Atletico Champions of Europa League

Atletico Madrid claimed Europa League honours with a classy 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao in Bucharest, Romania on Wednesday night.
Radamel Falcao struck a first-half brace before Diego secured the silverware late on at the National Arena.
Atletico made the ideal start to the final, as Falcao fashioned some space in the box before bending the ball home barely seven minutes in.
At the other end, goalkeeper Thibault Courtois did well to foil Iker Muniain's menacing shot from distance midway through the stanza.
However, Falcao got his second goal - and 12th of the competition this season - with a powerful strike from close range in the 34th minute.
The 26-year-old Colombian nearly got a hat-trick but he cleared the cross bar just before the break.
Diego threatened shortly after the interval, as he poked wide after controlling a free-kick on his chest.
Bilbao struggled to impress in the final third, with Inigo Perez and Oscar de Marcos unleashing rare efforts over before Diego responded with a clinical finish in the 86th minute.
Perez then rattled the cross bar from 25 yards in the dying stages of the encounter.-Soccer Laduma

With no conclusive evidence if Andy Carroll’s header crossed the line in the FA Cup final last weekend, there were increased calls for the adoption of goal-line technology in football yet again.

It was the latest in a long line of controversial incidents to have exposed  football as living in the dark ages of sport.

Fifa has been making the right noises of late, suggesting that the technology could soon be ready.

As a result, the English Premier League claimed a few months ago that goal-line tech could be in operation in the English top-flight next season.

But now the FA has admitted that next season will be too soon, and that cameras on the goal-line will only be in use by the start of 2012-13 season at the soonest.

Fifa is expected to make an official decision on goal-line technology in July this year, and the FA says that means it will be too late to move on the decision before the start of the next campaign.

The news will disappoint most members of the football community, who believe it is time for the most popular sport on the planet to catch up with other forward thinking sporting codes.

"[Goal-line technology is] imminent and we'll look to put it in front of our clubs as soon as we practically can in terms of implementation," the FA’s chief executive Richard Scudamore told Sky Sports.

“But it is unlikely to be for next season given the time scales involved - Fifa approving it and the start of our season for time, many logistical things would need to happen so unlikely for next season but as soon as we can". Soccer Laduma

Chiefs beat Ajax 2-0

Shabba was named man of the match.

Kaizer Chiefs continued their return to form when they scored in each half to beat Ajax Cape Town 2-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night.
Amakhosi enjoyed the perfect start to the game when a slick passing move culminated with Letsholonyane slotting the ball into the bottom corner just seven minutes into the game.
Ajax had the chance to respond in the 16th minute after they were given a free-kick for Tinashe Nengomasha's challenge on Khama Billiat but they were unable to test Itumeleng Khune.
Sander Westerveld then had to make an important touch on a dangerous cross into the area while Geroge Maluleka worked Khune with a powerful strike after stealing possession at the back.
Letsholonyane continued to produce some excellent passes for Chiefs as he released Josta Dladla but his cross to Jimmy Tau at the back post caused the whistle to go for offside.
The hosts should have added a second in the 28th minute after a swift counter-attack but Siphiwe Tshabalala's crisp strike bounced back off the base of the post.
Letsholonyane had a chance to double his tally at the far post in the 39th minute but he was unable to direct his header on target.
Ajax finished the half well with Billiat and Cole Alexander getting in the way of one another after a decent cross into the area.
Khune then had to dive on the ball after Keegan Ritchie's powerful clearance rebounded off and Ajax player and rolled toward the bottom corner.
Chiefs survived a couple of late corners, with Matthew Booth coming close to connecting with one, as the hosts held on to their 1-0 advantage.
Letsholonyane didn't emerge from the tunnel after suffering a knock to the ankle in the first period and Lucky Baloyi was introduced in his place shortly after the restart.
Khune had to make a diving punch to deal with an Ajax free-kick in the 49th minute while Majoro almost slipped Baloyi in at the other end.
The Urban Warriors were pushing forward and saw Brent Carelse nod a chance wide in the 55th minute before Tshabalala's effort seven minutes later flashed past the post. Westerveld then came out to clear after the Bafana Bafana midfielder looked to burst through.
Chiefs would strike against the run of play five minutes later when a superb pass from Tshabalala found Bernard Parker who scooped his finish over the on-rushing Westerveld.
Lincoln Zvasiya almost added a third four minutes later but his downward header popped straight into the arms of the grateful Westerveld.
Chiefs were looking dangerous on the counter and Parker would feel a little aggrieved after he went down in the area under a slight clip but was booked for simulation.
The visitors continued to search for a way back into the game and Billiat would guide a shot wide with nine minutes to go.
Chiefs controlled the ball well in the final few minutes to see out the rest of the game and secured a second consecutive win for Amakhosi.- Soccer Laduma
Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Jimmy Tau, Lincoln Zvasiya, Tefu Mashamaite, Keegan Ritchie, Josta Dladla, Tinashe Nengomasha, Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Lucky Baloyi 47'), Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lehlohonolo Majoro (Kaizer Motaung Jr 65'), Bernard Parker (George Lebese 82').
Ajax: Sander Westerveld, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Matthew Booth, Thato Mokeke, Keamogetsi Wolff, George Maluleka, Cole Alexander (Nhlanhla Vilakazi 45'), Khama Billiat, Tafadzwa Rusike (Alcardo van Graan 84'), Brent Carelse (George Akpabio 66'), Lebogang Manyama.
Goals: Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Chiefs 7'), Bernard Parker (Chiefs 67')

