PSL - PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE - SOUTH AFRICA

Dolly: Teko and Surprise have helped me restore my confidence

After a superb performance for Amaglug-glug, Keagan Dolly has told Goal that his confidence is back after moving to Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns’ midfielder Keagan Dolly says that he lacked confidence during the last few months at Ajax Cape Town, but he is getting his form back after training with some of the superstars at Chloorkop.

The under-23 national team player says that he has now rediscovered his confidence and form mainly at the national team.

"I was not that confident at Ajax," Dolly told Goal.

"I was missing my confidence, but now I have that confidence back.”

The 22-year-old was in a class of his own on the weekend for Amaglug-glug, scoring two goals against Zimbabwe to help his side qualify for the Caf Under-23 Championship.

"You can see the way I am playing and it's because I am learning a lot from senior players like Teko Modise and Surprise Moriri here at Sundowns, and that is helping me in my game.

"I also take that confidence to the national teams and that is why I have been doing well with the under-23 national team."

Dolly was in the youth ranks at Sundowns before being sold to Ajax in 2011 where he made a name for himself.

Goal recently spoke to Ted Dumitru who said that the Downs management realised that selling a number of their youth prospects was a big mistake which led them to buy a player like Dolly back.  

The creative midfielder will be hoping to get his first official cap for his childhood club when they take on Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday, August 5, at 19:30.

Ntshumayelo still in Tinkler's plans despite Gyimah's arrival at Orlando Pirates

Many thought that Gyimah's arrival in Parktown would mean the end for 'Bibo', but Tinkler tells Goal that Bucs fans shouldn't worry as he aims to retain the player's services

Orlando Pirates coach Eric Tinkler has laughed off suggestions that the arrival Edwin Gyimah could signal the end for Thandani Ntshumayelo at the Soweto giants as he had already been struggling for game time.

Tinkler said that diminutive midfield workhorse is still in his plans and is not going anywhere.

“Yes, Ntshumayelo remains in my plans and is not leaving the team despite Gyimah’s arrival.” Tinkler toldGoal.

“He will get his chance because we have a busy schedule going forward.”

The Ghanaian utility player made his Pirates debut in the Carling Black Cup where they defeated their fierce rivals on penalties.

Gyimah has played for SuperSport United and Mpumalanga Black Aces since arriving in the PSL four years ago.

FEATURE: Q & A with Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker

Goal sat down with Amakhosi forward Bernard Parker to talk about competition for striking places at the club and his future Bafana hopes

Goal: Bernard, how has the preseason so far been with the team?

Bernard Parker: It has been great in the pre-season. We have been working on getting to know each other as players as well as working on what the coach wants. Things are looking good for the team.

Goal: You were on holiday in Thailand.  How was the holiday there as it's warm at this time of the year? 

BP: Oh yes, it was a well-deserved break that I took with my family because they are the cause of me working hard every day you know. It was great and very nice to relax and do nothing on a holiday and also preparing the body. I was also getting well rested and healed from all the knocks I took last season. 

Goal: Talking about holidays and coming back to pre-season, the team has just signed two strikers in Bongani Ndulula and Carmaldine Abraw. How is the competition going to be, and how do you see those players after training together?

BP: You know ‘Drogba’ is a Bafana international and you saw Abraw, what he has done at Free State Stars.  We also have Siphelele Mthembu and David Zulu and we know what they are capable of. So I would say in the striking force the competition is very high. I think you have realised that I played as a number 10 the whole of last season. Now I think there is more muscle in the strike force than there was last season. And that's an advantage to our attacking players at Kaizer Chiefs.  Hopefully we will score more this coming season and going forward. 

Goal: Talking of all the five strikers, you are the senior forward now. What do you think your role will be looking at the striking set-up because your experience speaks volumes?

BP: I don't think they are younger. Aah they have proven themselves.  They have played for Pirates, they have played for other teams and now they are at Chiefs. So it’s about time they show their quality throughout the season you know. I speak to Siphelele a lot because I was with him last season and I believe in him. He has got the power, the physique and the technique. I believe that he can become a Kaizer Chiefs great. I was telling him that do what comes to mind.  You don't have to think what the coach said all the time.  Just do it and be free. Don't have clouds in your head and just play your game because that's what you are here for. And with three big men that we got now as number nines, I think it's an advantage to me as a number ten you know, as they will be bouncing balls off for me, also with Yeye coming in late, and also Mido coming in late, Shabba coming off the line and Lebese joining in I think having a number nine like the three fellas that we got now is a great advantage to our attacking play. 

