The Mozambique international reclaimed his position in the starting lineup as the left-back, replacing S’fiso Hlanti, following a challenging period of injury, which he gratefully acknowledges is now in the past.

“Obviously, it wasn’t how I wanted the season to start for me. It is difficult, as a player, not to be on the field doing what we love, but I just had to deal with it in a positive way and try to focus on my recovery. I’m happy now that it’s a thing of the past and I am back with the gents,” he tells Chiefs website.

“It was amazing to come back into the team and contribute with a goal and a good performance,” he says.

“I have been eager to get back so when my chance came I wanted to play well and contribute to the team, and I am happy I did.

“Obviously, there are areas where I can improve. It wasn’t a 100 percent perfect game, but we learn every day.

“I should also give credit to my teammates because, at certain times in the match I felt a bit tired, this being my first game and lacking match fitness, but the guys kept pushing me and motivating me to keep going.”

“I want to thank the fans for always being with me. Even when I wasn’t playing, I always felt their love and care for me, which I appreciate very much.”

The sale of match tickets commenced at 15h00 PM on Thursday, 28 September and within 18 hours, on Friday, they were completely sold out.

The highly anticipated MTN8 final is scheduled to take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, October 7, kicking off at 18h00 PM.

Fans are urged to arrive early as the gates will open at 14h00 PM to facilitate a seamless entry process.

Orlando Pirates secured their berth by triumphing over Stellenbosch, while Mamelodi Sundowns booked their place with a captivating victory over Kaizer Chiefs in a thrilling semi-final encounter.
There will be no tickets sold at the stadium.

The former Kaizer Chiefs player marked his first professional goal in spectacular fashion during Matchday 34, capturing an impressive 57.7% of the fan vote to secure the Goal of the Matchday honour.

In a thrilling encounter, St. Louis City overcame a one-goal deficit to secure a 2-1 victory on the road against Minnesota United.

The match remained scoreless until Minnesota United broke the deadlock in the 46th minute, courtesy of Teemu Pukki’s successful penalty kick.

However, Joao Klauss, who entered the game as a substitute, equalized for St. Louis City by heading in a well-placed cross from Jake Nerwinski.

The game’s decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Blom struck the game-winning goal, propelling St. Louis City to their sixth away win of the season.

Hadebe’s team, Houston Dynamo, emerged victorious in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, defeating Inter Miami 2-1 in a thrilling final.

The Zimbabwean defender started the game on the bench and made his appearance during stoppage time in the second half.

Although the 28-year-old, didn’t make a significant impact on the match, it was evident that his team had already secured control during the first half.

This triumph represents Hadebe’s first silverware since departing Zimbabwe in 2017, with his only other honour being the Independence Cup medal he won with Chicken Inn in 2016.

Inter Miami player, Lionel Messi, watched the match from the stands. The Argentine superstar had been substituted in the prior week’s match against Toronto FC due to an old injury and subsequently sat out Miami’s draw against Orlando City on Monday.

The victory for Houston Dynamo was sealed with goals from Griffin Dorsey and an Amine Bassi penalty, propelling them to a 2-0 lead in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Josef Martinez managed to score a consolation goal for Miami in stoppage time.

Houston’s goalkeeper, Andrew Tarbell, played a pivotal role with three crucial saves as Dynamo secured their second US Open Cup title in five years. Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba also missed the match to an injury.

The opening half remained goalless, but the game ignited in the 46th minute when Teemu Pukki converted a penalty kick to give Minnesota the lead.

However, St Louis City’s substitute forward, Joao Klauss, swiftly responded, heading in a cross from Jake Nerwinski to level the score.

The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute when Njabulo Blom, in a spectacular fashion, unleashed a powerful strike that clinched the victory for City SC.

This remarkable goal marked Blom’s first-ever in his professional career, making him the 17th different player for St Louis City to find the net this season in all competitions.

With this significant win, St Louis City equalled Los Angeles FC’s record of 16 victories, the most by an expansion team in their inaugural MLS season.

