The Glamour Boys suffered their first defeat in seven matches after conceding a 2-0 defeat to Siwelele through goals from Tebogo Potsane and Sphesihle Jeza at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.

Amakhosi remain in third place in the Betway Premiership standings, with 47 points from 26 matches played.

Chiefs will look to bounce back when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in their next Betway Premiership encounter on Wednesday.

“I said that it was a game of two halves, we were not there in the first half. Everything starting from the build-up, starting the offensive and defensive way, we were not there and got punished,” Kaze told SuperSport TV after the match.

“Our reaction was too late and that’s what we kept talking that we need to get over from the derby and to consult with this game because it’s going to be a tough one and we saw it.

“We went into the game very late and that’s how it happened and I think it’s one of the bigger areas we need to improve. It’s the consistency in our mindset, our behaviour and going forward.”

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The Brazilians returned to winning ways after they clinched a 1-0 win over Rise and Shine thanks to a 61st minute goal from Marcelo Allende at the Seshego Stadium on Wednesday.

The win sees Sundowns move back to the top of the Betway Premiership standings, with 61 points from 26 matches, two points ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates.

Sundowns will now shift their focus to their next league encounter against the same opponents at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.

“Well, I think we did a wonderful game with the conditions we were provided,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV after the game.

“Very interesting game in terms of focus determination, spaces, trying to find spaces, different tactical approach.

“Different variants, trying to manage the players also. Not easy to go on the sequence on the ones we facing but I’m so happy with the boys.

“A lot of understanding of the moment, the way they had to play to look for it so we were pretty welcomed and we did the job, second game against Polokwane in a few days again.

“Another tough one for sure, let’s keep focus just worry about the next one nothing more.”

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READ: McCarthy: I’ve Recovered & Ready For Siwelele

Chiefs extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.

The Glamour Boys now turn their attention to a trip to the Free State Stadium, where they will take on Siwelele FC in the Betway Premiership.

Amakhosi head into the fixture sitting third on the Betway Premiership table, having collected 47 points from 25 matches played.

“The Derby was great. We had a plan and executed it well. Obviously, both teams tried to win the game but it ended in a draw. Now we are looking forward to going to Bloem for the game against 11th-placed Siwelele,” Monyane told his club’s official website.

“We are not expecting an easy game and do not underestimate any opponents, we go out there and give it our best every time.

“We have just played the Derby, but this is an equally important game. We have analysed them and have planned accordingly, and now we must go and execute it well again.

“We are in the final stretch of the season, and it’s important for us to keep going.

“We have some good momentum going at the moment, the team is doing well; we are in a good space, spirits are high, without getting carried away.

“We take each game as it comes. We aim to finish on a high and make our supporters happy,” he concluded.

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The Brazilians will look to bounce back after playing out to a goalless draw against Richards Bay over the weekend.

Sundowns will now travel to the Seshego Stadium when they take on Rise and Shine in their next Betway Premiership match on Wednesday.

Miguel Cardoso’s side will head into this encounter sitting in second place in the Betway Premiership standings with 58 points, a point behind log leaders Orlando Pirates.

“We’re taking one game at a time. We’re not pushing ourselves under pressure,” Mudau told Sundowns’ media team.

“I think it’s very important in a situation like this to calm down and focus more on ourselves, not on other things that are happening.

“Obviously, with Polokwane City, I think it’s going to be a difficult game, to be honest, but I believe everyone is ready for the game tomorrow (today).

“It’s going to be a tough one, but we have to go there and make sure that we make ourselves, our supporters, and our families back home happy. Because it’s very important. I mean, we played two draws in a row. It’s unlike us, but, yeah.”

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On his first day at the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions, Chris Smith walked out onto the Ellis Park pitch and just stood there for a moment. He was alone. It was exactly two years to the day that his father – a staunch Lions fan – had passed away. And Smith knew he was exactly where he needed to be.

“It was 1 July when I joined the Lions. A Monday morning. I remember thinking – it’s 1 July. It’s two years since dad passed. He grew up supporting the Lions. I’m exactly where I’m meant to be,” says Smith.

