RVP not sure about his future

Arsene Wenger did not manage to coax a commitment from Robin van Persie after face-to-face talks on Wednesday, the British media is reporting.

Dutch striker van Persie is heading into the last year of his contract with Arsenal, and the Gunners are anxious to tie their skipper down for the long-term.

The consensus is that Arsenal cannot afford to lose van Persie - who scored 37 goals in all competitions last season- at any price, if they are to mount a trophy challenge next season.

Van Persie wanted reassurances from Wenger that Arsenal will be able to meet his ambitions in the next campaign and thereafter.

Wenger is believed to have suggested that the signing of Lukas Podolski and other transfer targets will make the Gunners contenders again. But it has been reported that van Persie left the meeting unconvinced.

With teams like Juventus, Manchester City and Barcelona all allegedly keen on luring RVP away from the Emirates, Wenger may need to up his game significantly if he is to keep hold of his best player.

A new weekly salary of £130,000 is said to have been offered to van Persie, but that may not be enough to keep the Dutchman in North London.

He can earn as much, if not more, at his reported suitors. And unless Wenger can assure the striker that good times are afoot the Gunners, he could be hotfooting it from the Emirates to seek his fortune elsewhere like Cesc Fabregas. Soccer Laduma 

U/23 to play Argentina

South Africa’s Under-20 side will have to take on the likes of Argentina, Ghana and Nigeria in a friendly tournament to take place in Cape Town this month.

The Under-20 tournament will run from May 25 to June 3 and will see eight nations go head-to-head as they seek to prove their dominance in the youth scene.

Cape Town Stadium will host some of the games between the eight clubs but Amajita may have a tough job on their hands if they are to get through their group stage when they will face the South American giants, La Albiceleste, and the African powerhouses, The Eagles and The Black Stars.

The other group will see Japan, Cameroon and Kenya take on the mighty Brazil for places in the next round of the tournament, with the top two of each group making it through to the semi-finals. soccer Laduma

Bafana squad anounced

Pitso Mosimane during the press conference

The Bafana Bafana squad to play against Ethiopia on June 3 and Botswana six days later in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers has been announced – Siyabonga Nomvete is back in the fold.

The squad is:

GOALKEEPERS - Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns)

DEFENDERS - Bongani Khumalo (Tottenham Hotspur), Tsepo Masilela (Getafe), Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates)
Punch Masenamela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Kaizer Chiefs), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Club Genk), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Erick Mathoho (Bloemfontein Celtic)

MIDFIELDERS - Steven Pienaar (Everton), Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane (both Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam), Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa (both Orlando Pirates), Teko Modise, Lebohang Mokoena (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), May Mahlangu (Helsingborg IF), Mzikayise Mashaba (Free State Stars)

STRIKERS - Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tokelo Rantie (Orlando Pirates), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Eleazar Rodgers (Santos)

On standby: Thamsanqa Sangweni (Amazulu), Lehlohonolo Masalesa (Wits), Luvhengo Mungomeni (Moroka Swallows) Kickoff

Chiefs signs Gaxa

Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs, have confirmed the signing of Lierse SK’s Bafana Bafana international, Siboniso Gaxa.

The Siya crew reported earlier today on the Soccer-Laduma web and mobi-site that the 28-year-old was due to start training with Amakhosi tomorrow and it has now been confirmed on the club’s website that Gaxa has officially signed a contract with them.

A statement on the Chiefs website read, “Kaizer Chiefs would like to confirm the signing of Bafana Bafana international, Siboniso Gaxa from Belgium based side, Lierse SK. The highly rated 28-year-old defender has agreed to a three-year contract and with an option to renew for one year with the Soweto giants, becoming Chiefs’ first signing in preparation for next season.”

Gaxa was given his Bafana debut back in 2005 by Chiefs’ recently appointed coach, Stuart Baxter, and it is thought that the two are happy to be getting the opportunity to work together once again.