Klauss continued to shine, tallying three goals in the last four matches and contributing a total of 12 goals and assists this season (8 goals, 4 assists).

Meanwhile, Blom’s memorable goal not only opened his account for St Louis City but also marked the start of his professional scoring journey.

The goal by Blom made him the 16th unique goal scorer for St Louis City this season, matching Charlotte FC for the highest such total by an expansion team in their inaugural season.

City SC extended their unbeaten streak to four consecutive games, demonstrating their growing strength in the league.

Jake Nerwinski and Aziel Jackson also played crucial roles, with Nerwinski securing his second assist of the season, while Jackson notched his fourth assist, contributing to a total of five goal involvements (1 goal, 4 assists).

Remarkably, CITY SC recorded their fourth come-from-behind victory of the season, joining the ranks of Minnesota United FC in 2017 and LAFC in 2018 for the most such victories by an expansion team in MLS history (excluding the shootout era).

Furthermore, CITY SC has now achieved six road victories, trailing only behind LAFC’s seven, solidifying their position as one of the most successful expansion teams in terms of away wins in MLS history.

Mthethwa’s departure comes after an impressive 19-month stint with Stellenbosch, during which his dynamic performances not only made him a pivotal figure in the team’s dressing room but also endeared him to the club’s loyal fanbase.

The 29-year-old midfielder reflected on his time in the Cape Winelands and on the role the club played in his development as both a footballer and person.

“To leave a club that has been like a family to me, and to leave people behind who have been like brothers is not easy,” he said.

“It has been an honour to represent Stellenbosch and even though I was here for less than two years, I learned so much and grew so much as a man in that time.

“The support from the coaches and the staff, and the wise words and encouragement made it feel like a family, always united no matter what, and always backing each other on and off the field.

“That bond that I have with the team, the fans, and the whole community of Stellenbosch is deep, and leaving something like that behind is not an easy thing.

“Of course, I’m also happy for this opportunity. I’ve been working very hard for the name behind and for the badge in front and if it wasn’t for that hard work, I wouldn’t have earned this move.

“Now people know the name, but I wouldn’t be achieving what I am achieving were it not for Stellenbosch. The things I have achieved, getting a Bafana Bafana call-up, it all started here.

“I’ve always been the person I am, but Stellenbosch added more to me, and the trust the coaches had in me, and the trust to allow me to play with freedom, is what made me the Ox people see right now.

“All in all, I just want to say thank you to everyone at Stellenbosch FC for the opportunity, for guiding me, for being there for me in difficult times, and for being there for my family…”

Mthethwa’s charisma, leadership, and community involvement, as well as his reciprocal affection for the matchday crowd, saw him enjoy a unique adulation from the club’s supporters, and he was quick to pay tribute to the Stellies faithful.

“This is not the end of the road, we are still going to meet again in the future, you never know,” he says.

“But for now, I want to say thank you to the fans for their support. When I entered that field, I knew they were there, and it gave me that spirit, that encouragement, and that belief to succeed.

“Those people were there to support me so I had to make sure that if I had to die on that field, I would die there, if I had to do anything, I had to do it without hesitation because I knew they were behind me.

“Whether it was raining or sunny, they were always there with a smile, singing those songs and that, I will never, ever forget. I will never forget it…”

The match was a heavyweight battle that remained tense throughout and was ultimately decided by Peter Shalulile’s impressive performance, netting two crucial goals – one at the start and one at the end of the first half.

Sundowns got off to a dream start, with Peter Shalulile capitalizing on Brandon Petersen’s clearance attempt just 10 seconds after kick-off. Shalulile executed a brilliant finish from a tight angle, putting the hosts 1-0 up on the day and 2-1 ahead on aggregate.

Kaizer Chiefs had their first genuine chance in the 16th minute when Ashley Du Preez’s pace took him free down the inside right channel, but he couldn’t find the target from a tight angle.

However, they were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute when Sipho Mbule’s attempt to clear a corner resulted in a handball. Du Preez stepped up to the spot and beat Ronwen Williams, making it 1-1 on the day and 2-2 overall.

