Author Archives: Ezimtoti News

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has launched the Twinning Project in partnership with Kaizer Chiefs and the FIFA Foundation, focusing on female inmates at the Johannesburg Correctional Centre.                   

This innovative program aims to rehabilitate women of f enders through football coaching lessons, thereby empowering them for reintegration into society upon release.

The initiative leverages football’s universal ability to inspire hope, discipline, and transformation.
Through this partnership, female inmates will access training, mentorship, and opportunities with the aim of fostering physical, emotional, and social growth. The Twinning Project aligns with the DCS’s commitment to creating an enabling an environment for positive change through rehabilitation.
       Minister of Correctional Services, Dr. Pieter Groenewald, praised the project, noting, “Football has a unique ability to bring people together and create a sense of community.

By participating in the Twinning Project, female inmates will have an opportunity to improve themselves and redirect their lives towards the right course.”

  Kaizer Chiefs Marketing and Commercial Director, Jessica Motaung, expressed the club’s excitement to be involved in pursuing positive change through the power of football, saying, “Football has the ability to break down barriers and bring people together, and we’re honoured to be part of this journey,” adding, “Empowering female inmates with football skills presents an opportunity for growth by helping them unlock their full potential and hopefully assist their reintegration into society as conf i dent, productive individuals.”     Kaizer Chiefs coaches, Arthur Zwane, Dillon Shepherd, and Aubrey Mathibe, will conduct workshops where they will use their expertise to train the inmates with a view to equipping them with some skills that can be of benefit long in the future.
Motaung acknowledged their contributions with appreciation, saying, “We’re thankful to have coaches who are not only well-skilled in the game but are also passionate about making a dif f erence in their community.”

   The launch, attended by numerous prominent fi gures, marks a significant step towards reducing reoffending rates through empowering female inmates.

    The Twinning Project, fi rst successfully implemented in the UK and subsequently launched in four continents, brings professional football clubs and penal institutions together to prepare prisoners for release and employment.
Hilton Freund MBE, Global CEO of the Twinning Project, welcomed the partnership, saying,       “It is a great pleasure to be partnering with Kaizer Chiefs and South African Correctional Services. Football can act as a powerful catalyst for change, and we are delighted that with the support of the FIFA Foundation we have been able to bring this globally recognised sports-based criminal justice initiative to South Africa

Source: Kaizer Chiefs

By Ezimtoti News

A new era has dawned for South African football, as the Premier Soccer League (PSL), in partnership with Betway, officially launched the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season. 

Following the recent announcement of acquiring the title sponsorship of South Africa’s largest sporting property, the official launch of the Betway Premiership marks yet another giant step in Betway’s ever-evolving sponsorship landscape.
With the launch of this partnership, Betway has introduced the theme “Lisegazini. Forever” for the Betway Premiership, capturing the authentic South African spirit that underscores how deeply football is woven into the nation’s social fabric. Betway will highlight the fierce rivalries, celebrate historic players and most importantly, future-proof the game for generations to come.
Lisegazini. Forever underscores Betway’s recognition of how the game resembles South Africa’s rich culture from the beginning of domestic football, right throughout its constant evolution that has led up to the Betway Premiership.
“Today is a historic day for South African football. Through our partnership with the PSL, Betway is honoured to lead South Africans on a journey that celebrates the rich heritage and success of our football culture in a way that resonates across all generations. Our goal is not only to leverage our expertise to elevate the game to new heights, but also to ensure that our collaboration with the PSL paves the way for an even brighter future for South African football,” said Mr. Laurence Michel, Betway Africa.
Set to officially kick off on Saturday, 14 September – the start of the Betway Premiership will see all 16 Premier Division clubs vying for the chance to lift the brand-new Trophy, which will be Betway’s lifetime contribution to the PSL, signifying the brand’s commitment to the future of South African football. 

Ms. Mato Madlala, Acting CEO of the Premier Soccer League, shared her excitement about the launch and the season ahead:
“We are excited to officially launch the inaugural Betway Premiership season and eagerly anticipate the first matches on 14 September.

This partnership represents more than just a new chapter for South African football; it offers an opportunity to elevate the game to new heights, as demonstrated by the introduction of innovative elements like the new trophy, which will archive the history of the PSL and enhance future content.

Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences for football supporters, both in the stadiums and through digital and broadcast platforms.
Betway’s design of a Premiership Lifetime Trophy will be in partnership with artist, Nelson Makamo.
The trophy design will recognise the League’s history and have all previous winners inscribed onto the trophy, with the tradition set to be carried out for generations to come. 

The making of the trophy will be chronicled in a film, which will be released in three parts throughout the season.
As part of its sponsorship of the Betway Premiership, Betway will lead an awareness drive to educate fans and other stakeholders on the importance of responsible gambling.

Working closely with its Betway Premiership brand ambassadors and South African football icons, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lebohang Mokoena, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Hlompho Kekana and many others, Betway will continue upholding its brand promise of being a responsible brand through its responsible gambling awareness drive. Further to this, Betway will increase its capacity of offering assistance and guidance to all of its customers.

Orlando Pirates have qualified for their third consecutive MTN8 final after beating Cape Town City 2-0 in the second leg of their semi-final tie at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Following two legs of intense semi-final action, the Buccaneers go through after winning 3-1
on aggregate.With a perfect win record on home soil so far this season, the Buccaneers were aiming for
more of the same in their third outing at the iconic venue. They dominated possession early on, but found themselves having to do a bit of defending of their own with defender Thabiso Sesane and goalkeeper Sipho Chaine both called upon as the visitors manufactured some bright moments inside the opening quarter.

Most of the play was however concentrated inside City’s half of the field and it did not take long for the breakthrough which came in the 25th minute. This was courtesy of a cleverly-worked set move initiated from a short corner, as a pinpoint cross from Relebohile Mofokeng located Tshegofatso Mabasa, who opened his account for the season with a lovely header into the bottom corner.


Thalente Mbatha looked to double Pirates’ lead in the 36th minute through a long-range effort, but could only fire wide as the hosts piled pressure on the opposition. The second of the afternoon did not remain elusive for too long with Deon Hotto making it 2-0 one minute from the break through a free kick taken right in front of City’s goal, leaving goalkeeper Darren Keet with no chance.


Pirates emerged from the tunnel looking to create further daylight between themselves and
the Capetonians and had an opportunity to pull three-goals ahead through Mabasa. The
Bucs striker pounced on some slack defending from Lorenzo Gordinho before working his
way into a one-on-one situation with Keet, who pulled off an excellent save to keep his side
in the game. The City shot-stopper however came second best in the 65th minute, this time going one-on-one with Mofokeng who was able to dribble past him only to place his shot on the side
netting.


The visitors had a chance to pull one back through a long-range attempt from Heaven Seeretsi, but Chaine had positioned himself perfectly to complete a fairly comfortable stop with just 10 minutes left on the clock.


With time running out for City, midfielder Kayden Francis went wide with an ambitious shot
from range. This was followed by an acrobatic attempt at the other end deep in injury time
from the boot of Evidence Makgopa, who fired off target after connecting with a cross from
Hotto.

Having scored three times over the two legs, the Soweto Giants had done enough in the end
as they marched to the final, where they await the result of the second semi-final between
Stellenbosch and Mamelodi Sundowns.


Pirates XI: Chaine, Sesane, Ndah, Monyane (Maela 62’), Hotto, Makhaula, Mbatha (Timm
72’), Maswanganyi, Saleng (Dlamini 88’), Mofokeng (Gilberto 72’), Mabasa (Makgopa 88’)S

Source: Orlando Pirates website

By Rapule Ramalepa
The Seventh year celebration of the Royalty Soapie Awards took place over the weekend.      The glitz and glamour event were hosted successfully at the Heartfield Arena, Pretoria.
     Actors and Actresses dressed elegantly as the walk in the red carpet of the exciting awards, different soapies stars who are acting on different soapies such as House Of Zwide, SkeemSaam, The River just to mention a few.
  “Winnie Ntshaba, actress and founder of the glamour awards ,they are celebrating excellence in the soapie world.’’
She emphasized the aim of honouring those behind the scenes of the most beloved TV shows.
“There are people who put in much work, especially the crew and those who work behind the scenes.
High profile people such as Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi and the MEC of Education Matome Chiloane graced the occasion. 
    Zola 7 performed one of his Kwaito hits Mdlwembe and the crowd went crazy. KB also performed on the day.
   Royalty Soapie Awards winners include Jerry Mofokeng who received the lifetime achievement award for his exceptional career.
Mahlatsi Morapo received Choice Best Actor Awards.
  Newcomer karabo Mogongwa received the royalty soapie awards outstanding young performer for her role as Keletso on House of Zwide.
   Herriet Manamela winning royalty soapie awards outstanding supporting role as Meikie Maputla on SkeemSaam.
    Veteran creative and executive producer Duma Ndlovu awarded the royalty soapie awards for his outstanding contribution in the arts world.
    Diepcity scooped outstanding writing team.
The River walked away outstanding writing team award.
    The much loved skeemSaam receives outstanding newcomer support category
Outstanding on screen couple scooped by Lerato Mvelase and Dumisani Mbele.

