VIDEO AND ANALYSIS: Baxter to the future: Double-winning Stuart outlines his plans for Kaizer Chiefs. Bring on Naturena Junior!

KAIZER CHIEFS coach Stuart Baxter arrived back in South Africa this week insisting: “We will put as much effort in to our youth development as we do in to winning trophies.”

The double-winning coach from Britain will not be resting on his laurels after finally ending the AmaKhosi title drought – and “Baxter to the Future” will begin with a revamped academy, complete with new buildings at Naturena, dieticians, psychologists, education and Chiefs DVD’s sent to youth coaches around the country.

Baxter, the first foreign coach to win South Africa’s Premier Soccer League at his first attempt, said: “The catalyst for it was a conversation with the club's founder, Kaizer Motaung. He wants to give something back to the youth of South Africa.

“I gave him an outline for our new academy and we’ve pushed on. I can’t tell you everything right now but we’re co-operating with the university and we’re going to get the educational aspect right through them. We will look at diet, psychology and education, believe me.”

With one eye on the great academies at Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, Baxter said: “It has to happen. As the club owner, Kaizer thinks all these things are important for young footballers hoping to turn professional. We want a good footballer playing Kaizer Chiefs way, and we want a good person, a well-rounded South African, to leave here if he doesn’t.

“It’s taking a lot of time, while we’re also trying to win leagues and cups. But we’re working hard on it.

“We are putting together a CD. We want to put it out to all the coaches. Our own internal coaching network, delivering the right stuff to their age-group. The DVD will go to the players too, you can click on your position and see how we want them to play with videos and ideas.

“We want uniformity. We want to co-operate with the regional associations. We want appropriate training and to help life skills.”

Talking on Bollockz, my new show every Thursday on www.ballz.co.za, Baxter joked: “We won’t be selling “Pirate” DVDs at the traffic lights! There are no secrets in football. Everybody knows what they’re going to get when they play Manchester United or Barcelona.

“We want out forwards to make a certain kind of run, we must get on with it. We do things that people have known about all year and we got decent results with it!  There are some things we keep to ourselves but it’s not all cloak-and-dagger.

“We have to take collective responsibility for youth football. We can’t blame the national coach – Gordon Igesund – for losing with Bafana. Gordon can support it all but he shouldn’t be the scapegoat for not having good youth development behind him.

“I did an interview for a British newspaper yesterday and they asked about development in Africa. You get one great team from Senegal or Nigeria – South Africa had a great team too in the 90s – but they disappear.

“The first African country that puts down these foundations, these opportunities, will become a powerhouse. But we are still squabbling about who should do what.

“We’ve got to get together and get this done. In ten years, we can’t be saying: “Why did we not beat Ethiopia. Why did we hit the post? It’s about development. We must discuss it openly.

“It’s all this protectionism. It’s taking us nowhere. In that environment you don’t learn. We need a collective way of playing football. There is a South African way. We just have to explain it. They do it in Sweden, Germany, Argentina… all the countries that have good youth development.

“You can’t fragment it, like in England. They don’t let people in to their training facilities. They don’t co-operate.

“You never know, you might have a logo you can click on to hear me singing on the DVD, I’m not sure!”

On the growing demand for transfer news at Naturena, Baxter said: “When I left there was speculation we would lose a couple of players.

“I’m back this week, we’ll have a chat. Look at the buttons we need to check. We need a couple of signings to strengthen us. We’re not about to let people go.

“Put it this way, I don’t see a lot of traffic. I see a couple in. One or possibly two out. Not a lot more.

“We’ll put as much effort into youth as we do into the seniors. Rest assured.”

This story appears as my column in www.thenewage.co.za tomorrow. Ready my "Neal & Pray" column every Tuesday and follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol

BOLLOCKZ! is my new show on www.ballz.co.za. Tune in by live stream or app, from anywhere in the world, 10am-noon every Thursday. Follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol and see our backers www.topodds.com for the latest sports betting!

FULL TEXT OF FIFA RULING RELEASED THIS MORNING: why Ethiopia must now accept a 3-0 defeat for beating Botswana

Banned: Minyahile Teshome Beyene

This is the result of FIFA.com's surprise post this morning, confirming deduction of THREE points from Ethiopia. Trying to reach Danny Jordaan (currently flying back to SA from Confeds Cup in Brazil) to talk about SAFA's hopes of a SIX POINT deduction. SAFA have certainly sent a letter on this subject to FIFA though I personally think it's a long shot. The THREE possible tables (old, new and possible) are now at the bottom of this story. If you scroll through earlier blogs you'll find plenty of other information about CAF World Cup qualifying Group A. For now, here's the story that dropped on FIFA's official website this morning:



FIFA can confirm that the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) has been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ between Botswana and Ethiopia played on 8 June 2013. 



