Kick Off -February 2015

Transcription

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: YAYA TOURE SPEAKS TO KICK OFF
February 2015 ISSUE NUMBER 454
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21 YEARS OF SOCCER
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BEYOND
How Furman and Jali
&
are driving the new
Bafana forward
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T
his February issue
of KICK OFF
marks a special
moment in our
magazine’s history
– we are 21 years
old this month!
In 1994 we launched our
first issue, and since then it’s
been a journey and an evolution to where we are today.
To hit the 21-year milestone is something of which
we are very proud – no
other soccer media that was
around in 1994 exists today
in this country, and in fact
some venerable foreign titles
have closed down in the
years since.
The print media industry
is in a much tougher place
than it was 21 years ago,
when the internet was in its
infancy, mobile mass-media
was unheard of and digital
social media as we know
it today (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram …)
simply did not exist.
At KICK OFF we are very
proud of our website, KickOff.com, and its associated
media, including our popular
games. But we are also aware
that every scoop you read
on your mobile, every list
we publish on our site, every
tweet and every Facebook
post makes the magazine’s
job that much harder.
In an era of 24/7 rolling
news, many people simply do
not bother to sit down and
read a longer-form article
any more.
And that is why we at
KICK OFF are so grateful
to every one of you who
continues to purchase our
magazine – we know you have
many alternatives, most of
them free.
And we will continue to
strive to reward your loyalty
with Soccer at its Best – it is
our daily goal, our monthly
promise to you.
This edition, put together
while many were enjoying
their hard-earned holidays, is
another cracker.
We tap into the nervous
anticipation around Bafana
Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations
campaign as Shakes Mashaba
and his team face extremely
tough group competition in
Algeria, Ghana and Senegal.
But as you can read in our
cover story starting on page 6,
Andile Jali and Dean Furman
are forming a formidable partnership that offers hope for the
immediate and the longer-term
future of Bafana Bafana.
The important thing to
remember is that this is still a
national team in its formative
stages – Shakes Mashaba
continues to test new players
and new combinations, and
whilst a Nations Cup win
would be an incredible feat, I
believe the ultimate goal for
now should be qualification
for the 2018 World Cup. And
if things continue the way
they are going now, and with
patience from officials and
fans alike, that goal may very
well be achievable.
We also speak to former
Bafana midfielders and Nations
Cup heroes of 1996, Eric Tinkler and Linda Buthelezi, who
offer some similar and some
startlingly different opinions on
their modern-day successors.
And we bring you a world
exclusive interview with Africa
Player of the Year Yaya Toure,
offering a perspective from the
very top of the game.
All this, and so much more
in KICK OFF. Thank you for
your continued support.
Richard Maguire
Editor
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FEBRUARY 2015
3
4
FEBRUARY 2015
visit www.kickoff.com
CONTENTS | February 2015
Chevrolet Ute Force have teamed up with
Dreamfields to provide kit and improved playing
conditions for grassroots football. One of the
defining pieces of kit is the nearly indestructible
One World Futbol ball – 60 000 of these will be
distributed throughout the campaign (see more
on page 60)
6 Andile Jali and Dean Furman
We talk to Bafana Bafana’s ‘Engine Room’
10 Big shoes to fill
Eric Tinkler and Linda Buthelezi discuss Jali and Furman
12 Wearing the badge with pride
Bafana kingpin Dean Furman answers your questions
14 The future is Bright
Brighton Mhlongo digs deep to honour his fallen friend
18 In the clubhouse
News from around the PSL
20 On the Ball
Tough task for Amajimbos … Msibi balances books with
balls … Stars of Diski
26 In the Spotlight
We profile Bloemfontein Celtic’s Limbikani Mzava
28 Khama Billiat
Sundowns’ title defence is ‘Mission Possible’
31 Switching clubs
We uncover the finer details behind a football transfer
34 Reformed or not?
Lerato Chabangu maintains he’s learnt his lesson
38 He’s got the power
Geofrey Massa tells the secret behind his powerful shot
42 Let’s back our boys!
Your Bafana Bafana 2015 Afcon poster
44 Africa’s best
We bring you a world exclusive with four-time Africa
Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure
48 Conquering the continent
We profile the CAF Champions League opposition
54 Like father, like son
A look at some of the game’s family connections
58 South Africa’s Jose Mourinho?
Mamelodi Sundowns’ assistant coach Rhulani Mokoena
60 Grassroots at its best
We cover the Chevrolet/Dreamfields collaboration
62 Au revoir!
The decorated career of Frenchman Thierry Henry
65 There’s only one Stevie G
We pay homage to a Liverpool and England legend
68 Behind the garden wall
Bernard Parker invites us into his home
72 Man for all seasons
Get the best in street style and accessories
75 Stuff we like
KICK OFF reviews some cool summer stuff
76 Readers write
Your views on soccer issues
PICTURE BY EUNICE DRIVER 
79 Beat the player
Test your knowledge against the stars
80 Laugh Out Loud
The crazy world of footballers and fans
82 Dream Team
We pick our best Afcon XI since 1996
FEBRUARY 2015
5
UNSHAKEABLE
COMBIN
They might lead separate lives off the pitch, but
ANDILE JALI and DEAN FURMAN have combined to
form arguably South Africa’s most formidable midfield
pairing since Eric Tinkler and Linda Buthelezi. Chad
Klate talks to the Bafana Bafana’s Nations Cup bedrock.
hey don’t play in the
same league or live in the
same country, but when
it comes to putting on
the golden shirt of South
Africa, geographical
differences don’t play a
part.
Andile Jali – born in
Matatiele in the Eastern
Cape and resident in Belgium – and Dean
C
Furman – born in Cape Town but resident
F
in England – started their international
careers under different coaches.
ca
But since the dawn of the Shakes
Mashaba era in October 2014, Jali and
M
Furman have not only played a major
F
role in getting Bafana Bafana to the 2015
ro
Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial
A
Guinea, but are set to carry the hopes of a
G
nation for years to come.
n
T
KICK OFF: Firstly guys, congratulations on
K
being selected to represent the national
b
team at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
te
How did it feel to be named as part of the
H
23-man squad?
2
DEAN FURMAN: It’s great to be in the
D
squad. We obviously played pretty much
sq
ev
every match of the qualifiers and had a
vvery good campaign, so it’s great to get the
6
FEBRUARY 2015
opportunity to be part of the squad to go
to the tournament.
ANDILE JALI: Ja, we are happy to be part
of the team because we worked for it. We
did well in the qualifiers because no-one
gave us a chance, so we did ourselves
proud and I’m really happy about that.
With you being based in Europe, how
hard is it to choose between honouring
a national team call-up and maintaining
your place at your club side?
AJ: It’s tough because the clubs in Europe
don’t like releasing players. Even [before
the Afcon camp] my team were being
difficult because they are playing matches
back-to-back in the Belgian League, so it’s
quite a big problem. But I begged them to
release me.
DF: It’s a difficult problem, I think, with
the clubs losing players for a long period of
time. During the qualifiers we were away
for two weeks at a time, missing matches,
doing a lot of travelling, and now we’re
away for a month to six weeks. That’s
a lot of time to be away, but we’re very
proud to represent our country. We love
playing for South Africa, especially in front
of our fans, and it’s a great honour and
something that we’re very lucky to have a
chance to do.
How tough is it coming to do national
ANDILE JALI AND DEAN FURMAN
COVER STORY
NATION
team duty, losing your place at your club
side, and then having to go back and fight
for it again?
DF: It’s part and parcel [of the job]; we
do a lot of travelling and by the time we
get back on a Friday, the day before a
match, it is very difficult for our managers
to select us ahead of the boys who have
been training all week. We just have to be
patient and understand the reasons behind
it, and we just have to work hard to try
and get our place back again.
AJ: It’s the same for me – when we come
back from Bafana camp we train maybe
once, so we only get that hour or so of
training with them at the club. It is not
easy for you to come back and get a place
in the starting line-up.
What have you made of your midfield
combination thusfar after six unbeaten
matches in the qualifiers?
AJ: It’s hard work. If you work hard
together with the team then everything
is possible; we did that, and everything
worked out for the team. People say we
have the best combination, so it means
that what we did during the six qualifiers
we played was great.
DF: We’re definitely working hard for
each other – that is evident on the pitch
– and over the last few months or so
we’ve started to build combinations and
partnerships within the team. I’ve really
enjoyed playing alongside Andile – he’s
a great player and he’s a pleasure to play
with, and I think we help each other out in
midfield – but we have to make sure that
we keep playing well and make sure we’re
in the team.
In terms of individual style of play, would
you say you are similar in any way?
AJ: Not that much, but you know [Dean] is
European and I’m South African …
DF: He’s got more skills [laughs] …
AJ: [Laughs] I can mix; I know how to mix
because I’ve been playing in Belgium as
well. There you can’t play South African
football because, if you do that, they’ll take
you out. Now that I’m in Belgium I play
one-touch, two-touch ... that’s all. Here
[in the PSL] they give you freedom to do
whatever you want to do; there the coach
always says: “Once you pass the half-way
line you can do what you want.”
Your first match together was the 3-0 win
away against Sudan in the first qualifier.
How much do you feel you’ve grown as a
partnership since then?