By Tana Malinga
ALL that Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro wants is a win against a Madagascar’s Disciples FC tomorrow at the Orlando Stadium.                The kickoff 19:30h00.
      The two sides meet again in a space of five days and the score finished 0-0.  Pirates created a lot of chances but failed to convert them. Though Pirates played well on the day, scoring one or two goals was going to do them a big favour when the two sides meet again here at home. Their supporters also are not impressed with the performance the team displayed whenever they play outside Mzansi.
Pirates captain Innocent Maela, said as a team they did not know much about their opponent.         But he’s promised fans that tomorrow’s clash would be not only entertaining but it’s a must win match so that they can progress to the next round of the CAF champions League.
      He said what happened to Bucs in their last year’s CAF competition was not going to happen again this year.         Pirates were eliminated from the CAF league by   Jwaneng Galaxy FC of Botswana in the first round of the competition here at Orlando Stadium.        The scoreline was 2-1 on aggregate losing the first leg 1-nil and playing to 1-all draw at Orlando.
  To avoid last year’s humiliation players have to show some hunger of wanting to win the match from the first minute of the game and not wait until it is too late to score.
            However, if the opponent could score first things are going to be even more difficult for Pirates to come from behind to win the match.
     Coach Riveiro said they don’t have to score a lot of goals to ensure that they are victorious on the day.
  “We just have to win the match to progress to the next round of the competition,” he said.

Stellenbosch Football Club take some of its home games to Moses Mabhida.                Their next fixture is against Nsingizini Hotspurs (24 August 2024) and Mamelodi Sundowns (1 September.
      This is due to the unavailability of the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, and the surrounding Athlone Stadium and DHL Cape Town Stadium on the dates in question.
        The club is unable to utilise Danie Craven or Athlone Stadium due to the ongoing rehabilitation of the playing surfaces at both venues.                  This is due to damage caused to the pitch by a combination of the prevailing wet weather conditions and a strenuous rugby season.
    The DHL Cape Town Stadium is similarly unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, including the international test match between the South African and New Zealand national rugby teams near the start of September.
      The Club would like to apologise to supporters for the inconvenience caused by the venue changes, and stress that all is being done to ensure that football returns to the Western Cape in time for the start of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign.

Source: Stellenbosch FC

By KOPANO MONAHENG

WE find great bosses in public and private sectors and many other places.

      Selecting the right person to hold a senior position in an organisation is not easy.           Her new task is to take the varsity to a higher level than it was before, and this is what Mangosuthu University of Technology did this Women’s Month.

   The university took it upon itself to appoint one of its female staff members as vice chancellor.

   Professor Nokuthula Sibiya has been an employee at MUT all these years, working up the ranks as Head of Department, Executive Dean, Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible for teaching and learning, as well as the Deputy Vice Chancellor for research innovation and engagement.

            She is the first woman to have occupied the senior position as vice chancellor since the establishment of the MUT 45 years ago.

    And since April 2022, MUT has been under the careful guidance of an administrator, whose role was to maintain the university’s governance and academic standards.

Said Sibiya: 

     “I am deeply honoured to lead MUT as its new Vice Chancellor.           This appointment is a collective victory for all women who aspire to break barriers and lead with purpose,” adding that MUT prides itself on empowering women to not only excel in their roles but also thrive in the demanding environment of higher institutions.

     This Women’s Month, according to the professor, it is important that women are recognised for the roles they play in their workplace and society.

     Nevertheless, as their success story reverberates, it is hoped that other learning institutions will follow suit, recognising the potential of a gender balanced workplace.

By Tana Malinga

                                                                                                                                                                                          AmaZulu Football Club announced South Africa’s latest innovation in mobile cellphone network coverage, Amandla Mobile, as their headline sponsor with much excitement at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Monday, July 29, 2024.