The former SuperSport United defender, who also played for Mamelodi Sundowns, has established himself as a Bafana regular and will be seen as an exceptional acquisition for the Glamour Boys. Soccer Laduma

Cosmos go down again

Cosmos relegated
Jomo Cosmos were relegated from the Premier Soccer League after a dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Black Leopards at the Sinaba Stadium on Wednesday.
Cosmos found themselves two goals down after a brace from Mongezi Bobe but they struck twice late on to bring things level, but it was not enough as they moved out of reach of second-placed Santos.
Lidoda Duvha were fairly solid in defence at the start and although there was some encouraging play from Ezenkosi, both sides mostly produced thumping shots which lacked accuracy throughout the first 45 minutes.
Katlego Loke had a great chance for the hosts in the ninth when he came into the area from the right and lashed a curling shot at goal but it swerved against the crossbar.
Matthew Rusike followed up with a chance soon after as he latched onto a drilled ball across the area but with some time to line up his shot, he hammered it over the crossbar.
Mongezi Bobe probably had the best opportunity for the visitors in the 25th minute but he rifled a shot way off target while Alois Ngwerume followed that example at the other end moments later when he was found in a great area but tried to pop the ball with a thunderous strike and instead sliced it wide.
Leopards had produced a few more efforts that did sail goalwards but it was nothing more than catching practice for Cosmos goalkeeper Avril Phali as the game remained locked at 0-0.
The second-half exploded into life and Leopards were lucky to have 11 men on the pitch after Humphrey Khoza seemed to have handled the ball on the line after Azwindini Maphaha was beaten.
Referee Robert Sithole followed up with an equally poor call when Kingston Nkhatha was hauled down after a mistake at the back allowed him to surge through but the referee waved play on.
Leopards would then start piling the dirt on Cosmos' coffin when Bobe latched onto a cross from Raymond Monama in the 72nd minute and got a vital touch to get it into the bottom corner.
Bobe would then double their advantage four minutes later when he curled a sublime strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the area as it look as though Lidoda Duvha had secured their safety.
Cosmos continued to fight though and scrambled a ball home in the 84th minute through Tshidiso Tukane which gave the hosts some hope.
Rusike the pulled the game level five minutes later when he was slipped in on the left and drilled his finish through the legs of the goalkeeper.
The hosts pressed in stoppage time and Rusike came within inches of securing the win for Cosmos but he was just unable to reach a low pass across the face of goal.
The result means that Cosmos have been relegated from the Premier Soccer League while Leopards will be kicking themselves as their safety will now go down to the final day of the season when they take on Ajax Cape Town. Soccer Laduma

Leopards make last 16

Black Leopards are through to the last 16 of the CAF Confederation Cup after they beat Warri Wolves 2-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

Leopards advanced to the next stage of the competition on the away goal rule, after they lost 3-1 in the first leg in Nigeria a fortnight ago.

Zimbabwean striker Kingston Nkatha proved to be the hero for Lidoda Duvha, scoring in each half for the win.

The home side deserved the win as they dominated from the first to last whistle, with midfielder Raymond Monama a marvel to watch in the middle of the park.

Despite their success in Africa, Leopards are still fighting relegation at home, and have to win both their remaining matches in the Premiership. Kickoff

Cosmos in danger

It is a huge evening for Jomo Cosmos on Wednesday: they must beat Black Leopards if they are to have any hope of avoiding direct relegation.

The teams meet at Sinaba Stadium, kick-off at 7.30pm.

Cosmos picked up a 1-1 draw at home to Maritzburg in their last League outing, extending their winless streak to seven matches.

Ezenkosi have picked up just one win from their 14 home matches this season – two wins in total – and are 16th on the log with 18 points from 28 matches.

Meanwhile, Leopards played to a goalless draw away to Bidvest Wits in their last League outing, extending their winless streak to five matches.

The Limpopo side has picked up three away wins from their previous 14 away matches this season.

Lidoda Duvha are 14th on the log with 25 points from 28 matches, and will secure a place in the top-flight next season if they win.

In head-to-head stats, Cosmos and Leopards have met in 15 League matches since 2001/02, and each side has five wins. There have also been five draws, and even the goals scored stats are close: 19 for Leopards, 18 for Cosmos.

When the teams met earlier this season in Limpopo they played to a 1-1 draw.
Cosmos' line-up from their 1-1 draw with Maritzburg: Phali, Kobola, Matete, Shitolo, Loke (Burds 83), Haskins (B Sono 77), Samb, S Nhlapo, Tshabalala, Mkwanazi, Nontshinga (Meiring 82)

Leopards' line-up from their 0-0 draw with Wits: Maphaha, Dzaga, Khoza, Mabusela, Xakane, Ramagalela, Banda, Duiker, Mapolisa (Taaibos 70), Monama (Obaje 50), Nkatha. Kickoff