which is my favourite colour.” She has been loyal to them since, “through two more World Cups and everything in between. I am expecting home ground advantage to make them go super saiyan… loyalties will be tested but Brazil to the end,” she said.
The opening ceremony will be televised later this evening with the first match between hosts Brazil and Croatia starting at 10pm, local time.
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by Staff Reporter | Jun 3, 2014 | News
This week’s show looked at the science inside the 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The players, the stadiums, the health and injuries of this incredible event. We’ll take you back to our own world cup experience in 2010 and explore some of the technologies that will be used for the first time in this year’s world cup, in Brazil. What does it take to build a stadium and why is mexican beef bad for footballers? We’ve also got a bit of a shocking story about a TB clinic in Jo’burg.
If the podcast does not load automatically, please click here.
by Luca Kotton | May 15, 2014 | Sport
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Sibusiso Vilakazi battles away in their Nedbank Cup win over Kaizer Chiefs. Photo: Luca Kotton
Sibusiso Vilakazi could finish this weekend with a cupboard-full of silverware and a cheque for R7-million for his team.
The captain of Bidvest Wits will lead his team in the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, and on Sunday, could walk away with any of 3 awards at the annual Premier Soccer League (PSL) awards.
The 24-year-old Soweto-born midfielder debuted for Wits in the 2009/2010 season after being groomed by the Bidvest Wits academy.
He has since notched up over 100 first-team appearances and been rewarded with the club’s captaincy and two national team caps for South Africa.
Vilakazi’s leadership saw his team finish third in the PSL this year and he has been nominated for the player of the season, the ABSA premiership players’ player of the season and the Nedbank Cup player of the tournament at the end of season awards.
Overseas target
Vilakazi’s performance has attracted some interest from Brondby in Denmark and the Clever Boys captain may be jetting overseas by the beginning of next season.
According to Vilakazi, he spent a week in Denmark on trial and a transfer there looks likely. Vilakazi has spent the last 5 years of his professional career with the Clever Boys and has no regrets.
“So far it has been great. I have worked through step by step, baby steps as well. I hope I can grow better and better.”
With an exciting weekend ahead for the Clever Boys captain, he said, “I’m hoping it will start with the cup final and we will see what happens with the awards but I’m hoping we lift the trophy.”
The final showdown
The Nedbank Cup final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, on Saturday afternoon, will be a tightly contested match if the draw in their last meeting is anything to go by. Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt said, “Winning the cup will define if the season is good or bad.”
Vilakazi will no doubt play a vital role in the clash on Saturday afternoon and said, “It comes down to that important day, what happened in the past doesn’t matter, we focus on what’s happening now.”
Vilakazi said that his team deserves at least one trophy for the season. He would be lifting the trophy as captain if they win and he added,” I believe in my team and each and every individual.”
by Luca Kotton | Mar 12, 2014 | Sport
Luca Kotton, former academy player at Platinum Stars, Junior national player and current academy coach at Balfour Park Alexandra. Photo: TJ Lemon
No single association in South Africa has taken the responsibility to solve the problems we face in South African football. With current uncertainty over the position of Bafana Bafana coach, Luca Kotton, Wits Vuvuzela journalist and a soccer player, weighs in on the crisis in South African soccer.
The issues
Our current football leadership structures remain in disarray, with not enough time and effort being put into developing young talent across the country. The once successful School of Excellence is a shadow of its once very capable hands that saw the likes of Steven Pienaar being produced. This is an abuse to a country whose football talent far exceeds others. Football leadership is a vital part of our country succeeding on an international level. In many other countries pride is taken in developing their national youth soccer teams whereas, in South Africa national youth soccer teams are almost nonexistent. When compared to other higher internationally ranked sporting codes such as rugby and cricket, school soccer is clearly on the back foot.
[pullquote align=”left”]”The problem is everybody knows the problems but whose going to fix it. Let’s not talk, talk, talk, and let’s do it.” [/pullquote]
These issues extend to the highest organisational levels where the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and SAFA (South African Football Association) fail to see eye to eye in many circumstances. One of the consequences of the lack of synergy between these two key organisations is the repeated drama clubs not releasing players for internationals like the African Nations Cup. But where do we go from here? Who is the right person for the job?
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt, who has often been rumored to step into the national coaching job by media, said there was a need for football associations to take a more proactive stance. “It was needed 20 or 30 years ago, the problem is everybody knows the problems but whose going to fix it. Let’s not talk, talk, talk, and let’s do it. We need people who know what they doing and the problem is do they know football,” he said.
