Shabba believes that the break was a period were the team did some reflecting and recharging in order to make the best of what is left for the Boys from Naturena.

“The break was welcomed. It was a time for us to reflect on what the season has been so far and what we need to do going forward. The rest is in the past and we need to lift our heads and look forward.”

Chiefs are now fourth on the log standings with 39 points from 23 matches played. They will have to make sure that they defeat Black Aces tonight in their league fixture to avoid being frog-leaped by AmaZayoni. Shabba feels it is a must win match for Amakhosi.

“Look we want to do well and we have to start now. The team has to come out strong and show character. If we win tonight then we are on our way to better performances,” concluded Shabba.

Bafana went down by a goal in under two minutes of the match but came back to win the match with a 3-1 score line. Shabba feels it is a step in the right direction for the nation and says this is an opportunity for the country to make a statement.

“Well done to the national team for getting the desired results on Friday.

The guys did well and are showing that they want to do the best that they can. The result at the end of the day were in our favor and all we need to do now is make sure that we get behind the boys for them to finish off the job here at home on Tuesday,” Shabba concluded.

Bafana play their second leg world cup 2018 qualifier against Angola at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday evening.

First things first, I would like to congratulate Bafana Bafana for their victory against Swaziland on Wednesday evening. The 3-1 score line indicates that the boys played well and showed character on the day. I hope that they can take that confidence to the next fixture against Nigeria on Sunday.

Now back to the team. It is the FIFA international break and so spells a relaxed few days for all of us. It is a small break that we are taking to reflect on what has happened since coming back from the mid-season break.

The results have not been satisfying but we cannot look over our shoulders, it is now in the past. Things should pick up when we get back to the field on 5 April 2015. We will be taking on Raja Casablanca on the second leg of the CAF Champions League. This will be a challenge the team needs to overcome. We are a goal down but there is a good chance that we can turn things around. There is hope.

Five days later we will be back at home. Our objective will be to win against AmaZulu in order to pick up where we left off regarding the league. There are only six games left and we need to push hard until the final match.

Personally I have been doing well but will be out for a week or so. I have had to extract a tooth and should be fine in no time.  Regardless of minor distracting situations, I think that this is the time when senior players like me should be raising their hands and showing leadership to encourage others.

It will be a tough journey leading to the final stages of the league but we are ready for it. Politics should be at a minimum and positive football should be our voice. It is an exciting time for supporters and we will make sure we put on a good show in all that we do.

Letsholonyane has been enjoying rich form lately helping Chiefs to go thirteen matches unbeaten in the Absa Premiership.

In the process he has scored five goals and is third in the top goal scorers list. He earned a call-up to the national team that represented the country in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. He then topped his achievements by reaching a milestone of 50 caps for the national team.

“I would like to say congratulations to all the winners at the SA Sport Awards including coach Shakes Mashaba and my friend Reneilwe Letsholonyane. They deserve to receive the awards after the hard work they have done for the nation.

“I am happy for Letsholonyane. He has been working hard and his hard work is paying up. It is good for his career and it is good for the team. Hopefully we can learn from his actions and also do best,” concluded Shabba.

It may have not been the best result but we will take it and move forward. Yet another Absa Premiership break will be taking place as the Telkom Knockout Final unfolds during the weekend.

Bafana Bafana will also play against Ivory Coast in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Challenge on Sunday. I wish them luck and with no doubt they will represent us just as they have been. For the rest of us, this will provide us with ample rest before we head to the tough month of December.

As the Absa Premiership breaks, we are still leading the log with nine points and it is a lead that we can still improve. The team has 30 points from 12 matches played and I think we have been doing well overall.

I think that we can use this break to recuperate and prepare for a tough month in December. I stress this because we have a tough match against Bidvest Wits on December 03. It will be an away game to a team that has been doing great in the league and are two places behind us on the league table. It will be a top of the table clash.

Three days after the Wits game we will be playing the most anticipated match, the Soweto derby. That particular fixture does not need any further explanation. On December 09 we will welcome Platinum Stars as we keep battling for points.

Chippa United are on the 13^th, then Free State Stars on the 16^th and we close 2014 with a fixture against Black Aces on December 20. For now we must rest but not relax.

The road to the finish line is long and we have a lot of work to do. So far so good and we will continue doing our best to get positive results. Without any doubt, we are ready for the month of December. Forever Fearless!!

Bafana are top of Group A with eight points and just need three points from the remaining two matches to qualify for the AFCON. Shabba says that it is possible and believes that all the players that have been selected will make sure that the nation is proud.

“It is very important for us to support the boys. They are close to qualifying for the AFCON and I believe that they will do so. All of the players that have been selected will make sure that they represent the nation accordingly,” Tshabalala said.

Having represented the country on many big occasions the Kaizer Chiefs winger says the pressure is immense when you play in such matches.

“I know that the pressure is immense in such occasions. The players have a duty and everyone has their eyes and hopes on them. But I do know that they will do their best and let us hope that we will go to the final game knowing that we have qualified,” Shabba concluded.

Shabba says that the unfortunate loss of the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper has left the country with a big gap but is positive that those that remain can learn from what he achieved.

“Look, it is definitely a loss for the country as a whole. As much as we are saddened by the passing of Senzo, we can also learn from what he achieved in his career,” Shabba said.

He added that every aspiring athlete and current ones should draw inspiration from Meyiwa’s achievements and the character that he was as a person.

“The energy and character that Meyiwa had were next to none. I think that if we as professionals and the aspiring youth draw inspiration from the example he set, we can make it further in life and in our respective careers. Senzo will be missed and he leaves behind a track that we can follow as professionals.”

It was sudden and unexpected. The nation has lost a current and future star and football shall never be the same without him.

One will always look up to the stars above and wonder if there is more to the light that they shine upon us. Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.

May his soul rest in peace and may his family and friends be comforted in such a difficult time.

“It was good to see the nation play at home and getting a valuable point in the race to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

“A draw against Democratic Republic of Congo is not a bad result if you keep in mind that we beat them away from home in the first match. It was beautiful to also see the support that South African’s gave the boys,” Shabba said.

The Bafana international insists that it is now possible for the national team to go all the way and qualify for the AFCON tournament to take place in Morocco next year.

“I think that the team is doing great and with the results and standings that we have, we can go all the way. There are only a couple of matches left to play and if we can be able to defeat Sudan at home and look for a positive result in Nigeria, the job will be done,” concluded Shabba.

Shakes Mashaba’s troops are scheduled to tackle Sudan on November 14 at home and then finish their qualifiers in Nigeria against the Super Eagles on the 19 November 2014.

Bafana will begin a new era under Shakes Mashaba when they face Sudan on Friday hoping to take the first step towards qualifying for a tournament they won on home turf in 1996.

Tshabalala, who was part of the Bafana squads for the 2006 and 2008 tournaments, knows all about representing one’s country.

He said: “Playing in the AFCON is an honourable feeling. As a player you feel determined to be part of a team that participates in such an event.

“I am lucky to have participated in two of these tournaments and I hope that the guys that have been selected will represent us.

“It will not be an easy challenge for them especially because most of them are new to the set-up. But that should not count for anything. The boys need to be strong and stay determined to bring good results home.

“The nation is always behind the players and everyone will be hoping that they do well. Good luck to all the players, especially my Kaizer Chiefs teammates Eric Mathoho and Mandla Masango. Make us proud guys.”