DF: We’ve grown a lot. The more matches
we play together – not just the two of us,
the whole team – the more we start to
understand how different players play and
what they bring to the team, and we help
each other out in that way. So definitely
the longer we play together, the better we
will become and hopefully we can keep on
improving.
Does the fact that you had such an
amazing qualifying campaign add
any pressure, or do you see that as a
challenge?
AJ: There’s no pressure on us because the
coach has said ‘we’re still building’, so to
us there’s no pressure. We know we can
“The longer we play together, the better
we will become.”
FEBRUARY 2015
7
Jali and Furman battled tirelessly in midfield to keep
Congo at bay in their Afcon qualifier in Polokwane
play with anyone at any time; when we
get onto the field we know we have to play
with our partner and be happy, and know
the person that you’re playing with.
DF: Yeah, of course we want to stay
unbeaten; we want to win matches. That’s
XFull name: Dean Furman XBorn: 22/6/88 in
Cape Town XPrevious clubs: Chelsea juniors/
reserves XProfessional debut: Rangers 4
Dundee United 1 (SPL, 10/5/08) XInternational debut: Brazil 1 South Africa 0 (7/9/12, Friendly)
XFirst international goal: South Africa 4 Botswana 1
(7/9/13, World Cup qualifier) XHonours: Full international (26
caps/2 goals), 2007 Scottish Youth Cup winner
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
06/07
Chelsea U18
n/a
06/07
Rangers (SCO)
did not play
07/08
Rangers (SCO)
1 sub only
0
08/09
Bradford City (ENG, loan) 26 (6 subs)
4
09/10
Oldham (ENG)
34 (6 subs)
0
10/11
Oldham
43
5
11/12
Oldham
27 (2 subs)
2
12/13
Oldham
28 (6 subs)
2
Doncaster (ENG, loan)
6 (2 subs)
0
13/14
Doncaster
28 (7 subs)
1
14/15
Doncaster
15 (+ 2 subs) 0
TOTALS
207
14
Correct as at 18/1/15. League and Cup matches only.
Charity games and friendlies not included.
8
FEBRUARY 2015
what we do as footballers – we want to win
for our country and we go in with a lot of
confidence from the undefeated run. Of
course we’d like to keep it going as long
as possible and, whoever plays, that’s their
challenge to maintain that form.
What role has coach Shakes Mashaba
played in your combination, or has it
just been a personal connection and
understanding between yourselves?
AJ: The coach can say whatever he wants
to say, but on the field the coach is not
there. We take instructions from the
coach, but when he’s not there we need
to talk [amongst ourselves]. If we build a
partnership well, we know the team will
be okay because it’s us that will make the
team play.
DF: Yeah, I agree. The coach does help us
off the pitch and it’s important to take on
board what he wants from us and how he
wants us to play, but when we’re out there
it’s about what we do when we cross the
line. It’s important that we keep fighting
for each other in the team.
How important is it to you, on a personal
level, to win silverware with your national
team as opposed to club level?
AJ: Going into an international
tournament, it’s important to know what
we can do. We shouldn’t go there just to
make up the numbers. We need to try and
get out of the group and, once we do that,
anything is possible.
DF: Yeah, there’s no point if we don’t
believe we can go all the way. So definitely,
from our qualification campaign, we have
a lot of belief and confidence and that’s
something that we are looking forward to
taking into the future.
Looking beyond the Nations Cup, where do
you guys set your goals and targets from
an international perspective?
AJ: When you play in Europe you must
have many caps in order to boost your
status. The more you play in your national
team the more options you have – you can
play in England, or anywhere, if you have
more caps. But if you don’t have caps it’s a
problem. I know you can’t play in England
if you haven’t played for your country for
two years.
The midfield duo enjoy a healthy relationship,
both on and off the field
COVER STORY
The great debate
KO: What has been your favourite match as a
partnership so far?
AJ [to Furman]: Which one?
DF: For me it was the Nigeria match in Cape Town ...
AJ: No, Nigeria was boring!
DF: [to Jali]: In Cape Town? No man, it was good!
AJ: [to Furman]: The last match against Sudan in
Durban was the one.
DF: [to Jali]: No, in Cape Town it was a fight man; we
were led to fight.
AJ: [to Furman]: But that one [against Nigeria], we
knew those guys couldn’t beat us.
DF: [to Jali]: Yeah, but we won [the battle] ...
AJ: [to Furman]: But in Durban Sudan gave us hell – if
they scored that goal that ‘S’bu’ [Sibusiso Khumalo]
saved off the line ...
DF: [to Jali]: So that was your favourite one, Sudan?
AJ: [to Furman]: Ja, Sudan was my favourite.
DF: No, Nigeria for me ...
AJ: But Sudan gave us hell, they gave us everything
that they had because they had nothing to lose, and we
had something to lose.
DF: Yeah, true ... Nigeria: the atmosphere in Cape Town
was incredible for the match, and to play the African
champions is always difficult, but I think we really
took the game to them. My man [Jali] was excellent
on the day, especially with John Obi Mikel, so that was
definitely one of my favourite matches.
DF: Yeah, in Europe it’s difficult for the
games to be shown here [in South Africa],
so when we come play for the national
team it’s important that we maintain our
good form. Every time there’s another
camp, the coach has a huge pool to select
from so, not just past Afcon, but for the
rest of our careers it’s about making sure
that we keep in good form so that we can
keep being selected.
Where do you see Bafana going after
Afcon?
DF: We have to keep progressing; that’s the
most important thing. Over the last year or
so we’ve really shown what we can do, and
there’s a lot of top talent in South Africa.
Number one: we need to make sure we’re
always at the major tournaments, and
hopefully this is the start of a good run for
us going forward.
AJ: I think when we started no-one
believed in us, but now everyone is behind
us. Even if we lose in the Afcon and come
back home, if we carry on like this then
I think we’ll be there at the World Cup in
2018. KO
XFull name: Andile Ernest Jali XBorn:
10/4/90 in Matatiele XFormer clubs: All Stars
FC, Hotspurs FC (both amateur), Matat Professionals (Second Division) XProfessional debut:
African Warriors 2 University of Pretoria FC 0 (8/12/07)
XFirst goal scored: University of Pretoria FC 2 Dynamos 1
(14/12/07) XPSL debut: Ajax Cape Town 0 Orlando Pirates 1
(9/8/09) XOostende debut: Oostende 0 KAA Gent 0 (5/2/14,
Belgian Cup, as a sub) XInternational debut: South Africa 3
Zimbabwe 0 (as a sub, 27/1/10, Friendly) XFull international
debut: South Africa 2 Kenya 0 (9/2/11, Friendly) XFirst
international goal: Niger 2 South Africa 1 (4/9/11, Nations
Cup qualifier) XHonours: 23 Senior International caps (1 goal),
1 Under-23 cap, Under-20 international; 2010/11, 2011/12 PSL
champion; 2010, 2011 MTN8 Cup winner; 2011 Telkom Knockout
winner; 2011 Nedbank Cup winner
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES GOALS
07/08
University of Pretoria (Div. 1) 9 (+4 subs) 1
08/09
University of Pretoria (Div. 1) 17 (+1 sub) 0
09/10
Orlando Pirates
24 (+2 subs) 0
10/11
Orlando Pirates
37 (+1 sub) 1
11/12
Orlando Pirates
30 (+1 sub) 1
12/13
Orlando Pirates
16
4
13/14
Orlando Pirates
22 (+1 sub) 3
KV Oostende (Belgium)
9 (+1 sub) 0
14/15
KV Oostende
20
0
TOTALS
155
10
Charity games and friendlies not included.
Country swap
How would Furman fare in Belgium?
AD: “In Belgium I play alone so when I’m playing
with someone, and I know when I play with Dean,
I’m the one going forward more and he’s at the
back. So I’m enjoying playing with him because
when I go forward I know he’s covering for me,
and when he goes forward then I’m covering for
him. I really enjoy it when I’m here rather than in
Belgium because there I don’t get to go upfield that
much. There’s a different style of play in Belgium. In
my team [KV Oostende], Dean wouldn’t be happy
because our coach’s system wouldn’t suit him.”
How would Jali fare in England?
DF: “I think he has the right attributes in his game.
He can mix it up and he can fight, which is needed
because the leagues in England are very physical
every week – even twice a week. He’s definitely
very comfortable with the ball at his feet; we’ve
seen some of his skills, which the fans over there
would love, and he’s got a lot of ability. If he had to
come to England he would do really well.”
FEBRUARY 2015
9
A LEGACY
Legends – Eric Tinkler battles Malawi’s Ernest
Mtawali as Linda Buthelezi looks on. Tinkler
and Buthelezi were the heartbeat of the South
African midfield as Bafana Bafana won the
1996 Africa Cup of Nations.
TO INHERIT
How do new Bafana Bafana midfield duo Andile Jali and Dean
Furman compare to South Africa’s Nations Cup-winning
combination of ERIC TINKLER and LINDA BUTHELEZI?
BY NEIL GREIG AND LUNGA NTULI.
n the Bafana
Bafana glory days
of the 1990s, coach
Clive Barker relied
on a number of
outstanding players
to drive the national
team forward. The likes of
Phil Masinga, Donald ‘Ace’
Khuse, Doctor Khumalo
and John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu
were pivotal to success.
But it was two men in the
engine room, Eric Tinkler
and Linda Buthelezi, who
fuelled Bafana’s attacking
machine. KICK OFF speaks
to the former stars about
their playing days, and
how Andile Jali and Dean
Furman compare in the
modern era.