Possible solutions
Local academy coach Daryn Patricio, who is linked with the Dutch football association (KNVB), said the Dutch system advocate linear thinking between all coaches and all members associated with the KNVB. “The Dutch Federation has a very simple way of thinking, you help me and I help you. The Dutch have two important parts to their success. First, they have a coach’s database, where amateur coaches can interact with the national team coach. The second is that each coach needs to re-take his or her coaching license every three years.
Failure to do so results in the license being revoked. The system works because it keeps the whole of the Dutch football community on the same page. This way of thinking would aid our national team because all our coaches would be on one similar path, instead of everyone trying to outdo each other.
SAFA needs to carefully think about their next move in terms of coaching and youth soccer development. A clearly defined youth program is needed if we aspire to be at the levels that Brazil displayed at FNB stadium on March 5 when they beat Bafana Bafana 5-0. For the sake of all the talented youngsters playing on the streets, in townships and school grounds, let’s hope the new SAFA can do justice to our future football stars.
by Luca Kotton | Mar 7, 2014 | Sport
THE BOSS: Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt credits “fantastic” Witsies for filling the home stadium and creating a great atmosphere for the Clever Boys. Photo: Luke Matthews
The players of Bidvest Wits have been on a winning streak, having won three matches in a row this year. This can, in part, be attributed to the amazing support students’ shower on their team, according to the team’s dynamic and experienced coach.
“The students have been fantastic,” Gavin Hunt, the 49-year-old Bidvest Wits head coach who praised the students of the university for filling up stadiums with enthusiasm.
This helped to create a great atmosphere for recent home matches.
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela on Tuesday, the six-foot tall coach praised Wits students for their support.
This, he felt, contributed to the form of the players. The team is now placed third on the log, with a game in hand. Saturday saw a 3-1 victory over fellow league chasers, Mamelodi Sundowns. The game was highlighted by an impressive debut by 18-year-old Tebogo Moerane.
However, Hunt still believes there is a lot of work to be done and football changes will happen slowly but surely in a controlled manner. Despite the attractive football played this season, Hunt said, “I have a way I like to play and it will take a little bit of time”.
Varsity Cup Football
When asked about Varsity Cup football, Hunt said it is a good vehicle for talent identification and promoting the game on campus. He added, “I feel the varsity team should be closer linked to Bidvest Wits”.
[pullquote]Bidvest Wits has one of the strongest youth development programs in the country.[/pullquote]
Hunt will be watching the Varsity Cup tournament looking to potential talent to invite to training. It is clear from his Supersport United days, where he won three consecutive Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles, that Hunt is passionate about youth development. Bidvest Wits has one of the strongest youth development programs in the country and when asked, Hunt said that bigger clubs don’t produce academy players because of their financial muscle to buy players.
However, he said, “clubs like ours; we have to do it through the youth”. Hunt said he sees the PSL as more of a development league and a good platform to give young players the opportunities to play. Witsies can look forward to their team doing well in the Nedbank Cup, says Hunt. Regarding the Clever Boys’ league aspirations, Hunt said, “Chiefs are going to have to explode, if anyone stands a chance, which I don’t see happening but anything is possible in football”.
Bidvest Wits’ next game is scheduled for the ninth of March, after the international break. The team will be looking to continue their three-match winning streak in an away game against Polokwane City.
Hunt, the man
Hunt seems to be ideally placed to lead Bidvest Wits, describing his life thus: “Football, football and sport.”
Sport is his passion, when he is not soccer coaching, he is playing golf off his two handicap. The member of the Modderfontein Golf Club, also likes to read widely on a variety of topics.
by Mfuneko Toyana | Feb 7, 2014 | Sport
The Bidvest Wits team, despite going down 2-1 to Orlando Pirates the previous night, were happy to mix with their supporters on Wednesday during O-week. The team gladly posed for pictures, signed autographs, and chatted with students, while smitten females fans ogled their favourite players as the gents looked on in jealous admiration.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Aug 23, 2013 | Featured 1
TIMELINES on twitter are clogged up by constant sports updates on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The most tiresome of the bunch are the football ones, random tweets with things like “foul ref!”, “4-3-3” and “what a cross”.
