Boa Morte joins Pirates

Orlando Pirates boss Irvin Khoza has confirmed the signing of Luis Boa Morte on an 18-month deal.

Morte, an ex-Portuguese international, previously turned out for Arsenal and West Ham United in the UK.

The 34-year old won the English Premier League in 1998 with Arsenal and reunites with ex-West Ham teammate Benni McCarthy at the club.

Boa Morte was until recently in the books of Greek club, Larrissa but his contract was reportedly terminated at the European club and McCarthy convinced him to come down to South Africa.

Khoza says: "I must thank Benni McCarthy, who made me aware of the desire of Luis to play for Pirates… He is now owned by the spiritual owners of the team."

Boa Morte says: "I'm happy to be here to continue my football career and hopefully I will remain here for many seasons as long as I'm fit." Kickoff

Downs make another offer for Myeni

In strange twist of events, Mamelodi Sundowns have made an offer to Bidvest Wits for the services of want-away midfielder Sifiso Myeni.

Don't miss: Myeni is 'leaving for the cash'
Myeni: 'I want to leave Wits'
“At Downs careers go down” – Myeni

Myeni has recently been reported to have attracted the interest of the so-called big teams, but Wits mentor Roger de Sa reveals big-spending Sundowns are the only club to have made an offer.

"Besides the Sundowns offer we have not received anything for the player," de Sa says, although he refuses to reveal the figures.

"He has been talking to them and it now depends on him whether he accepts the offer or not. We do not have a say on that one. However, he has been good and has been open with me regarding the discussions."

If it sails through, the move will be a surprise, considering Myeni's comments last year, when he told KickOff.com he was not contemplating a move to Downs:

"When you go to Sundowns your career goes down and I don't want to be one of the victims."

At the time, however, Sundowns were without a coach, and Myeni, perhaps wisely, also queried who was signing players at that stage: "For me it is better to go to a team where the coach wants you, not where team managers or bosses like you, because what will happen if the new coach comes and doesn’t like you?"

Myeni, who is returning to action after eight weeks of injury, and star left-back Patrick Phungwayo have been much speculated about during the January transfer window, but De Sa says they have not received an offer for the latter.

De Sa adds that other than Myeni and Phungwayo, Wits are not willing to sell any of their players.  Kickoff

Platinum Stars Loan Bucs Trio

Orlando Pirates have loaned three of their players to struggling PSL side Platinum Stars for the next six months, until the end of the season.

The three players are defender Lucas Thwala, striker Malawian international Chiukepo Msowoya and Patrick Malokase. A source at the club told the Siya crew that the deal was made possible with the help of former Pirates administrative manager, Floyd Mbele, who is now at Stars.

“I know Floyd (Mbele) played a major role as he has played a part in bringing mainly Msowoya and Malokase to Pirates so I think he has influenced their move as well. It is good for the players because they have not been playing at Pirates,” said the source.

Asked for comment, Mickey Modisane confirmed to the crew that the three players are out on loan to Platinum Stars.

“As a matter of fact they will be going to Rustenburg today to join Stars. We wish them all the best as that will help keep them fit. They are still Pirates players and by playing regularly for Platinum Stars it will help have a strong Pirates squad next season but now they have to help Stars as well,” Modisane concluded. Soccer Laduma

Ntuka stabbed to death

Former Kaizer Chiefs and South African Under-23 international, Jeffrey Ntuka, was stabbed to death in Kroonstad last night, Friday, January the 20th.

On hearing of the news, the Siya crew contacted Ntuka’s agent, Michael Hughes of Stellar Africa, who knew nothing of the stabbing at the time. Hughes subsequently got in touch with Ntuka’s wife who confirmed that her husband was stabbed to death in Kroonstad.

The details of the event are sketchy at the moment, with very little information coming out of Kroonstad. However, a police investigation is expected.

The defender was a well travelled footballer, having spent time at Chelsea in England whereafter he went on loan to Westerlo in Belgium. On returning to home soil from Europe, he turned out in the colours of Kaizer Chiefs before joining SuperSport United.

