Encounter with Augustine Makalakalane (Agnes Nkosi' Story)

Mohau Ramashidja

CAF Women’s Champions League winning assistant coach Agnes Nkosi, used to get earrings as mocking gestures from the then Banyana Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane, in the three caps she has played for the national team.

Makalakalane used this gesture to ridicule the now first female assistant coach to ever lead a club to continental glory, without the presence of her head coach in the dugout, in insinuating that she looked like a boy. Sundowns Ladies coach, Jerry Tshabalala, was not allowed to sit on the bench due to the fact that he did not possess any of the required CAF coaching badges but that of SAFA’s.

“This man (Makalakalane) made my life a living hell during my stint with Banyana Banyana,” Nkosi recalls. “We travelled by plane in all the three matches I played for the senior national women’s football team and he would buy me earrings at the airport in each camp I reported to under his stewardship. He said earrings would make me look better, more feminine, as in his own words: I looked like a boy. 

“Playing under him was also tough,” Nkosi adds. “He used to shout at me at times whenever I made a simple mistake in training and insisted in stating that he didn’t call me up but someone else did. It was Fran (Hilton-Smith) who roped me into the national scene and told me she believed in my potential of competing and representing my country at that level. 

“I used to cry every night whenever I was in camp. My then national team teammates like Sanah Mollo saw all of this and would encourage me to not pay him any mind and that he could see that I was onto him in how he conducted himself around other players. We had our suspicions (of his inappropriate behaviour with national team players) until players like Nthabiseng ‘Moemish’ Matshaba broke the silence (in 2010) regarding what was really happening to them in camp.”

Makalakalane was then later fired from his national team coaching job, following an investigation conducted by SAFA, which saw it fit to release the Bafana Bafana legend from his responsibilities, following allegations of sexual harassment.

In coach Tshabalala, though, both Matshaba and Nkosi, together with their other teammates, have found a genuine father figure who has always had their best intentions at heart. In the upcoming Hollywoodbets Super League season which will kick-off this coming month, Nkosi will serve as coach Tshabalala’s assistant in her first official professional league season after impressing him operating as a player/coach during the COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions league qualifiers and the main event in Egypt last year.

 When Tshabalala realised that Nkosi’s legs were now beginning to give in, the Free State-born gaffer told her player to start working in her coaching badges, including the current CAF C Coaching Licence which allowed her to be on the bench at both the COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League qualifier tournament and the CAF Women’s Champions League event. Sundowns went on to win both tournaments undefeated, with Nkosi left to make some key decisions in crucial matches, on her own.

In fact, it was coach Tshabalala who insisted that Nkosi should lead the team when the club management were suggesting their reserve league team head coach, Surprise Moriri to take over the reins.

“Hee-hee you know, God works in mysterious ways,” sitting in his office at Sundowns’ headquarters with his forearms leaning against his desk, Tshabalala began to narrate how things unfolded.

“The time I was telling Nkosi to work on her coaching badges I didn’t know that we would be in this predicament. Leading up to the COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League qualifier tournament, COSAFA informed me that I would not be allowed to sit on the bench because of my coaching credentials. I only possess SAFA coaching licences and they needed a CAF (coaching badge as a minimum requirement). I was told though, that I would be allowed to do all media engagements, which I was okay with. The management of the club were also thinking of bringing in Surprise (Moriri) to fill in that gap and you know what happened? Just a week to go before we flew to Durban for the Champions League qualifiers, Nkosi’s coaching licence came through from CAF. 

“My decision was simple from then,” Tshabalala adds. “She was the one who was going to lead the team and do the post match interviews and all. And I was okay with it. The club’s Chairman called and asked me and said: ‘Coach Jerry, are you sure about this? And I said: ‘Yes. Absolutely, chairman. Agnes will lead the team’. And we did it.”

And if tears are but a jostle, a prayer to the footballing gods that their bestowed upon gifts on the ones whom they had predestined for greatness, are now growing weary because of the trials endured; then every sheared tear by Nkosi has certainly carried her to be where she is now. 