Maybe a little understanding of the so-called beautiful game would lead to less annoyance come kick-off time. I decided to find out what the basics are, so that I too can get angry when people are offside and tweet about it. Along with this I am on a mission, like Will McAvoy, to civilise, to reform the poor spectator abilities of those of us who watch for ‘hunks of the week’ instead of ‘sportsmen of the week’.
Soccer versus football
Firstly there is a whole debate about whether to call it soccer or football, football or soccer.
“It’s fashionable to be angry and indignant at people who call it soccer instead of football, it’s f***ing bullshit” said one dreadlocked enthusiast.
He went on to explain that people have become obsessed with calling it football as a way to defy the Americans. They call it soccer so as not to be confused with their American football, also known as fake rugby.
“Just because European football is considered better, now all of a sudden we want to change what we’ve been calling the game for years, it’s soccer man!” said someone in the newsroom.
Good on those who choose to colour outside of the lines drawn by those in the land of the free, but let’s just stick to local lingo and go for diski.
I went around asking semi-keen people what they were unsure about or wanted clarity on when it came to diski. The responses included “what the hell is offside”, “are the soccer players single?” and “what do those numbers like 3-5-2 stand for”.
4-3-3: Formations in football or soccer (whatever you call it) are used to ensure flexible play but given the fluidity of the game they can become redundant. Graphic: Provided
Offside rule
The offside rule is actually quite an easy one to wrap your head around and once you do, the game starts making sense.
The FIFA rule book says “It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent”.
Student and avid football lover Brendan Zietsman said to imagine this scenario:
“You are at a club and you see a girl/guy you like. Another person has seen the girl/guy too and they have a drink in their hand for that person. Your friend slides you a drink across the bar to give to the girl/guy. It would be wrong of you to step in front of the other person before their drink has left their hand. That is offside”. Simple.
Hotties on the pitch
The second response points to the question on many minds when they watch 22 men running around after a patent leather ball. I will admit that I am one of those people.
When the teams line up I watch out for a hottie to keep my eyes on for the 90 minutes that will follow. Every team has that one player who captivates the imaginations of those of us who aren’t ‘fans’.
Formations
3-5-2, 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 are “those numbers” which indicate a team’s planned formation for the game. Formations are used to strategically place players across the field, to enable them to attack and defend in the best ways possible. Now to watch a match to see if I scream “offside” at the television with confidence.
by Mfuneko Toyana | Aug 16, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Keep Going: Members of the Wits women’s team during a training session. Photo Mfuneko Toyana
Digs fields, on a cold Monday evening: men’s teams swarm the grounds, preparing for the Wits internal football league matches. But in a small corner of one of the two sprawling fields, the Wits ladies football team plays a 4-a-side game.
Running laps around the field, male players pass derisory remarks. “Hayi ngamantombazana k’phela lawo” (Forget it they’re just girls).
Coach Jabulile Baloyi, a former Banyana Banyana midfielder, responds by demanding her players focus on the game. “Enjoy the last five minutes of the game, ladies.” She did not need to.
We’ve got what it takes
Despite having their league game for that evening cancelled, the women got through a two-hour training session with visible delight, cajoling each other through the gruelling fitness drills set by Dlamini.
“It’s all about commitment. It’s the same thing with the course. The difference is commitment… putting in those extra hours and it pays off,” said team captain and goalkeeper Kholosa Dzakwa, HDipAcc.
Dzakwa, who is in her fifth year playing for the team, said most of the players had developed a real passion for the game.
More ladies needed
Recruitment, however, was still their biggest problem. “We have about 25 players on the team but about 16 are not registered Wits students…The typical player who maybe comes from Soweto struggles to come to training (in the evenings). But some of us have stayed for the love of the game,” she said.
Team coach Dlamini is in her second year with the team after a stint coaching Phiri Stars under-12 boys in Soweto. She said coaching women was different experience. “With ladies it’s more difficult because they’re more mature and because they only start playing the game much later.” She said the university supported the team but there was space for more to be done. “It’s [the support] sufficient so far but it could be better. The stadiums fill up but only after our games [for the men’s games].”
Varsity Cup beckons after Pienaar’s promise
Dlamini said she wished the team could participate in a Varsity Cup type of tournament as it provided a higher level of competitiveness. Currently, the team participates in USSA (University Sports South Africa) league, and lies seventh in the 12-team league after losing only three games, with five more rounds of matches to go.
