Tag: PSL

Football: Cape Town City win PSL title

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There were amazing scenes at Cape Town City FC HQ this morning as it was confirmed that Cape Town City FC (the artists formerly known as Mpumalanga Black Aces FC) announced that they have secured the 2016/17 PSL Title in their inaugural season.

Aces/City actually finished 3rd when the arduous, old fashioned process of actually playing games and getting points was taken into account, but as their spokesperson Purchase Status told the assembled SA football press this morning:

We realised that since we had just bought our way into the league, we might as well go the whole hog and buy the title as well. It doesn’t always have to be about winning, getting points and your playing ability.
If you give local bloggers enough free caps and keyrings and stuff, that’s almost the same as being a real local club. Naturally, it’s a small step from there to buying the title.

Indeed, in the PSL, money talks: while we were at the City press conference, news came through that Amazulu – who finished in 5th place in the NFD in 2016/17 – had bought their place in the PSL for next season. But paying for position and honours isn’t always plain sailing, as Status went on to explain:

We made Bidvest Wits an offer that they couldn’t refuse, but they did refuse it, so then we simply threatened to buy their whole club and move it to Cape Town, and suddenly they changed their mind and sold us the 2016/17 title.

Plans are being made for a victory parade through the city, but no-one is sure whether it should be in Mbombela or Cape Town. Either way, we’re told that huge billboard-sized pictures of hundreds Cape Town City FC fans are being printed to line the route – wherever it may happen.

We’ll be spraying the crowds with JC La Roux bubbly. Sure, it’s not real French champagne, but then this isn’t a real club or a real title, so it kinda fits.

Who knows what the 2017/18 PSL season will bring us, aside from a poorly-attended, often interrupted, absolutely pointless charade in which the clubs with the most money will simply buy their way to where they want to be?

Ajax to return to Cape Town Stadium

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Favourable grass-growing conditions, plus some expert love and care by the Cape Town Stadium groundstaff means that despite previous reports to the contrary, Ajax Cape Town’s final game of the season will be staged at the Mother City’s World Cup venue:

Ajax Cape Town is returning to Cape Town Stadium for their last game of season against Maritzburg United on May 21, 2011.
The last game of the season for Ajax Cape Town is certainly going to be the most important game played in Cape Town since the semi-final of the 2010 World Cup.
Local support for Ajax Cape Town is vital to provide the final surge across the finish line. We urge the City and the people of Cape Town to get behind the Urban Warriors as they strive to bring the PSL Championship trophy home.

After a mixed response to their previous games at the venue, i, they’re putting on a Football Festival in order to pull the crowds in:

Ajax is planning a major soccer feast at the Cape Town Stadium when they play Maritzburg United.

The Urban Warriors are making 40 000 seats available to the people of Cape Town to ensure that everyone have an opportunity to witness Ajax Cape Town winning their first ABSA Premiership League title in their history.

Shooz Mekuto the Ajax PRO said, “I am very excited with the developments ahead of our last PSL fixture at the Cape Town Stadium for the current season. I am inviting all the people of Cape Town to come a watch history unfold when Ajax Cape Town lift the ABSA Premiership trophy for the first time.”

Shooz may be confident, but Maritzburg United will be no pushover in a game which Ajax have to win to be sure of claiming the title. “The Team of Choice” beat high-flying Mamelodi Sunclowns on their last outing.
Still, that’s all the more reason for locals to come out and support the Urban Warriors next Saturday. The city is making the Fan Walk and the Park & Ride facilities available to supporters and (with the right result) it should be a great day for Cape Town football.
I will, of course, be there: if you want to say hi, I’ll be the tall, good-looking bloke in red and white.

Tickets are now on sale from everyone’s favourite online outlet, Computicket and are priced at R40, R60 and R80.

Double Header

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I was at the well-organised, well-attended and most enjoyable “Loving Local” PSL Double Header at the Cape Town Stadium last night – the first big event there since the World Cup semi final in July.

Cape Town’s PSL new boys Vasco da Gama were edged out 2-1 by Orlando Pirates in the first game and then Ajax Cape Town put in a great performance against Bloemfontein Celtic to win 2-0.
That second game was billed as the clash of the strikers – by me anyway – with SA legend Thembinkosi “Terror” Fanteni for the Urban Warriors and ex-Ajax favourite Nathan Paulse up front for Bloem Celtic.
Fanteni was disappointing, despite all the good service he got from his Ajax collegues and Paulse had an absolutely brilliant game despite having no help at all. Neither scored.

Here is Paulse finding space to get in a (single) header once again and here are the rest of the pics I took last night.