Goal: Bernard now with (Stuart) Baxter gone and Steve (Komphela) coming in do you think there will be continuity because the two of you worked together before and what's your knowledge of Steve having worked with him at national team level?

BP: Yes, they share some similar tactics in terms of the game on how we defend and how we attack.  When I was with Coach Steve at the Under-23 national team we were doing the same things what Stuart did at Bafana Bafana, and there was continuity between the two teams. And I think now at Chiefs we will see continuity from last season because since we started off, the coach made it clear that there is nothing he wants to change but he wants us to play more football. With the ball on the ground we are more free, we use our flair, and we must keep our technical discipline, and that's similar stuff that Stuart did with us. So, I think the continuity will help us a lot this season.

Goal: In case of you playing up front with one of the big three who would you love to partner with?

BP: It's still early to tell.  We haven’t done enough technical stuff yet and it's still too early to tell.  And who says I am a guaranteed starter?  But what I can guarantee you is that it will be exciting for us up front because the competition is high.

Goal: Regarding Bafana Bafana, are you still confident you will be called up by coach Shakes Mashaba if you score goals this coming season?

BP: Yah man. I do feel that I still have a lot to give to Bafana Bafana. I have proven it over the years. I have proven it with different coaches. This is the only time that I was not called up. I had an okay season I would say where I scored vital goals coming back from a crazy injury and being almost among the top scorers in the league, so I would say if the coach gives me the chance I would go out there and do what I always do for Bafana Bafana.

Goal: The team just let another experienced striker in Katlego Mphela go. Do you think the new signings are good replacements for him?

BP: We all know what Killer has done in his career for the clubs he played for as well as for the national team, but I think injuries disturbed his time at Chiefs.  Every player is different from the other and we are going to miss him. I can't compare the other strikers to him, but as I have said they have to prove that they are Chiefs material by doing the work on the field of play. 

Goal: Do you think they will be able to handle the pressure of playing for Chiefs?

BP: You know some have played for Pirates where there is pressure, and last season some played for teams which were fighting for relegation and there is pressure like that.  If they play the way we know they can, then they can handle the pressure. You know ‘Drogba’ is a Bafana Bafana player and ‘Carma’ is Togolese international. They both have what it takes it handle the pressure.  As long as they just play their game and concentrate on the game then nothing will go wrong. 

Goal: Thank you so much for your time.

SUNDOWNS SCOUTS WATCHED LEONARDO CASTRO IN COLOMBIA

Mamelodi Sundowns have tracked Leonardo Castro for the past year, with the club's scouts flying out to South America to watch the Colombian striker in action. 

Castro has impressed in his time on trial at the Chloorkop club, with head coach Pitso Mosimane admitting that he is keen on singing the Bogota-born goal poacher. 

The Brazilians have been keeping an eye on Castro's progress for some time as the club's scouts searched the globe for talent. 

The 26-year-old has played across South America and has previously played in the Copa Libertadores - South America's version of the Champions League. 

"The Colombian is scoring, he has been scoring and scoring and scoring. He looks good, he is big and good in the air," said Mosimane. 

"Leo has played in the Copa Libertadores, he has played in front of big crowds, we like what we've seen. Hopefully we will sign him, I think we can sign him. Depends on the numbers and figures." 

Sundowns have reportedly offered Castro a three-year deal. If he signs with the Brazilians, he will be the club's second signing of the season, following Burundi international Fiston Abdul Razak. 

PSL

Saturday 08 August 2015
15:00	Free State Stars	v	Mpumalanga Black Aces
15:00	Polokwane City	v	Bloemfontein Celtic
20:15	BV Wits	v	Ajax Cape Town
20:15	Platinum Stars	v	Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday 09 August 2015
15:00	Chippa United	v	Kaizer Chiefs
15:00	Golden Arrows	v	Pretoria University

Monday 10 August 2015
17:00	Maritzburg United	v	Jomo Cosmos

Tuesday 11 August 2015
19:30	SuperSport United	v	Orlando Pirates

Tuesday 18 August 2015
19:30	Orlando Pirates	v	Chippa United

Saturday 22 August 2015
15:00	Mamelodi Sundowns	v	BV Wits
15:00	Pretoria University	v	Polokwane City
18:00	Mpumalanga Black Aces	v	SuperSport United
20:15	Ajax Cape Town	v	Maritzburg United
20:15	Kaizer Chiefs	v	Free State Stars

Sunday 23 August 2015
15:00	Bloemfontein Celtic	v	Platinum Stars
15:00	Jomo Cosmos	v	Golden Arrows