KlaaZ Posted September 27, 2023 Author Share Posted September 27, 2023 Ooof. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted September 27, 2023 Author Share Posted September 27, 2023 The future is bright! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted September 27, 2023 Author Share Posted September 27, 2023 A top transfer for a former player. If only the former management had been so smart as to ask for a percentage on future sales, all of my financial woes would have been over as Inter picked him up for 6.5M.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted September 27, 2023 Author Share Posted September 27, 2023 No looking back now. I'm not sure if this is the right move, but the financial hassle at Velez was too much for me. I was probably going to lose half my team over the summer for peanuts (less than 10M a pop), without a chance to bring in reinforcements. SuperSport has been an outsider for the top spots in South Africa and has three league titles to its name, the last one in 2010. This team gives me a good shot at the African Champions League I think. I'm also very proud to see Polokwane still at the highest level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted September 30, 2023 Author Share Posted September 30, 2023 Transfer overview A healthy profit. Jabaar, Shezi and Ndwandwe all wanted to leave because of the clubs interested in their services. I also managed to negotiate some fairly high percentages on future sales for the latter two as they're still young. Shezi recently made his debut for PSV off the bench, providing an assist in the process. That said, I'm very happy with the additions we brought in. We very much raided Cape Town City. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 1, 2023 Author Share Posted October 1, 2023 Well, we're off to a very good start. The 1-1 draw win on penalties in the Super 8 cup against Orlando Pirates was slightly flattering but after that, it's all gone uphill. Unbeaten in the league, only one goal conceded and a convincing win in the Super 8 final against Cape Town City (1M prize money too, thank you). We have two trickvy away games coming up though, so it could all change very quickly. Madonsela has been playing as a makeshift striker, scoring six in four league games so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 1, 2023 Author Share Posted October 1, 2023 We also played two more qualifying games with the Belgium squad, beating Luxembourg and Faroe Islands as expected. Not really happy to have conceded in both games but the Faroe goal was a clumsy interception by Bornauw followed by a deflected shot. It happens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 1, 2023 Author Share Posted October 1, 2023 We lost the cup game against Orlando Pirates, but that can happen. We went 3-0 down on two long shots and a penalty but just couldn't edge our fightback, ending on a 3-2 loss. I'm happy with everything else, the draw against Cape Town City was the first time we dropped points in the league and in the game against Sundowns (by far the biggest team in South Africa), we dominated from start to finish. Even going down 1-0 after an own goal didn't phase us as we overturned the deficit to end up on top. Meanwhile, we finish our world cup qualifiers with a perfect record, including a 9-0 demolition of Faroe. Geldof and Utkol both score four roses, Geldof is now on sixteen goals for his country already, and is ready to step into the boots of Lukaku. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 1, 2023 Author Share Posted October 1, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 Halfway and looking good thanks to another flawless month. Not too happy with the AmaZulu game though, we were 4-1 up and then decided that we had wrapped up the game. Beating both Orlando Pirates and my former team, Polokwane, were very important to maintain our momentum and increase the gap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 Also missed the youth intake preview, what a horror show.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 Transfer news It's the January window and we finalize a deal that we've been working on for some time. 23-year old Brazilian Irineu joins us for 135k from Recife. Very happy with this guy, who will provide some more depth and quality in central defense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I am not surprised to see you left Velez, with that horrific financials and potentially losing more players Good start with SuperSport Utd That guy above looks very decent! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 1 hour ago, john1 said: I am not surprised to see you left Velez, with that horrific financials and potentially losing more players Good start with SuperSport Utd That guy above looks very decent! Yes, and we brought in another. Transfer news A few days before the closing of the transfer window, we bring in some more South American flair, with Chilean playmaker Pinto joining us on a free after he was released by Colo Colo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 The picture says it all really. We're on a high of form and only getting better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 And we still have nine games to play! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 23 hours ago, KlaaZ said: Yes, and we brought in another. Transfer news A few days before the closing of the transfer window, we bring in some more South American flair, with Chilean playmaker Pinto joining us on a free after he was released by Colo Colo. Crazy how they released him! Looks brilliant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 3, 2023 Author Share Posted October 3, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 3, 2023 Author Share Posted October 3, 2023 Almost botched the cup final in the most horrendous fashion possible, with Mokoena missing not one but two penalties, giving away a penalty equalizer in the 94th minute in a game we dominated, giving away a lead in the penalty shootout but edging it nontheless. But we have a treble. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 An excellent season wrapped up with a resounding league win and two cups, the Super 8 and the SA Cup. Best attacking and defense in the league, so we deserve to be on top. We almost went unbeaten too but despite having the better of the game my rotated squad fell to defeat against AmaZulu. Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates are into the final of the Champions League which gives me an idea about how probable it is to win the thing next year and move on. A big shoutout to my front four, Madonsela being an absolute goal machine and the rest happily chipping in with goals and assists. I'll need a better option for Ndlovu next year but apart from that I'm hoping everyone will stay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 (edited) Next up is the World Cup with Belgium, my second stint in the competition after my spell with Nigeria. The aim is to at least get to the third round, but I think we can do better on a good day. Courtois has let us know that he will retire from football after the tournament so we better make the most of it. Edited October 4, 2023 by KlaaZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 We had a solid run up to the group stage, with a clean win over Congo and a draw against Argentina in a game where we were the better team. But if we play like in the two group games, we'll get knocked out by the first proper team we encounter. We beat Algeria 5-2 but conceded twice, the first goal with Courtois fumbling an easy cross which then flew into the net, and we took a late equalizer against frigging Paraguay in a game where we were average at best, because we gave away possession in our own sixteen yard box in the 93rd minute. I'm really pissed off now, I thought we had an outsider chance at World Cup glory but instead we're absolutely embarassing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 (edited) That's more like it. Geldof taking his tally to six, he's singlehandedly taking us further. Portugal is up next. Edited October 4, 2023 by KlaaZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 (edited) What a game. We brought in Vandevoordt after Courtois' fluke in the opening game and he kept us alive against Portugal with a penalty stop in the first half. We were on the backfoot for most of the 45 minutes despite not really giving away that much, with Geldof even coming one on one but Costa saving it. We showed a lot more in the second half and it was finally Geldof (who else) who opened the score, assisted by an otherwise invisible Doku. Portugal increased the pressure and finally got rewarded in the 85th when a deflected cross fell on the head of Fabio Silva who couldn't miss anymore. But we had one more surprise up our sleeve. When Sambi Lokonga recovered the ball in added time, he set up Doku, ran deep, received it again and passed it into space of Vermeeren, who replaced De Ketelaere earlier, with the former Cruz Azul boy putting it past Costa! More importantly, we'll play either Ukraine or Ivory Coast in the quarter final, which is a very beatable opponent either way. Edited October 5, 2023 by KlaaZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 This was a lot harder than it looked. Vandevoordt being MotM says it all, we escaped twice near the end of the game, once from an excellent stop by our goalie, the other in the dying seconds when Geldof of all people stopped a ball on the line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 (edited) It's a derby! Holland beat England on penalties and played a day later than us, so I'm hoping that their tired legs will be to our advantage. Edited October 5, 2023 by KlaaZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Should be able to beat Holland Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 6 hours ago, john1 said: Should be able to beat Holland A bit too close for comfort, but we're in the final. The early lead from a corner helped, and although we had a few scares we looked quite confident. Geldof had a bad day at the office though, missing two one on ones. Openda finished the game in the dying minutes when De Ketelaere missed against Bijlow but the substitute was there to bury the rebound. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 One more game, against La Roja, is all that stands between us and world cup glory. The Spaniards have a far better team than us but in one game, anything is possible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 Mindgames before the kickoff, or am I being serious? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 Line ups! One slight surprise as Trawally plays up front instead of Oyarzabal, but the kid is a ridiculous regen talent so it's a logical choice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 We're at the break and the game is already over. A clinical Spain against a hugely disappointing Belgium, I could easily substitute every single one of my players, nobody turned up. I'm wondering if I have to wait until the end of the game to resign. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 We had a slightly better second half but were unable to do anything. It took until the 92nd minute until we got a ball on target, that says it all really. Everyone is very happy with how far we got, but I am not. So I've decided to step back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 Gutted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 6, 2023 Author Share Posted October 6, 2023 6 hours ago, john1 said: Gutted Having slept on it, I can't really complain. They just have a lot more quality, with elite players in every zone and a top notch young striker as well. The difference between Gavi and Pedri or Onana and Tielemans in midfield is just enormous, and the same goes for Geldof versus Trawally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 6, 2023 Author Share Posted October 6, 2023 Transfer news A lot of work on our plate with high interest in several key players and the need to strengthen the squad to compete both domestically and in the Champions League. On the outgoing side, central defender Koetle is deemed surplus to requirements and moves to Belgium where he'll represent Kortrijk in a deal worth 200k, his release clause. Starting right back Johannes drew a lot of