The derby has its own rules

Hola Soccer Laduma readers..

- Itumeleng Khune

Thank you, Castle Lager

First things first, I want to say a massive thank you to Castle Lager for the incredible weekend we had at Sun City.

When you talk about longstanding partnerships with Bafana Bafana, Castle Lager is right there at the top of the list, and the way they looked after us over the weekend was just phenomenal. The hospitality was second to none — absolutely world class. It’s very pleasing to see sponsors who genuinely care about South African football and who continue to show that love and support year after year.

These are the partnerships that make a real difference, not just financially but in terms of the experience they create for the players and the entire football family. Castle Lager has walked this path with us through the good times and the challenging times, and that kind of loyalty doesn’t go unnoticed.

When you have sponsors who believe in South African football the way Castle Lager does, it gives everyone in the national team setup that extra motivation to perform.

The big Soweto derby looming

There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, that compares to a Soweto derby weekend. For any player who’s been fortunate enough to experience it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. This is the biggest fixture on our calendar, the one game that most players look forward to throughout the season. It’s make or break. It can define a season, and sometimes - I know it sounds dramatic - it can define a career.