Baxter the new K.Chiefs coach

Former Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter returns to SA to coach Chiefs.

Johannesburg - Englishman Stuart Baxter is returning to South Africa as coach of Kaizer Chiefs, the country's most popular club said on their website on Monday.

Baxter, a former coach of South Africa and Finland, has also worked at club level in Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Japan.

The 58-year-old will take over at the start of next season, replacing Serbian Vladimir Vermezovic, who was fired just two months short of ending his three-year contract without any title success.

Chiefs hold the record for the most trophies in South African football but have not won the league since 2005.

Baxter coached South Africa's national team for 18 months between 2004 and 2005 but left after failing to qualify the side for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. - Reuters

AmaTuks win and close in on promotion

Posted: 2012-05-09 17:22
Pretoria University have secured a 2-0 victory over FC Cape Town and have one foot in the Absa Premiership. 

They need Blackburn Rovers to draw or lose tonight and will then be in the top-flight. Rovers host Dynamos at 19h30 in Buffalo City.

Steve Barker’s Pretoria University opened the scoring in the 14th minute through Thokoani Sekotlong. He latched onto a cross by veteran midfielder Esau Mtsweni and tapped in from close range.

Then it was the turn of Mtsweni. The former Black Aces and Bidvest Wits man drilled in a shot from inside the danger area to make it 2-0 after 22 minutes.

AmaTuks were in full control of the match for the first 30 minutes, but came under some pressure in the second half.

Nevertheless, their defence held strong and was marshalled very well by former Moroka Swallows defender Tebogo Monyai.

On loan SuperSport United midfielder Philani Khwela, who was once destined for European football, came on as substitute for AmaTuks.

Kickoff

Helsingborg battling to keep Mahlangu

Posted: 2012-03-08 10:22

Swedish side Helsingborg have reiterated their desire to keep Bafana Bafana international May Mahlangu amid reports of interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray this week.

Mahlangu has been the subject of much speculation over the past 12 months, with Dutch duo Feyenoord and Ajax Amsterdam reportedly interested, as well as Spanish La Liga outfit Villarreal.

And the Turkish media reported this week that Galatasaray will look to sign him when the transfer window reopens in July in Europe, though Helsingborg claim they have had no contact from the Turks.

“We have not had contact with Galatasaray. There has been much speculation about May and I understand that clubs are interested in him, but we have not been in contact with Galatasaray,” says Helsingborg club director Paul Myllenberg.

Asked whether any clubs had expressed an interest, Myllenberg hinted that there may have been talks by adding: “Not in the form of a written bid.”

“There are always rumours about good players, but they are not worth anything more than arousing a great interest in the player. He is the Allsvenskan's [Swedish League] best midfielder, so it's not particularly surprising. But something more than that, there is nothing to report.

“Anyway, we want to keep him – we want to play UEFA Champions League group games here in the fall [autumn]. And we want to play with May.”

Mahlangu recently played his second Bafana international in the 0-0 draw with Senegal, where he put in a lively performance.

He made his national team debut in January against Equatorial Guinea, ending any chance of the Swedish Football Association luring him to play for that country on the national stage.

Galatasaray are perennial challengers for the Turkish League and currently have a six-point lead at the top of the table this season with a game in hand.

Their domestic success means they get to get to play plenty of European football, though their recent appearances have been in the UEFA Europa League.

Mzansi Football and KickOff.com

Bafana drop two more places

Posted: 2012-03-07 11:33

South Africa have continued their downward spiral in the latest FIFA World Rankings, dropping two more places to 60th.

Bafana Bafana are still 10th in Africa, with Ivory Coast, Ghana and Algeria making up the top three, and new Nations Cup champions Zambia in fourth place.

Congo (101st, up 29), Chad (112th, up 29) and São Tomé e Príncipe (115th, up 23) were the biggest climbers on the continent thanks to their victories in their 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers.

Spain still lead the way, with Netherlands moving up one place to second spot following their 3-2 victory against England.

Germany are third, followed by Uruguay and Brazil.

Ryan Cooper (Kickoff)