Nkosi concedes that those answered prayers came as a series of little miracles, though, leading a young girl considered to be a misfit by those around her, playing a sport which possessed no potential of being an actual solid career in her country then, to right to where she is now –and that is in the history books and a promising future up ahead.

“I’ve always been different whilst growing up,” Nkosi says. “I grew up playing football with boys and never liked wearing skirts. My primary school days were the hardest because the teachers there would always insist that I should wear a skirt to school. I didn’t like that, not even one bit,” she chuckles. “So what I would do was leave for school every morning at 6:30 wearing my school pants and with my skirt in my schoolbag. It was a 30-minute walk from Muzimhlophe hostels (Soweto) were I stayed with my mom and she would wonder why I left that early. Our school only started at 7:30am and there was a bush not far from our school where I use to go to and changed the skirt they wanted me to change into. Leaving early allowed me enough time to do just that. One day she asked me: ‘Kanti uya phi ekuseni kangaga’ (which is IsiZulu for: where are off to this early in the morning). And I would say: ‘Ngi sayo shintsha ma’ (which loosely translates: I’m going to stop by the bushes and change into my school dress, ma),” she says bursting out with a raucous laugh.

More humorous incidents happened when she got to meet her father for the first time in the year 2011. Nkosi was 24 years old then. “My dad is a strict Zulu man and when we finally met for the first time, he welcomed me, who I was, how I looked and my preferred style of clothing. He used to work as a security guard in some store in town and I would visit him there quite often. People would pass and greet: ‘Good day gentlemen’ and he would burst out laughing, making the whole incident light, fun and humorous. He never judged or questioned my preferences. Not once. He accepted me as I was and we had wonderful moments together up until he passed in 2019. I enjoyed the time I got to spent with him.”

With her mother the only parent that she is left with, following her father’s passing, Nkosi says one of her dreams is to one day move her out of the Mzimhlophe hostels in Soweto to a new living area, given the sacrifices she had seen her mother make just to take care of her and three other siblings.

“That’s one of my dreams which I wish to accomplish,” Nkosi says. “My mom is now 76 (years old) and I’m the one who forced her to retire from her domestic worker job when COVID-19 hit back in 2020. I didn’t want to risk it and I’m glad that she finally gave in to me finally taking care of her, whilst she’s busy looking after two of my sister’s kids. My childhood dream has always been to force her into retirement and get her one of those nice houses she would take me with at Balfour Park, and have people working for her, for a change. Hopefully this new coach path that I’m embarking on will enable me to achieve just that in time.”

Meanwhile, Nkosi has welcomed CAF’s decision to have this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League to be played in South Africa, adding that it will serve to their advantage as Sundowns Ladies endeavour to defend their title.

“Let them come so that we can give them a proper hiding,” Nkosi says with a chuckle, however firm at this utterance. “We want to defend our league title this coming season and that is a step in the right direction in working towards our ultimate goal which is pushing for our second star. It can be done.”

Born to a bloodline footballers, Brooks targets second COSAFA title

3 July 2022 – When Fabian Brooks met his wife Melanie Brooks in 1995, the footballing gods, in their pantheon ranks above, saw a perfect opportunity to birth out an offspring that would break the family's mold in the beautiful game that is soccer.

Both Fabian and Melanie had been footballers, however, none turning pro during their playing days. Fabian tore his ACL while plying his trade for the then Wits University's affiliated side Wits Eagles FC, while his now wife of 23 years called it quits from the then Maritzburg United Women' side, as there was money in women's football then. She now works as a banking consultant in one of South Africa's top five banks.

Those who saw Fabian play said he was a lethal striker who, if it wasn't for the knee injury, could have easily broken into the professional scene. Melanie was a good centre-back who only managed to achieve provincial colours during her playing days.

On 01 March 2001 the pair gave birth to their son, one who would play where they had never played before; and that is in the centre. They named him Ethan Brooks, the currently most capped player in the current Bafana Bafana squad that is to compete at this year's COSAFA Cup tournament in Durban. The 21-year old credits his growth and progression in his football career to both of his parents who have supported his dreams the moment he realised football was what he wanted to pursue with his life.