I
‘THERE ARE MANY
DIFFERENCES’
One of South Africa’s
kingpins in midfield, Linda
Buthelezi, who turned
out 27 times for Bafana
Bafana between 1994 and
1997 and was part of the
successful 1996 Africa Cup
of Nations team, believes
there are fundamental
differences between his
partnership with Tinkler,
and the one that Jali and
Furman share.
“Our respect for each
10
FEBRUARY 2015
other was the core of our
playing career and our
international careers together.
Eric and I had respect for each
other and that was both on and
off the field. That’s what made
us unique,” Buthelezi says. “Honestly speaking, I don’t
think the way we played can be
compared to the combination
we are seeing now between
Andile Jali and Dean Furman. “They have a long way to
go to match us. That’s because
the times have changed; the
formation and pattern of the
way the team plays is different,
so they play a different way to
the way we played.
“We did what the coach
required of us most of the time
and we took instructions and
threw our egos away. This was
our role in the team. I mean,
we had players like Doctor
Khumalo who was lazy to
mark the ball, but we covered
that up. Then there was Mark
Fish who used to go forward
a lot and we had to remain
back and cover for him. “Another thing that makes us
different to Jali and Furman is
that we played for the country
more than for ourselves.
This is why we were more
defensive in our midfield play.
We understood each and every
player’s role in the Bafana team
of our time.
“We knew what Shoes’
midfield role was and we
accepted that. We accepted
each other’s weaknesses and
complemented each other’s
strengths.
“I think Jali and Furman
could work well depending on
how the coach uses them. I like
Jali a lot, but I don’t think he
is fully matured in his reading
of the game. At the moment
he lacks speed, mobility,
endurance and strength. As for
Furman, I see a simple player,
nothing special. He will have
a tougher time when he plays
away from home and in Africa.
The Nations Cup in Equatorial
Guinea will be a test for him.” ‘COMMUNICATION
WAS KEY’
Current Orlando Pirates
caretaker coach Eric Tinkler
– a Bafana veteran and 1996
Nations Cup winner with 46
international caps – takes a
less critical viewpoint of their
successors – particularly Jali,
a player who Tinkler will have
seen a lot of up close at Pirates.
“Firstly, I don’t think Linda
and I played similar football
to Jali and Furman. We were
generally more defensive
and they are more attacking
midfielders. But other than
that, Linda and I learned to
communicate very well and we
complemented each other on
the field. We were always there
to cover each other’s back.
When we communicated, I
would say ‘help me’ without
being afraid because, at the end
of the day, it was about the club,
the team, our national team,”
Tinkler says.
“As Linda says, we had
players like Mark Fish who
loved to be involved and the
likes of Doctor Khumalo who
were skillful, so we had to
accept them as they were.
“If Mark decided to venture
forward from the back we
knew that our role was to give
protection and to make sure we
won the tackles and got the ball
back for us to hold possession. visit www.kickoff.com
“I think Jali and Furman
have done well so far
playing together. They have
complemented each other very
well – at times Dean would wait
and Jali would go forward. And
I must say that I am proud of
the way Jali has grown to carry
himself out there. His game
has improved since he made
his move overseas and he looks
more mature now.
“What will help Jali and
Furman to succeed is discipline
and good communication. They
must know who must stay and
who must go without even
saying it. Let’s see how they
manage at the Nations Cup
where the test will be a very
tough one.” KO
COVER STORY
‘Midnight Express’ on Jali and Furman
FORMER Bafana midfielder Helman
‘Midnight Express’ Mkhalele believes the
Jali-Furman partnership has potential,
but there are areas that need work.
“I see their partnership working
because they’re the core and the spine of
the current Bafana team,” Mkhalele says.
“Defensively they combine beautifully
because they can protect the back-four
very well and they provide good cover.
“If I think back to the way Eric Tinkler
and Linda Buthelezi operated, they
differ a bit. With Linda and Eric, they
were not as mobile as Andile and Dean,
but they were able to create space
when moving forward and they were
disciplined, especially Eric.
“Eric’s strength was to stay back
and spread the passes. Looking at the
current duo, they need to be disciplined
and work on their passing because that’s
a weakness at the moment.
“Dean is very mobile and as a
combination they need to work on their
communication as they sometimes
leave the back-four a little exposed.
“I also feel it is key for them to talk
when they’re in possession of the ball
as to who remains and who moves
forward. Their communication breaks
down at times and that’s something
they must guard against.
“I remember when we played
against Mali in the 2013 Nations
Cup, Dean and ‘Yeye’ [Reneilwe
Letsholonyane] used their energy in the
first half and that was great because
Seydou Keita couldn’t play.
“But in the second half they were
drained and Keita played more freely
as he had more space. They’re right in
closing spaces, but they must use their
energy sparingly because playing in a
humid area like Equatorial Guinea could
be detrimental to their partnership.
“Dean can sometimes move all over
the place and distract other players,
which ends up affecting the shape of
the team. Other than that, this is a great
combination and they will play a vital
role at the Nations Cup.”
FEBRUARY 2015
11
Honouring
Taking over the
captain’s armband
after the passing
of Senzo Meyiwa
was never going to
be easy. For Shakes
Mashaba, there was
an obvious man for
the job. We put your
questions to Bafana
Bafana skipper
DEAN FURMAN.
BY NICK SAID.
DID
YOU
KNOW?
Dean Furman is one
of seven Bafana
players who have
never played in the
domestic leagues.
The others are
Ayanda Patosi,
Pierre Issa, Kgosi
Ntlhe, Ricardo
Nunes, Davide
Somma and
Quinton Fortune.
12
FEBRUARY 2015
TSHEPISO JONATHAN MORAPEDI: The
Bafana Bafana number 15 has been
associated with the legendary Doctor
‘16V’ Khumalo. How does that impact
and inspire you?
DEAN FURMAN: I play more for the Bafana
Bafana jersey than the number on the
back, but knowing the great players that
have worn the number 15 down the years
does give me inspiration. I hope I can do
it justice but, like I said, the badge on the
front is more important to me.
VUSUMUZI BABAKA
LUBANZI NXUMALO: Do
you see yourself playing
in the PSL one day?
You can never rule out
any option. At this
DEAN FURMAN FACE THE READERS
g the badge
KICK OFF: What do you think of the new
Nike Bafana Bafana kit?
Nike has done a really great job; it
looks like a great new kit and has all the
technology they seem to weave into kits
these days. I really enjoyed the quality
of the kit we played in before, but am
already loving wearing this one. It looks
very smart and hopefully we will have a
good time in it!
HAUNTEDQHAWE
GHOSTING POET: What is
your advice to May
Mahlangu?
I can’t speak on behalf
of other players and
their situation. All I can say is that I have
really enjoyed playing with him and that
he showed when he was in the team that
he is an international quality player. But
it’s not up to me if he plays for Bafana
Bafana again. I would enjoy playing with
him one day if he gets the chance though.
KICK OFF: What do you think of the form
of Mulomowandau Mathoho in the Bafana
Bafana jersey?
Erick has been great for us; he is such
a great guy, but also a real rock at the
back. He is our biggest player in terms
of size and he knows how to use that
physicality. He has been a real leader
at the back and the fact that he played
in every Afcon qualifying match shows
how important he is to the side. He put
in some powerful performances and was
among our best players.
HLUBI MK VOVANI: What is the racism
like in the league you are playing in? news on your phone: kickoff.com/mobile
There’s no real racism from what I have
seen. They have a very good campaign
called ‘Kick It Out’ in England, and that
does great work by making people aware
and more sensitive to issues around
racism. There have been some cases, but
they are few and far between and I don’t
see it as a real problem.
YUSUF THEE WASINATOR
WASI: What’s your advice
to young South Africans
that want to play
overseas?
If the opportunity comes
along, grab it! It can only improve you
as a player. England, for example, is
a great place to play football, and in
Europe in general you get exposed to
different styles of football, and that will
develop your game. It is tough to win
an overseas move – you obviously must
have the talent but it also takes a lot
of dedication, commitment and mental
strength to succeed.
TEBOGO ERNEST SETLAI:
Did it ever cross your
mind to represent
England instead of South
Africa?
No, I was always excited
by the prospect of representing Bafana
Bafana, ever since I was first called-up
for an Under-23 tournament some years
back that unfortunately did not take
place. It has always been my dream to
represent the country of my birth and I
am living that dream now.
KICK OFF: Many people are amazed that
you play in the third tier of English
football. What is the standard like?
The standard is very strong! People
in South Africa won’t know much
about League One because it is not
well publicised, but it’s a physical and
demanding league and there are many
matches – we play 46 in the League
alone, and then there are all the cups. It
is a very difficult division to get out of,
with some really good teams. So from the
outside it might not look like much, but
when you play in it it is very demanding
and at a high level.
SIYA LUMKA MAREKE:
Away from national
call-ups, do you ever
visit South Africa?
I must admit I haven’t
had many opportunities
for a holiday in South Africa because of
the long football season in England, as
well as other commitments. But when I
do come back it is great to see my family
in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and I
look forward to the day when I will have
the opportunity to spend more time in
the country.
TSHEPO MOGOLA: How do you feel about
the fans calling you ‘Mlungu’?
