Maritzburg United vs Chippa United
click link above to see the match
Jeremy Brockie (Edgeworth FC | Australia)
Two wins in a row for Maritzburg.
This time 1-0 over Baroka.
Brockie 68 mins, Morgan a full game and Micah introduced at 34 min mark.
They don’t play again now until 26th October!
The match scheduling in South Africa often seems a mess.
It's Fifa international break mate 7th to 15th October. The EPL fixtures start again on the 19th. Maritzburg United next fixture is on the 25th but the PSL league schedule commences again from the 23rd.
But it's only a week long international break, and they don't play for over 3 weeks.
Maritzburg have just come off a similar break, not playing a game from 29th August to 22nd September.
From 30th August to 25th October (basically 2 months) they will only play 3 games. Pretty mickey mouse to me, but hey TIA.
Luckily for fans, 2 of the 3 games are at home.
The League may seem chaotic in the beginning (first few months) of the season but its not. The PSL has a rather unique knockout competition (Super 8 or MTN 8) which runs concurrently with the league at the beginning of the season. Teams which finish in the top 8 of the previous season qualify for the knockout competition in the new year. The final was last night between Supersport United and Highlands Park. If you have a look, both teams have been playing fairly regularly for the past few months (minus international breaks).
This is why the PSL is such a pressure cooker. Teams like Maritzburg United need to not only avoid relegation but work hard to get into the Top 8 and avoid this lull in the season. League integrity is also a big issue for the PSL. They cannot have 1 team play 10 games and another play 5. Besides for teams like Amazulu this break is a godsend. The new coach has time work on their many issues.
If you look at the fifa calendar breaks for the Euro Nations League, the PSL games start about 5 to 7 days after the EPL. This is just because of size of the league 16 vs 20. EPL have more games to play. Belgium's Jupiler Pro League has a similar size league to the PSL. Their fixtures follow the EPL and look what happens to them at the end of their season.They run out of games. So they then have an "interesting solution" by playing a playoff tournaments between 1st division and 2nd division teams, while South Africa's PSL has a tradition end to their league season due to being prudent with their fixture planning.
Maritzburg beat Bidvest on pens in League Cup.
1-1 after NT and ET
Dan Morgan subbed at 58 mins. Bidvest had just taken a 1-0 lead at that point.
Brockie subbed at 94 mins
So Kiwi neither involved in pen shootout. Maybe Maritzburg coach aware of Brockie pen taking history!
Lea'alafa not in match day squad.
62 mins in a 2-2 draw verus Bloem Celtic.
Maritzburg down 0-1 when he was subbed.
Two replacements with both late goals for Maritzburg.
Full game for Morgan.
Lea’alafa replaced at HT.
Subdued Kiwi/Handy Prem match up in the PSL, as AmaZulu draw 0-0 with Maritzburg.
De Jong injured (sounds like out for a few months) for AmaZulu and no Dan Morgan or Lea'alafa for Maritzburg.
Brockie gets a token 5 mins off the bench.
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
"here’s a cheeky rumour from the Jeremy Brockie stable...
Kickoff.com: “Jeremy Brockie, who is currently on loan at Maritzburg United, is likely to be the next player to leave after also enduring a torrid time at Chloorkop without game-time. Local media reported a few months ago that Brockie is begging to return to SuperSport United, where he made his name before leaving the club to join The Brazilians. The New Zealand-born striker is yet to score a goal since joining the Team of Choice in August this year. Indications are already clear that Brockie's days at Sundowns are numbered and depending on the loan agreement with Maritzburg, he could be released from his contract before June next year.”
55 minutes as Maritzburg hold top of the table Kaizer Chiefs to a 1-1 draw.
Replaced by Micah Lea'alafa with same 1-1 scoreline. Brockie's first start for awhile.
Dan Morgan replaced after 79 mins.
Maritzburg with a disallowed 2nd goal, up to 8th in PSL.
Kaizer Chiefs still top the league, 7 points ahead of Sundowns (Brockie's parent club still) in 2nd.