Like Pele of Brazil, who wanted to honour his father who also played as a striker by achieving great feats with The Seleção, Brooks holds similar ambitions, too.

"I one day want to represent South Africa in an AFCON tournament and then play in the FIFA World Cup tournament one of the good days," Brooks says.

At this COSAFA Cup tournament, the newly signed AmaZulu midfielder goes in as the most experienced in camp, having played in last year' Southern regional football tournament when South Africa beat Senegal on penalties in the final.

Brooks added that what helped the previous group is that they all had a winner's mindset, stating that the current crop of players share that same mentality, too.

Bafana Bafana are currently in camp in Johannesburg, and will travel to Durban on 10 July ahead of the first encounter against Mozambique in the quarter-finals on 13 July.

"What worked for last year's group had the winner's mindset and that is what helped us clinch the title," Brooks said. "This current group of players share the same mindset and desire and I believe we will do well there."

Movie Review

Name: The Blind Side

PG: 13

Length: 02:29:32

Rating: 7/10

Director: John Lee Hancock

Writers: Michael Lewis (Book), John Lee Hancock

By Mohau Ramashidja

Shaking off the mindset of the matrix he was born into turned out not to be an easy task for him to implement. “I go to the bathroom, look into the mirror and say ‘This is not Michael Oher’,” he said.

Born to a mother who was a drug addict and forming part of the 12 siblings from different fathers, Michael Oher had to learn how to survive on his own. Having been in and out of foster homes Oher finds himself living off the streets and sometimes accommodated over a friend’s house for a night.  

The Blind Side: Staring Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher is a must see.

If you are an emotional rollercoaster ride junky then this is a definite fix for your uncontrollable habit. Based on a true story, this biographical tale takes you straight in to the wits and warts-and-all of the making of the “NFL Star” Michael Oher.

An unplanned motherly affection towards a homeless child and the adaptability of the child’s new understanding of being loved, will keep you glued to your screens throughout.

Amongst many other things, John Lee Hancock did a commendable job by bringing to light the racial divide between Blacks and Whites and the gap between the rich and the poor within the American society.

The movie however, failed to share a light on the fact that Sean Tuohy, before becoming a millionaire, grew up a poor White child, hence that’s why he had a heart of helping out kids from disadvantaged backgrounds (Black or White). Second, although it was the Tuohys who took Michael in, it wasn’t Leigh Anne (Sean’s wife) who taught the boy how to play football.

Maybe it is advisable that, after watching this piece, you get yourself a copy of Michael Louis’ The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game; published 2006. The scenery is much better there.

FC Barcelona: Messi Scores a spell breaker

 

By Mohau Ramashidja

FC Barcelona travelled to England on Tuesday hoping not to get a royal hiding from the queen’s knights, Manchester City FC.

Barca entered into their tenth in a row last sixteen clash of the UEFA Champions League with a record of 14 defeats, eight draws and six wins playing in England. However the newcomers had a far much more impressive record sheet. Man City had only lost once against Bayern Munich in their 23 continental clashes earlier this season. And given the level of managerial experience under Manuel Pellegrini; Man City fans sure hope for a tailor-made defeat for the Spaniards.

But it was in the first seven minutes after Kick off that Etihad Stadium was arrayed with the style of football their opposition had brought to their park. Quick ball distribution was the order of the day. Calmness and absolute concentration was a necessity to defuse a ticking bomb (or ball) set before them.  Xavi’s thunderbolt Cleared away by Man City’s Joe Hart and Negredo missing one of his many scoring chances telegraphed to him.

Although the first half birthed out unnecessary fouls and a goalless tie between the two, the 2^nd half had a different story to tell. It was all thanks to Man City’s Defender Demichelis’ foul on Messi which awarded Barcelona a penalty spot to score a spell breaker of the last seven years without a win in England. It was Messi who did the honours in the 54^th minute, scoring his 388 goal for his current club.

Both sides made substitutions in the 73^rd minute to solidify their squads. But it was Barca’s manager Gerardo Martino who had the winning cards on the table.

Slick passing between Naymar and Dani Alves birthed out a classical finish in the dying ends of the 2^nd half, thanks to the rightback’s impeccable finish.