The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Botswana, with the EFF also receiving a fine of CHF 6,000 after the FIFA Disciplinary Committee considered the EFF liable for having breached art. 55 par. 1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and art. 8 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Regulations. 



The sanction relates to the Ethiopian player Minyahile Teshome Beyene failing to serve the automatic one-match suspension imposed on him following two cautions received in two different matches (art. 17 par. 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code).

For the original story as it broke:
http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/world-cup-heartbreak-bafana-bafana.html

For the Ethiopian apology and revised table:
http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/ethiopia-full-sorry-truth-about-blunder.html


For Danny Jordaan's SIX POINT argument and THREE possible tables:
http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/dannys-double-jeopardy-why-ethiopia.html


TABLES:

CAF World Cup qualifying Group A before FIFA action:

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Ethiopia 5 4 1 0 8 3 +5 13  South Africa 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 8  Botswana 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4  Central African Republic 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3

How the table looks NOW:

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Ethiopia 5 3 1 1 6 5 +1 10  South Africa 5 2 2 1 8 4 +4 8  Botswana 5 2 1 2 7 6 +1 7  Central African Republic 5 1 0 4 4 10 −6 3 How the table will look if FIFA act on BOTH games:

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
South Africa	5	3	2	0	10	2	+8	11
Ethiopia	5	2	1	2	4	7	-3	7
Botswana	5	2	1	2	7	6	+1	7
Central African Republic	5	1	0	4	4	10	−6	3

CHARGES DROPPED? Sorry Bobby Motaung, you're not off the hook. The TRUTH about the Mbombela Stadium will be told.

Charge: Bobby and Mbombela Stadium

IT was a shocking phone-call. Thursday afternoon. All charges against Bobby Motaung have been dropped. Be careful what you write now.

What? After SIX attempts to get his corruption case dropped, the son of Kaizer and general manager of South Africa’s biggest football franchise, was going to get clean away with his part in the huge fraud surrounding the building of the Mbombela Stadium for the 2010 World Cup?

Remember this was a case which has cost lives. Former Mbombela speaker, Jimmy Mohlala, and Mpumalanga sport and culture spokesperson Sammy Mpatlanyane are both dead after questions were asked over the R1.2bn cost of the giraffe-strewn Mbombela World Cup venue.

Mohlala was shot dead in January 2009. Mpatlanyane was killed in January 2010. So far, Motaung and his co-accused, Herbert Theledi and Chris Gribb, have not been officially linked with those deaths. They were originally charged with a R143m fraud.

But I can reassure South Africans. The NPA is not done yet. And the Hawks still have their claws in to Bobby, the man who boasted that he needed no CV for his lucrative role in “the family business.”

Motaung was released on R15,000 bail, reduced from the original R200,000. When it was suggested Motaung should be suspended from his job as Kaizer Chiefs general manager – where he oversees transfers and, just this month, decided NOT to renew Jimmy Tau’s contract amid a storm of protest – Bobby insisted the case had nothing to do with the AmaKhosi.

Three months ago, I spoke to the investigating officer who arrested “Bobsteak” twice. There was a particular storm when he collared Motaung for a second time IN COURT on March 1.

My source assured me then: “We have a watertight case against Mr Motaung. I would not have arrested him in those circumstances unless I had all the evidence I need.”

And last night, I tracked down the same gentleman again, though his telephone number has been changed. After an initial hesitation, he recognised my voice and told me: “Yes, I stand by what I said then. I am confident in the case I have against Mr Motaung and his two co-accused.”

Tomorrow I will try to persuade my source to go public and talk on “Bollockz” my show on Thursday morning on www.ballz.co.uk. We go live on the internet between 10am and noon.

My source will speak to the NPA in the meantime. Incredibly he was not consulted last week. Those charges of fraud, corruption and forgery may have been dropped by Magistrate Roelf Smith, but no certificate of “Nolle prosequi” (indicating, finally, the case will not be pursued) has been issued.

Motaung was first arrested in August 2012 and then again earlier this year in a case described as “high-profile” by the Neslpruit Regional Court. Much like the Oscar Pistorius case, delays and prevarication from Motaung’s lawyer Zola Majavu and confusion in the NPA have seen the case drag on. And on.

Magistrate Smith used two letters from the NPA, showing a conflict over where the case would be heard, to justify the dropping of charges. Majavu claimed: “The NPA is at war with itself,” and the case was duly removed from the roll.

But that does not mean an end to the matter. And remember, there is a second, bigger charge pending after that second arrest – a R920m case involving Motaung, Gribb, his former lawyer Michael Romanos, Mbombela’s former municipal manager Jacob Dladla, and former Ehlanzeni district municipality technical services manager, Tebogo Kubeka.