Maritzburg draw 2-2 at Brockie’s old club (with rumours he wants to return there) SuperSport.
He comes on at 57 mins when the score was 1-1. Maritzburg’s 2nd goal a pen, which perhaps unsurprisingly Brockie doesn’t get too take.
He hasn’t scored for a long time now - November 2018. Frustrating times.
Morgan an unused sub.
Lea’alafa was replaced at 38 mins so presume injured.
15 mins off the bench in a 0-0 draw at Chippa United.
Morgan an unused sub.
Maritzburg 6th on the ladder.
Goooooooooal!
First one since Nov 2018.
Comes on at 63 mins and scores 10 mins later.
Finishes as a 1-1 draw verus Cape Town City
Morgan an unused sub. Maritzburg played with 10 men from 39 mins in (straight red).
Goal was more about bad goal keeping than a Brockie special https://streamable.com/vnci1
Goal was more about bad goal keeping than a Brockie special https://streamable.com/vnci1
only good thing about that goal, was his positioning and the first touch, the rest was pure luck.
Goal was more about bad goal keeping than a Brockie special https://streamable.com/vnci1
only good thing about that goal, was his positioning and the first touch, the rest was pure luck.
I think after 15 months without a goal, the Brockstar was almost destined to break the drought with a dribble off his shin.
Hopefully gives him some confidence.
It really has been a lean couple of years for him. Goal in Nov 2018 (only goal for Sundowns) broke another scoring drought of over 12 months, going back to Sept 2017 with SuperSport
That goal came with an almighty cheer from the fans. Brockie is a really popular guy in SA and everybody is happy to see him get that monkey off his back. I'm sure his hoping for some more "lucky goals".
Just like a reserve goalkeeper to make such a blunder. Sage Stephens will not be sleeping well tonight. The coach will be hoping Peter Leeuwenburgh's injury isn't to bad. He is ex Jong Ajax Amsterdam and one of the best in the PSL
Goooooooooal!
First one since Nov 2018.
Comes on at 63 mins and scores 10 mins later.
Finishes as a 1-1 draw verus Cape Town City
Morgan an unused sub. Maritzburg played with 10 men from 39 mins in (straight red).
2018??? Not 2019?
Goooooooooal!
First one since Nov 2018.
Comes on at 63 mins and scores 10 mins later.
Finishes as a 1-1 draw verus Cape Town City
Morgan an unused sub. Maritzburg played with 10 men from 39 mins in (straight red).
2018??? Not 2019?
Nope according to Soccerway anyway, first PSL goal since Nov 2018!
Plays 78 mins in a cup game against Stellenbosch.
Finished 2-2 end of NT/ET, which was also score at HT when Morgan was replaced. Not first time he’s been pulled off at HT. Tinkled never seems afraid of making early changes.
Maritzburg ended up losing on pens, to be knocked out.
85 mins in a 1-0 win over Bidvest Wits.
Maritzburg (6th) up by the goal when he came off, and now join Bidvest (5th - better GD) on 30 pts.
Morgan not in match day squad.
I believe Morgan is carrying a slight knock at the moment. He was taken off against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup (SA FA Cup) on Friday night.
Brockie has really struggled for goals since he left Supersport United to move to Mamelodi Sundowns and subsequently Maritzburg on loan. But he is still highly prized because his workrate is phenomenal.
Maritzburg (6th) grab a 2-1 big upset win at Soccer City Stadium, against top of the table Kaizer Chiefs.
Brockie stays on the bench, Morgan not in match day squad.
60 mins in a 3-2 loss at Bloemfontein Celtic in the Cup, round of 16.
Score 1-1 when Brockie came off. Looks like he was playing as a winger on the left.
Celtic score the winner very late at 94 mins.
Morgan remains on the bench.
Brocks was interviewed on the Between Two Beers podcast the other day. Almost 2 hours, well worth a listen.
Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Vqw70RROfCPBuxxtT3jkP?si=Gxx2z_luTxiHWVr0Xv7Nng
This week's Flying Kiwis.