Club President Sandile Zungu celebrated the collaboration by unveiling the ISAGILA 2024/25 jersey, proudly featuring Amandla Mobile as the headline sponsor. He expressed optimism for future successes, thanking longtime sponsors Spar for their enduring support of the Usuthu brand. “We sought a sponsor that aligns with our values—ambition, family orientation, and strong supporter roots,” Zungu said. “Amandla Mobile, offering data that never expires, perfectly complements our team and supports both the club and our fans.”

Usuthu’s strategic partnership with AMANDLA Mobile, a subsidiary of Zungu Investments (also serving as the sleeve sponsor), marks a significant step. As a Black-owned Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Amandla Mobile symbolizes empowerment and innovation in the telecommunications industry.

In preparation for the 2024/25 Betway Premiership, head coach Pablo Franco’s squad is strengthened by the permanent signings of defender Kwanda Mngonyama, striker Senzo Ndlovu, and winger Boniface Haba. Additionally, attacking midfielder Luvuyo Phewa and striker Etioso Ighodaro join on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Promising talents Thato Matli and Leonardo Rooi also join the green and white army, although they are set to finalize loan moves for further development elsewhere.

Fans have already got a glimpse of what their newest signings can offer in the KZN Premiers Cup which was staged in Ulundi over the weekend.

AmaZulu take on Polokwane City on 14 September 2024 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in their opening Betway Premiership fixture.        Source : AmaZulu FC                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                               

Global technology brand HONOR has announced a landmark partnership with SuperSport United FC, aiming to enhance the competitive edge of players and nurture the next generation of soccer stars in South Africa through state-of-the-art technology.             As the preferred technology partner, HONOR will equip the team with smart technology, supporting the players and technical teams with smart devices across its extensive product range to improve their game, connect with fans and simplify their day-to-day lives.
       HONOR has quickly become the fastest growing smartphone brand in South Africa, establishing itself as a key industry player.           Known for being at the forefront of innovation and cutting-edge technology, HONOR continually pushes the boundaries in what is possible, whether it be in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or foldable technology.         “SuperSport United has a rich history and has built a reputation for being a fierce contender in the game. Like them, we are a challenger brand and aiming to lead in the mobile industry. Our advanced technology with cutting-edge features will empower the team to excel in their sporting endeavors and personal lives,” expressed CEO of HONOR Technologies Africa, Fred Zhou.       Soccer is deeply ingrained in South African culture, and technology bridges the gap between the game, the stars and the fans.This partnership highlights SuperSport’s ongoing strategy to integrate advanced technologies into their operations. By leveraging HONOR’s vast technological expertise, the team will thrive and optimize their efficacy.
SuperSport CEO, Stan Matthews says, “We are delighted to partner with a dynamic and innovative brand like HONOR.         They are at the cutting edge of technology from devices to wearables and into AI. Our partnership will greatly enhance our technical and sports science teams and will add value to our players and fans.”                HONOR 200 Series: Documenting Soccer History with Studio-Level Photography HONOR has launched the HONOR 200 Series, the latest additions in the esteemed N Series.           The lineup includes the HONOR 200 Lite, HONOR 200, and for the first time in the country, the HONOR 200 Pro.     By leveraging industry-leading platform-level AI technologies and superior hardware, HONOR aims to revolutionize smartphone portrait photography, transforming how soccer fans capture and share the game.      The HONOR 200 Pro and HONOR 200 features a Triple 50MP Studio-level AI Portrait Camera, HONOR AI Portrait Engine, and expertise from Studio Harcourt, enabling users to capture stunning portraits.
        The Series includes the updated MagicOS 8.0, promising an intelligent user experience with a range of AI-powered functionalities, including Magic Portal.       With a 5200mAh Silicon-carbon battery offering hours of continuous use on a single charge, and both Wired and Wireless HONOR SuperCharge, fans won’t miss a minute of the action.
      “The latest HONOR 200 Series will transform the way the players and fans experience the game, bringing advanced photography capabilities and AI features,” Zhou added “Our partnership with SuperSport marks a new frontier in sports excellence.”             Pricing and Availability The HONOR 200 Pro, HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Lite are on sale at the nearest retailer or network provider for the recommended retail price of R19,999, R15,999 and R9,999, respectively.
For more info, visit: http://www.honor.com/za/phones/honor-200/.

Source: SuperSport United