The reception I have had from the fans
in South Africa, both in person and on
social media, has been incredible. I really
enjoy the nickname, I enjoy hearing it
when I get the ball, and I know that it is
all done in good humour. I love the fact
that they care enough to do it!
KICK OFF: Who did you vote for in the
Ballon d’Or?
Um … I’m not sure I am allowed to say?
I’m not sure what the rules are around
this; can I tell you? I don’t want to get
a phone call from Sepp Blatter! I might
have to pass on this one, sorry.
[Note: Furman voted for Cristiano Ronaldo,
Lionel Messi and Philipp Lahm] KO
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURE BY SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/BACKPAGEPIX1
moment in my career I am fully focused
on being in England, but you never know
what is around the corner.
13
NOTHING
rlando Pirates
goalkeeper Brighton
Mhlongo has been a
Buccaneer since the
age of 13, and he
never gave up on his
dream to graduate
from the academy
into the first team.
Eleven years on, the
24-year-old is finally living his dream in
the black and white of his boyhood club.
O
14
FEBRUARY 2015
Albeit under unfortunate circumstances,
‘Spider’ has stepped up and helped
Pirates maintain their position as title
challengers. By the mid-season break, Bucs
were in fourth place on the log, having
collected 26 points from 17 matches, with
Mhlongo featuring in eight of those League
encounters.
With the Christmas break over, Mhlongo
sits with me after Bucs’ gym session at the
Virgin Active in Houghton and shares his
thoughts on his first two months as the
Pirates number one goalkeeper. But before
that, how did he enjoy his mid-season
break?
“I had fun, but obviously it was a time
for me to relax, unwind and spend quality
time with my friends and family,” Mhlongo
says.
“I also reflected a bit on the first few
matches I played and I must say, it’s
tough going into a break just when your
confidence is starting to grow ... I feel like I
could have just continued to play because
BRIGHTON MHLONGO FEATURE
TO PROVE
Orlando Pirates goalkeeper BRIGHTON MHLONGO
is growing in stature and confidence. Chad Klate
catches up with the young gloveman as he looks
ahead to the second half of the season.
I started to enjoy my game more. I’ve also
highlighted all the things I need to work
on in 2015, where I need to improve and
so forth,” he adds.
2014 was a tough year for many football
supporters following the tragic loss of
Bafana Bafana captain and Mhlongo’s
teammate Senzo Meyiwa. Tributes for the
fallen hero poured in from all across the
footballing world, even from Meyiwa’s
goalkeeping hero Iker Casillas, who posted
a picture of ‘Nzori’ holding up his Spain
jersey on his Instagram account.
It was a loss a lot closer to home for
Mhlongo though, as the two were virtually
inseparable during their time together in
the Pirates first team, especially because
they were one another’s biggest supporters.
“It was a bag of mixed emotions,” he
says. “The lowlight was losing our captain
and a very good friend. Overall it was a
difficult year; career-wise, yes it was good,
I always say God has His own plans and
I’ve got to have faith in Him because He
will never forsake me. I guess I had to step
in for Senzo by His will, aside from the
circumstances, so career-wise it was just
okay and I believe I did fairly well.
“It’s still hard because even now when
we came back from the break I still had
that feeling of Senzo being here, and even
when I went to watch Bafana [vs Zambia]
a part of me thought that he could be there
and on his way to Equatorial Guinea [for
the Africa Cup of Nations].
“Unfortunately… I don’t know, it’s still
hard to deal with to this day, but I guess
everything will heal over time,” Mhlongo
says.
I know it’s an emotional topic, but I ask
him about their relationship.
“We were very close. I knew Senzo for
11 years, right from our development
days,” Mhlongo says.
“When I got here [to the first team]
he welcomed me, and we shared a lot of
advice about life in general. Whenever he
had questions about things – he was a very
inquisitive person – he wouldn’t shy away
from asking, even if you were younger than
him, he was just willing to take in any
advice.
“I always supported him and he always
supported me. I remember one time when
he was with Bafana and I was playing in
the MultiChoice [Diski Challenge], he said
to me: ‘Hey, we were watching your game.
I saw you were having fun.’ That obviously
meant a lot to me because even though he
was away on national duty, he was always
there to support me.
“We just grew closer over time,
obviously. I also remember when we did all
the traveling during the [CAF] Champions
League, that was when we were closer
than ever because we had to endure all
“Often you find that giving up comes right
before success, so I kept on working.”
the difficulties. I kept on encouraging him,
telling him: ‘You know what, just keep on
pushing. Don’t worry about me because
when my time comes I hope that you’ll do
the same for me.’”
Little did he know that his friend
and teammate would not be around to
witness or support him when he got his
opportunity, but that did not stop the
former junior international from rising to
the challenge and stepping into the shoes
of the late Meyiwa.
Mhlongo made his debut just one week
after his friend’s funeral service, held at
the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, in
Pirates’ 2-0 loss to SuperSport United in
the Telkom Knockout semi-final.
“That game was a very difficult match,
or rather the most difficult one I’ve ever
played in my career, because it was a week
after the funeral,” Mhlongo remembers.
“All the attention and the spotlight was
focused on me; everyone was speculating
how I was going to play, so you can
imagine what that does to your head.
However, I managed to calm myself down
before the match, even though the result
didn’t go our way. I felt I did fairly well
considering the circumstances, and I
told myself that I needed to focus on the
matches ahead,” he adds.
Despite making his official debut in
a 4-1 League win over Black Leopards
in the 2012/13 season under coach
Roger de Sa, Mhlongo went the entire
2013/14 season without making another
appearance for the Buccaneers.
The young, relatively inexperienced
goalkeeper had to contest with Ghanaian
number one Fatau Dauda for the number
two spot behind Meyiwa, but Mhlongo
explains that De Sa always saw his
potential and believed in his ability.
“I’d like to thank coach Roger for
believing in me. I think my turning point
came – and even if Senzo was here he
would attest to this – when Roger came
in [during the 2012/13 season] and he
believed in both of us. I remember he
FEBRUARY 2015
15
handed Senzo his first match against
Sundowns, and he was always encouraging
me and pushing me,” Mhlongo says.
“People started asking how Dauda
became third choice when he was Ghana’s
national team goalkeeper and I had only
played one match, but Roger explained to
me that people don’t see me at training so
I shouldn’t be listening to what they say.
“It was a difficult period for me when
coach Vladimir Vermezovic came in
because obviously European coaches come
with a different mentality and opt for
experience. But Roger was still motivating
me and telling me that I shouldn’t stop
working because Dauda was going to the
2014 World Cup.
“It was tough to stay motivated, but I
also told myself that I endured the time
when Moeneeb [Josephs] and Senzo were
ahead of me, so I reminded myself that I
needed to push harder when things were
not working out. Often you find that giving
up comes right before success, so I kept on
working and praying for things to come
my way.”
With former AmaZulu goalkeeper
Philani Zikala his only challenger at
the moment, Pirates may opt to sign
a goalkeeper to provide even tougher
competition for the pair, but Mhlongo
is adamant that he will prevail as Eric
Tinkler’s number one.
“Philani is a very experienced
goalkeeper. The competition has been
tough but we are working together well.
At the age of 32, he’s a goalkeeper who
has seen it all in the PSL. So for me at
16
FEBRUARY 2015
the age of 24, you can see the difference
between us – I always look up to him. The
support is always there, we talk a lot, and
he’s always there to support me; when
he plays Diski Challenge and friendlies,
I do the exact same thing for him. I
always tell him, ‘God has a purpose for us
all’ – there’s a reason why Pirates signed
Philani and there’s a reason why I’m
playing right now.
“At the end of the day it’s about the
team and not the individual, so if they
select him then I’ll have to support him
the same way I supported Senzo,” Mhlongo
says.
“If I can reflect back, after that first
game against SuperSport, everyone was
saying ‘we need a goalkeeper’, and if I was
faint-hearted I could have easily given
up and said ‘they don’t need me here’.
That motivated me though – not that I’m
trying to prove a point to anyone, there’s
no point to prove. I’d rather focus on
that which I have control over, like my
XFull name: Brighton Wisani Mhlongo XBorn:
12/1/91 In Protea Glen, Soweto XSource: Balfour
Park XPrevious Clubs: Orlando Pirates Juniors,
Yebo Yes, Garankuwa Utd XPSL Debut: Orlando
Pirates 4 Black Leopards 1 (15/5/13) XHonours:
Under-23 International; 2011/12 Premier League winner,
Nedbank Cup winner 2014
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
10/11
FC AK
17
0
Orlando Pirates
Did Not Play
11/12
12/13
Orlando Pirates
1
0
13/14
Orlando Pirates
Did Not Play
14/14
Orlando Pirates
9
0
TOTALS
27
0
Correct as at 15/1/2015. League and Cup matches only. Preseason
and friendly matches not included.
game – I know I have to keep working
hard for the team. If Pirates decide to get
a new goalkeeper it will bring healthy
competition; anyone is welcome and the
new guy will know that we will fight for
a place, which will benefit the team,” he
adds.
Spider has featured in nine matches
this season, keeping two clean-sheets over
the course of Pirates’ three wins and three
losses. Despite the results, ‘The Ghost’ has
stuck by their new first-choice goalkeeper
and Mhlongo has relished the support
from the fans – and promises to keep on
working in order to one day represent
Bafana.