"It’s all still in limbo in South Africa at the moment. Dan Morgan and Jeremy Brockie are waiting patiently to see if their Maritzburg United club can finish off their season. South Africa are still in the second strictest of their lockdown levels, although a government taskforce is working to find some solution for the football season over the next week or two. The PSL want to finish the season but teams still have 6-9 games left and nothing can happen until the government deem it safe to ease the restrictions. It’s a waiting game.
Maritzburg had been on a great run of form prior to the pandemic and sit fifth just one point outside the third continental qualifying spot (for the Confederation Cup, the Europa League of Africa... which Jeremy Brockie made the final of with SuperSport a few years back)."
This week's Flying Kiwis.
"I love an adventure - looking forward to the next chapter
Jeremy Brockie (@JRBrockie) 
[side eyes emoji]
See, Jeremy Brockie may be on loan at Maritzburg at the moment but he’s still a Mamelodi Sundowns player despite pretty clearly being on the outer there. His Sundowns contract ends on 30 June but there was an extension clause that the club had which came with a deadline of the final day of May. Then the first day of June he tweeted that.
Pretty obvious what that means and it’s a solution that would seem to suit all parties. Brockie needs to be somewhere he can play regularly in a role that suits his style of play and he wasn’t gonna get that at Sundowns. He’s also been a bit scarce for Maritzburg, only scoring once in 12 league games, although a lot of that has come playing off the bench. Dan Morgan and Jeremy Brockie still have the rest of that season to complete with the PSL expected to resume in July at a singular location and Maritzburg a chance at finishing in the continental spots if they can close out strong.
As for Jeremy Brockie’s future, he’s got his suitors out there. His old club SuperSport keep being mentioned. Kaiser Chiefs were keen on him before he signed with Sundowns. There’s also the A-League which would have to be a possibility considering his wife and kids are in Aussie at the moment (having gone back for lockdown). It’s been a rough couple years on the pitch but he’s only 32 and he’ll have options.
Mike Makaab, Brockie’s agent: “There are a number of clubs that are interested in his services. Jeremy is keen to do anything as long as he will get game time. At the moment that’s his priority - getting game time in a good environment. He is a great professional. He takes great care of himself. He has been unfortunate but I have no doubt that he will get back on his feet again. He is working very hard behind the scenes during this lockdown so that by the time PSL action resumes, he is ready to rediscover his goalscoring form. That’s what Jeremy is about.”
Up Next: The PSL hasn’t confirmed any fixtures yet, things are all still in discussion, and they also just lost their major sponsor of the last 16 years"
The Jetstream Podcast – AMA with Jeremy Brockie https://t.co/6dxgtyCqmn
— The Jetstream (@jetstreamnewy) June 30, 2020
Mods please update to Unattached FC.
Back in Aussie. Cheap replacement for Hooper re season 2020/2021 (cheek & tongue combined).
From this week's Flying Kiwis.
"But Jeremy Brockie won’t be there. His contract ran down with Mamelodi Sundowns as they understandably declined their option on his final year and he was only on Maritzburg on loan. There’s no loan deal if there’s no parent club, right? And Maritzburg decided not to work out a new deal to keep Brockie until the end of the season which was also understandable given he didn’t really feature much for them. 12 games, seven of them starts, combining for 558 minutes and one goal. Plus a trio of goalless starts in cup competitions as well. Another frustrating season for Brocks but at least he’s free to decide his next destination now (and in the meantime has finally been able to head back to Aussie to be with his family after three and a half months apart – he’s been there for about five weeks now).
Here’s the Maritzburg situation, as reported on Kickoff.com a month ago...
Unnamed Maritzburg team source: “Sundowns obviously didn’t exercise their option on Jeremy’s contract, so the club had a meeting with Jeremy on Friday [last week] and allowed him to leave. There is still the youngster [Bongokuhle] Hlongwane coming through, the Zimbabwean [Clive Augusto] is raring to go, and there’s [Thabiso] Kutumela and Judas [Moseamedi] as well. So, the club is happy with their arsenal, both for the remainder of this season and next season, and have allowed Jeremy to return back home to be with his family under the further acceptance that he will not return next season.”
