Tabla de contenidos para 2023-11-27 en Star

THE NATIONAL Treasury will next year introduce new legislation to ring-fence fairness, openness and integrity in the banking sector after Standard Chartered Bank admitted to manipu- lating the rand as pressure mounted on the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to act against the banks, some of which are still denying involvement in the scandal. Standard Chartered became the second bank to pay a settlement after admitting to manipulating the rand during the period 2007 to 2013. Earlier, Citibank also paid a settlement of R69.5 million, with 26 other South African and international banks still appearing before the Competition Tribunal over their involvement in the scheme that affected remittances, employees and the economy at large. Although the SARB said it was banking on the Competition Commission to deal with the…

THE INDEPENDENT Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on Friday published draft amendments to the Radio Frequency Spectrum Assignment Plan (RFSAP) for the frequency band 2 300 MHz to 2 400 MHz, ahead of a planned auction. Icasa said in the Government Gazette that the amendments were published for public comment, and the RFSAP would supersede any previous spectrum assignment. This RFSAP was envisaged to come into effect on April 1, 2023. No new assignments in the band 2 300 MHz – 2 400 MHz would be approved unless they complied with the new RFSAP. The frequency was currently used for flight testing, but existing users would be required to cease using the frequency, the draft regulation said. MTN said on Friday that it…

INDIA, the largest consumer and second- largest producer of sugar globally, has being named the chair of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO) for 2024. Accord- ing to a press release by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribu- tion, this announcement came during the ISO’s 63rd council meeting in London. Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary (Food), Gov- ernment of India, expressed India’s com- mitment to spearheading sustainable practices in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production and maximising the utilisation of by-products. India has a substantial 15% share in global sugar consumption and contributes 20% to global sugar production. The country’s status as the largest consumer and the second-largest producer makes it an ideal candidate to lead the apex international body for sugar-related products, the ISO, which boasts a membership of…

CROOKES Brothers’ share price shot up more than 16% on Friday after it predicted that it would swing sharply into profitability for the six months to September 23 compared with a loss at the same time a year before. The group said in a trading statement it expected to report headline earnings per share of 321.2 cents for the six months, while for the same period last year, it reported a headline loss per share of 193.7c. The basic earnings per share for the period was expected to be 326.8c, compared with a basic loss per share of 192.1c. The group’s operations in southern Africa span South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia and Mozambique and it is a producer of primary agricultural products such as sugar cane, bananas, deciduous fruit and…

RUSSIA’S Nornickel will pay $18 million (R337.4m) to pass its 50% stake in Nkomati Nickel Mine to its partner African Rainbow Minerals, ARM said on Friday last week, ending years of Nornickel’s attempts to exit Africa.Nickel prices in London are heading for a 46% fall this year, the largest slump since the financial crisis in 2008, due to rising production in Indonesia and a build-up of bets on even lower prices. Nkomati was part of Nornickel’s $6.5 billion purchase of LionOre Mining – with assets in Africa and Australia – in 2007, after outbidding Xstrata. It was the largest foreign acquisition by a Russian company at that time. By 2013, the metals prices had fallen and Nornickel, the world’s top palladium producer and a major refined nickel…

A new TLC series is expected to be a wild mash-up of epic survival challenges and a jaw-dropping social experiment. Leading this exhilarating charge is the dynamic trio of US Army Green Beret, NFL player, and actor Nate Boyer. The show centres around nine adventurous souls, each with their unique quirks, embarking on a daring escapade aboard the Acali II. Against the mesmerising backdrop of Panama’s Pearl Islands, these contestants face a 21-day thrill ride, pushing the boundaries of teamwork and challenging personal differences. But the excitement doesn’t stop there, as with each conquered challenge, the communal cash pot swells, eagerly awaiting distribution among the survivors at the finish line. Boyer said that viewers can expect physical and intellectual challenges that promise to shake up group dynamics. But there is…

Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) yesterday joined congregants from churches, spiritualists and sangomas at the Jukskei River to teach the group about water safety. The safety drive comes after an 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man were swept away by a strong water current in the Klipriver while performing cleansing rituals. Their bodies were recovered last week. Joburg EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said many believers are of the view that when the water current is strong, it is the perfect time to conduct the religious rituals, which puts them in danger. He added that most of the rituals in the rivers and water streams were also conducted at night, which makes it more dangerous, given the limited visibility. Furthermore, he said most drowning incidents occurred around the festive season as…

Workspaces and employment patterns have been going through transition since the Covid-19 lockdowns, but 2023 has been the year in which companies fully left the pandemic behind and forged new business and working models. While some corporates have implemented total return-to-office mandates and others have ditched the office for good, many have taken a middle road and adopted hybrid working policies. Employees, too, have become increasingly steadfast in their desire for healthy work-life balances, and this has placed pressure on businesses to be more accommodating of changed working routines. Global HR platform Deel shares some top workplace trends for 2024: 1. Five-day work weeks While many believe the traditional Monday to Friday work week to be dead, with four-day weeks the way of the future, the push to bring workers…

Palesa Malatji, 17, dreamed of becoming a pharmacist and took extra classes after school to improve her matric marks. But instead of being one of the more than 921 000 matrics writing their National Senior Certificate in November this year, this learner of the Ntsako Secondary School in Soshanguve, north-west of Pretoria, was raped and murdered in May 2023 on her way home after attending an extra class. SAPS officials promised Palesa’s family that the results of their DNA tests would be known in weeks and they would be kept abreast of any developments in the investigation. “It has been months and no updates have been forthcoming from the police. It was all just a publicity stunt. Saying the right words and making promises that her case would be…

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has lost 78 police officers since the start of the year to criminal attacks and ambushes. This shocking figure comes as the SAPS buried two officers in a single day. Police Minister Bheki Cele together with SAPS management, led by Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, laid to rest a young officer; in his first year of service, who was shot and killed while on duty in KwaZulu-Natal. Constable Sphesihle Cele, 26, Public Order Policing member, was shot and killed on November 16 when he and his team members responded to a complaint of a man carrying a firearm inside a tavern in Empangeni. The shooter was later killed by police. Delivering the eulogy at the funeral service, Cele expressed his revulsion at the…

TEN students began their fashion designing careers as the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society launched their Sewing Training Centre for deaf and hearing impaired students on Friday. Launching the centre with various stakeholders, guests and media present, the society’s president Veetha Sewkuran said that on top of the stipend, the students were guaranteed jobs at the end of their training. She also said that the idea of a sewing centre was born during the Covid-19 pandemic when people were mandated to wear masks and that hindered sign language communication because most of the sign language uses facial expressions. Sewkuran said that was when the sewing-room idea was born, a group from the society staff made masks in their sewing room and supplied them to businesses and schools across the country.…

On Monday, November 20, China welcomed foreign ministers of Arab and Muslim-majority nations, with a rallying call that the world “must act urgently” to end the Israel-Gaza war. A day before, a top Saudi diplomat told Al Jazeera that Arab foreign ministers were to visit China to begin a process aimed at ending the Israel-Gaza war. The war featured among the major global concerns during the meeting between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in San Francisco last week. The war erupted after the October 7 Hamas incursion into Israel which resulted in the death of about 1 400 Israelis. Israel has since embarked on combined bombardments and a ground invasion of Gaza, triggering violent hostilities in East Jerusalem and…

The Bulls are starting to rumble – and they have room to get even better as more Springboks and other top players return from injury. Scoring seven tries and a half-century of points against a competitive team such as Connacht was impressive enough, but it was the manner in which the Pretoria side did it in their 53-27 United Rugby Championship victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday that should send a warning to the other title contenders. The Bulls are now third on the log with 20 points from six matches, behind Glasgow (25) and Leinster (24). Next up for Jake White’s team will be the Sharks – who finally hit their straps in a 69-14 win over the Dragons at Kings Park on Saturday – in what is a…

