The KZN Premier League Cup will take place in Durban this weekend, where the provincial champion will be determined. Five teams from the KZN Premier League will gather for the tournament: Lamontville Golden Arrows, AmaZulu, Durban City, Richards Bay, and Milford FC. Additionally, the Midlands Wanderers team from the First Division will participate in the tournament.
AmaZulu proved to be the best team in the province last season, finishing fourth and holding that position until the end. Fans expect them to be able to win a consolation trophy after the team failed to qualify for the Confederation of African Football and was excluded from the Nedbank Cup.
Golden Arrows are also entering the tournament as contenders, having finished in the top eight last season despite an inconsistent start. Under the guidance of Mankoba Mngkiti, the team managed to stabilize their nerves and show consistency in the last five matches, allowing them to maintain points and qualify for the MTN8 this season. However, the team will have to quickly adapt under the leadership of new head coach Pitso Dladla, a former employee of Durban City, who led this team to victory in the Nedbank Cup. The calm Dladla now has the opportunity to play more openly, but he will need time to adjust, as this is his first experience as a head coach in the PSL.
Although Durban City was considered an underdog last season, all attention will be on Dladla's former team to see if they are a one-hit wonder or genuine contenders. The team ended the season on a negative note, without a single victory in ten games, but still managed to secure a spot in the Top 8. This result was overshadowed by success in the Nedbank Cup. Since then, the team has been actively recruiting players, attracting coach Khalil Ben Youssef from Kaizer Chiefs, which indicates that they are focused on attack rather than defending their position.
Richards Bay turned out to be the weakest team among KZN clubs last season, failing to live up to the expected quality that the coaching staff believed was possible. The North KZN team showed isolated moments of activity but could not find a rhythm to maintain throughout the season. The Premier League Cup will be an ideal chance for Bay to give the team a boost of energy before the start of the championship.
Milford FC enters the Cup as a true underdog after a recent playoff victory. They are the least rested team in the tournament, but they have coach Dr. Xanthi Pupuma, who is capable of motivating the team at the right moment. Dr. Pupuma will have to prove his abilities this weekend.
Finally, Midlands Wanderers. Although the team did not make it to the top division, the cup tournament does not eliminate anyone before the 90 minutes are up. Perhaps Midlands is using this tournament to build a foundation for a season in which they can achieve promotion to the league. For the other five teams, winning the Premier League Cup will add a trophy to their collection and give an extra advantage before what promises to be an interesting season for KZN.
Tracy-Lee Rosslind, a stylist and entrepreneur, spoke out against attacks on fellow Africans and stereotypes, sharing her thoughts on the podcast Crossing the Line with media veteran Ryland Fisher.
Rosslind began her career in the fashion and entertainment industry at the age of nine, gaining extensive experience in the field. She recently visited Nigeria, where she received the 'Stylist of the Year' award at a major event. During her trip, she strongly condemned the xenophobia and stereotypes directed at Nigerians circulating in South African media.
Speaking about her experiences, Rosslind mentioned that her father traveled extensively across Africa, particularly during apartheid, and emphasized that without the help of African brothers and sisters, they might have remained under the rule of apartheid. She shared her impressions of Nigeria, noting that people there treated them very warmly, and for the first time in her life, she felt safe. She compared life in South Africa to being in prison because she had to live in an atmosphere of constant fear, unlike the ability to move freely through shops at night in Nigeria.
Rosslind described the xenophobic attacks in South Africa as 'destructive and infuriating.' She warned that due to xenophobia, South African businesses would lose income, and the continent would begin to fragment again. She stated that Africa has reached a stage of unity, and by working together, Africans will become a more powerful force than Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America. However, in her opinion, internal conflicts prevent them from adopting the 'Ubuntu mindset.'
Speaking about her work as an entrepreneur, Rosslind acknowledged that it requires immense effort, working eighteen hours a day, starting with sending the first emails at 5 am and ending with the last at 11 pm. Nevertheless, she believes that significant effort is necessary to achieve success. She also mentioned that the cannabis industry, in which she has invested, holds great potential for growth that could create intergenerational wealth for people.