The way A League season 2020/2021 is likely to at least start, he will find a home somewhere. Could be a real cleanout of visa players for example right across the league.
Despite having contracts Ball & Davila are far from a guarantee to be suiting up for the Nix come December. 30-50% salary cuts mooted, more NSW hubs away from family - watch this space. Davila's situation is going to be especially complicated with his family in Mexico, including a new born kid who he must be missing intently. Feel for the dude.
Weston have registered former New Zealand international Jeremy Brockie as a potential injury replacement but it remains unclear if the striker will feature this Northern NSW NPL season.
The Newcastle Herald learned the Bears had registered Brockie with Northern NSW Football before the deadline on Monday.
Weston have also secured medical certificates for Dylan Burston and Liam Wilson as injury waivers.
Burston has had surgery on ankle ligament damage sustained in round two, while Wilson - one of Weston's best last year - will not feature this season because of a longer than expected recovery from a broken leg.
NewsHub reported on August 21 that Brockie, 32, was setting his sights on a return to the A-League next season.
He was now a free agent after the end of his contract with South African Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns but he has been home with his family in Townsville since June following the suspension of competition due to COVID-19.
The former Jets, Sydney, North Queensland, Wellington and New Zealand Knights player racked up 132 A-League appearances and 39 goals before a four-year stint in South Africa.
Gaining Brockie, a former Wellington and All Whites teammate of Weston coach Leo Bertos, would be a coup for the Bears. They sit fourth on 13 points on a congested ladder with five games remaining in the shortened 13-match regular season.
However, Brockie appears no certainty to play given the difficulties with quarantine periods during COVID-19, the time needed to secure an International Transfer Certificate and the fact only a few weeks remain in the campaign.
"There's nothing definite yet, but we are chasing a few," Weston president Rod Henderson said.
"I would imagine anyone we brought in from interstate would have to be quarantined so it's all a bit hard at the moment.
"I don't know who can play yet. We're just trying to get names in just in case. We chased a few people but there's nothing definite yet until we know we can get people into the area. That's the hard bit.
"Anyone we registered, we had to get pre-approved as an injury replacement, which we've done.
"If we can get people in, fantastic, and if we can't, we'll just keep trying to do what we did on the weekend."
Weston came back from a 2-1 halftime deficit on Sunday at home to beat second-placed Broadmeadow 3-2, despite losing Robbie Turnbull to a second yellow card in the 70th minute.
Turnbull, who was playing in his 250th game for the club, was given just the one-match automatic suspension and will miss Sunday's away clash with Valentine at CB Complex.
Goalkeeper Scott Carter battled through a calf injury late in the game and is in doubt for Sunday.
Understand All Whites striker Jeremy Brockie will be training with a NSW-based A-League club this week (it isn’t Wellington Phoenix). Brockie has been residing in Townsville with his family after spells with South African clubs SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns.
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) November 1, 2020
Gotta be the Jets right? Ex-player and they're desperate for anyone
Gotta be the Jets right? Ex-player and they're desperate for anyone
There's nothing to say they're going to sign him though, it's not uncommon for a team to let an ex player train with them to keep up his fitness while he's looking for another gig. The Jets also hired the bulk of the squad that Ernie took to the grand final without his input, I could see McKinna allowing Brockie to train with them and I could see him signing him if he was impressed.
Gotta be the Jets right? Ex-player and they're desperate for anyone
Gotta be the Jets right? Ex-player and they're desperate for anyone
If he hasn't got it at the moment, will probably need 2 years continous residence in Australia now before he can apply. I'm sure SFC would like to have Kosta as a local, so presume even he still doesn't have Aus citizenship.
CCM fan on The Cove's webby reckons he is talking with 3 clubs.
[Edit: Same dude is on the CCM forums reckon his Nix contact says its CCM, Jets & the Nix if we can't land an overseas striker. So take with an extra pinch of salt.]