Max Verstappen completed a majestic and record-breaking season in familiar style yesterday when he cruised to a record-increasing 19th win of the year for Red Bull at an action-packed Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The three-time world champion came home 17.993 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc whose bold drive was not enough for the Italian team to claim the runners-up place in the constructors’ championship. That went, finally, to Mercedes by just three points because while Sergio Perez came home second behind Verstappen, he was relegated to fourth with a five-second penalty for a mid-race clash with McLaren’s Lando Norris, which promoted George Russell to third. Norris was fifth ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Yuki Tsunoda of Alpha Tauri and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton…

THE NELSON Mandela Bay Business Chamber has warned that the logistics crisis at Durban Port was having a knock-on effect and impacting on the sustainability of imports and exports in Gqeberha. This comes as Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is working around the clock to clear the backlog of more than 60 vessels carrying thousands of containers that are clogged outside the Port of Durban as a result of bad weather and ageing equipment. As TPT estimates up to 15 weeks to clear the backlog, the challenges at the Port of Durban have also spilled over to the Port of Cape Town as shipping companies look to berth their ships and offload cargo to avoid losing money while on anchorage. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, which has around 700 member…

AGRICULTURE remains the doyen of the South African economy, despite its minuscule official contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) which was 3.57% in 2022, equating to approximately R134 billion. The agricultural sector continues to punch above its weight in terms of its contribution to the ailing economy in the country. To illustrate this point, while total GDP grew by 0.6%, quarter-on-quarter, agricultural GDP grew by 4.2% over the same period, making it the fastest-growing sector of the South African economy. One of the reasons why South Africa has been thriving for years is the fact that the sector is well-developed and has had a strong research and development foundation that enjoyed substantial public sector investment, which spawned the Agricultural Research Council, among others. The other enabling factor has…

ZIMBABWE’S blueberry production, the country’s fastest growing crop, is under threat from a currency crisis and high borrowing costs, an industry body said. Global consumption of the blue fruit has increased in recent years due to its per- ceived health benefits which, some studies say, include helping to ward off several key-risk health factors. Zimbabwe, where climatic conditions allow high yields from open field planting and early delivery into export markets doubled its blueberry production to 7 000 metric tons this year, according to the Horticultural Develop- ment Council (HDC). But plantings, which have expanded by nearly 800% to 575 hectares since 2018, stalled this year as farmers battled high borrowing costs and the impact of a volatile economic climate. “There were no significant…

On his return to politics in Lesotho, Chief Retselisitsoe Sekhonyana (who died on November 18, 1998) said he had come back to it out of patriotism because he had, after all, over the years, gotten enough from his life. He called himself a flea that was full and needed no more. He had sucked enough blood and there was no more space for sucking further. Over the past two weeks, I have been visiting a kennel of a different kind. One where the bark is equal if not bigger and better than the bite. The bark and bite give one hope that a different South Africa is in the making, far from the glitter and glamour of the gutter politics we have become accustomed to. In modern slang – South…

A SENIOR Volkswagen executive in- volved in a global cost-cutting strategy said on Friday that he was “very worried” about the future of the company’s operations in South Africa, which is fighting persistent power cuts and logistics snarls. The company’s VW passenger car brand is in the midst of defining the key measures of a global scheme to boost its flagging margin – the first of a series of savings drives aimed at improving group profitability and staying competitive in the transition to electric cars. The German carmaker has been in South Africa for nearly 80 years. Factors like competitive labour costs once placed it among the company’s higher-ranking bases globally, VW brand chief Thomas Schaefer said during a visit to the country. But the costs of mitigating power outages…

Mzansi Magic is set to take viewers on a journey into the supernatural when its latest local drama, S’phiwo (Gift) airs early next year. In a world where storytelling meets the spiritual contracts of ancestors, S’phiwo offers a unique viewpoint through the connected lives of two extraordinary girls destined to fulfil a legacy much greater than themselves. The premiere episode, which starts on January 8, introduces a vibrant Nothando (Zenokuhle Maseko), who is eager to experience university life to its fullest, and Zodwa (Nozuko Ncayiyane), a young sangoma whose spiritual depth and seriousness make her stand out from the crowd. An unexpected rooming mishap brings their worlds together, triggering a series of incidents that reveal the undeniable power of their connection. The drama intensifies with a murder mystery on campus…

