Riveiro Makes Latest Transfer ‘Request’

Al Ahly coach Jose Riveiro has reportedly revealed to the club management that he wants to sign three new players to bolster the team's defence. 

Jose Riveiro's first assignment as Al Ahly boss was to take charge of the club's FIFA Club World Cup campaign. The tournament did not go quite as Riveiro or club officials hoped as the side were eliminated in the group stage after just two draws and a defeat.

The Red Giant now head to a well-deserved break before meeting again for pre-season in Mid-July, which will reportedly take place in Spain. 

While the players enjoy their break, Riveiro continues to work behind the scenes to get his team prepared for the next campaign. According to Ahly News, the Spaniard reportedly requested defensive reinforcements for next season.

"Spanish coach José Riveiro asked [club president] Mahmoud El Khatib to strengthen the defensive line,” journalist Ahmed Shobeir said.

He added. "He emphasized Al Ahly’s defence needs bolstering following errors at the Club World Cup, referring to it as “Ah minh Yani” (that’s how it is)."

The former Orlando Pirates boss emphasised the need to sign three new defenders.

"Riveiro officially asked for three new signings: a right-back, a centre-back, and a left-back," Shobeir said.

"Chairman Mahmoud El Khatib has strongly supported both Sports Director Mohamed Youssef and coach Riveiro, expressing confidence in their ability to deliver a historic season," he added. 

Chiefs Target Shinga's Price & Contract Details

Kaizer Chiefs are believed to be on the verge of signing a Portugal-based defender, and the Siya crew provides the latest on the situation.

The two parties are understood to have reached an agreement, and the player's European experience is believed to be one of the main factors in the move.

As previously reported by Soccer Laduma, Amakhosi are interested in FC Alverca defender Nkanyiso Shinga who they have been following for some time now. 

A transfer specialist with knowledge of European markets has discussed what the contract could be between Chiefs and the player. The insider also discussed the price Amakhosi are expected to have to pay for Shinga.

"Shinga has been offered a three-year contract and apparently all the personal terms are believed to have been agreed upon and the player is happy to leave Portugal and join Amakhosi. Chiefs are going to pay a transfer fee of around R4.5 million which is believed to be very fair considering that his club just got promoted in Portugal and considering his age as well. So, for now, that's the position and the player is currently in South Africa. The club also believes that they have looked at the experience of Shinga who has been playing in Portugal for over five years to help in their CAF Confederation Cup campaign. They believe he is better positioned than the other left backs because of his experience," the insider told Soccer Laduma.

Meanwhile, a second insider with knowledge of Chiefs' negotiations provides more detail on the length of the potential contract.

"Yes, it's a three-year contract but it has a one-year option on it. That means his could stay at the club until June 2029. You know Thabo Cele is believed to also have played a part in convincing Nkanyiso (Shinga) to come and join Chiefs as they know each other from KZN even before they left for Portugal," the second insider told the Siya crew.

Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment on the status of the signing but there was no response at the time of publishing this story.

Shinga is expected to be one of the few players who are set to be announced by the club before they leave for the Netherlands for their pre-season training camp.

Tso – What I Told Mdu Before Superb NBC Performance

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi has revealed what he told Kaizer Chiefs starlet Mduduzi Shabalala before his Nedbank Cup final performance, saying he’s happy with how things turned out in the game.

Shabalala came off the bench as Gaston Sirino’s replacement in Chiefs 2-1 win over Pirates in the final on Saturday.

His impact was immediate as a few minutes of him being on the field he started the movement that led to Yusuf Maart’s match and title winning goal.

Tso says he was frank with the 21-year-old a few days before the final that he needs to be himself and dig deep to contribute positively to his side

“I just said to him ‘boy, you just need to be yourself in the game and do what you can do best. I know it’s hard’,” said Tso on IDiski TV.

“‘Sometimes you find that you want to try something but it’s not working but what’s important is that you as an individual contribute even if you don’t have assistance but come with a plan because at the end of the day when you’ve got the ball the decision comes from you’.

“He said ‘grootman, it’s hard because sometimes you need assistance and you don’t get it’. Then I said unfortunately as a professional player when you are in that position you need to dig, show what you are capable of show us. I mean we can see that the boy is trying but he doesn’t have support but if you are not even trying you are as good as dead.

“Well done boy and this is what we want to see from you, to say yes there’s no movement but you tried something. I thought they had lost that action when he turned back but it happened that the ball went to [Ashley] Du Preez and Du Preez kept it alive and to the captain”.

Ngobeni: Pirates Made Me Feel You're Not Meant To Be There

After Patrick Maswanganyi had a mysterious disappearance from the Orlando Pirates squad late last year, former midfielder Clifford Ngobeni has revealed how the club has a bad history of protecting 'bad boys', even to the harm of other players.