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by Pheladi Sethusa | Aug 16, 2013 | Featured 1, Sport
Keegan Boulle, Tuks reserve, scores the fourth goal in their game against UCT on Monday. Photo: Provided
A RESOUNDING defeat on Monday night took away any hopes the University of Cape Town (UCT) team had of moving up from the bottom of the Varsity Football log.
Goal after goal, it became obvious that the University of Pretoria (Tuks) players were not going to let the UCT team squeeze in one redeeming goal for themselves.
The team from the coast were at a slight disadvantage as Tuks played on their home ground, the Ama Tuks Stadium, with their fans cheering them on every step of the way. [pullquote align=”right”]By the 90th minute the outwitted UCT team had watched five flashes of fire go off, signalling five goals at their goalposts[/pullquote]
UCT goalkeeper Bevan Adonis showed some promise in the fifth minute of the game with an impressive diving save. The opening goal by Tuks’s Desmond Khuzwayo was the catalyst that kept Adonis diving and sliding in the goalposts.
Man of the match Dean Wilkinson then scored a clean shot on goal, which made it obvious that Tuks were out to win.
Mbongeni Masilela put his boot in with a third goal.
Keegan Boulle, a reserve put on late in the game, added two more goals to Tuks’s tally. By the 90th minute the outwitted UCT team had watched five flashes of fire go off, signalling five goals at their goalposts.
Back home
More disappointment took place on the field closer to home at Milpark Stadium. Wits were beaten by the visiting team from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
The 2-0 victory pushed the Wits team down to seventh spot on the log after the gains they had made last week with their 1-0 win over UCT.
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by Pheladi Sethusa | Aug 12, 2013 | Featured 1, News, Sport
The third round of Varsity Football was explosive indeed, with the Wits student team winning their first match of the campaign.
Winning
In their second away game, Wits beat UCT 1-0 at the Green Mile in Cape Town. Winger Neo Makua netted a last-minute goal, pulling Wits from the bottom of the log to a comfortable fifth position.
This left UCT as stragglers on the log.
LOG: The Varsity Football log as it stands right now. Photo: Provided
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) also won their game, scoring one goal against North West University (NWU) – Mafikeng Campus – on the losers’ home ground.
Wits have scored the least goals in the campaign so far and have also conceded the most goals – eight in three games.
Booted off
NWU have been the highest scoring team in the tournament with 10 goals under their belt.
Until last Monday they had never lost a match. NWU have now conceded two goals and lost one match.
TUT has now taken top spot on the log and are now the only undefeated team in the competition.
Their unbeaten streak makes them early favourites to take the tournament, but there are still six weeks to go.
Strong defence play led to draws between Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and University of Pretoria (Tuks) and between the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the University of Free State .
Wits will take on UWC today at 7pm on their home ground, Milpark Stadium.
@pheladi_s
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by Mfuneko Toyana | Aug 2, 2013 | News
THE WITS student team did most of the early running against the University of Pretoria (Tuks) in their second-round match of the Varsity Football tournament.
But Wits, just as they did last Monday in a 4-0 loss to North West University – Mafikeng Campus, failed to turn that pressure into goals, going down 2-0 to Tuks.
Again, Wits was put to the sword by an opponent simply more ruthless in front of goal than our boys in yellow.
Tuks scored two unanswered goals in front of their home crowd at the Tuks Stadium to notch up their first win in the second week of the nine-week tournament.
Wits just cannot score
Wits suffered their second straight loss and another 90 minutes without scoring on a cold night on the Highveld, made colder by the disappointing result.
Things, however, did not start out bleakly for the Witsies, and a powerful shot from outside the 18-yard area in the 12th minute forced the Tuks goalkeeper to punch the ball past his right-hand upright for a corner.
It was a signal of intent from Wits, and while Tuks struggled to settle into a rhythm, Wits passed the ball with purpose.
This did not last though and soon Tuks took control of the game and besieged the Wits goal with attack after attack.
Unsurprisingly, Tuks took the lead after attacker Mosa Sesele headed in a cross from a well-taken corner.
Before and after the goal, goalkeeper Mohale Kgabusi more than proved his abilities, making many brave saves to keep Wits in the game.
Wits had opportunities to level the score, but did not do enough to breach the Tuks defence.
When Wits finally does score…
Tuks got their second goal handed to them on a platter in the 89th minute when Wits defender Nelson Mwale scored an own goal.
Mwale was caught stranded after he could not get out of the way of a low and powerful cross following a Tuks counter-attack.
Wits are now last on the eight-team table.
