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Let me take this opportunity and welcome you dear Amabhubesi supporters to what will be a home game column.
This platform will serve to keep you updated on the latest developments within the club.
What a good start to the season we have had so far, thanks to our hardworking technical team led by Neil Tovey and our players.
While the boys are working hard on the pitch to realize our ambition of bouncing back to the Premiership, there are exciting projects lined up that the club will be engaging in. |
Social Projects
Our aim is to reach out to the community by engaging in various social projects. We want to create a friendly environment. It is our wish to see the people of Zululand taking pride in Thanda Royal Zulu. People must identify with the club and we have put aside some mechanisms to ensure that our goal is reached.Calling for support
It is important that you, our loyal supporters, continue to rally behind the team. Seeing we are the only KZN side in the NFD this season, it will be tough to compete especially considering we will be doing most of the travelling.Even when the chips are down, the fans presence at the stadium will be appreciated. The good start the club has had has been largely due to your unwavering support. Ibambeni kanjalo nje Mabhubesi, luselude ukhalo kodwa sizonqoba.
Creating a multi-racial environment
I am glad to announce that since our move from Durban last year, we have formed our first supporters branch at Madlanzini.Nothing will please us more than having supporters other than Africans, joining the team as card-carrying supporters. Let me emphasise that the formation of the branch will serve as a communication tool between the club and supporters. We would like to encourage supporters to make use of the supporter’s branch. We have an open door policy here at Thanda. Suggestions or concerns will be greatly appreciated.
Our main aim is to have more branches at Nseleni, Esikhawini, Ngwelezane and surrounding areas in the short space of time. We would like to encourage people to sing at the stadiums to create good vibe and make our culture as we know the best in the country. Let’s use all the power we have to push the team back to where they belong.
Tickets
For all home games we urge supporters to buy tickets at Computicket, as that is the easiest way to book your seat. Tickets will also be sold at the gate but it’s always better to have a ticket in hand before the day of the match.Until next time.
Nangu ethinta Amabhubesi, Thinta Amabhbhusi amabhubesi , Umlilo ovuthayo , ovuthela izigaba zizonke
“Ishi wo ishi”
 Amabhubesi striker Peter Wadabwa on the attack against Bay United. |
The mighty Amabhubesi travel to the Sehego Stadium to face ache reveals Bay United in a live steamed match on SABC 1, on Saturday 3.30pm. The Zululand outfit has a score to settle with United as last season Thanda got a 4-1 trash from Bay in the second round of the NFD playoffs, dashing all PSL hopes for the outfit. The two sides met five times last season and Amabhubesi won once, drew one and Bay beat the side three times. Under the wing of new head coach Neil Tovey, the side has not yet been defeated this season and is sitting well on second spot on the National First Division Log. |
Neil won’t want to let this one slip as his motto this year is to sit safe on first place in order to get automatic qualification to the PSL. This is the first time this season the two sides meet and it will be a very exciting match as a lot has changed in terms of players in both outfits.
Thanda will play their best side as the head coach is not taking this match lithely. Amabhubesi come from a 2-1 victory over Chippa United at home last Sunday, They also hammered Dynamos 2-0 away at the Giyani Stadium on Wednesday night.
Thanda Royal Zulu Ace striker Peter Wadabwa said that the outfit was looking forward to playing United and he knows the team gave the side a lot of problems last season but, this season it is time for Amabhubesi to show Bay that the outfit is a very good team and they can beat United with a high margin.
All that Amabhubesi want this season is three points he added. Wadabwa also motivated the supporters to always support Thanda and be with the team in spirit always, he urge them to pray for this game as it is a very crucial game and a must win for Amabhubesi.
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King Zwelithini Stadium was the battle field on Sunday for the first annual Premiers Cup. To open proceedings was Zululand soccer giants Thanda Royal Zulu up against Durban based side Amazulu FC. This was without a doubt a cracker opener as both sides gave it their all. |
First Half
he first was a goalless half but with both teams putting a lot of pressure on each other. Amazulu were fast on the attack but they struggled to run past Asanga’s wall of defence. The new signings really wanted to prove a point to the new head coach Neil Tovey. Several missed opportunities from both side saw the half end goalless.
Second Half
Proceedings got under way with both sides searching for the lead. An error by the Amabhubesi defence saw Amazulu go ahead. 1-0 in the early stages of the second half. This did not run down the confidence of Neil Tovey’s boys, they still troubled the Amazulu defence but failed in all attempts to find the back of the net.
Amazulu won the match 1-0 and lost to Golden Arrows in the final on the Premiers Cup.
Amabhubesi can now focus on the National First Division League .