It became a big topic of discussion in the football circles in December last year, after Maswanganyi missed back-to-back CAF Champions League matches against Al Ahly and Stade d'Abidjan, with no concrete reasons given.

Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro was at pains to explain why 'Tito' was not in the matchday squad, refusing to go into detail about a mysterious 'health' issue, opening room for the doubts that he was making up stories to cover up for the 27-year-old.

The incident was at the same time Monnapule Saleng also disappeared from the squad, where allegations emerged that the duo were not in the squad for disciplinary reasons.

Ngobeni, who joined The Buccaneers as one of the best midfielders in the country from Cape Town Spurs (formerly Ajax Cape Town) in 2010, has revealed how he was sidelined in favor of 'bad boys' in a team he competed with Andile Jali and Oupa Manyisa.

"In South Africa when you're a nice person they think you're a fool, they take you for granted. Bad boys in SA make it far. Pirates made me feel, no matter your discipline, humbleness, if you're not meant to be there, you're not meant to be there," Ngobeni said on Trap and Pass YouTube Channel.

"Competition, I was playing, it was me and Jali, (Isaac) Chansa was playing ahead as a ten, Oupa Manyisa (also) came up, that's when things started to be (shaky). As a footballer, it's fine to be sidelined but when you get another opportunity and get man of the match.

"And the next game you don't even play, you ask yourself (what happened?) and me where I come from we believe in merit. You play well, you play (the next game). I came to Pirates and things were completely different, different culture," Ngobeni alleged.

Pirates only won the double treble in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons after Ngobeni had already left, with Jali and Manyisa combination arguably the best in the country at the time.

Why Chiefs Don't Need Marquee Signings Revealed?

Kaizer Chiefs are expected to spend big on players to compete with rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates but former midfielder Keagan Dolly has hinted where the value is in recruitment.

Over the past decade, Chiefs have been bringing different personnel, with huge transfer fees, in the name of rebuilding but they have been getting the same results, of inconsistency and average performances.

Amakhosi were hopeful that their team could finally click with rated coach such as Nasreddine Nabi but the players have struggled to gel together.

What normally brings the team into form is a combination of certain players, whose telepathy drives the squad to be in the same rhythm.

Sundowns usually have this important element, even going back to the 'CBD' days ten years ago, where the combination of Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Dolly inspired Masandawana to their first CAF Champions League crown, among other major honours.

After the former Montpellier midfielder reunited with Billiat and Castro to a limited influence at Chiefs a few seasons ago, he has revealed why his combination, particularly with the Zimbabwean did not need coaching.

"At Ajax, Man United came down for pre-season, I was in the team, they brought the likes of Paul Scholes, Rio (Ferdinand), a few of their big name players and a few of their youngsters, Jesse Lingard was coming through," Dolly said in an interview on The All Rounder SA podcast.

"I was sitting in the dressing room thinking about my first game against United, I had a decent game, that paved the way for me at Ajax, that's the year I met Khama Billiat, the partnership started there.

"I just understood the way he plays, the way he makes his runs, we connected since then, from there I didn't look back. At first we weren't really friends but on the field we understood each other. He makes it so easy, even if it's a bad pass from you, his first touch is amazing. He might look small in stature but he's very strong, he doesn't lose balls easily. He makes you look good," the Westbury native midfielder added.

The last time Chiefs had an effective and winning team, they did not have to spend much but the scouting of unknown talent such as Knowledge Musona, Simphiwe Tshabalala (signed from a National First Division side) and belief in youngsters such as George Lebese, Mandla Masango, Itumeleng Khune, to mention a few was enough to carry them.

Even though Amakhosi appear to be in need of a personnel upgrade, scouting the right quality players would still be the deciding factor, not necessary the so-called marquee signings.

Nabi On Team’s Criticism From Chiefs Fans

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has called on the Khosi faithful to play their role in upliftment following criticism on Thabo Cele’s substitution as well as captain Yusuf Maart constantly getting the stick.

Chiefs’ technical team and Maart have received so much criticism from the supporters throughout the season, some even questioning Maart’s leadership skills as the club captain and others even doubting Nabi’s coaching abilities.

In the Nedbank Cup final against Pirates, Chiefs supporters showed signs of not being happy when Thabo Cele was taken off for Sibongiseni Mthethwa.

Nabi addressed that the supporters should support them even in difficult times, also emphasizing the importance of Maart in the team.

“It’s true that the fans get too emotional and because they wanted it so bad to win the cup, sometimes their reaction is emotional,” Nabi said after their Ke Yona Cup triumph.

“We noticed when we subbed off Thabo Cele, they were not very happy, but we knew what we were doing.

“And on the other hand, Yusuf Maart has been suffering a lot, by being unfairly attacked and we see his contributions, his captaincy comes under question, but we saw what he contributes, we need the fans in our worst moments to lift us up…”