Five Kaizer Chiefs players on the brink of suspension

In-form Kaizer Chiefs might need to shuffle their pack in upcoming fixtures so that key operators are available against Sundowns.

Chiefs quintet walk the suspension tightrope

Lebohang Maboe, Flavio Silva, Mfundo Vilakazi, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo are all one booking away from a suspension. There are only five matches left of Kaizer Chiefs’ season. The Glamour Boys will feel aggrieved to have let a lead slip in the Soweto Derby on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Pirates. Next, they travel to Siwelele on Wednesday, 29 April, with kickoff at 19:30. The match will be on DStv channel 202. Could we see a few faces rested for that clash to preserve them for the league leaders? extract-html.com

Remaining Kaizer Chiefs fixtures

• Wed, 29 Apr: Siwelele vs Chiefs
• Wed, 6 May: Sundowns vs Chiefs
• Sun, 10 May: Sekhukhune vs Chiefs
• Sat, 16 May: AmaZulu vs Chiefs
• Sat, 23 May: Chiefs vs Chippa

Chiefs players playing for their futures

According to various reports, as many as seven senior players have their Kaizer Chiefs contracts expiring in June. They are Gaston Sirino, Khanyisa Mayo, Zitha Kwinika, Bruce Bvuma, Dillan Solomons, Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Pule Mmodi.

Head coach Leo Cullen has confirmed that three key players are on track to be fit for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon in Dublin.

Backs James Lowe and Jordan Larmour, along with loose forward Diarmuid Mangan, have all returned to training this week.

The trio had been under an injury cloud and their participation in training has given the four-time European cup champions a boost ahead of the knockout clash at the Aviva Stadium.

ALSO: Leinster wary of Toulon ‘second arrow’

However, there is still uncertainty around veteran tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong, who limped off in Leinster’s Vodacom URC defeat to Benetton last week.

“Tadhg Furlong is due to be further assessed for an injury he picked up against Benetton and a decision will be made on his availability later in the week,” Cullen said.

Flyhalf Charlie Tector will definitely miss the Toulon clash due to a shoulder problem.

There were no further updates on long-term absentees including Springbok lock RG Snyman, Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Paddy McCarthy and Alex Usanov.

Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The post Leinster get triple boost for Toulon duel appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Le PSG affronte ce soir le Bayern Munich en demi-finale aller de la Ligue des Champions (19h00 GMT), au Parc des Princes. Une affiche de très haut niveau entre deux prétendants sérieux au titre. Ce match représente aussi un véritable défi personnel pour Luis Enrique. En Ligue des Champions, le technicien espagnol affiche un bilan globalement défavorable face au Bayern Munich, avec une seule victoire pour trois défaites. Son unique succès remonte à 2015, lorsqu’il dirigeait le FC Barcelone. Ce soir-là, les Catalans s’étaient imposés 3-0 en demi-finale aller. Depuis, les confrontations ont été plus compliquées, notamment lors de son passage au PSG, où le Bayern a souvent pris l’avantage. Un Bayern solide et redoutable Le Bayern Munich reste l’un des clubs les plus redoutés d’Europe. Doté d’une grande puissance offensive, il fait partie des équipes les plus efficaces du continent. Habitué aux grands rendez-vous, le club bavarois impressionne par son intensité, son organisation et son expérience à ce niveau de la compétition. Un enjeu capital avant le match retour Au-delà du prestige, cette demi-finale aller est déjà déterminante pour la qualification. Le PSG devra essayer de prendre un avantage à domicile avant un déplacement difficile en Allemagne. De son côté, le Bayern cherchera à obtenir un résultat positif au Parc des Princes afin d’aborder le match retour dans les meilleures conditions. Une rencontre où chaque détail comptera dans la course à la finale.

L’article Ligue des Champions PSG – Bayern Munich : Luis Enrique face à un adversaire qui lui résiste est apparu en premier sur AfricaFootUnited.

Mamelodi Sundowns can inch ahead of Orlando Pirates in an intriguing title race when they next take the pitch. Here are the details.

Sundowns hope to return to the top

Mamelodi Sundowns, champions of South Africa in each of the last eight seasons, will be crowned as the nation’s best side again if they win their five remaining matches. They trail rivals Orlando Pirates by a single point, but have a game in hand. Next up for the Brazilians is a trip to Polokwane City on Wednesday, 29 April. Kickoff is at 19:30.

What about Orlando Pirates?

Pirates have a lengthy period to reflect on a somewhat disappointing draw with Kaizer Chiefs. The Glamour Boys took the lead on Sunday through Pule Mmodi, and Mike Sebelebele equalised with 15 minutes left on the clock. It’s not a horrendous result, but they’ll be usurped at the summit if Sundowns beat Polokwane on Wednesday. The Sea Robbers meet Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands on Tuesday, 5 May. Kickoff is at 19:30.

Kaizer Chiefs co-head coach Khalil Ben Youssef has praised the impact Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu have had at Amakhosi.

Chiefs’ new recruits

Maboe and Ndlovu were both added to the Chiefs ranks this season and their experience has been key in Amakhosi’s much improved performances in the Betway Premiership.

ALSO READ: Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns all in race for Polokwane defender

Chiefs finished ninth in the table last season, but head into their last five games of this campaign in third. If Amakhosi can finish in that position they will qualify for the Caf Confederation Cup for the second successive season.

Ben Youssef and Cedri Kaze’s side take on Siwelele this evening at the Free State Stadium, with a chance to extend their lead over fourth-placed AmaZulu to eight points.

Maboe came to Chiefs having won multiple Betway Premiership titles at Mamelodi Sundowns, while Ndlovu spent three seasons at Orlando Pirates.

Both have been key players as Chiefs have gone seven Premiership games in a row unbeaten, heading into their clash with Siwelele. And both started on Sunday as Chiefs held title chasing Pirates to a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium.

“I think Maboe and Ndlovu are both showing good combinations with each other,” said Ben Youssef.

“They know how to play football. They are smart players and give us more balance defensively and offensively.”

Chiefs’ goalscorer against Pirates was Pule Mmodi, the forward netting his first goal for Amakhosi this season in domestic competition. His only other goal was the winner against Zesco United in the Caf Confederation Cup group stages at the end of January.

Mmodi, indeed, had not featured in Chiefs’ squad for three league games before the Pirates match.

Ben Youssef – ‘We have to make rotations’

“We have a big squad, we have to make rotations,” said Ben Youssef.

“If we make rotations people ask why we don’t keep players and if we keep players people ask why we don’t rotate.

“People from the outside are not in training sessions. We are there every day with them for six hours, in training and after. We are the only ones able to judge which players can play. It is about the training sessions, we don’t have ‘names’ here.”

ALSO READ: Chiefs’ Petersen hits back at critics

Lehlohonolo Seema’s Siwelele last lost a home match in the league on September 23, a 1-0 defeat by Pirates.

Siwelele, indeed, have lost just one of their last 12 Premiership matches, but have also won just two. They are the league’s draw specialists, with 11 so far in 25 games played.