Siyabonga Ntshingila

Luke Watson is incredibly difficult to like. Mind you, I fall into the side of those who believe he gets a pretty raw deal as a player and a person, but its pretty obvious that, Bhutana Komphela aside (hands up anyone who thinks Komphela is presenting his own agenda when he shoots off the hip? […]

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Respect/ Football used to be a simple affair. Eleven fit young men from around the way would go down to the park on weekends and square off against another collective from another locale. The game would be played in high spirits and with goodwill all round, the ref would be a quiet authority on the […]

What on earth is THAT thing? Jesus, Mary, Mariah and Whitney! Did you see that? Are they for real!? That looks like something you would get if you moved Joburg Zoo to the inner reactor at Koeberg and let some saboteur loose with a bolt. How on earth did an entire collective of professionals decide […]

The Cheetahs are fresh out of wings (and ideas it seems), just last week we dispensed of the milk dispensers formerly known as Die Bulle with a brilliant Union interpretation of “Dutch Total Football”, the Lions are battling to keep their players from the twin lures of the euro/pound and the easy-come gains of the […]

A notable feature of football support in most of the world is how teams are supported mostly according to locale and region. Indeed in some parts of the world, the Catalunyan capital of Barcelona being the most obvious example, the local team is an intrinsic part of local identity. It embodies all that the people […]

In psychology, cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling or stress caused by holding two contradictory ideas simultaneously. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a fundamental cognitive drive to reduce this dissonance by modifying an existing belief, or rejecting one of the contradictory ideas. Prevention of cognitive dissonance may also contribute to confirmation […]

Last week, the Bok pack held its own against an All Black unit full of grunt, experience and guile. This afforded the halfbacks and loose forwards plenty of forward momentum and space to work with. We know they made less use of that last weekend than Uncle Bob does with the Zimbabwean Constitution, frittering possession […]

When PdV started talking about creating a culture of responsibility amongst our players and teaching them to think on their feet and play the situation, he was derided. The All Blacks first try was a direct consequence of an antipodean player doing such and showing why it works. Ma’a Nonu threw a stinker of a […]

“I was doing well, till I felt Gay coming on my shoulder, and that’s when I panicked” — Asafa Powell. Truth be told, you cannot blame the lad. Wouldn’t you have reacted the same way? While his already established reputation for choking like a newbie at the docks guaranteed that the above statement was received […]

Was it a penalty? Was it not? Who cares? The referee did not give it. Far be it for me to undermine the authority of those chosen by the guardians of the game of the masses to ensure that it is played within its spirit and regulations. In fact, I would go as far as […]

So what should we expect from the Charity Cup this weekend? Sundowns are the hands-down favourites to win, with good reason too — they have way too much quality in their ranks and the boys know that they need to start the season off on a strong note in order not to put pressure on […]

While in one of my (usual) daily vegetative state/contemplation periods, I’ve been mulling over a few things in my head, without getting much joy. Oh for a personal wench to give a good kicking to at such moments. These enlightened ages are really dwas when it comes to personal amusement. Not being one to doubt […]