That charge suggests Bobby was part of the “gang” who corruptly collaborated to appoint construction giant Basil Reed to build the stadium.

My source says: “I will talk to the NPA. This case is not over. Not by a long way. This is just the first part of a bigger fish we want to fry. The public must know about the Mbombela Stadium.”

Gavin Hunt on Bollockz: I can't promise Wits will finished ahead of SuperSport but I have got a Sunderland star coming over

GAVIN HUNT, three-time winner of the PSL title with SuperSport United, has no doubt he can achieve success with Bidvest Wits as he prepares for his first season in charge with the SuperBoys.

In a wide-ranging interview to launch my new show “BOLLOCKZ” on Ballz visual radio, Hunt revealed the link between his new club and Sunderland – and said a centre-back is on his way from the north-east of England to reinforce his squad at Wits next season.

On his long-awaited departure from SuperSport, Hunt said: “It was tough hey, this thing came about. I’ve got ideas of what they want to do and how they want to do it. But I was very comfortable at SuperSport, I had great support there, a good set-up.

 “I can’t promise we’ll finish above SuperSport… Obviously, the owners of Wits want me to do better!

“There’s a tie up, a link with Sunderland, I’m going to be going over there and have a look around. Their manager Paulo di Canio might give me a hard time!

“Listen, I’m a West Ham supporter, I saw him play for them a couple of times. He’s passionate about it, I’m sure he’ll do well with them.

“I’ve got a centre-back coming, a Sunderland centre-back. We’ll see how he does at Wits. 

 “I had a goalkeeper from England at SuperSport, it was a bloody disaster! He was at the end of his career. He did well but it turned out bad.

 “But there’s a lot of players who go from academy football and can’t make it in England. They’re very good players.

“In the 60s and 70s, we had a lot of English players in South Africa. I just feel there’s a huge gap for academy players from England to come here and earn a great living and enjoy a good lifestyle playing out here.

“At Hellenic when I was in the juniors, Gordon Banks, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst and Alan Ball, England internationals, all played under Budgie Byrne my father-in-law!

“But you have to be careful. We’ve got a link with Sunderland, but what does it really mean? I was involved with the Ajax Amsterdam think at Seven Stars when I first started.

“It’s very difficult for players to switch countries. You’ve got be special. Poor Bongani Khumalo hasn’t made it has he?”

BOLLOCKZ! My new show on www.ballz.co.uk. Tune in by live stream or app, from anywhere in the world, 10am-noon every Thursday. Follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol and see our backers www.topodds.com for the latest sports betting!

VIDEO AND HIGHLIGHTS: My interview with Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund on "Bollockz" today, the new football show on Ballz radio

BAFANA BAFANA coach Gordon Igesund is roaring again. Less than a week after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by a sensational own-goal in Ethiopia, he says: “Our final game against Botswana means something again. We’ve got to hope and pray. And win.”

Speaking on “Bollockz”, my brand new football show on Ballz Radio, Igesund was back to his usual optimistic self after the defeat in Addis Ababa which appeared to have left South Africa’s World Cup qualification dream shattered.

The full interview is on video above, but here are some of the highlights: “The Ethiopia defeat? You know it was one of those situations, unfortunately for us like we’ve had since I started in this job, where we have to win every game. This was no different.

“In the World Cup qualifiers I’ve been playing catch-up every game. It was an absolute freak own goal that Benard Park scored against a highly-motivated Ethiopia.

“We played with a lot of passion and more importantly, we’re starting to get an identity, playing a brand of football which is effective for us.”

Gordon and I spoke on the phone hours after the game – when the FIFA website announced Ethiopia were to be investigated for using an ineligible player in their away win over Botswana a week before.

Gordon, who won the PSL title with a record FOUR different clubs, admits: “It came as a shock to me, before every single game, the match commissioner will tell the opposition who is ineligible to play. That was done and they chose to play the player.

“I’m not going to get over-excited about it, but we’re still in with a bit of a shout. I’ve also heard about Ethiopia losing six points, but I don’t want to talk too much about that.

“The player still hadn’t served his suspension when he played against us. Like I said, I’m more worried about Botswana. All we can do is win that last game.

“We don’t want to jump ahead of ourselves. The way it is right now, this Beyene will have to serve his ban against the Central African Republic. This is what we’re hearing. From our point of view, from SAFA point of view, we’ll just wait and see.”

As for where Ethiopia’s final game will be played, Gordon said: “We didn’t play CAR in Bangui because our soldiers lost their lives there. It wasn’t a very good situation for football. That’s why the game was moved to Cameroon, we had lost our loved ones. The country wasn’t stable either.

