Ouaddou sends strong message after Stellenbosch win

Orlando Pirates beat Stellenbosch FC 2-0 at the Athlone Stadium to close the gap on Betway Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to two points.

Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has insisted the result keeps his side firmly in the title fight.

ABDESLAM OUADDOU: THIS RESULT LETS US STAY IN THE TITLE RACE

The Sea Robbers now sit just two points behind Sundowns at the top of the table, with Ouaddou’s men refusing to let the champions run away with the title. milkshakeslot.com

The Buccaneers arrived at Athlone Stadium knowing anything less than victory would make the gap even harder to chase down.

Instead, Pirates delivered a disciplined performance, with first-half goals from Evidence Makgopa and Patrick Maswanganyi proving decisive.

But for Ouaddou, the focus was less on the scoreline and more on the nature of the contest against a well-drilled Stellenbosch side.

“I think we had the game that we expected. We know it’s never easy to come and play Stellenbosch,” he said.

He stressed the intensity required to compete against organised opposition, especially in a high-pressure title run-in.

“You know when you play the teams of Gavin Hunt, Gavin Hunt is an experienced coach… We started the game like we wanted, very well organised but with the high, high intensity. We knew that here we need to answer to these physical duels,” Ouaddou added.

“I think we were efficient in the set pieces in the first half. We made some tactical adjustments to have this control in the second half… but I don’t think that we had this control. It’s normal, the opponent was pushing to come equalise.

Also read: Reports: Kaizer Chiefs to sign Orlando Pirates striker?

“It’s a fantastic result. It lets us stay in the title race. The guys were very brave, I’m so proud of them. I’m very proud to be the coach of these boys.”

“Today, we saw real warriors and players that clearly give answer to say that we are still here and we’re going to fight until the last second.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Mamelodi Sundowns currently lead the standings but face a demanding run-in, starting with a home clash against Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday, 6 May at 19:30, followed by Siwelele FC on Saturday, 9 May, and an away trip to TS Galaxy on Tuesday, 12 May.

Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, continue their chase with three matches remaining, starting away to Magesi FC on Saturday, 9 May, before hosting Durban City FC on Saturday, 16 May, and finishing away to Orbit College on Saturday, 23 May.

Frans Steyn says the equation for the Cheetahs is simple as they head into the final round of the SA Cup: beat Griquas or kiss your Currie Cup dreams goodbye.

The Cheetahs sit third on the log with their place in South Africa’s premier provincial competition hanging by a thread. Only the top four SA Cup sides will qualify for the Currie Cup, and while several mathematical scenarios exist, Steyn admits there’s really only one option.

“The ball is in our hands. We must win and that’s it,” the Cheetahs coach told the media on Tuesday.

It’s a daunting assignment. Griquas have swept all eight matches in the competition and haven’t lost to the Cheetahs in their last seven official encounters – a run that includes one draw.

SA CUP: High-flying Griquas lead the pack

But Steyn insists his side won’t be rolling over in Bloemfontein on Friday.

“They are a very good team and things are going very well with them at the moment. They have had quite a while to build this group,” he said.

“We can’t make mistakes at all, because they have a bunch of lethal players off mistakes. That’s where they’ve really hurt us the last few years. So we have to be at our best.”

The Cheetahs have placed themselves in this precarious position and Steyn knows it. After four consecutive away matches and endless bus trips, they’re finally back at the Free State Stadium.

“Fortunately the match is at the graveyard. It’s nice and green now, but come Friday, we’re going to have to turn it into a graveyard,” he warned.

Griquas have already secured a home semi-final, but Steyn dismissed any notion that Pieter Bergh’s side will arrive with reduced intensity.

“Listen, I know Pieter Bergh. To think for one moment they are going to show up … And we want it more than them. That’s not going to happen.”

SA Cup Round 9 fixtures
Friday, 8 May
Cheetahs vs Griquas (6pm)
Pumas vs Griffons (7pm)
Saturday, 9 May
SWD Eagles vs Leopards (3pm)
Boland Cavaliers vs Eastern Province (3pm)
Border Bulldogs vs Valke (3:30pm)

Photo: Danie van der Lith/Gallo Images

The post Frans: Cheetahs must win appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Attack coach Neil de Bruin says the Vodacom Bulls cannot afford to underestimate URC basement dwellers Zebre on Saturday, or risk dropping out of the playoffs race.

The seventh-placed Bulls host a Zebre outfit at the foot of the table, with 34 points separating the teams before the Loftus clash and two rounds left of the regular season.

But, De Bruin insists there is “certainly no complacency” and that the Herd are solely focused on the task at hand.