Now, with his team poised to make the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs for the first time in their history and with his incredible form this season a key part of the journey, Smith has a definite sense that he’s spent the last seven years waiting for just this moment.

And now he’s risen to it. Smith is relishing his role as first-choice flyhalf, as one of the core leaders in the group, and as the competition’s leading points scorer.

“Since I became a professional rugby player, I’ve worked for seven years to be in this position. At the Vodacom Bulls I was biding my time. I was fortunate to compete with world-class flyhalves like Morné Steyn and Johan Goosen. I worked with them, learnt from them, tried to challenge them, and that has really helped me. I feel like it’s all led me to this, and this season.”

The responsibility that has been placed on him has in turn brought out the best in his game, and Smith has clearly flourished as part of a group that has found exactly what works for them and is executing that to perfection this season.

“I’ve been fortunate to have played week in and week out, and that time in the saddle between a nine and 10 is everything. The support and backing I’ve received from coach Cash (van Rooyen) has been huge. I’m in a leadership position, and as a flyhalf you’re a game driver in the team. At the Vodacom Bulls I always played second fiddle. To now have the full backing from the coaching staff and my teammates is everything. It gives you so much confidence to play your natural game and just serve your team.

“I’ve always been a system 10, as in a flyhalf who loves to manage a game and execute that plan. I’m very fortunate that we have three very good scrumhalves in Morné van den Berg, Nico Steyn and Haashim Pead, so it helps when you have that on your inside. Our outside backs are really good and exciting, and I’m just trying to serve them as best as I can and let them do the magic. I believe that is one of my strengths.”

One of his other strengths is the wealth of experience he brings to any team in a competition now entering this final stretch, with that rarefied air of knockout rugby waiting as both the reward and the test of character.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved in a lot of big games. I’ve been a part of two Vodacom United Rugby Championship finals, a couple of Currie Cup finals, so that experience helps when you’re in those pressure situations. I’ve worked with really good players and coaches, and I’ve just tried to be a sponge over the past seven years and keep developing as a player.

“We’ve worked extremely hard as a team. We look out for each other. We’ve built a real care for each other and the Lions brand. I think it’s showing in the games when teams are making line breaks and our players are rushing back and putting their bodies on the line.

“We’ve developed a game model that really suits our team, and as a result of that we’ve had a really good run. We’re towards the business end now. For this team to achieve something this season would be very special for me. We’ve grown as a group and built such a good team culture. We’re playing mature rugby and are in a good place – it’s now just a matter of executing.”

Personally, Smith has evolved to develop his own mindset for this critical part of a season.

“I take a lot of pride in my preparation, and that also gives you confidence. If my prep in the week is good, it really helps in the big moments and you just let your natural ability take over.”

Whether it’s in the seven days of a match week, or the seven years of his career, Smith has been preparing very well for exactly this moment.

Issued By Michael Vlismas Media

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READ: Monyane: We Do Not Underestimate Any Opponents

Amakhosi extended their unbeaten run to seven games after playing out to a 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.

The Glamour Boys will now travel to the Free State Stadium when they face Siwelele in the Betway Premiership.

Chiefs go into this fixture sitting in third place in the Betway Premiership standings, with 47 points from 25 matches.

“I am good. In the previous game I had stiffness in my left hamstring, so it was a precaution move to be substituted. It wasn’t an injury. I have recovered and I’m ready for the game,” McCarthy told Chiefs’ media team.

“Playing in Bloemfontein is not extra special, but it’s sentimental to me because it was where my father started playing. So yeah, I’m looking forward to that.”

The Amakhosi defender says he is relishing the chance to take to the field but is wary of the threat the bloemfontein outfit possesses.

“I’m feeling confident,” he added.

“Siwelele FC is a good team. They managed to all the draw against Pirates and we shouldn’t overlook the individuals they have in their team and it’ll be a good and tough game.

“I think going towards the end of the season, we just need to do the most as a team and make sure we get three points every game,” McCarthy concluded.

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The Brazilians played out to their second consecutive draw in the Betway Premiership after playing to a goalless draw at the Richards Bay Stadium.

The draw sees Sundowns remain in second place in the Betway Premiership standings, with 58 points, a point behind log leader Orlando Pirates.

