A worthwhile experience - Notoane

As Amajita prepare to take on Finland in the Commonwealth Cup final on Sunday in St Petersburg, Russia, coach David Notoane took time out to reflect on the journey that has seen the under-20s defy the odds.

He says winning gold would be the cherry on top though the team has already surpassed expectations. He spoke to SAFA.net in this interview.

Q: Great run in the Commonwealth Cup; what do you ascribe this to?

A: A lot of aspects – teamwork and planning have been key. We have had common goals and objectives coming here and it was important to drive our purpose. Booking a ticket to Senegal was motivation enough for players and they responded well. For the technical team, winning the confidence of the players in the absence of coach Thabo Senong was key to make them realise that the process towards the CAF African Youth tournament has started and will continue when coach Thabo joins later.

Q: There have been some really outstanding individual performances, who do you rate most here?

A: I don't like to focus on the individuals because the collective effort of the team got us where we are...we made seven changes in the second game and won convincingly with some key players rested in a game we needed to win at all costs. The consistency of players like Dumisani Msibi, Motjeka Madisha, Tlotlo Leepile and Pule Maraisane has been heart-warming; they showed signs of maturity as the tournament progressed.

Q: Reaching a Cup final in Europe, this is a first for South Africa, is this an ideal building block for AYC?

A: Wow, I never took notice of that...it is indeed humbling that we have broken the duck. We feel blessed to have achieved that feat and it will remain entrenched in our minds. Of course it is ideal preparation for AYC, we draw inspiration and belief from this experience that we can transfer this achievement to the continental stage.

Q: What has been the secret to Amajita's resilience?

A: Teamwork and tactical adaptation of the team to overcome the challenges each game brings. The spirit and will of this group came through in the semis...that is the mental toughness and character we were hoping to take out of this tournament.

Q: On a personal note, this has been a fulfilling experience. Share some of this with us.

A: Indeed very fulfilling and I thank my staff, coaches Thabo Senong and Shakes Mashaba for the confidence they showed in me, SAFA leadership and technical committee for this massive task and responsibility. I can only grow from this experience after a tough second half of 2014 on a personal note. I thank God for the guidance to pull me back on the right path because in coaching it is easy to be swayed in directions not chartered for you.

Q: The boys seem to relish being on the back foot. They bring the best when challenged. Agree?

A: Yes and No... In football I believe you have to show faith in the way you want to play, the style and philosophy, you can adapt to match demands without changing the style of play and philosophy. We were able to rise above stubborn defenses, very physical teams, using our technical ability and speed with the ball. We have to work harder at our finishing, scoring chances created when in the dominant phases of the game. One goal scored against can trigger tactical disruptions though it shouldn't really.

Q: Lastly, how has been the experience in Russia?

A: Very good for the group...the bond among the players grew stronger, we achieved tactical understanding and cohesion based on the formation we want to play. We got exposed to different cultures of football and we draw important lessons to determine our football positioning globally in this age group...this experience will help us in the future in terms of the SAFA Vision 2022.

Q: Message to supporters back home?

A: We are happy to have hoisted the SA flag high at a time when people want to give up hope for the senior team, Bafana. We have to finish the job we came here for tomorrow in the final. Let us remain positive and support our national teams even in the face of adversity. Sometimes the road to the top is a thorny one...we will endeavor to bring gold back to South Africa by the grace of God. Thank you for your support!

Mali, Cote d’Ivoire chasing full points

Mali will face the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday evening in their second 2015 CAF African Cup of Nations, Group D match at the Estadio de Malabo in Equatorial Guinea targeting their maiden win. Kick-off is at 6pm.

Both sides are fresh from 1-1 draws against Guinea and Cameroon respectively, and this clash means both teams will aim for nothing other than three points in a bid to secure a spot in the next stage of the tournament.

Although the Ivoirians will be crippled ahead of this one due to the fact that striker Gervinho will be absent after receiving his marching orders against Guinea on Tuesday evening, coach Herve Renard will possibly look at Max Gradel to replace the Roma striker.

Looking at the Eagles camp, they’re motivated after meeting with the Lions and getting a point as they’re yet to defeat the West African side.

To midfielder Geoffrey Serey Die, they have a good team which is capable of going far in this prestigious tournament.

“We have a team good enough to go far in this competition, Mali may be a step up from Guinea but each match has his own reality,” said Die.

“We are going to show a different face against Mali, anyway, it is going to be war against them.”

However, to the Eagles midfielder Sambou Yatabare, who was awarded as the man-of-the match against Finke’s men, it was disappointing not to have won their match last Tuesday.

Despite being disappointed, Yatabare also pointed to some positives that came from this match which they can take going forward against the likes of the Elephants and Guinea respectively.

"We could have won this match, I don't know if it was a mistake from our side or a great play from the Cameroonians - we are disappointed and we need to correct our mistakes," he said.