The most expensive house in South Africa, which had been on sale for R700 million, is no longer on the market. This was confirmed by the Solomon Brothers Group’s Jeffrey Solomon to The Star’s sister paper, Weekend Argus. For years, social and mainstream media have been abuzz with news about the mansion at 30 Geneva Drive in Camps Bay. The residence known as “Casablanca” made headlines again this year after it went on to the market with a price tag of R700m. The Weekend Argus followed up on recent claims that the Solomon Brothers Group was the actual owner of “Casablanca”. The group did not confirm or deny ownership, but Solomon said in his email response: “The property is privately owned and is not for sale. We have no…

THE Transformation Alliance (TTA) leader Abel Tau, who was previously accused of sexual assault, has called for the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign to not just be an event. Tau made an appeal on ahead of Saturday’s launch of 16 Days campaign, which will end on December 10. He said: “TTA believes that 16 days are not enough. Activism against woman and child abuse cannot be an event; it should be a lifestyle.” He said: “As of the 2022/23 fiscal year, almost 53 900 South Africans reported being victims of sexual crime. Of those, around 80% registered being raped, while close to 7 600 said they had been sexually assaulted.” Tau said: “Tabling his report in Parliament on November 17, Police Minister Bheki…

The Betway Summer Cup 2023 ended on a memorable note for big race rider Muzi Yeni and Royal Victory, who took home R5 million at the packed Turffontein Racecourse at the weekend. The Gr2 won by Purple Pitcher with jockey Kabelo Matsunyane thundering home for a famous win in the final stride for owner Stinkie Pooe and trainer Robyn Klaasen. The likes of former national cricket captain Graeme Smith, Kaizer Chiefs marketing and commercial director Jessica Motaung, former Bafana Bafana internationals Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lucky Lekgwathi and Hlompho Kekana, as well as sports broadcaster Motshidisi Mohono were among those who brought glitz and glam to the red carpet, along with 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe, Purple Group CEO and 4Racing board chairperson Charles Savage, and glamorous Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Tasneem…

The media is saturated with allegations that certain Cabinet ministers demanded a R500 million bribe for UIF jobs, from a R5 billion contract that was later cancelled. In the aftermath of the cancellation, a political war of attrition is in progress between the disgruntled accuser and those accused of attempting to solicit a bribe. Truth has become the first casualty as evidence pertaining to the claims that ministers were seeking kickbacks has never been unearthed or presented to the media and other interested parties. Allegations must be proved in a court of law; defaming important personalities based on untested evidence from third parties is a crude act of intimidation. Character assassination is on the increase in Rainbow South Africa as aspiring politicians and incumbent leaders vie for political power. It…

No wonder John Plumtree was miffed when he was not allowed to use the Sharks’ Springboks for three post-World Cup weeks because when he did get them back, the switch was flicked with staggering results. Two weeks ago Plumtree had questioned the wisdom of Bok fringe players like Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams being idle when their province urgently needed them, and those two players alone made a big difference in the Sharks slaying the Dragons 69-14 on Saturday with a rousing exhibition of attacking rugby. Also, during the Sharks’ horror start to the URC, Plumtree prophesied that his team was not far off giving some teams a “good walloping”. And that came to pass thanks to the addition of the experience and leadership of Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Hendrikse,…

Dean Burmester didn’t have much time to properly prepare for the Joburg Open, but it didn’t matter. The feeling of being back home and the passion of the fans were enough as Burmester won the Joburg Open by three strokes at Houghton Golf Club yesterday. With a final round of 64, Burmester claimed his third DP World Tour title on 18 under par and at the same time booked his place in next year’s Open at Royal Troon as the first of the top-three finishers not already exempt for the Major. “We recently bought a house in Florida and were busy moving, so there wasn’t much time to prepare for this event,” said the now US-based Burmester. “But when I landed here, I did some great preparation in the practice…

