KlaaZ

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mindgames before the kickoff, or am I being serious?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

That's more like it. Geldof taking his tally to six, he's singlehandedly taking us further. Portugal is up next.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And we still have nine games to play!

The picture says it all really. We're on a high of form and only getting better.

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.