Can AmaZulu win the CAF Champions League?

For fans of KZN football, international tournaments on the African continent are rare. In fact, I don't remember any KZN club qualifying for the CAF Champions League or CAF Confederations Cup. Except for the Durban Under-19 International tournament, the 2021-2022 version of the Champions League will be the first time KZN has ever entered into international club football. It would be wonderful winning the tournament on our first attempt but what are AmaZulu's chances realistically speaking?

A DREAM: One of the oldest clubs in South Africa with a chance of, finally, getting it's first African champions star.

The draw for the groups hasn't been done yet but some of the teams that have already qualified & AmaZulu F. C. could face are: Wydad Casablanca, Al-Ahly (current champions), Espérance de Tunis, Étoile du Sahel, T. P. Mazembe, AS Maniema Union, Mamelodi Sundowns, Zesco United, Zanaco F. C., Horoya AC, CI Kamsar etc.

Now, some of these teams are regular qualifiers of this tournament & some of them are multiple champions & it may seem like Usuthu is a little out of their depths but I think if AmaZulu can analyze the danger teams like Raja Casablanca, the ever-dangerous Al-Ahly, Esperance & one or two others... analyze each player in that team & see if the AmaZulu squad can match them pound-for-pound, AmaZulu can surprise a few. We already know Sundowns from South Africa & what they're capable of from the DStv Premiership so maybe less preparation is needed for them but the Stade Maliens, ASEC Mimosas, Simba, Zesco & the Etoile du Sahels will need some analysing & preparation as we may have never faced their type of football in South Africa before. Maybe using a few out-of-the-box tactics for when we're up against a better squad & we'll stand a good chance. If Benni isn't available, we could call on various coaches that have played in CAF club tournaments & some that have won African club tournaments that are familiar with AmaZulu & what the club stands for to fill the position.

Even if some are already expecting no less than victory, I think getting past the group stages would be victory enough for me & the experience obtained in international club football on the continent would help us do better should we get another shot at being African champions. #ProudlyKZN

History of the Mpofana by Mthoko M. Mpofana

I'm not very traditional, I'm more straightforward & basic & often disregard cultural nuances so this history of the Mpofana tribe is going to be as direct & concise as possible. Growing up, I grew up knowing that the clan praises or izithakazelo of the Mpofana are "Zulu" & "Ntombela", I never questioned that. What I know now for sure is that there's a lot more that's hidden in history. What I keep seeing being repeated from various sources is that the Mpofana were part of the Amazizi (or AmaTiti) tribe. I now know that in the midlands & perhaps further north, up to the northwestern parts of KZN, they use the greeting "MaZizi okuhlala", perhaps alluding to the fact that the Mpofana as well as other Amazizi tribes were among the original tribes to settle in present-day KZN from 200 AD onwards & the "Dlamini" praise or greeting was used among all Dlamini tribes i. e. the Amahlubi, Amazizi (Mtiti), Hlangwini...

A little about eSayidi ( Port Shepstone )...

Port Shepstone is a small town on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal known by the locals as "eSayidi". In Port Shepstone, attractions include; Port Shepstone Museum, the annual Sardine Rush, a mall, two shopping centres & the beach. Port Shepstone was settled by British, Boers & Norwegian settlers during colonisation. By Port Shepstone is the suburb of Marburg where it's said Emperor Shaka met with Henry Francis Fynn in 1828 after the Zulu's Mpondoland campaign in present-day Eastern Cape. Descendants of Norwegian settlers in KwaZulu-Natal include cricket all-rounder Lance Klusener & South Africa's most successful football coach Gordon Igesund. Despite many groups living in Port Shepstone including those of east African, west African, southern African, Asian, Arab & American descent, it remains a Zulu-speaking town. Famous names to come from this small town called Port Shepstone include: • Naima Kay (Singer...

KZN's first minted, mainstream currency.

If you read some of my blogs, you'll notice that I study history a lot. I was searching for old currencies used in South Africa one day a few years back & discovered something which was called by indigenous people of KZN as "ukhence" or "inkence" . To this day, a colloquial word for money by indigenous people is "inkence". This currency was said to be so popular among indigenous people that it infiltrated popular culture of the time viz. "Wangishaya ngokhence." Officially called Stratchan & co. token coins , it was likely the first mainstream currency used by indigenous people other than cattle, tools, weapons & crops even though it was said to be minted in England. Examples of Strachan & co. token coins & coin denominations. They claim the hole was so indigenous people could wear it with beads but maybe it was also for the practical purpose of saving metal to make the coins. The Str...

What's on Mthoko's mind?

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