Pirates ready for Leopards clash
Orlando Pirates jetted out of the country on Thursday morning to the Republic of Congo where they will take on AC Leopards over the weekend.
The Mighty Buccaneers kick off their group stage campaign of the 2015 Caf Confederations Cup with a tough encounter against The Beasts from Niari on Saturday.
This will be Pirates’ second time in Congo in two years, having played against the same side back in the 2013 Caf Champions League. Coach Eric Tinkler, who was assistant coach at the time, told the club’s official websitethat the experience gained in 2013 will put his charges in good stead this time around.
“The match against Leopards won’t be easy,” said Tinkler. “However, the fact that we have played in Congo before will prepare us better than when we met in 2013. If you recall we lost 1-0 in that match but now I believe we will be in a better position to compete as we now know what to expect from our opposition when they play in front of their home crowd.”
During the 2013 Champions League campaign, Pirates and Leopards met twice, with the Congo based outfit registering a narrow 1-0 victory and one goalless draw at Orlando Stadium.
The match over the weekend will be played at the 20000-seater, Denis Sassou Nguesso,Dolisie Stadium. Kick-off is 4:30pm.
Celtic to contest Abraw move to Chiefs
Bloemfontein Celtic say they will contest the signing of Togo international striker Camadline Abraw by Kaizer Chiefs.
Phunya Sele Sele claim that Abraw signed a three-year contract with them, but was unveiled by Chiefs as their new player on Tuesday.
The dispute appears to come in in terms of the relationship that Abraw had with former side Free State Stars.
When he signed the contract with Celtic it was understood he was a free agent whose contract with Stars would end this month.
But Stars say he still has another year to run and was not free to sign the deal, instead negotiating a transfer fee with Chiefs.
“Bloemfontein Celtic has exercised its prerogatives to contest the signing of Camaldine Abraw by Kaizer Chiefs, as a result the Premier Soccer League has set a Conciliation Hearing to be held on Tuesday the 30th of June 2015. The hearing will be held at PSL offices in Parktown,” a statement from Celtic read.
Abraw signed for Stars from French outfit Châteauroux in 2013 and has scored seven league goals in his two seasons in the PSL.
Doutie first SA star to play in India
Sameehg Doutie has been signed by Spanish La Liga giants Atletico Madrid to play for their Indian Super League team over the coming months, but with a view to eventually moving to Europe.
Doutie did not have his contract renewed by SuperSport United at the end of last season and after BidVest Wits, where he spent the previous campaign on loan, failed to take up their option, he has been snapped up as a free agent by Atletico.
He will feature alongside former Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces midfielder Ofentse Nato for Atlético de Kolkata, who were the inaugural winners of the Indian Super League last year.
The side are coached by former Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns tactician Antonio López Habas and also had South African Deshi Bakhtawar working as a goalkeeper coach.
The move is a big one for Doutie in terms of putting himself in the shop window, with Atletico having stated that as part of the deal they will help him find a European team from January.
“It’s a great deal for Sameehg and he turned down another option in Europe to make this one happen,” his intermediary, Paul Mitchell told supersport.com.
“The gist of the deal is that he will play for Atletico Madrid’s franchise in India for their 2015 season which runs from October to December, and then from January he will look to move to Europe.
“Atletico have said they will assist us in finding him a team, whether that be in Spain or elsewhere, and they have been very keen to bring him on board. They have been very persistent in their chase of him.
“They (Atlético de Kolkata) are a successful team with a good coach and there are some world-class players in the Indian Super League, so this is a very exciting opportunity for Sameehg.”
Doutie recently returned from Norway where he had a trial with top-flight side FK Haugesund.
The 26-year-old made his PSL debut in the 2007/08 season for Ajax Cape Town and was a first team regular for four campaigns.
He was signed by Orlando Pirates in 2011/12 but failed to make an impact and after just six months joined SuperSport United on loan, later making that deal permanent.
His first two seasons saw him a regular starter at Matsatsantsa, but the arrival of Gordon Igesund at the club last year appears spelled an end of his time there.
He enjoyed a decent campaign with Wits in 2014/15, but coach Gavin Hunt has decided not to keep him and rather look at other options for the new campaign.
Pirates show their transfer hand
Orlando Pirates also flexed their muscle in the transfer market as they confirmed their signings of Filipe Ovono, Tendai Ndoro, Gift Motupa, Thembinkosi Lorch and Luvuyo Memela.
The Buccaneers are currently preparing for their Caf Confederations Cup group stage match against AC Leopards. The latest Buccaneer recruits were introduced to the technical team and the rest of their team-mates during the club’s medical examinations, held at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
“I signed for Orlando Pirates during the previous season but I had to go back to my country, Equatorial Guinea, in order to apply for a work permit.
“I am excited to be finally with my team, it has been difficult following them from the side-lines but I am just honoured to be finally here. Pirates is a big team and people back home and across the African continent know and respect this club, which is why I am grateful for the opportunity to play for them,” said Ovono in an interview published on the club’s official website orlandopiratesfc.com.
“Firstly, it’s a great honour and a dream come true to play for one of the biggest clubs in Africa, I wish to do my best in the coming season and repay the faith the club has shown me by allowing me to join its ranks.
“I know I have my work cut out for me because Pirates has one of the best striking departments currently in the PSL. All the strikers are in form and are scoring goals regularly, which is a good thing because it shows we have a strong striking department, and knowing that I am surrounded by good and talented players is a huge motivation for me. I can only hope that I am able to contribute positively by scoring goals next season,” said Ndoro.
“I am happy for the opportunity to play for Pirates and I hope I can grab it with both hands and excel. I am aware that not every player that gets this opportunity so I plan on making the best of it. I am a central midfielder and for me it’s important that I measure myself against the best, and playing for a club like Pirates gives me that opportunity,” said Motupa
Other players to join the Orlando Pirates stable, who also participated in the examinations yesterday, are Thembinkosi Lorch and Luvuyo Memela. Both players plied their trade in the National First Division for Maluti FET and Cape Town All Stars respectively.
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