"We had a great game. We were strong defensively and I am sure we can take that going forward.”

The result in this game is set to change the standings in Group D as all the four teams have amassed one point thus far and three points are at stake as both coaches, Henryk Kasperzcak and Renard, will eye maximum points to consolidate their chances of a second round qualification.

Blackburn shock Swansea in FA Cup

Blackburn Rovers scored two late goals to knock ill-disciplined Premier League side Swansea City out of the FA Cup with a thoroughly deserved 3-1 victory in the fourth round at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Frenchman Rudy Gestede fired home at the second time of asking in the 78th minute to give Championship (second tier) outfit Blackburn a 2-1 lead before Craig Conway's powerful shot squirmed through Lukasz Fabianski's hands after 87 minutes.

Swansea defender Kyle Bartley was shown a a straight red card for bringing down pacy Blackburn forward Josh King in the seventh minute but Gylfi Sigurdsson's long-range rocket put the top flight side ahead shortly afterwards.

Chris Taylor volleyed in to restore parity one minute later.

Swansea's frustration boiled over in stoppage time when Sigurdsson was shown a straight red card for needlessly scything down Taylor.

In other fourth-round ties on Saturday Chelsea host third-tier Bradford City, Manchester City welcome second-tier Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur entertain Leicester City and Southampton play Crystal Palace.

Leinster draw at Wasps to top pool

Ashley Johnson was sin-binned after just 17 seconds as Wasps couldn't pull off an amazing comeback, drawing 20-20 as Leinster sealed a quarterfinal in the European Champions Cup on Saturday.

Leinster top the pool as a result, with Wasps second and still waiting on other results to see if they reach the last eight.

It could have been different, with Andy Goode seeing his last-second drop-goal attempt drift wide with the win going with it.

Johnson had taken out Dave Kearney from the kick-off and was arguably fortunate to only receive a yellow card, but it gave Leinster the initiative.

With Johnson missing, Leinster scored a first try through Fergus McFadden, and they dominated both possession and territory, with a second score from Isaac Boss helping them to a 20-6 halftime lead.

Wasps turned things around in the second half, and went over on the hour through Matt Mullan.

They then drew level through Nathan Hughes, with Goode kicking well, unlike his Leinster counterpart Ian Madigan, but they couldn't find the final score they needed.

It was a disastrous start for Wasps, who lost flanker Johnson within a minute, and they had conceded a try before they even touched the ball.

Leinster set up consecutive driving mauls, and while Wasps were able to stop them initially, the ball was then spread wide, and McFadden had plenty of space to go over on the right. Madigan converted from the touchline to make it 7-0 after just three minutes.

Wasps were shell-shocked, but they reacted well, and Goode cut the deficit with a penalty after a knock-on was collected from an offside position by the visitors.

The home side survived the remainder of Johnson's sin-binning, with Madigan missing a first kick of the afternoon from long range, and he was off-target a couple of minutes later with a much easier effort when Ben Jacobs failed to roll away in a tackle.

A kick straight out a minute later completed a poor five minutes from Madigan, but he made up for it with some dancing feet that almost set up Leinster's second try. Wasps showed their defensive resilience to keep Leinster out, but conceded a penalty which the inside centre slotted to make it 10-3.

Leinster were dominating possession and territory, and things got worse when Wasps lost prop Lorenzo Cittadini for ten minutes for slowing the ball down in a ruck, with Jimmy Gopperth adding three more points for the visitors while Madigan was getting some treatment.

Back down to 14, Wasps again responded well, with Goode knocking over his second penalty of the afternoon to reduce the deficit to 13-6, this time Sean Cronin was the man caught offside.

However Leinster were able to capitalise on the extra man, and Boss, on for the injured Eoin Reddan, stretched over at the back of a ruck after yet another period of possession deep inside the Wasps 22.

Madigan's conversion made it 20-6, and Leinster were in complete control, but just before the break Wasps were given a lifeline. It came when Kane Douglas put in a needless shoulder on Johnson off the ball, and he was rightly sin-binned as a result. Goode missed the relatively simple penalty as a result, as the visitors took a 14-point lead into the break.

Leinster started the second half a man down, but it didn't seem to make a difference early on as they got back on the front foot. A third try seemed inevitable after another charge from McFadden, but with Wasps scrambling, the visitors used an American football style block to try to crash over and were penalised.

Wasps needed something and they nearly had their first try when Tom Varndell went over on the left but it was called back for obstruction. This one was less obvious, with Luke Fitzgerald trying to tackle Hughes rather than Varndell.

To make matters worse, that play marked the end of Leinster's numerical disadvantage as Douglas returned to action. And with him back on the pitch, Leinster could have stretched their lead but again Madigan was off-target with a penalty.