“The support has been fantastic. Most
of the supporters have stood by me and
I received a lot of positive feedback
after the SuperSport match. After the
[Bloemfontein] Celtic game I dedicated my
Man of the Match award to the supporters
because it was a collective effort. It’s great
hearing them in the streets or in the malls
trying to motivate me and encourage me,
so I hope they’ll keep on supporting the
team and that will lift my confidence as
well.
“My goals haven’t changed – I’ve
wanted to represent my national team
from a young age. I’ve represented the
national Under-23 side on a few occasions,
so there’s nothing that’s preventing me
from making it into the senior team. I have
to keep pushing myself, and with all the
support and God’s grace, I will reach that
level. But for now I want to win trophies
with Pirates,” Mhlongo concludes. KO
PICTURES BY SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX2
Meyiwa and Mhlongo were close friends, and continually
encouraged each other between the sticks
CLUBHOUSE | Behind the scenes in the big-time
NOMVETE’S
FUTURE
UNDECIDED
MOROKA Swallows striker
triker
Siyabonga Nomvete’s future
at the club is yet to bee decidoming
ed, with his contract coming
to an end in June.
Club CEO Leon Prins
ns told
KickOff.com last year that the
club would talk with the
he
player about his contract, and while it was
too early to discuss some
me
issues, he was positive
Nomvete would continue
nue
to don the Swallows’
jersey next season.
The 37-year-old
joined The Birds in 2009
009
after spending seven
years in Europe and was a
livewire in the first half
lf of
this season. He bailed the
club out against Maritztzburg United by scoringg
twice after coming off
the bench in a 2-1 win
n at
Harry Gwala Stadium,,
scored the equaliser in
n
a 2-1 win against AmaaZulu in the last match
before the mid-season
break, and still looks
to be a player with
some yards left in him.
m.
Communications
manager Sipho Xulu says
there haven’t been anyy
talks with regards to the
he
veteran’s future.
“We have held discusussions with all the players
ers
and after that we will
start to talk about conntract situations,” he said.
id.
The Birds have struggled
ggled
this season and are lying
ing
13th on the log after 17
games.
By Robin-Duke
ke
Madlala
18
FEBRUARY 2015
INTRODUCING
Ricky Lourenco (PEC Zwolle)
Lourenco on the mark
THERE is a new teen star on
the scene and his name is Ricky
Lourenco. But he isn’t all that
new. If you have not heard of
him from his days at Bidvest
Wits academy, then you will
certainly begin to see his name
appear more often.
By his own admission,
19-year-old Lourenco has
“already been around for some
time” given that he started out
at Bedfordview Country Club
when he was just four years
old.
As part of the new-look
junior national team set-up,
the left-footed midfielder will
look to make an impact with
coach David Notoane’s national
Under-20 side, but his career is
also blossoming in Europe.
Since the start of the current season, Lourenco has
been on the books of Dutch
club PEC Zwolle. He has a
Reserve Team contract with
the target of moving into the
senior team.
“It has been an adjustment
coming to Europe and seeing
the quality here. People think
you just arrive and everything
is smooth for you to just progress in your career,” he says.
“But it is not like that. You
are just another player here
trying to make it. And you get
no favours. It is about hard
work and who really wants it.”
Lourenco and his SA
Under-20 teammates recently
headed to Qatar and Russia to
prepare for the all-important
upcoming CAF African Junior
Championships.
“I am really looking forward
to playing for the Under-20s. I
was called up once before, but
could not make the camp. It
is exciting to be part of a new
chapter in SA soccer where we
have big tournaments ahead
of us and lots to play for,” he
says.
Lourenco grew up in
Primrose on the East Rand. At
13 he joined Luso Africa and
around this time played in
two international tournaments
in the Netherlands while also
training with Sparta Rotterdam.
He was then spotted by
Wits and signed by then head
of youth Eric Tinkler. After
graduating from the Wits
Academy, Lourenco joined PEC
Zwolle.
Asked to describe the player,
current Wits head of youth
Glen Salmon – who was a
successful export from South
Africa to the Dutch top-flight
during his playing career – had
this to say: “Ricky has done
well to move to Holland and
I think he has always had the
ability.
“He reminds me of Matty
Pattison in the way he plays.
He has a good left foot, while
his range of passing is also
very good. He probably is a bit
more positive than Matty in his
passing in that he looks to go
forward more often.
“He is also a strong athlete
with a good attitude and it’s
good to see him in the junior
national team.”
By Neil Greig
fortherecord
Ajax Cape Town
Moroccan-born striker Noah Sadaoui could be moved out on loan to
enable him to get some game-time.
The 22-year-old has battled since arriving from Israel at the beginning
of the season.
The club seem definite to take up
the option of a further two years
on the contract of goalkeeper Anssi
Jaakkola.
AmaZulu
Carlington Nyadombo has attracted interest from Asian clubs
willing to pay more than he is
earning at Usuthu.
Bidvest Wits
The club has signed Tuks’ teenage
goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa on
a pre-contract effective from July.
Papy Faty is back at full training
with the Clever Boys and will be
registered to play after recovering
from a knee injury.
Bloemfontein Celtic
WITH six months to go before
his contract expires, Kaizer
Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng
Khune had yet to decide
whether to renew his contract
or join another team. The
27-year-old has been at Naturena throughout his career
since joining as a 13-year-old.
He made his first team debut
in 2007, in a 1-1 draw against
Jomo Cosmos.
The Amakhosi captain is in
the last six months of his contract and there have already
been reports that Mamelodi
Sundowns are ready to launch
a massive bid for the player,
which will take Khune’s salary
to R950 000 per month if he
agrees to move to Chloorkop.
Archrivals Orlando Pirates are
also reportedly in the hunt.
Khune has been struggling
with a niggling ankle injury
and missed a huge chunk of
the first half of the season,
during which time young goal-
keeper Brilliant Khuzwayo has
stepped up to the plate and
performed with aplomb.
After recovering from his
injury Khune failed to topple
Khuzwayo, and was subsequently dropped from the
2015 African Nations Cup
squad by Bafana Bafana coach
Shakes Mashaba – a terrible
experience for a man who had
worn the armband for so long.
Amid all the rumours that
Khune might leave Chiefs,
football manager Bobby
Motaung told the media that
the club will not be pressured
into ‘breaking the bank’ for the
goalkeeper.
At the time of going to
press, talks between Amakhosi
and the player’s agency were
ongoing but, if Khune leaves,
the club will have themselves
to blame for leaving the
contract negotiations until
the last minute.
By Zola Doda
The club is monitoring Royal
Eagles midfielder Kabelo Mahlasela
with a view of possibly bringing him
in next season.
Botswana international midfielder Joel Mogorosi has already
attracted interest from other clubs
as his contract nears expiry in June.
Chippa United
Injured midfielder Joseph Molangoane is expected back at training
at the end of February.
Free State Stars
The direction that Glenn Verbauwhede’s football career is likely to
take remains unclear as he nears
the completion of his loan spell
with Free State Stars. The Belgian
goalkeeper, who was loaned to
Stars until the end of the season, is
yet to be offered a new contract by
Mamelodi Sundowns.
Kaizer Chiefs
Kingston Nkhatha has signed
a pre-contract with SuperSport
United.
Matthew Rusike will be allowed a
free transfer upon the expiry of his
contract if he doesn’t move during
the January transfer window.
Siphiwe Tshabalala and Tefu
Mashamaite will stay on at the club,
with the pair expected to seal new
two-year contracts. Their current
deals expire in June.
David Zulu has concluded a move
from Chippa United.
Mamelodi Sundowns
The club has cast an eye of interest
in national Under-17 defender Keanu
Cupido, who presently does duty for
the Diambars Academy.
It was weddings galore at the
club during the festive season with
Uzoenyi Ejike, Lebohang Mokoena
and Surprise Moriri all tying the knot.
Maritzburg United
Veteran midfielder Delron Buckley
has gone into semi-retirement since
his release by the club.
Moroka Swallows
The future of Larry Cohen is
hanging in the balance, with the
27-year-old looking at a possible
move to Europe after receiving his
Lithuanian passport.
MP Black Aces
Mabhuti Khenyeza has made the
move back to his home province of
KZN, joining Golden Arrows in search
of more regular game-time.
Orlando Pirates
The future of Oupa Manyisa
remains unresolved. His contract is
up in June which has prompted the
prospect of a move to Mamelodi Sundowns, who are willing to make him
one of the top earners in the PSL.
Platinum Stars
Zimbabwean striker Patrick
Kaunda will be given to the end of
the season to prove himself after
failing to break into the team during
his first six months with the club.
Polokwane City
Out-of-favour midfielder Mothusi
Gopane is faced with a prospect of
leaving the club after starting just
two games.
SuperSport United
The club has already made a commitment to turn Dove Wome’s loan
deal into a permanent transfer.
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY PIC SYDNEY MAHLANGU/ BACKPAGEPIX1/MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX1
Khune: A humbling
experience
19
ON THE BALL | The world of football in brief
Tough task for Amajimbos
The way forward – Amajimbos
coach Molefi Ntseki has a long-term
objective for the team
Big win – Martin Luseke of Tanzania is
challenged by Luvuyo Mkatshana
SOUTH Africa’s national
Under-17 side Amajimbos will
have their work cut out when
they take on Ivory Coast, Mali
and Cameroon in Group B of
the CAF African Youth Championships.