Cardoso admitted Sundowns struggled to convert chances at key moments and, in pushing for a late winner, left themselves exposed — ultimately paying the price in a tightly contested clash.

“Difficult match as expected, what we saw on the pitch, a lot of duels, very difficult pitch to play, we knew that other teams were not able to win here for some reason,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV after the match.

“This team of Richards Bay is a team that fight, it’s not the way they play because they don’t play, but they are aggressive on the transition especially on the moments when we need to put everything to trying to get the points. But we left it.

“We didn’t score here and there and then of course we took the responsibility of trying to shift the victory in the last stages and we exposed ourselves so that’s what it is.

“Very positive was the extra three minutes we got in the last two matches for the first time in our league we got two times three minutes extra time very positive,” he concluded.

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The Glamour Boys settled for a point against the Buccaneers after they played to a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg.

Kamogelo Sebelebele scored a 74th-minute goal to cancel out Pule Mmodi’s 61st-minute opener at the FNB Stadium.

The draw sees Amakhosi remain in third place in the Betway Premiership standings with 47 points after 25 matches.

Chiefs will look to bounce back and return to winning ways when they face Siwelele FC at the Free State Stadium on Wednesday.

“I think it was a great game, tactical game, it was more important, it was a more challenging game, I think that we create some opportunities but was unlucky to score,” Youssef told SuperSport after the game.

“The possibility was there, I’m so happy about the performance of the players.

“I’m so happy even about the players not in the team, they will come back more, they showed great character unfortunately we didn’t win the game but we continue to fight and continue to be.”

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The Junior Boks blended a high tempo attacking game with a gritty defensive display that left the Gqeberha crowd delighted.

Despite the comfortable 48-21 scoreline, the match was a relentless physical test and Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote praised his side’s intent to play an “exciting brand” of rugby.

“We never want to stop the guys from expressing themselves, and our journey is just starting now,” Foote said after the game.

Riley Norton led a defensive effort that effectively neutralized the South Americans for the first hour of play. The SA U20 captain said the performance was pleasing and praised the Junior Boks’ fighting spirit and grit.

“It’s about character – it comes down to the heart that each player has,” said Norton of the match against a competitive Argentine side.

The Junior Bok captain also highlighted the intensity brought by the visitors, noting that Argentina didn’t stop fighting for the full 80 minutes, and he also credited his forward pack for “fronting up” against a renowned Argentine set-piece that remains the “bread-and-butter” of their game.

One the Junior Boks’ standout performers was strong-running inside centre Ethan Adams, whose physicality in the midfield was rewarded with two tries in the first half. Out wide, Jack Benade (wing) registered a hat-trick of tries in his debut international for the Junior Boks.

Norton also praised the passionate Eastern Cape crowd that came out to watch the Junior Boks play on Freedom Day: “It was such a special occasion to sing our anthem with the crowd. I am so pleased that we could play some really exciting rugby today, especially in the first half, and be successful in what was always going to be a tough encounter against Argentina.”

South Africa lead the standings after the opening round on five points, followed by New Zealand on four, and Australia on one, while Argentina must still open their account.

The Junior Boks’ next game is at 16h10 on Sunday against Australia, who were beaten 34-29 by New Zealand in their opener, while the Kiwis and Argentina will clash at 14h00. Tickets, from only R35 per person, are available here.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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The Buccaneers were forced to settle for a point after playing out to a 1-1 draw when Kamogelo Sebelebele cancelled out Pule Mmodi’s opening goal at the FNB Stadium.

The draw sees Pirates remain at the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 59 points, one point ahead of second place Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ouaddou admitted his side were second best in the physical battles early on, acknowledging that a slow start and a lack of attacking sharpness in the first half prevented them from asserting their usual dominance.

“Look, we expected a tough game, when you see the line-up especially in the middle, we knew that they will not come trying to play maybe to be well organised compact, but very physical duels it’s what we had,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV after the game.

“I think in the first half, I thought we were really nice with the duels we didn’t win too much duels, we didn’t win too much duels, we didn’t start the game like we wanted, we didn’t create a lot of chances like the other games we have played.”

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