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino labelled his side “soft” after a 4-1 defeat against a depleted Newcastle on Saturday left the Argentine enraged. The Blues looked to have turned a corner in Pochettino’s first season in charge with a 4-1 win at Tottenham and a memorable 4-4 draw against champions Manchester City before the international break. But the visitors crumbled in the second half at St James’ Park as Newcastle overcame an injury crisis that had left Eddie Howe without 13 first-team players. “We had to come here, Chelsea, to show that it’s going to be difficult for them to play, to win the game and to beat us,” said Pochettino, who watched the game from the stands due to a touchline ban. “But it was really easy in the way…

THE CONGRESS of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says it is deeply ang- ered by the “shocking” findings of the Competition Commission that 27 domestic and foreign banks had actively manipu- lated the value of the rand between 2007 and 2018. The commission found the rand manipulation may have cost the economy, workers, the State and businesses a pain- ful R1 billion. This meant that loans by South African companies and government in foreign currency were charged for at much higher rates. In a statement on Friday, Cosatu said if government did not act, then South Africa should not be surprised if the country continued to be grey-listed by the international community. “If we sweep this under the carpet, then we should not be shocked when it happens…

AS THE ANNUAL canola harvest begins to wind down across various regions in South Africa, Southern Oil (Soill) said it anticipated an impressive total yield of more than 220 000 tons of canola seed. The modern oil extraction plant and edible oil refinery, situated in Swellendam in the Western Cape, said although this year’s harvest was ongoing – having commenced in early October and set to conclude towards the end of this month – the predicted total yield was notably impressive. Zander Spammer, agricultural resource manager at Soill, last week said that in just four years, the harvest was expected to surge by more than 130 000 tons, rising from 94 317 tons in 2019 to an anticipated 220 000 tons this year. Spammer attributed this…

TO ENSURE business continuity, succession planning is crucial to any business. This is a process of ensuring that talented individuals with potential are identified and groomed to take over a role should the individual holding that role leave or be incapacitated for any reason. When done right, succession planning presents huge benefits to the company. The most obvious benefit is ensuring that the business can continue into the future without the reliance on a single individual. Other benefits include improved employee morale and cost saving in replacement searches to find external talent. Employee morale and commitment increases when employees know that they have a future in the organisation, their talents and commitment are noticed, appreciated and rewarded. Succession planning should be an organisation wide practice and part of the culture…

AFRICAN Bank is still awaiting ap- proval from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for its amalgamation with Grindrod Bank, which it acquired in November last year, and the two banks are still operating on separate banking licences. Grindrod Bank on Friday released results for the year to September 30 that showed it had delivered an “acceptable financial performance for the nine months ended September 30, 2023,” despite the economic headwinds still facing South Africa. Last week, The African Bank Group, which includes Grindrod Bank, reported a net profit after tax of R505 million, indicating robust financial health overall. Grindrod Bank reported net profit after tax of R134.76m for the period, 25.3% lower than R180.42m at December 31, 2022. Its financial year end was changed from December 31 to…

THE PRESIDENT of a pivotal UN climate summit defended on Saturday the large presence of industry representatives at the negotiations, saying private sector engagement was essential to curb global heating. “Everyone needs to be part of this process and everyone needs to be held responsible and everyone needs to be held accountable,” COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber, of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, told AFP in an interview. “That includes all industries and in particular heavy emitting industries like aviation, transportation, aluminium, cement, steel, as well as the oil and gas industry,” he added. World leaders, country negotiators, activists, lobbyists and figures, including Pope Francis, will be among the 70 000 attendees expected at COP28 in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, making it the largest UN climate…

Wars across the world are making headlines in the 21st century. Last year, the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out and last month, the Israel-Hamas war broke out. It has led to thousands of deaths, including children, on both sides. Last week, the Hamas-run government media office announced that the Palestinian death toll on the Gaza Strip had risen to more than 14 000 since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7. Ismael al-Thawabta, director of the office, said during a press conference that among the deceased were 6 000 children and 4 000 women. Over 7 000 people have been reported missing, more than 4 700 of them children and women, he added. With reports about the war continuing, South African born renowned comedian and television host Trevor Noah has…