Amajimbos have already
played a few friendly matches
in preparation for the tournament – which kicks off on 14
February in Niger – including a
1-1 draw with Zambia.
“Now that we know all the
countries that have qualified and which teams are in
our group, that has made our
preparations a little bit better,”
coach Molefi Ntseki says.
“As much as we want to do
well in this tournament, we also
have a long-term objective in
that we want to produce players
that will be ready for the na-
Jordan set to star
BIDVEST Wits and South
African Under-17 midfielder
Liam Jordan will be expected to
make an impact for Amajimbos
as they prepare for the CAF
Youth Championships to be
staged in Niger.
Although Jordan has been
registered with the Wits senior
side during the January transfer
window and will edge closer to
his top-flight debut, his role in
the Under-17 squad is set to be
a key transition period.
20
FEBRUARY 2015
tional Under-20 side and then
later for Bafana Bafana. So I’m
happy that our Under-20 side
has also qualified for the CAF
Junior Championships.”
Amajimbos’ qualification
campaign kicked off with a 4-0
aggregate win over Tanzania,
with red-hot striker Khanyisa
Mayo bagging a brace (see page
54 for more on Mayo).
In their next match against
Egypt, Amajimbos sealed
their qualification with a 4-3
aggregate win.
“It has been a long journey
which started with us selecting
players from the inter-provincial
tournaments around the country. Our next target is to reach
the semi-finals and qualify for
the Fifa Under-17 World Cup,”
Ntseki says.
By Zola Doda
The talented 16-year-old son
of former Bafana Bafana striker
Keryn Jordan (see page 56) has
been under the watchful eye of
head coach Gavin Hunt this
season, and has enjoyed training
stints with Manchester United
and Sunderland.
But according to his agent,
Glyn Binkin, Jordan will be
part of the registered first team
squad for the second half of the
season and will be hoping for
some game-time.
“He is young, but coach Hunt
always says if you are good
enough he will use you, no matter your age,” Binkin says.
With South Africa’s
Under-17 and Under-20
sides getting ready for major
tournaments in Africa this year,
Jordan will have a great opportunity to feature in these junior
national teams.
By Neil Greig
‘Gonondo’ happy to fight for place
Msibi – I’ll balance
school and football
AMAJITA goalkeeper
Dumisani Msibi insists he will
be able to balance his tertiary
studies with playing football.
Speaking shortly after he
learned he had passed matric,
Msibi confirmed he will
continue with his schooling
this year.
“For me it was a hectic year
– I had to try and balance
the two, school and football,”
Msibi says. “But yeah, I’m
happy I got my results and I’m
pleased that in football I did
very well.
“The sacrifices I was making
worked out well, starting with
the Under-20s where I helped
the team qualify for the African Youth Championships.
“We just need to do well in
the tournament and make sure
that we do our best to win it,”
Msibi says.
“I also got a call-up to
Bafana Bafana and I did my
best there as well. I was happy
I went there – it was a different experience, at a different
level.
“Now I want to go to University and study to be an Electrical Engineer. I’ve already
applied at TUT [Tshwane
University of Technology].”
By Rofhiwa Lihaiwa
But despite only one start
and two substitute appearances to date, ‘Gonondo’ is not
yet ready to throw in the towel
and hopes for a regular place
soon.
“When I joined the team I
knew very well that I was going to face stiff competition.
“The fact that I still make
the 18-man squad gives me
hope that I have what it takes,
as long as I keep working hard
at training. I have healthy
competition in the team and
I support everyone who gets
the nod ahead of me,” Khuboni
says.
“No matter that I have
struggled for game-time so
far this season, I’ve appreciated even the few minutes I’ve
played coming on as a sub in
some of the matches towards
the end of the year, and am
optimistic that this year I will
finally make it into the team’s
starting XI.”
Having been linked with
a loan move in the January
transfer window, Khuboni
insists that he is still happy at
AmaZayoni, with his contract
due to expire in June.
“I don’t know anything
about my supposed unhappiness at Aces and even a
possible loan move that has
been reported in the media.
I still have a contract with
Aces – from there I will see
what happens. Right now my
focus is on fighting my way
into team’s starting line-up,”
he adds.
By Sibusiso Mdlalose
Chamanga to return?
FORMER PSL Golden
Boot award winner James
Chamanga says he would
be interested
in wrapping
up his playing
career back
in South
Africa upon
the expiry of
his contract in
China.
Chamanga –
who now turns
out for Liaoning Whowin
FC in the Chinese Super
League – left the country
in April 2008, with his 14
goals for Moroka Swallows already enough to
crown him the League’s top
scorer.
Having now spent seven
years in China – five of which
were at Dalian Shide FC –
the 34-year-old admits he
would still consider coming
back to the PSL, especially
with his former teammates
at Swallows
encouraging
him to do so.
“I still follow
the PSL. I
have noticed
that my former
team Swallows
are not doing
well … some of
the boys want
me to come back and play
there,” Chamanga says.
The Zambian forward
remains the only player
to score five goals in one
League match in the
modern-day PSL era, slamming a ‘fiver’ past Platinum
Stars’ Wayne Sandilands in
December 2007 in a 6-2 win
for The Birds.
By Lovemore Moyo
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/CHRIS RICCO/MUZI NTOMBELA/SYDNEY MAHLANGU/ MICHAEL SHEEHAN/ALL BACKPAGEPIX/CARL FOURIE/GALLO IMAGES1
MPUMALANGA Black
Aces midfielder Thanduyise
Khuboni is determined to
work his socks off and finally
make a breakthrough into
AmaZayoni’s starting line-up
this year.
The former Golden Arrows
skipper joined Aces during the
pre-season transfer window –
along with his former Abafana
Bes’thende teammate and
defender Mzivukile Tom –
following the eThekwini side’s
relegation.
However, the 28-year-old
has found the going tough
at the Clive Barker-coached
side, where he competes for
a defensive role in midfield
with seasoned campaigners
like Onyekachi Okonkwo and
Tinashe Nengomasha.
21
“They [Peter
Koutroulis
and Mich
D’Avray] were
not happy
that we were
winning and
tried to sabotage us … they did not believe
in black coaches. When things
got bad they shifted the blame
onto me. They wanted me to
fail.”
– Former Chippa United coach
Roger Sikhakhane claiming,
after he was fired, that the
club’s directors are racist.
Good month for ...
Darren Keet
PLAYMAKERS
Flew back
to Belgium
during
Bafana’s
training
camp to be
there for
his child’s
birth.
PALOOKAS
Afcon hosts Equatorial Guinea, who sacked
coach Andoni Goikoetxea just two weeks before
the tournament.
Also last month
• Much-maligned
Kaizer Chiefs striker
Kingston Nkhatha
signs for SuperSport
United.
• David Zulu, who has
impressed for Chippa
United, joins Chiefs to
bolster their strikeforce.
• Coach Zeca Marques
joins Black Leopards,
replacing Mark Harrison, who takes over
at Zimbabwean club
Caps United.
• Cristiano Ronaldo
wins his third Fifa
Ballon d’Or.
• Ernst Middendorp
takes over as coach at
Chippa United.
Bad month for ...
Patrick Phungwayo
Receives Nations
Cup call-up, but
sadly gets injured
during training.
PICTURES BY GETTY IMAGES 2/SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX 3/LEFTY SHIVAMBU/BACKPAGEPIX 1/BACKPAGEPIX 1
All the players who gave back to their communities during the festive season, including
Jackson Mabokgwane, Tlou Segolela and
Willard Katsande. Katlego Mashego (pictured)
visited Mapulaneng Hospital in Bushbuckridge
on Christmas Day to hand over gifts to the kids.
Thulani
Serero
Misses out on
an Afcon place,
despite being in
fine club form.
Itumeleng
Khune
Continues to miss
out on national
team duty, and
is yet to feature
under Shakes
Mashaba.
22
FEBRUARY 2015
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MAKING AN IMPACT
The MultiChoice Diski Challenge continues to open doors for reserve
team players. Neil Greig profiles three to watch in this season’s
competition.
MFANAFUTHI DLAMINI
KOBAMELO KODISANG
Age: 24
Hometown: Pietermaritzburg Club: AmaZulu
Position: Striker
Dlamini is the captain of
AmaZulu’s reserve side and
has already been in the firstteam set-up. Dlamini made
his debut against Kaizer
Chiefs in November 2014 as
a late substitute and has not
looked back since. “For me this opportunity
helps a lot because it keeps
one moving forward while
fighting to get into the 18man squad,” he says. “Because
of this league and the regular
game-time I have gained more
confidence. “The bigger picture to me is
to fight for a place in the first
team, and I have already been
given the opportunity to play
a few matches.” Age: 15 Hometown: Seraleng,
Rustenburg
Club: Platinum Stars
Position: Midfielder
At just 15 years of age, grade
10 pupil Kobamelo Kodisang
is one of the most promising
young players in South Africa.
“My immediate goal is to
play for the national Under-17
team, and through this competition the national coaches
have seen my potential. A few
months ago nobody knew
about me,” he says. “I have been playing for the
Platinum Stars’ youth and my
high school team. I have heard
the coach say he has big plans
for me, so I am confident in my
abilities.
“Because of the Diski Challenge, I won’t be so intimidated
by training with the first team.”