At the time of his death Ntuka was 26-years-old. Soccer-Laduma wish the Ntuka family our deepest condolences. Rest in peace Ntuka. Soccer Laduma

Leal gives thanks to the fans

After playing three games in the season and achieving a tremendous success (despite the loss to Maritzburg United) I feel compelled to inform you that the overall balance the technical team has made looks promising.
We went to Pretoria on Sunday, conscious that we would get a hostile reception from the fans of Mamelodi Sundowns as they had to win the game, but the maturity and professionalism of our players was bigger than any adversity we had to deal with in that particular game.
The team is not yet playing at 100% in terms of how we are gradually introducing our own philosophy of playing, but we are certain that with the indications we have seen so far, we are not too distant in getting the team to play the brand of football we believe will set us well on course to preserve the status and pride of the Club.
I can categorically assure our fans, members and everyone associated with the club, that the will to win in camp is enormous, and this super-desire has given us an extra motivation to fight to win at all times.
I am humbled by the never say die attitude not only from the players, but from the fans too, who have been our source of inspiration.
This season our motto in the team shall be: “One for all, and all for Pirates,” and we are positive that with this mentality, we can certainly take the team to a place where it belongs.
We will resume training this morning after giving the players a break for Monday and Tuesday. It’s back to business as we start preparing for the final against Kaizer Chiefs.
This is a very important game for us, and with the grace of God, we will do all we can and try to win that match and retain the Cup.
May God be with us in this endeavour; it is not easy, but with Him we can certainly do all things.
Once a Pirate, always a Pirate. www.orlandoPirates.com

Modise we can come back with 3 points

Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko Modise believes the national team has what it takes to return victorious from Niger.

South Africa will lock horns with that country in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that will be played on Sunday, at the General Seyni Kountche Stadium.

Modise returns to the Bafana Bafana set-up after an absence of almost a year. He last played for his country in the 2012 Afcon qualifier against Sierra Leone in Freetown.

"I am really excited to be back in the squad as I have been working very hard on my game at club level. The call-up though, came as a shock because I did not expect it to come so soon.

"Whether I play or not on Sunday is another matter, but I am just happy to be part of the national team again. I have also seen a lot of improvement in the squad and I believe we have players capable of winning things.

"It's a different feeling and I see everyone wants to play for Bafana Bafana which is a good sign and should help in getting the required results. It's a big change since the last time I was here, we have quality players, the whole squad is full of confidence and that along gives us a chance to do well in Niamey," says Modise.

The midfielder is one of the most experienced players in the current squad with 58 caps to his name. He has been sharing his experiences with the younger players in the team like Eric Mathoho, Oupa Manyisa, Thulani Serero and Daylon Claasen.

Modise is confident that Bafana Bafana can return with positive results in Niamey.

"This is by far the toughest game for us as we will be playing away. But we will need to fight to get what we want. The good thing is that we know what is at stake, we know what we are up against, we know what we want and we know how to get it. We have been in this situation before when we went to Sierra Leone and Egypt where we managed to come back with points, so I am confident we can do the same again."

This is the second time that Manyisa has been called into the squad. He hasn't donned the national team colours, but he is hopeful of a getting his first cap very soon.

"Every player wants to play for their country, but I am not in a hurry because I know I will get my chance. I have been doing well at club level but I don't think I am under pressure to get a run, my time will come and when it does I will just do my best," says Manyisa. Kickoff

Eto'o risks racism for cash

Samuel Eto'o will become the best-paid athlete in the history of sport by joining Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala from Inter Milan.

The Cameroon superstar must have decided top level football is no longer that important to him, after his scintillating career in Spain in Europe, which saw him become a Champions League trophy magnet.

His decision to move to Russia seems to be a business one, rather than a sporting one.

Yesterday the suddenly high profile Russian team announced that it had reached an agreement with Inter to sign Eto'o.

".... an agreement was reached between the football clubs, Anzhi and Inter, for the transfer of Samuel Eto'o. The terms of the transfer are completely agreed on both sides," Azhi said.

"Anzhi expresses gratitude to the leadership of Inter Milan for their professional and constructive approach in the negotiations. Tomorrow the player will undergo a medical examination, following which the player will be awarded a three-year contract. On Thursday Samuel will arrive at the location of his new team and will begin preparations for the match against FC Rostov."

Eto'o is expected to earn as much as £17.9million per season in Russia.

One hopes that the money is enough to make Eto'o happy in Russia, a notoriously racist place where black and African players have been abused in the past.

Eto'o himself has been the victim of racist abuse in Europe before, and while he is undoubtedly a mentally strong character, will the money be enough to compensate for putting himself in the firing line of further abuse? Soccer Laduma