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Ritchie Auto handed over five brand new sponsored vehicle to the Thanda Royal Zulu FC senior management team. At the handover was Land Rover Dealer Principal - Wayne Ritchie, Academy Head - Mlungise Prof Ngubane, Liaison Manager - Thabani Gumede, Head Coach - Neil Tovey, Ritchie Auto Director - Ivan Hartley, Club Managing Director - Pierre Delvaux and General Manager - Peter Koutroulis |
Land Rover Dealer Principal - Wayne Richie hands over a brand new Land Rover to Thanda Royal Zulu Head Coach - Neil Tovey |
Thanda Royal Zulu FC vehicle sponsor Ritchie Auto went all out this year when they presented the club with five new vehicles for their senior management team. Ivan Hartley Ritchie’s Director said this sponsorship was aimed to grow the Ritchie Brand which has been in existent for 44 years in Zululand. 'This was a wonderful opportunity for Ritchie to give back to the community and also support a local brand as we also a local brand that has been in existent for years in Zululand ’ said Ivan Hartley. Hartley also congratulated the club on signing on Neil Mkhukhu Tovey as the new head coach, and also commended Mlungise Prof Ngubane for an outstanding job last session.
Ritchie also commended the club and also committed its full support to the youth development programme which is currently been headed by Mlungise Ngubane. Amabhubesi Managing Director Pierre Delvaux thanked Ritchie for the commitment to the club, stating that Richie was a house hold brand which is local. ' The clubs mission is to get to the PSL and that has not changed, we know that Neil Tovey will do a great job and Mlungise Prof Ngubane did a great job last season that’s why the club has kept him, so that he can work with the juniors’.
‘We would like to thank the Ritchie Auto team and Ivan for such a great sponsorship, we very privilege to have such great support from local business’ said Pierre Delvaux.
Thanda Royal Zulu FC has announced that Neil Tovey has joined the management team as head coach for the 2011 / 2012 season.
Disappointed to have narrowly missed the finals of the play-offs for promotion back into the Premier Soccer League where the club was two season ago, a decision was taken to bring Neil Tovey in with the express goal of building on the successes of the past season in order to refocus on getting the club promoted and to continue improving the club’s performance to remain competitive in the Premier Division of the PSL.
Tovey brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience having captained and coached some of the most accomplished soccer teams in South Africa. He helped Amazulu reach the fourth spot in the PSL last season as well as the finals of the Nedbank Cup. Tovey won the PSL title in the 2006 season for Mamalodi Sundowns, and coach for the under-20 squad. Coincidentally his homecoming is particularly significant in that he played an instrumental role in coaching Hellenic, now Thanda Royal Zulu FC, when he rescued the then Cape Town based Club from the bottom of the Castle Premiership Log.
Neil started his professional playing career in 1981 playing for Durban City FC, and has also played for Amazulu and Kaizer Chiefs, where he played for 18 seasons, 12 as captain. During his playing career he notched up many highlights and achievements including 52 caps for the national squad, Bafana Bafana. He was the first player to captain the national squad after South Africa’s re-admittance to the Federation International Football Association (FIFA). In 1996 he captained Bafana Bafana when the team won the African Cup of Nations, which is undoubtedly one of the most memorable moments in South African soccer history.
Although the club recognised that Prof Ngubane has done extremely well, starting from almost nothing a year ago to taking the club to the promotion play-offs, the failure of the club to gain promotion meant that necessary changes needed to be made in order to significantly improve the chances of promotion in the next season. This was the view to retain the same technical team for competitive performance in the Premier Division. The objectives are to focus on the strengths while fortifying the weaknesses. This also allows Thanda to become more involved in youth development and Prof Ngubane is ideal for that challenge.
Meanwhile heavy equipment manufacturer BELL EQUIPMENT has confirmed that it will remain the club’s main sponsor for the upcoming season. Chief Executive Gary Bell said: “The impact that Thanda Royal Zulu has had on BELL EQUIPMENT, our employees and the larger Zululand community has been phenomenal and we are proud to be a part of this exciting team for another season. Everyone goes through tough times and experiences disappointment but what sets winner apart is their attitude and how they face these times. We wish the club and new coach well as they prepare for the coming season and look forward to supporting them wholeheartedly when the fixtures begin.”
The club’s Chairman and Managing Director, Pierre Delvaux had this to say: “Even though the whole team did tremendously well to achieve great success with the help and loyal support of our sponsors and supporters, the simple truth is that we were just not good enough. We feel that the entire organisation has learnt the painful lessons and now it is time for improvements, changes and action. Neil Tovey has a plan and great vision for the club that we fully support. We consider him to be the best man for the job simply because of his no-nonsense professional approach to the game and his results driven record. We welcome him to the Thanda family.
We believe that the CORE of his team will be some players from last season that fought for the club with character and spirit, but Neil will be given a free hand to choose new players that he feels will achieve the results that we want. However without the support of our main sponsors BELL EQUIPMENT, none of this would be possible. I would like to thank BELL EQUIPMENT for their invaluable, professional and total committed support. They have, in just one year, become such an enthusiastic, dedicated and valuable partner which has enabled us to thrill supporters in Richards Bay and offer professional contracts to several youngsters from Zululand that show great potential for growth.”
| BELL | Diadora | Support for Community |
Bell Equipment is a leading global
manufacturer, distributer and exporter
of a wide range of materials handling
machines, which are marketed... |
DIADORA is derived from Greek – "Sharing of
gifts and honour" Founded in Italy in 1948, straight
after World War II, the brand was originally known
for the best mountain boots on the market. |
Thanda Royal Zulu FC supports the HIV
AIDS prevention, education and
awareness project called STAR FOR
LIFE – AIDS FREE THAT’S ME.
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