MENZI MASUKU
Age: 21
Hometown: KwaMashu,
Durban
Club: Orlando Pirates
Position: Attacking midfielder After his impressive run in
the Diski Challenge, erstwhile Orlando Pirates coach
Vladimir Vermzovic handed
Masuku his first-team debut
against SuperSport United
in the Telkom Knockout in
2014. The 21-year-old has already won Man of the Match
awards and has even netted
a couple of goals in the Absa
Premiership.
“The Diski Challenge has
opened the door for me to the
24
FEBRUARY 2015
first team. It’s been an amazing experience because I have
always wanted to play for
Orlando Pirates. The tournament has enabled us to play
competitively, and allowed the
coaches to see what we are
capable of in a match situation,” Masuku says. “Thank you to the Pirates
first team coach as well because it is not easy for young
players like me to break into
the first team. “My highlight was playing
on my home ground in front
of my family and friends, and
in the same game getting my
first Man of the Match award
against AmaZulu in Durban.”
FORMER AmaZulu and
Moroka Swallows midfielder
Archie ‘Juluka’ Radebe passed
away on Jaunuary 7, aged 55.
Radebe, who also coached
Manzini Wanderers in Swaziland, died of an illness at a
hospital in Johannesburg.
He was a hit with Usuthu in
the 1980s, playing alongside
the likes of Joel Faya, Neil
Tovey, Owen Nzimande, Special Sithole and Julius Chirwa.
After retiring, Radebe
worked as a scout in Orange
Farm and discovered Lebogang Mokoena, Gift Leremi
and Sifiso Myeni.
Former AmaZulu coach
Clive Barker: “I am truly hurt
to hear about the passing
away of Juluka,” he wrote on
the AmaZulu website.
“He was a magnificent player
who could take on opposition,
and he had amazing pace.
“He was a great leader on
and off the field. He played a
very positive role in the formation of the club back in the
day ... he had the brains for
football.”
Barker adds: “Young players can learn that Juluka
was very quick and a great
controller and passer of the
ball. He did not just kick the
ball, but rather he made sure
that he was responsible for
every pass.”
AmaZulu chief scout Joel
Faya also paid tribute.
“It’s sad to hear of his passing, he was a very good guy,
polite and our best number
ten in our team,” Faya said.
FORMER Free State Stars,
Golden Arrows and Mpumamlanga Black Aces defender Joseph Henyekane passed away
from an unspecified illness on
December 16.
Kimberley-born Henyekane, the younger brother of
Richard, started his career at
Basotho Tigers before moving
to Premier United (who bought
the Hellenic PSL franchise).
He made just three appearances for the side in the
2003/04 season. He then
joined Arrows and played
24 matches during 2004/05,
earning his first call-up to the
national Under-23 side and
playing five matches under
coach Steve Komphela.
Over the next few years, his
form at Arrows fluctuated and
he transferred to Black Aces in
2010 – only to see his new side
relegated at season’s end.
He agreed terms with
Bidvest Wits ahead of the
2011/12 season, but fell ill
and did not return to the club
after taking leave after preseason training.
He next surfaced at Roses
United, signing in March 2014,
but made a solitary appearance for the team, who were
relegated.
He then turned out for the
South African Police Service
team back home in Kimberley.
“Even though I am playing
for the police team here at
home I still haven’t given up on
getting back into professional
football,” Henyekane told KICK
OFF just days before his death.
Cele: My time will come
MARITZBURG United attacking midfielder
Mondli Cele says he has never been demoralised by his exclusion from Bafana
Bafana’s 23-man squad for the Africa
Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial
Guinea.
The stocky 25-year-old midfield
workhorse received his first national team
call-up and was part of Ephraim ‘Shakes’
Mashaba’s provisional 34-man squad, but
didn’t make the final squad.
“To me it was an honour on its own
to get my first ever call-up to Bafana
Bafana in my debut season in the PSL,”
he says. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy to
make it into the final squad. However, I
have drawn many positives and learned a
lot in a short space of time by being part
of a Bafana camp with top PSL players,”
says Cele, who has been impressive
under Steve Komphela since making his
Premiership debut in August after joining
from KZN Second Division side Gamalakhe
United.
“What encourages me the most is
the fact that coach Shakes told all of us
who didn’t make the final squad that
it’s not the end of our international
careers. He said we all did well, but only
23 players could make it to Afcon,” says
Cele, who has become one of Maritzburg
key players.
“What I’m going to do now is double
my efforts and work on my weaknesses,
and hope for another call-up in future,”
Cele says. “I know my time will come.”
The Durban-born midfielder is
expected to play a pivotal role in the
Team of Choice’s midfield when they
resume their Premiership campaign on 10
February against Bidvest Wits.
By Sibusiso Mdlalose
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY SABELO MNGOMA/BACKPAGEPIX2/ FRIKKIE KAPP/BACKPAGEPIX1/SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX2/ SHAUN ROY/GALLO IMAGES1
RIP: Radebe and Henyekane pass on
25
SPOTLIGHT | Limbikani Mzava (Bloemfontein Celtic)
Full name: Limbikani Oscar Mzava
Date of birth: 12/11/1992 in
Blantyre, Malawi
Previous club: Blantyre Tigers,
Escom United FC (both Malawi)
Love life: Girlfriend
Nickname: Pupa
Car: None
ON
THE PITCH
Clinton Larsen is the coach who gave you
OFF
THE PITCH
What is your favourite hang-out place
after the game?
I like staying indoors and chilling with my
friends – I don’t go out a lot. If you were not a footballer, what would
you be?
I think that all depends on God and where
he would’ve liked me to be.
26
FEBRUARY 2015
When I go home I sit down with the players and talk
to them about how they need to work hard.
Which player at Celtic do you hang around
with the most?
Musa Nyatama has everything you need
as a footballer, which includes experience
playing for a big team like Mamelodi
Sundowns. But you would never say he
comes from a big team like that because
he is a down-to-earth guy. He is my best
friend here at Celtic. I went to visit him
back home in Johannesburg and I also
learned a few things from him. KO
By Christopher Maqashu
ONE-TWOS
Nike or Adidas?
Nike
Bonang Matheba or
Minnie Dlamini?
Minnie Dlamini
La Liga or English
Premier League?
English Premier
League
Big Bullets or Silver
Strikers? (Teams
from Malawi)
Silver Strikers
BMW or Mercedes
Benz?
BMW
PICTURE BY GERHARD STEENKAMP/BACKPAGEPIX1
your debut at Bloemfontein Celtic – what
do you make of his return to the club?
It’s good for me because he was the one
who approached me to come to Celtic, so
it feels like I’m starting my career all over
again.
You once trialled in France but weren’t
successful. Tell us more about that ...
I went on trial at Monaco but they said
they needed someone who is tall in that
position – but the training was good
and I gained a lot of experience. After
that I went to Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel,
but I didn’t make it. There were talks
between the Israelis and Celtic but nothing
happened because the transfer window
had closed. Do you still have overseas ambitions?
I’m looking to go back to France because
that is where I think I will be able to
strengthen my game.
Do you still follow the Malawi Premier
Division? I still follow it, but it’s not the same
because when I was there it was more
competitive. The clubs can’t get sponsors
and that makes things very hard for them.
Sometimes when I go home I sit down with
the players and talk to them about how
they need to work hard and maybe also
end up playing here in South Africa.
Which is your favourite stadium, and why?
I enjoy playing at Moses Mabhida because
the surface there is the best, and it doesn’t
matter whether it’s raining or not.
L
MIS
OSS SION
IB
KHAMA BILLIAT FEATURE
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder KHAMA
BILLIAT insists the Brazilians will fight to the
end in their bid to retain the League title.
Tiyani wa ka Mabasa reports.
hen
Mamelodi
Sundowns
became
League
champions
last season,
Khama
Billiat was
watching
from the sidelines as he was on the road
to recovery from a metatarsal fracture.
The Zimbabwean forward suffered the
injury in February and then aggravated it
in April, forcing him to miss the tail-end
of last season. In all, Billiat missed more
than 10 matches in the second half of the
campaign as Sundowns claimed the title.
At one point the Brazilians were 11
points behind Kaizer Chiefs, but they
recovered to win 10 matches in a row,
and with that their first Premiership title
since 2006/07.
This season the situation is following
an eerily similar pattern – Sundowns are
15 points behind League leaders Chiefs
– with a game in hand – but Billiat,
speaking exclusively to KICK OFF, says
“there is no reason to panic”.
The 24-year-old is delighted to be
available to help his team in their quest
to retain the title.
“The injury was hectic, man,” Billiat
says. “At one point I felt that football
was just unfair, you know? I mean, just
when I started enjoying playing again I
got an injury – and I have a bad history
with injuries – but I took it positively
and did what the physios wanted me to.
It actually felt like they were making me
have more pain, but I took it all in and
prayed to God to help me through it.
Now I’m back,” he says.
It was a bittersweet moment watching
Sundowns win the title while he had to
watch from the stands, but Billiat is a
regular again in Pitso Mosimane’s side
and with four goals to his name from
nine starts so far this season, the speedy
midfielder is looking forward to more of
the same in 2015.
W
Top shot – Billiat has
proven over the years that
he has an eye for goal
The general view amongst football
pundits is that any team, let alone
Sundowns, hoping to catch Chiefs face a
‘Mission Impossible’. But Sundowns have
not lost a match since their 3-0 defeat at
home to Orlando Pirates in August last
year. Seven wins and six draws since then
have seen them steadily climb up the
table to joint second place (with Bidvest
Wits) going into the mid-season break.