After failing to fill up the 25 000- capacity Orlando Stadium, PA leader Gayton McKenzie has apologised and promised to host another spectacle in 90 days. Scores of supporters were forced to scramble for water after spending hours waiting for McKenzie to address them for the party’s 10th year anniversary celebrations on Saturday. In a statement, McKenzie yesterday apologised to his supporters for failing to fill the stadium. The party’s celebrations were nothing to write home about after fewer than 5 000 PA supporters failed to fill up the 25 000-capacity stadium. The event, meant to start at 1pm, only got under way after 5pm, with many of the supporters complaining of hunger and dehydration after spending hours waiting for McKenzie to address them. “Do not be disheartened, patriots, let…

South Africans did not hold back on expressing their opinions about bonuses and 13th cheques in response to an article by IOL. The story explained the two types of pay and concluded that, according to the nation’s laws, companies are not mandated to hand them out at the end of the year or otherwise. The online responses were humorous and varied, with some claiming they had never heard of such a thing or suggesting that those who want it are greedy and entitled. South Africans are known to use humor to cope with numerous harsh realities of life, even in the current economic conditions. In this economy though? Notable responses online included: “What is bonus? Never heard of such,” asked Uplifted Amukelani Isaac. Emile Fouche inquired what a bonus or…

Christmas came early for more than 700 children from Westbury, Newlands and other surrounding suburbs when they were handed gift packs by founder of the local soup kitchen, Dorothea van Rooyen and her team. The soup kitchen, which feeds at least 200 people daily, has in the past three years played host to the end-of-year gift programme for children from Newlands and surrounding areas. This year was no different as scores of young children in the company of their parents queued outside for their turn to receive a gift, which came with essential items including crayons, facecloths, toothbrush and toothpaste as well as toys. Speaking to The Star on Saturday, Janice Pitout, who runs the kitchen alongside Van Rooyen, said it is priceless seeing the smile on the children’s faces…

South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) worldwide. It is estimated that a woman is killed here every four hours, and at least half of them are murdered by an intimate partner. The rate at which women are killed by intimate partners is also five times higher than the global average. The unacceptably high levels of GBVF in South Africa, demand all sectors of society, including the government, civil society organisations and communities in general, to find lasting solutions to the problem of GBVF. This year, South Africa commemorates the 25th anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign. The campaign represents an effort to raise awareness on the impact of GBVF on women and children.…

The Lions’ deadly dismantling of Zebre at the weekend had their supporters casting their minds back to the glory days at Ellis Park under Johan Ackermann and Swys de Bruin. And while it’s true that the Italians are no great shakes, there are strong suggestions that the Lions have turned a corner. They have been threatening a revival all season and while the results have not been favourable, they could have won all of those games. The difference this time was the profitable use of the bountiful possession that the forwards have been winning all season. Until this game, the Lions’ conversion rate of opportunities in the enemy danger zone has been parlous. Against Zebre, the Lions’ playmakers came good and speed merchants like Edwill van der Merwe, Henco van…

Will Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse be the panacea to the Stormers’ ills? Coach John Dobson will hope so, because on the evidence of their tour of Europe, the Capetonians desperately need their World Cup-winning Springboks to help them rediscover their mojo. Before that happens, though, Dobson needs to consider whether he will take immediate action against some players who have repeatedly let the team down this season, or whether he will give them a stay of execution ... for now. The only thing good about the Stormers at the moment is their scrum – and the fact that they are back home from a forgettable four weeks up north, which ended with a comical 31-24 loss to Cardiff in Wales on Friday. They need to get their plans in…

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (2) 3 Ribeiro 23, Shalulile 28, Sirino 73 FC NOUADHIBOU 0 MAMELODI Sundowns’ opening Group A game against FC Nouadhibou of Mauritania at Loftus Versfeld yesterday was as easy as the 3-0 scoreline suggests, and it should have been a massacre. Not that the Brazilians were complaining, for such is the nature of CAF Champions League football that victory is what matters. Goal difference is not a feature in terms of deciding continental competitions, with CAF using the head-to-head results to determine victors. And the Mauritania outfit were never going to be seen as potential contenders for the top two spots in a group that also includes Egypt’s Pyramids and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe. So, while they could well have scored a handful of goals,…