As halftime approached, Sundowns struck again in added time. A counter-attack led to Lucas Ribeiro delivering an intelligent cross from the left of the box to find Shalulile, who scored with a close-range header. This put Sundowns 2-1 up in the game and 3-2 ahead on aggregate.

The second half saw changes from both teams, with Sundowns improving their counter-attacking ability and Chiefs bolstering their forward line. Chiefs created a promising opportunity on the 62nd minute when Du Preez unleashed a shot towards goal, but Williams made an excellent save with his legs to maintain Sundowns’ lead.

Chiefs continued to press for an equalizer and had a strong case for a penalty denied in injury time when Mduduzi Mdantsane appeared to be fouled in the box by Thapelo Maseko. However, the referee ignored the appeals for a second penalty, despite television replays suggesting that Chiefs had a legitimate claim.

Sundowns now await the winner of the Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch FC semifinal, set to take place on Sunday, September 24. The MTN8 final is scheduled for Saturday, October 7, where Sundowns will aim to secure the trophy.

Following a 1-1 draw in the initial leg at FNB Stadium, the stage is set for Sundowns to host Chiefs at Lucas Moripe Stadium in the return fixture.

“Everything is on the cup,” Ntseki told the Chiefs website. “It’s a cup we feel we have to do well in and we have to win. But you can’t win the cup if you don’t play in the final. That’s why we say it’s a semifinal, but for us it’s a cup final, because we need this cup and have to be in the final.

“The players are looking sharp and very positive going into this game. It will be more of a mental, highly tactical and demanding game.

“From within the club, and from us as individuals, the objective is to see ourselves in the final and hopefully winning the final.”

Chiefs lost 1-0 to Supersport United in a DStv Premiership match on Wednesday while Mamelodi Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 1-0.

Ntseki insist that Amakhosi will keep relatively the same squad that played against Supersport United.

“We don’t have any injuries sustained in the last game and we will largely keep 99% of the same squad we had against SuperSport, as we feel they did very well even if we did not get maximum points from that game.

“It’s going to be a tough one, we always look at Sundowns to be a very good competitor, when it comes to the game itself.

“The competition will be more on the pitch and more about the tactics the two clubs will be deploying. We have done our preparations and we are looking forward to implementing the tactical ideas we have. It’s a cup final.”
By Zola Doda

Disgruntled fans threw objects onto the pitch following Kaizer Chiefs’ 1-0 defeat to Supersport United.

“We do not condone such behaviour and we call on the SA Police to act swiftly against people who do such acts, as they endanger the lives of many people who are at the stadium to enjoy the match,” said Motaung.

“We know things have not gone well but it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s still early in the season and there’s still a lot to fight for.

“The technical team and the players are working hard to ensure that we put smiles on supporters’ faces, but for that to happen it is important that we need to exercise patience,” she says.

Sundowns will host Kaizer Chiefs in the second leg of the MTN8 semifinal at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

Khuliso Mudau’s last-gasp equalizer secured a 1-1 draw during the first leg at FNB Stadium and Mokwena believes the tie is far from over.

“It’s a small advantage, but it is an advantage that we worked very hard to get,” Mokwena says.
“However, it means nothing if we don’t perform in the second half, which consists of the next 90 minutes of the tie.

“We were pleased with the equalizer we achieved in the first leg. At Sundowns, our goal is always to try to win every game, regardless of the advantage or disadvantage we may have had.

“The attitude at this great club is always focused on winning and that is our mentality. We will strive to win the game on Saturday, even though it may be very challenging,” says Mokwena.

Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the league on Wednesday while Amakhosi suffered a 1-0 defeat to Supersport United.

But despite the winless streak of four matches, the Sundowns coach believes that Molefi Ntseki’s side remains a formidable force.

“To be honest, they are a very good side with some excellent players who create lots of chances,” adds Mokwena.

“They do very well with the ball from the wings and they are a threat any day, any time. Their midfield options are always strong as well, which gives them some form of dynamism, so we have to be well-prepared. I am sure they say the same about us and they should also be well-prepared to face us,” Mokwena added.