Manchester City is set to lock horns for a comeback with FC Barcelona at Camp Nou stadium on March 12. Match kicks off at 9:45 PM South Africa standard time.

...hope this helps.

Social Unrest comes to life in the Garden town (Tzaneen, South Africa). Alleged salary disparities and corruption are the everyday norm in the running of the Greater Tzaneen Municipalities (GTM). Come as we investigate the truth from the ground up. As we talk to the very people who are affected by everyday decisions of the municipality and the alleged culprits.

Mohau Ramashidja reports...

Pirates nail Zanaco FC

 

Mohau Ramashidja

A 1–0 lead in the first half of the second leg CAF champions’ league encounter was certainly enough to keep Orlando Pirates motivated throughout to walk away with a 2–1 win. “The away goal was crucial for us. We are getting there,” said Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa.

The home side welcomed Zanaco FC at Soccer City stadium determined to increase the away aggregate lead scored in Lusaka. Pirates made their intentions clear in the first half when the unfavoured Masuku, with only 6 appearances, scored a long range cracker outside the 18 yard.

Adamant for a comeback, it was Zanaco who outpaced the home side to find the back of the net in the 48^th minute, thanks to Musonda’s brilliant header.

With matters now being even, Pirates continued to create chances only to find their efforts going abyss. A beautiful chance orchestrated in the 67^th minute by Pirates’ midfield– finding Klate who seemed to have left his scoring boots at home. His shot went wide, left with only a keeper to beat.

With each moment being crucial for both sides, Pirates’ Klate made way for the troublesome Mpho Makola. Hungry from the word go; it was Makola who made his presents felt in the opposition’s camp, 5 minutes into his play time.

Left with no option Zanaco committed into a foul hoping to nullify the threat like they did with Pirates’ Jali in the first half. But that was not to be as Makola soldiered on to score a stunner into the top corner with a free kick.

With only 14 minutes left on the clock, the home side continued to show more dominance and desire to walk away with a win. Eager to impress as always it was Pirates’ Mahlaba who surged forward like a hot knife through butter– releasing a scorcher outside the 18 yard only to miss the crossbar by inches.

Match ended on 3–1 aggregate in favour of the Buccaneers.    

             

Wits comes up on top against arrows

 

By Mohau Ramashidja

Bidvests Wits came up on top as they walked away with the 3 points in the Absa Premiership encounter against Golden Arrows.

The home side suffered a 2–1 defeat from the students thanks to Vilakazi’s and Faty’s impeccable shots which came in the second half.

The first goal came about in the 46^th minute thanks to Langwe’s immaculate passing skills which found Wits’ captain Vilakazi in a good position to lob a shot in. With a goal behind, it was Arrows who played with great desperation trying to hit back as Wits made its last substitution hoping to maintain the lead. But that was not to be, as Arrows found the back of the net thanks to Nguzane’s left foot thunder bolt out of the 18 yard in the 82^nd minute.

Adamant of winning the day’s match it was Wits’ midfielder Faty who kept his nerve inside the 16 yard area to find the back of the net.

Given the great performance the students exhibited in the field of play, it was Wits’ midfielder Asive Langwe who walked away with the man of the match award. “The composure that I have as a player comes from my coach. He always tells me to relax whenever I’m around the ball,” He said.       

PSG keep matters neutral against Barca

By Mohau Ramashidja

All of Paris came out to play given the handful they had to deal with in the UEFA champions’ league quarter final contest between FC Barcelona and Paris ST Germain FC.

The French Log leaders welcomed FC Barcelona to a congested Rarc Des Princes stadium. Filled to capacity, Barca found themselves outnumbered in the field of play as PSG fans came into form as the 12^th man.

A gruesome contest it turned out to be as yellow cards started flying out in the genesis of the match. Taking no nonsense and committing one, it was Barca’s defender Pique who picked the first yellow for manhandling PSG’s Ibrahimovic in the 18^th minute.

