Mwanjali gets Sundowns armband

Brazilians started their new season with a 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in an MTN8 quarter-final tie on Saturday.
Mwanjali only arrived at Sundowns last season but, after working hard to get his place in the starting XI, has impressed and has now been rewarded with the captaincy.
With regular skipper Esrom Nyandoro now unlikely to play regularly, Neeskens has been juggling between Mwanjali and the revitalized Teko Modise.
The Dutchman said he could even have two captains but chose Mwanjali for the first game on Saturday.
It’s another show of confidence by the Brazilians in the Zimbabwean skipper whose career has of late been dogged by allegations that he was part of the Warriors that participated in fixed games in Asia.
Mwanjali denies the charges.
“I need to have more than just one captain in the team,” said Neeskens. He revealed that his choices were Mwanjali and Modise.
Mabhuti Khenyeza scored towards the end of the match, after Downs had failed to break the resolute Celtic defence for 79 minutes.
“I am very happy with the win, even though it was not an easy game,” Neeskens told KickOff.com.
“Our opponents were well organised and gave us no space to attack.
“I think both (Elias) Pelembe and (Franklin) Cale didn’t do enough to penetrate through their defence on the wings and we were also let down by our final pass up-front. But even though it was a difficult match I am happy for the win, which is very important to us.”
The Dutch coach adds that he expects an improved performance from his team when they take on AmaZulu in their first League match next weekend.
“It is always good to start with a win, but we have still not yet reached the level I want us to play at and we still need to work hard to improve our performance.”
Meanwhile, Celtic coach Clinton Larsen says he is focusing on the positives, even though his team have exited the Cup.
“We didn’t play well in the first half but we did create chances in the second half,” Larsen told KickOff.com.
“Sundowns didn’t look threatening before they scored their goal but unfortunately we were let down by poor defending. Despite the loss I am very proud of my team’s performance and I think if we can build on this we should do well in the Premiership this season.”
Kaizer Chiefs advanced to the semifinals of the MTN8 with a hard-fought and entertaining 2-1 victory over Bidvest Wits at Soccer City yesterday.
Wits took the lead through Sibusiso Gumede after 11 minutes, but Chiefs hit back with a penalty and debut goal for Bernard Parker, and a Mandla Masango header four minutes before halftime.
Wits had plenty of opportunities to get back into a game they dominated for large patches, but Chiefs held out for the win.
Gumede gave his side the lead after rising highest from a corner to head home past a helpless Itumeleng Khune in the Chiefs goal.
But the lead lasted just seven minutes as Gumede turned from hero to villain, fouling Masango in the penalty-area. Parker held his nerve to step up and open his Chiefs account after a move from Dutch side FC Twente.
And the home side were ahead on 41 minutes when Wits goalkeeper Emile Baron rushed off his line to try and intercept a through-ball for Masango, but the winger chipped the ball into the air over the keeper’s head, and then headed home as the Clever Boys defence stood static. Jayiya crossed when he might have shot having worked space inside the six-yard box, while Sifiso Myeni was a constant thorn in the side of Chiefs down the left. Tshabalala worked the fingertips of Baron with a stunning drive from 30-yards, but there were no more goals in the match to enthuse over and it is Chiefs who go into the semifinal draw along with Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town. – KickOff/TimesLive/Sports Reporter.