The duo of Thembinkosi Lorch and Luther Singh were on target — as South African coaches continue to give a good account of themselves in Africa.
Lorch netted his first Libyan Premier League goal for Al Ittihad as they cruised to a 4-1 victory over Al Shomooa. The match was played at the Tripoli Stadium on Friday. Since joining Al-Ittihad, Lorch has played four competitive games and has delivered two goals and one assist.
Mohau Nkota was left out of the Al-Ettifaq match-day squad as they took on Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Ettifaq drew 1-1 with Al-Shabab at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Saturday. Elias Mokwana was withdrawn in the second half as Al-Hazem lost 2-1 to Al-Khaleej at Al-Khaleej Club Stadium on Friday.
Burnley FC striker Lyle Foster wasn’t in action this weekend as Premier League matches were halted due to the FA Cup. In the England Championship, Luke Le Roux was on the bench as his team Portsmouth FC played to a 1-all draw against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday.
Tylon Smith got some minutes as he was introduced in the second half of Queens Park Rangers’ defeat on Sunday evening. And he conceded a late penalty as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to Middlesbrough. This was an England Championship match played at Loftus Road.
Gift Links played the entire match for AGF [Aarhus Gymnastikforening] as they drew 1-1 with Midtjylland in a Danish Cup semi-final second leg on Sunday. As a result, they exit the cup tournament having lost 2-1 on aggregate in the two-legged affair. The match was played at MCH Arena.
LUTHER SINGH ON TARGET IN CYPRUS
On Sunday, Luther Singh scored a first-half goal as AEL Limassol lost 2-1 to Apollon Limassol at Alphamega Stadium in a Cypriot First Division match. Singh netted the first goal of the match, but his team couldn’t hold on.
His team crumbled in the second half to suffer a defeat. Singh has now managed seven goals and five assists this season in the league. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns loanee Thapelo Maseko was introduced in the second half of the match.
In the same league, Mihlali Mayambela remains sidelined at Omonoia FC. They beat Omonia Aradippou 2-1 at Antonis Papadopoulos on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Fagrie Lakay played the full match for Cleopatra Ceramica as they drew 2-2 with National Bank of Egypt. This was an Egyptian Premier League match played at Suez Canal Stadium on Thursday.
In Norway, Samukele Kabini played the entire 90 minutes for Molde FK as they got knocked out of the Norwegian Cup. They lost 2-1 to Bodo/Glimt at Aker Stadion on Thursday.
In the Major League Soccer [MLS], Bongokuhle Hlongwane played 66 minutes as Minnesota United lost 3-1 to Nashville at Geodis Park on Sunday. Mbekezeli Mbokazi played the whole MLS match on Sunday as Chicago Fire played out a 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. He nearly scored late in the game. Puso Dithejane was an unused substitute.
In another MLS match, Olwethu Makhanya was serving a suspension as Philadelphia Union lost 1-0 to San Jose Earthquakes. The match was played at Subaru Park on Sunday.
SA COACHES GRINDING RESULTS IN AFRICA
SA coach Fadlu Davids keeps grinding good results in the Moroccan Botola Pro League. Davids led Raja Casablanca to a 2-0 win over OC Safi at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on Sunday.
Steve Barker’s Simba SC got a 2-0 win over B19 FC in the quarter-finals of the Tanzanian FA Cup. The SA duo of Neo Maema and Rushine De Reuck weren’t in the team on Saturday.
Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger thumped ES Mostaganem 5-0 in an Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 match. The tie was played at Stade Belhamiti Larbi on Saturday.
Sphephelo Sithole’s CD Tondela will be in action on Monday against Rio Ave at Estádio João Cardoso in a Liga Portugal match.
It was a losing start to the season for Jamie Webber as he played the entire match for FC Tulsa in their 2-0 loss to Sacramento Republic FC. This was a USL Championship match played at the Heart Health Park on Sunday.
In the Belgian Pro League, Shandre Campbell was an unused substitute as Club Brugge drew 2-2 with Anderlecht. The match was played at Jan Breydel Stadium on Sunday.
Ethan Brooks came on in the 69th minute to help Panserraikos secure maximum points after beating Asteras Tripolis 1-0. This one was played at the Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium on Sunday.
Yusuf Maart and Antonio Van Wyk played the entire match as SV Ried lost 2-0 to Austria Wien in an Austrian Bundesliga match. The match was played at Keine Sorgen Arena on Sunday.
Ime Okon played the first 45 minutes and was withdrawn as Hannover 96 suffered a 2-1 defeat to Fürth. This was a 2 Bundesliga match staged at the HDI-Arena on Sunday.
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