For a while, PSG’s hard work at training seemed to be working for them in neutralising Barca’s Lionel Messi. But as Ibrahimovic missed each scoring chance granted to him, it was Messi who continued to crack his skull to decipher the opposition’s defence. And so it was in the 38^th minute where Dani Alves curled in a spectacular cross to Messi who needed no second invitation in nailing in a shot with his left.

Fatigue getting the best of the most expensive defender worth 33 million Pounds, Tiago Silva found himself trailing behind as Messi surged forward in search for his second, unfortunately missing the top corner by inches.

The second half turned out to be as entertaining as the first. Barca found themselves without a scoring genius as the injured Messi made way for Cesc Fabregas. PSG’s Beckham bowed out of match with a record of being the first player to have made four appearances with different clubs in the UEFA champions’ league.

Frustrations loomed in the Barca camp as no player could rise up to the occasion of utilising 402 passes shared in the 70^th minute into scoring chances. Adamant to keep up, it was Ibrahimovic who forced in an equaliser after a set piece was deflected by the woodwork in the 79^th minute.

Wasting no time in a space of 10 minutes, Barca made use of the penalty granted to them. And it was Barcelona’s master passer and captain Xavi who had no problem in sending Sirugu to the wrong side while he placed it to the right.

With 4 minutes left on the clock, Barca cleared for safety hoping to walk away with a win. But that was not to be as Ibrahimovic availed himself yet again, this time to set up a pass with a header to Matuidi who ended the evening with a thunder bolt.

Score line 2-2.        

        

Manchester loses out on UEFA  

By Mohau Ramashidja

Real Madrid’s 3–2 aggregate win against Manchester United left many in question over referee’s decision in the 56^th minute. This follows when Nani was sent off with a straight red after his stats up on Madrid’s Arboloa’s ribcage.

With a man down from both sides, it was Madrid who had the upper hand of unleashing one of their rare talents Modric, to punish the unsettled Man United. Modric’s goal came in the 67^th minute when he curled in a shot out of the 18 yard to find the back of the net.

However this was not the case with Madrid in the first half. It was more of a rat and a cat chase game, with Manchester knowing it was going to get away with the cheese if they could increase the lead given their away goal at Santiago Bernabeu.

Both sides remained resolute of maintaining a clean sheet in the first half. But it was Manchester’s Rafael who proved to be more witter in defence when Madrid’s captain Sergio Ramos found himself mind boggled when he deflected Nani’s cross into an on-goal.
 

An emotional match for both teams, Ryan Giggs making his 1 000 appearance for the Red Devils and CR7 assigned to take out a team he once served in before moving to Real Madrid. Whatever emotional state both players were in, it all came down to who wanted to make it in to the next round more. And it was Cristiano Ronaldo who stood up to the occasion when he slid through a shot thanks to Huguain’s impeccable cross in the 68^th minute.  
         

With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, Manchester made three of its substitutions hoping for a comeback. Cleverly, Welbeck and Rafael made way for Rooney, Young and Valencia to revive the struggling side. Though intended to cause an upset for Madrid, it turned out to be a platform for Madrid’s keeper Lopez to prove to world that Cassillas wasn’t the only one who could perform world class saves, mostly when needed.

Match ended 2–1 in favour of Madrid.

 

African Champions crowned

By Mohau Ramashidja

Winning the orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals both as captain and coach of the Super Eagles certainly proved that Stephen Keshi was the right man for the job. This followed his bold decision of leaving out some of Nigeria’s gifted key players such as Peter Odwemingie in his squad leading to this year’s tournament.

Although there where many sceptics surrounding his decisions on his squad, the young side did not disappoint as they poured out their hearts and souls in every match they played leading into the finals. It was in the remaining last 5 minutes of the first half where Mba embraced the back of the net with a strike after teammate Victor Moses’ shot was deflected onto his path. A 1–0 win was enough for the Super Eagles to end Burkina Faso’s spirited campaign, as they relived their 1994 glory days.

Ghana's Asamoah Gyan

Given the fact that the stallions came in the tournament in search for a single win, they bowed out of the tournament being proud of what they managed to achieve. The campaign which resulted into Burkina Faso making its debut into the AFCON finals surfaced as they outplayed Ethiopia in the group stages. This was then followed by when they demolished Togo in the knockout stages and then clashing head-on with Ghana in the semi-finals for a spot in the main event.