“Underestimate Zebre? I can assure you there is none of that,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“Especially given our position and how open the playoff spots are, everyone understands the importance of the next few weeks.

PLUS: Bulls get backline boost for Zebre duel

“If you don’t do the right things, by the time you open your eyes you could have missed the playoffs completely.

“It’s about getting your next job right. The next scrum, the next tackle, the next assignment. Those moments add up to a result.”

De Bruin joined the Bulls at the end of 2025 and found a team that could score tries with ease, but was leaking tries at an alarming rate.

To find the right balance between attack and defence, he explains, all 15 players on the field had to commit to both aspects of the game. “It’s definitely a team effort,” De Bruin added.

“If we defend well, like we have been the last couple of weeks, getting transition moments and stopping the opposition from going forward, it really does help our attack.

“Whether you kick more or are a possession-based side… it’s almost like a yin and a yang effect where you can’t have too much of one or the other.”

“It’s about knowing when to keep the ball and when to play. Those small decisions will be crucial.”

Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

The post Bulls only have eyes on ‘next job’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

En cette fin de saison, où le tableau d’honneur sera restreint à quatre clubs professionnels sur les 16 qui ont performé -soit quatre représentants au niveau des deux compétitions interclubs africaines – le débat est relancé de plus belle sur la gouvernance des clubs algériens. Sur les réseaux sociaux, la multiplication
des analyses renseigne non seulement sur le degré d’intérêt qu’accordent les supporters et suiveurs de football, mais surtout du niveau de certains qui interpelle les responsables et autres dirigeants des instances et des clubs professionnels en particulier.

Ainsi, certains se sont amusés à établir le classement des clubs de la Ligue 1 Mobilis en fonction de leurs budgets respectifs, corrélé au classement sportif, démontrant que ce n’est pas forcément celui qui a dépensé le plus qui est champion ou vainqueur de la Coupe d’Algérie. A ce jeu, le CR Belouizdad, premier de ce classement avec ses 350 milliards de centimes de budget, incarne une certaine «faillite » puisque le club de Laâquiba sort de la saison 2025-2026, sans le moindre titre et devra cravacher, pour accrocher une place qualificative pour l’une des deux compétitions interclubs.

A contrario, le MC Alger, qui se dirige tout droit vers son troisième titre de champion consécutif n’aura dépensé que 180 milliards de centimes, bien loin derrière l’USM Alger, vainqueur de la Coupe d’Algérie (240) et la JS Kabylie (260) qui, pour sa part, risque fortement la saison blanche (7e au classement avec 38 points). Les Canaris sont même dépassés par un club au budget moindre, le MC Oran, aujourd’hui sur la troisième marche du podium avec 210 milliards de centimes et qui ambitionne de renouer avec la compétition continentale, même si le Chabab compte 4 matchs en retard et l’USMA 5, mais déjà assuré une place pour l’Afrique.

Le débat ne restera pas là, puisqu’il a été poussé en corrélant les budgets avec les Chiffres d’affaires (CA) des entreprises détenant en totalité ou en partie les actions. Et, à ce jeu le débat est relancé sur le niveau de contribution de chaque entité économique publique par rapport à son CA. On note des disparités flagrantes mises en évidence par les analystes : Sonatrach (MCA), 45 milliards de dollars, Serport (USMA), 6 milliards, Hyproc (MCO) et Mobilis (JSK), 4 milliards et Madar (CRB), 3 milliards. Ce survol, très superficiel, met déjà en relief la photographie des clubs professionnels et les doléances des supporters de revoir les budgets à la hausse afin de concurrencer les autres grosses cylindrées du continent.

Une analyse qu’on affinera probablement par d’autres approches plus approfondies, qui prennent, au moins, les cinq exigences d’éligibilité pour l’obtention de la Licence de club professionnel imposé par la CAF
à travers son système CLOP, à savoir les volets ; sportif, infrastructurel, ressource humaine, administratif et juridique. Instructif et stratégique à connaître.

LAFORDASSE

L’article ALG : Les budgets des clubs et l’apport des entreprises font débat est apparu en premier sur Foot Afrique.

Bien qu'une Église orthodoxe placée sous le Patriarcat grec d'Alexandrie soit déjà implantée au Congo-Brazzaville, le pays, qui entretient de très bonnes relations avec Moscou, vient officiellement d'accorder un certificat d'enregistrement à l'Église orthodoxe russe sur son territoire, selon l'agence de presse russe Tass. Si la démarche est contraire à la tradition de l'orthodoxie mondiale, elle s'inscrit dans le cadre d'un projet stratégique global de la Russie, selon les experts.