Just after the hour Wasps finally got over the line, and back to within a score thanks to Mullan. It came from a line-out five metres out, and after a number charges from the forwards, the England loosehead was just able to get the ball down over the line.

Goode's conversion from out wide was on target and Wasps were back within a score.

Having looked dead and buried, the try seemed to spark Wasps, and they were back level with ten minutes remaining from a similar score. Again their rolling maul made ground initially before Hughes dived over the ruck to dot down.

Goode initially missed the conversion from out wide, but Leinster had charged early, and he made no mistake with his second attempt.

Leinster could have taken the win with four minutes remaining when Elliot Daly came in from the side, but again Madigan was off-target.

It was the same for Goode with time up, and Wasps now have their fingers crossed for help from elsewhere.

SCORERS:

WASPS: Tries: Mullan, Hughes Cons: Goode 2 Pens: Goode 2 Yellow Cards: Johnson, Cittadini

LEINSTER: Tries: McFadden, Boss Cons: Madigan 2 Pens: Madigan, Gopperth Yellow Card: Douglas

Cote d’Ivoire v Mali

Mali tackle the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in their second 2015 CAF African Cup of Nations, Group D match at the Estadio de Malabo while Cameroon face Guinea later in the day.

- Live blog – with your thoughts
- Match Centre - with all the goals on video
- The day in pictures

Teams:

Ivory Coast: Gbohou, Aurier, K. Touré, Bailly, Kanon, Y. Touré, Tioté, Diomandé, Tiéné, Doumbia, Bony.

Mali: Diakiré, D. Diakité, Wagué, Coulibaly, Tamboura, Sylla, N'Diaye, Keita, S. Yatabaré, Sako, M. Yatabaré

Seven-try Quins thrash Castres

Harlequins did all they could to make the last eight of the European Champions Cup by picking up a bonus point in their 47-19 win at Castres on Saturday.

However, Wasps' draw with Leinster in Coventry meant that Quins were pipped to second place in Pool 2 and consequently cannot make the knockout stages.

Conor O'Shea said he'd have been happy with a win, never mind a bonus point, before the game, but his side managed three before the break before pulling away in the second half.

Harlequins knew that a bonus point was their only chance of qualification, and they got over with their first lineout.

Captain Joe Marler had his hands on the ball, as Quins mauled their way past their French opponents.

Castres had nothing but pride to play for after losing their first five games, in a competition, which has failed to give them any relief from their struggles in the Top 14.

O'Shea would have been happy with his side's start, but they let it slip soon after with Antoine Dupont skipping off the back of a scrum and dancing over the line to level.

That didn't really affect the away side, with Charlie Walker stepping and swerving past a couple of tackles for Quins' second try, halfway to the magic bonus point.

They had to win first though, and they were pegged back just before the break when Romain Cabannes crossed to put the sides level at the break.

Danny Care blasted out of the blocks after the interval though, crossing for a try just a minute into the second half which meant Quins were in touching distance of the extra point.

The bonus point was secured soon after, after Mike Brown put in a great kick in behind the Castres defence which allowed Jack Clifford in to give his side a two-try buffer.

The win was in the bag soon after, with Mark Lambert and Marland Yarde both crossing within a minute of each other.

Johnnie Beattie did put some gloss on the scoreline for Castres with a try off the back of a scrum.

The qualification chances were out of Quins' hands, as they had to carry on with Wasps and Leinster deciding their fate. As it was, Wasps' draw with Leinster meant O'Shea's side were out despite an excellent performance.

SCORERS:

CASTRES: Tries: Dupont, Cabannes, Beattie Cons: Dumora 2 Yellow Cards: Combezou, Grosso

HARLEQUINS: Tries: Marler, Walker, Clifford, Care, Lambert, Yarde, Lowe Cons: Evans 6

Tunisia snuffs out Dream Team 6

Nigeria's Dream Team 6, who are in Tunisia for a two game international friendly with the Tunisian Under-23 side lost 5-3 in the first game of the series on Saturday.

Coach Samson Siasia flew to Tunisia with a 19 man squad with coach Fatai Amoo taking charge of another batch of players who will participate at the on-going Super Four Glo Premier League showdown in Abuja.

Tunisia took the lead in the first minute of the game through Jouini Slim but Effiong Etim equalised for Nigeria two minutes later.

Femi Ajayi Junior put Nigeria in the lead in the 15th minute but the Tunisian soon hit back back a minute later to tie the game at 2-2 in a pulsating first fifteen minutes of the game.

Ghrab edged Tunisia's Under-23 ahead but Femi Ajayi Junior was on hand to equalise again for Nigeria in the 33rd minute as the first half ended that way.

The second half was all Tunisia as goals from Haj Hassan and a Khaoui penalty put the Dream Team to the sword and just coundnt battle back as the Tunisians won 5-3.