However securing a spot in to the finals was not an easy run for the stallions. Having entered into the semis as underdogs and being undermined by their very opponents, the Black Stars sought to make use of every slight glimpse of insecurity to punish their opponents. And it was in the 13^th minute that Ghana capitalised on their opponents’ error, securing a lead thanks to Wakaso’s well-placed penalty. But the night was still young for the Black Stars to be ordained as the shining starts for that particular night. And it was Ghana’s captain Gyan who was adamant to increase the lead with his thunder bolt strike but his efforts came to nought as his shot was deflected.

Stallion's Striker Bance celebrates a return goal

Determined for a comeback it was Burkina Faso’s midfield who displayed a sheer grace of accurate passes but the Black Stars were quick to respond to their tactics. Aware of the potential threat Ghana unleashed the hungry Gyan with a spectacular pass from the midfield, only to find Daouda Diakite well positioned to make a comfortable save. Another golden opportunity was put to waste in the 38^th minute as Ghana’s Solomon Asante missed the top corner by inches.

The first half certainly proved that the Stallions’ striking force was having a hard day in the office. Little did the Ghanaian’s defence know that Burkina Faso’s striking elite had already adapted into their opponents defensive style of play. Forcing their way through behind enemy lines it was’ Stallions’ striker Bance who netted home an equalizer after his header was denied in the 51^st minute.

With matters now being even, the Stallions defended in their numbers and launched counter attacks every now and then in pursuit for a win. Feeling the pressure, both sides committed unnecessary fouls in no go areas but both failed to capitalise on each of those. Dragging themselves into extra time both squads continued to make visits to each other’s goal posts, but efforts came to nought. 

After an exhausting 120 minutes of play time, it was Bance who did the honours of sealing a 3–2 penalty shootout win over Ghana. This comes after Vorsah missed the first shot for the Black stars penalty spots.    

Looking at how Nigeria made it into the finals. The only way to describe it is: with sheer grace. The Super Eagles entered into the semi-finals hungry for a win while Mali played as if they were obligated to and not out of their self-will. Wasting no time it was Nigeria’s Eckiejile who hammered home a brilliant header thanks to a spectacular cross from the right flank in the 25^th minute. Aware of Mali’s loophole in the left side of defence, it was Emmanuel Emanike who cruised through the right flank to see Brown Ideye netting home the second goal for Nigeria.
 

Trailing with two goals behind, Mali maintained their composure and knocked the ball around as if they were the ones in the lead. Adding to the contrary, the Super Eagles continued to stretch every ligament they had in pursuit of increasing the lead. Hungry for his third goal of the tournament, Ideye’s second attempt at goal was kept at bay.
 

But that did not deter the Super Eagles. It was Emmanuel Emanike who proved himself not only to be a brilliant assistant to Nigeria’s striking force, as he netted home a set piece which was deflected by Mali’s defence into the back of the net.

Entering into the second half both managers made tactical changes, each hoping it would lead to making it into the finals. And it was Nigeria’s Stephen Keshi who came up on top when his super-sub Ahmed Musa clobbered in Nigeria’s 4^th goal between the legs of the Eagles’ keeper.  Managing to score a conciliation goal in the 74^th minute thanks to Mali’s Cheik, it was all too late for the Eagles to make it for a comeback.

Being crowned the deserved African champions, Nigeria is set to represent Africa in the Confederations cup scheduled to take place in Brazil later this year.  

Bafana takes a bow from AFCON

By Mohau Ramashidja

South Africa’s 1-0 lead against Mali in the first half was certainly not enough to get the Bafana squad into the AFCON semis. “We should have scored an avalanche of goals against Mali,” said minister of sports Fikile Mbalula.

The 3-1 end result against South Africa came into form after Mali’s Captain Keita scored a comeback with a header in the 58^th minute. However this was not the case in the first half. The Eagles found themselves doing most of the defending while the Bafana squad surged forward in search for goals. Unable to keep up with the fast pace of football the South African squad displayed, it was Mali’s defenders Tamboura and Susoku who frustrated the Bafana’s attacking force.