“Now Ethiopia, if CAR is back to normal, have to play there. Bangui is one stadium nobody likes going to. CAR haven’t lost there for two years, including Nigeria and Egypt.

“We are building something here with the national team. We had seven or eight injuries but we’ll see what’s available on September 6. We’ve got the COSAFA Cup coming up to try new names. I don’t like chopping and changing too much.

“At the moment, we’re doing things right. We’ve had some tough times. Huge strides have been made with the players, the attitude… they’re proud to play for their country.

“We’ve got another bite of the cherry. The nice things is the Botswana game is going to mean something again. Now we’ve got to hope and pray.”

BOLLOCKZ! My new show on www.ballz.co.uk. Tune in by live stream or app, from anywhere in the world, 10am-noon every Thursday. Follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol and see our backers www.topodds.com for the latest sports betting!

Not a blog, a diary: eNCAnews video, "Bollockz" launches on Ballz, Bidvest on the Sunderland shirt and Umlazi Bush Bucks revisited!

HERE'S the eNCAnews interview about the Ethiopia situation we recorded on July 17... before Danny Jordaan comments about the situation yesterday. It offers a brief explanation of how the story broke.We await the FIFA verdict with several options now open.

Will it be THREE points or SIX the Walya Antelopes lose? Gordon Igesund, the Bafana coach, told me on my brand new Ballz radio show this morning that "at least three points" will be docked from Group A leaders Ethiopia for playing ineligible Minyahile Teshome Beyene.

The Ethiopian Football Federation admitted to the "grave blunder" when they used twice-booked Beyene against Botswana a fortnight ago - as my blog http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/ethiopia-full-sorry-truth-about-blunder.html reveals.

But SAFA vice-president Jordaan told me over lunch yesterday - http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/dannys-double-jeopardy-why-ethiopia.html?showComment=1371658298569 - that he believes they could be docked further points for using Beyene for the first 70 minutes in their dramatic 2-1 win over Bafana last Sunday.

Jordaan, who knows a thing or two about the workings of FIFA after running a highly-successful World Cup in South Africa three years ago, reckons: "A played is suspended until he has served his ban," but EFF sources are now claiming they had "permission from FIFA" to play Beyene against South Africa.

Sunderland's new kit:
Phetolo Patleswana (@jibu_za)
sent this via twitter

Three videos from today's launch of my new show "BOLLOCKZ" on Ballz radio this morning will be coming soon. With station founder Darren Scott holding my hand through my first day, I talked to new Bidvest Wits coach GAVIN HUNT - who revealed he is signing a "young Sunderland centre-half" to replace the departed Bafana and Portsmouth legend Aaron Mokoena. This follows the Clever Boys' link with the English Premier League club - see their new Black Cats shirt with the Bidvest logo (right).

Hunt has several more big names to unveil before the season starts - I'm privy to one or two major signings but let's leave that for a few weeks.

I also got hold of SuperSport United's new coach CAVIN JOHNSON just before he boarded a flight to Durban with his new club officials. As you may have read here http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2013/06/miracle-worker-cavin-johnson-leaves.html, Cavin finally made the appointment official yesterday. He confirmed the arrival of Thuso Phala from his old club Platinum Stars plus AmaTuks impressive Senegalese striker Mame Niang. And when I asked him if he was hopeful of finishing in a top four place, Cavin laughed: "Very confident!"

Bafana Bafana boss GORDON IGESUND came out of a meeting to close the show - he talked about the ups and downs of a week which started on Sunday with shattered World Cup dreams but may end with qualification assured if FIFA decide to dock Ethiopia the full six points.

Gordon said: "I won't be making major changes for the final Group A game against Botswana here on September 6. I've got the COSAFA Cup to try out some new faces."

I'll be posting videos of those interviews later. As for ROGER DE SA my opening no-show, I've only got an SMS: "Sorry, training!" We'll have a go at getting the under-pressure Orlando Pirates coach on air next week.

Thanks to the support from my followers on Facebook and Twitter - now a combined army of over 11,000 - and if you missed it this morning, listen to the show every Thursday 10am-noon on www.ballz.co.za or download their app! Oh, and this from @mycousin1975 (Chris, a Geordie with African roots) on twitter after mention was made of my old club Umlazi Bush Bucks. I've identified a few of the characters:

Blast from the past: the Umlazi Bush Bucks title winning outfit from
circa 1985, featuring coach Clive Barker, owner Lawrence "Big Bear"
Ngubane (right), I think the goalkeeper was called Dave Watterson,
big signing from Wits at the time, Mark Tovey front right, and I reckon
the bloke next to big, beardie Brummie de Leur is Chilean Raul Gonzalez,
whose son Mark Dennis Gonzalez (named after Tovey and Dennis Wickes
(front) went on to play for Liverpool and Chile at 2010 World Cup!