attention as well and gets to try his luck in the Bundesliga at Union Berlin, they sign him for 300k. I'm not too unhappy about seeing him leave as he was a team leader with very low determination and the main cause of regression of that attribute in several players. Youngster Nel moves to Polokwane in a deal running up to 170k. Apart from these, midfielder Mhlambi will also probably leave the club. We've rejected several offers including one from Porto and put a 1M price tag on his head, a sum which I think will be paid at some point. He's not a starter for us, so I wouldn't mind the cash influx as we spent about 2M on incoming players. Speaking of which, here are our new boys: Nyiko Mthombeni: Fast, playful winger who will hopefully challenge Malgas a bit. Signed from my former team Polokwane for 325k. Alfred Mogotsi: New goalkeeper who will gradually phase out Khoza. Signed for 375k from Orlando Pirates where he was a starter last season. Koketso Nombula: New right back who will replace Johannes. I actually launched his career at Polokwane and am still listed as his favoured personnel. 350k price tag. Victor Majozi: Signed on a free after he was released by Maritzburg. Will provide some depth in midfield if required. Thabang Luvhengo: Another Polokwane player, another one who's professional career started under my reign. I've altered my midfield a little and will start him as an anchor, which suits him perfectly. 250k, a steal in my opinion. Dylan Mkhize: 120k from AmaTuks, will provide cover on the left back position. Thulani Ah Shene: What a name. Attacking midfielder who will challenge Mokwena (who is also drawing a lot of interest from Belgium), 215k from Golden Arrows is another steal in my view. Aphelele Molefe: Our most expensive transfer with 400k, but a beast of a central defender. Comes over from Kaizer Chiefs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 6, 2023 Author Share Posted October 6, 2023 Almost forgot, we also bring in a loanie for the left wing with excellent potential. Not sure why Sundowns didn't consider him for a starting position but I'm not complaining. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 7, 2023 Author Share Posted October 7, 2023 Two more outgoing transfers. Mhlambi left on deadline day for 550k plus 40% on a future sale, as he was in his last year of contract I had no choice but to sell. Hlatshwayo also moved on to Denmark for 300k. An excellent start of the season with all wins and only one goal conceded, a penalty. We're in to the Super 8 final again, here's to hoping we can win it. I'm very happy with the win over Swallows as we were reduced to 10 man just before the break after a rough challenge from Mokwena, but still never got into trouble. It highlights our consistency and shows that we're in a very good place tactically as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 7, 2023 Author Share Posted October 7, 2023 A copy of August, again only one goal conceded and again it was a penalty. Apart from that, we're playing very well, especially happy with the win at Sundowns. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 7, 2023 Author Share Posted October 7, 2023 Faultless October despite a whopping eight (!) games in various cups and competition. A convincing 3-0 win over Sundowns in the Super 8 final and a 10-0 aggregate victory over AFC Leoppards to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 7, 2023 Author Share Posted October 7, 2023 We drop points for the first time this season in a 3-3 draw with Cape Town City. We were 3-1 up but a penalty and another goal in three minutes right before the end of the game decided differently. The game against Orlando Pirates was a deadlock until we finally kicked into gear in the second half to record a very deserved victory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 We're entering January and with seventeen games played in the league, we lead with a clear ten point gap. No unbeaten season though, again, because of a very undeserved loss against Stellenbosch. On the flip side, we beat Orlando Pirates in the SA KO Cup final to make it two trophies this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 Group stage draw! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 A day for the deadline, this happened. Mokoena established himself as our main striker this year, already banging in 19 goals in the league.. We still have Madonsela though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 On the bright side, we strengthened the squad with a loan player from Porto and a 500k deal for a Maritzburg attacking midfielder (because I wrongly thought OHL signed Mokwena instead of Mokoena, but okay). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 Exciting news: I'll be dipping my feet in European football for the first time starting next season. It's a bit of a gamble, but considering our results I'm very confident of finishing the job to win a continental trophy in Africa by then. Sevilla is having a disappointing season in 12th place in La Liga so far, so I'll have a lot of rebuilding to do. This will probably be my first job longer than two seasons assuming it goes well, and as it has no CL winning history it fits what I'm looking for. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 Even with all the rotation we have to do, we're still faultless and scoring for fun. We've qualified for the CL quarter finals and are fourteen points ahead of Orlando Pirates right now, playing them at home next. We've got an amazing track record in the league this year, scoring 3.09 goals per game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 That's the league pretty much in the bag, as soon as we officially clinch it I can start playing a rotation squad there instead of in the CL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 Treble completed, still in the running for the SA Cup and obviously the Champions League. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlaaZ Posted October 9, 2023 Author Share Posted October 9, 2023 Two games away from hitting our second objective. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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