But that was not enough to wither SA’s desire for a goal. After making a brilliant save, it was Itumeleng Khune who triggered a counter attack on Mali by releasing an impeccable pass to the midfield. Determined to make most of the opportunity, SA launch what looked like a ‘pyramid’ form of attack on Mali to outclass defence.

The trio consisted of May Mahlangu as the pinnacle distributor, Thuso Phala as the cross messenger and of cause Striker Rantie as the gifted assassin. Being aware of what was at stake, panic got in the better of the Eagles in the 30^th minute, resulting to inaccurate passes made and a scoring chance flying over the woodwork. Approaching the dying ends of the first half Mali showed heart for goal but it was the ever impressing Dean ‘Mlungu’ Firman who turned their attempts to nought.

In the second half Mali adapted to SA’s style of football and showed resilience and willingness to win the match. However that did not happen in record time as the Bafana squad was reciprocal in every attempt made for a goal. Forced into extra time, the score lines remained stagnant resulting into penalties.

All it took was three flawless saves and three well taken penalties by Diabude, Tombura and Traore for Mali to join Ghana in the Semi finals.

Is Social media and internet access a bridge between print and broadcast Journalism?

By Mohau Ramashidja

There is a clear distinction between a broadcast and print journalist. Well beside the other one making more money than the other, both of them are story tellers. One relies on moving pictures to tell his/her story better to the relevant mass audience. While the other one regards him/herself as an artist, solely relying on his/her pen and paper to paint a picture of what had happened.

Over the past few years there had been a thin line which separates this two story tellers, and that is the medium in which they report for. The emergence of online media and technological advances globally has changed how the media world interacts with its audiences and vice versa. This then means that journalists have to keep up with the modern trends and demands their audiences.

                                                                        

“No one in the printing industry, or outside it, had any idea that the iPad would come along and destroy three- to four-thousand-year-old human traditions concerning paper, as they didn’t realise that there was now a new generation out there who are far more prepared to read from a screen than the printed page,” that’s according toGary Peterson, the chief executive of San Diego-based independent research analysts Gap intelligence.

Although the emergence of modern technology such as an iPad might be regarded as a great threat to the media world, it is the sole responsibility of journalists to keep up. Research has shown that tablet ownership will reduce the demand for printing by 8% to 15% (Morgan Stanley, Imagining and printing: Tablets to Reduce Printing Demand). The big question is: who will keep the print media alive? This is where online journalism comes in.

It’s a given fact that journalists have to keep up if they want to continue to put bread on their tables. It is in this that big and small publications all over the world are incorporating TV/radio broad cast styles of reporting in their daily routines. Here’s an example of the Mail & Guardian’s visual report on the first time expelled ANCYL Julius Malema coming out in his full supports for Motlanthe  for the presidency position and DA leader Helen Zille interviewed on the issue of racism (click the link)  http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-31-juju-motlanthe-for-president and (click the link) http://mg.co.za/multimedia/2012-06-06-qampa-helen-zille-on-race-twitter-and-making-mistakes.

The profession becomes more demanding as reporters are now responsible to twit on what they are reporting on and produce quick video edits on breaking stories. All of this demands a whole new set of skills which includes good camera work, conducting interviews on location, special effects, video and sound editing and the ability to write in both print and broadcast style on a daily bases.

All of this is nice and exciting. It is a kind of reporting that can put you on the map and grant you that big break you’ve been dreaming of. But what then happens if you have good footage but you can’t edit it yourself. Or you’re done with voice recording of sources but you can’t put together your own audio package (report). This is where it gets demanding and whether you like it or not, this is where contemporary journalism is headed.

Sources:

Ø   Guardian.co.uk

Ø  Morgan Stanley, Imaging and Printing: Tablets to Reduce Printing Demand.

Ø  http://www.yeomansmarketing.co.uk/how-is-print-marketing-under-threat/1583/

Ø  http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-31-juju-motlanthe-for-president

Ø  http://mg.co.za/multimedia/2012-06-06-qampa-helen-zille-on-race-twitter-and-making-mistakes