Billiat is quick to point out that
although Sundowns missed crucial
opportunities to win matches against
lower-table teams, they went into
the break on the back of a 13-match
unbeaten run, standing them in good
stead to mount a serious challenge as the
season heads towards its conclusion.
“Firstly, I hope I stay injury free, and
I really feel we have a chance to catch
Chiefs. We will focus on our game – it
will be tough, just like last season, but
we have a lot of experienced players and
if we focus on the job at hand, we can
achieve our goal. We just have to take
it one game at a time. We can only be
judged at the end of the season and we
are going to fight,” Billiat says.
“We still have a chance, so why
should we back off and stop fighting?
We worked extra hard last season and
eventually succeeded. We are doing the
same this season by working extra hard
and as a team. We are motivating each
other to keep believing that we can do it
again.”
Billiat, who has
combined well
with compatriot
Cuthbert Malajila
– himself pivotal
in Sundowns’
climb up the table
with five goals
and eight assists
so far this season
– believes squad
depth and quality
will prove the
defining factor in
their title chase.
“THE MOST
IMPORTANT
THING FOR ME IS
TO BE A PLAYER
WHO WILL
SCORE GOALS
FOR THE BENEFIT
OF THE TEAM.”
FEBRUARY 2015
29
KHAMA BILLIAT FEATURE
“I always want to play at my best in
every match and I want everyone to
come to the party to help us play the
same way we did last season. I want
to be like Lionel Messi and Cristiano
Ronaldo, who score in every match,” he
says.
“It is no use if I score a goal and we
draw. I want to score goals and make a
difference, but the most important thing
for me is to be a player who will score
goals for the benefit of the team. That
will demand a lot of hard work, but I’m
ready and I feel we are all ready.” KO
Taking on Chiefs – can
Sundowns still catch the
League leaders?
XFull name: Khama Billiat XBorn: 19/8/1990
in Harare, Zimbabwe XOriginal club: Caps
United (Zimbabwe) XSources: Aces Youth
Soccer Academy XPSL debut: Ajax Cape Town 1
Sundowns 1 (20/8/10, as a sub, MTN8 quarter-final) XFull PSL
Debut: Moroka Swallows 2 Ajax 3 (8/9/10) XFirst PSL goal:
Golden Arrows 1 Ajax 1 (22/12/10) XHonours: Full Zimbabwe
international, 2013/14 PSL Champion
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
10/11
Ajax Cape Town
21 (+ 8 subs) 9
11/12
Ajax Cape Town
31 (+1 sub) 12
12/13
Ajax Cape Town
28 (+4 subs) 4
13/14
Mamelodi Sundowns
19 (1 sub)
3
14/15
Mamelodi Sundowns
11 (1 sub)
4
TOTALS
110
32
Correct as at 25/1/15. League and cup matches. Charity games
and friendlies not included.
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KICKOFF: Francesco, in the
event of a transfer, where does
the money go?
FERRERI: For the sake of
clarity I will refer to Club A
(the club to which the player
is contracted) and Club B (the
club to which the player will be
transferred).
One will need to establish the
nature of the transfer:
1) If it is a simple Free Loan
Transfer from one club to
another, there is no fee payable
between the clubs: the player
returns to Club A at the end
of the agreed Loan Period,
with no fee exchanging hands
between the clubs.
2) If it is a Loan Transfer with
an Option to Purchase, then
the transfer fee is payable to
Club A by Club B, provided
Club B exercises the option to
purchase the player. In such an
event, the purchase price has
usually been pre-determined
by the clubs at the time of the
loan.
3) Where the transfer is a
permanent transfer of the
player from Club A to Club
B, then the clubs will agree
a transfer fee that would be
payable by Club B to Club A.
If a player is still under
contract, who gets what of any
transfer fee? Club A, as the selling club, will
receive the transfer fee from
Club B, the purchasing club.
Does the agent get anything? This depends on whether the
agent is acting for the club
or the player. If the agent
has been mandated by Club
A to find another club for a
particular player, the agent
will be entitled to a fee, which
is usually agreed upfront with
Club A prior to the agent undertaking the work and is usually expressed as a percentage
of the Transfer Fee.
Where the agent acts for the
player, the agent is usually not
entitled to a fee and will have
to procure his fee from his
MECHANICS
OF A TRANSFER
Transfer window is oftentimes cloaked in confusion. Who gets how much? Who is entitled
to what? Who decides contractual terms? KICK
OFF speaks to Francesco Ferreri, an attorney
and Director and Owner of On the Ball Sports
Management, to unravel the mystery.
client, the player. This fee is as
a result of the agent negotiating and finalising the player’s
personal terms and conditions
with the new club (Club B).
If a player is out of contract,
what does the new club pay? The new club does not pay
any money as the player is a
free agent. When the agent negotiates a
deal with the new club, how is
it structured? If the player is contracted,
Clubs A and B will negotiate
a transfer fee between
themselves to allow the player
to be transferred between
them. This is referred to as
the club-to-club transfer. Once
the two clubs have reached
consensus and agreed on
the terms and conditions to
transfer the player, the agent
is then in a position (acting
on behalf of the player) to
negotiate the player’s personal
terms and conditions of
employment with the new
club (Club B). This is referred
to as the Player’s Contract of
Employment with the new
club. If the player is a free
agent, there will be no clubto-club transfer, and the agent
can engage and negotiate the
player’s personal terms and
conditions with the new club.
Will there be performance or
number of matches played
clauses at his new club? Yes. Clubs like to build
performance/incentive-based
clauses into their contracts of
employment with players. This
is becoming more prevalent
as the clubs try to formalise
the player’s performance
and then incentivise them
to achieve certain targets, as
this is beneficial to both the
player and the club. This can
also apply when you have an
older player or a player with a
troublesome history. It would
be advantageous to incentivise the contract to ensure the
player is paid more every time
he plays, as opposed to a larger basic salary. The intention
is to eliminate complacency
so that the players know they
have to work hard and keep
doing so in order to improve
their earnings.
How is the value and salary of
a player worked out?
This is based on many
factors. Important considerations will be the player’s
age, experience, position, the
stature of the club and league
in question, the duration of
the contract and the importance of that particular player
to the club. As an agent one
takes all these considerations
into account and after many
years of experience, as with
many other jobs, one gets a
“feel for the deal”. This will
allow the agent to obtain the
credibility in the industry of
knowing and understanding
the market and building up
a reputation as a serious and
reputable representative. KO
By Fabio De Dominicis
PICTURE BY SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX
New Kaizer Chiefs signing David Zulu
gets to grips with his club and Bafana
Bafana teammate Mulomowandau
Mathoho at training
HARD
LESSONS
LEARNED
After an incident-filled
career which almost
saw him lost to football,
LERATO CHABANGU
is back to his best and
key to helping Moroka
Swallows escape their
relegation woes.
BY LOVEMORE MOYO
34
FEBRUARY 2015
KICKOFF: How are you coping with life at
Moroka Swallows?
LERATO CHABANGU: All is good and I have
no complaints. It is all up to me to decide
how I should approach life so I am coping
very well. I actually want to rule my
destiny. I have always started the same way
every year and all I need to do is continue
this way, which is why I always go all-out
in every game I play.
I am sure you have personal standards
with regards to your game …
[Interrupts] I am still in the middle of the
ladder and I need to push even harder. My
target is getting back into Bafana Bafana.
I must take a step up the ladder in every
game I play. I need the marvelous support
I have been getting to continue, but it is all
up to me.
What do you mean ‘it is all up to you’?
I want to be in control of my destiny
through my work on the field; to
basically do all the right things on the
field while trying to patch up where I
have shortcomings, I have to embrace
responsibility and be man enough to do
things that will get me to where I want
to be. My mind is focused on putting
together a success script of my career. I
don’t want to be remembered as a letdown.
It appears to be another season of
struggle for Swallows. I imagine you are
concerned about the team’s form?
To say I am concerned is an
understatement. Swallows are way too big
a club to be fighting relegation, or even
wallowing in the bottom half. This is why
I am always rallying everyone to push
for a positive result. I never want to be a
failure. I want to be a winner every time.
Why are Swallows struggling like this?
It is only the results themselves that are
not forthcoming since the new coach [Fani
Madida] took over. Maybe the players
weren’t understanding the previous coach
which is why we ended up trying too
hard, but it still didn’t work out for us.
The new coach has been changing things
and I am sure we will bounce back.
As players, how do you handle the process
of having the assistant taking over?
It is a big process, but we have to learn
to handle it by adapting right away to
whatever style the new boss brings in,
and taking it one game at a time. The new
coach has his own way of thinking and his
tactical approach has a lot of emphasis on
keeping the ball and playing it wisely. We
are enjoying it and gaining confidence.
It appears you will be faced with the task
of having to rescue the team again ...
Creating and scoring is part of my job,
just like defenders have to stop opponents
from scoring. I don’t believe it is heavy
baggage to have all these expectations of
directing operations in attack. If I have to
create I will do so, even when the person
that I am passing the ball to doesn’t make
the run … I just need to keep on trying
until it works out.
Do you feel you could have been better
off in your career had you been more
responsible and lived a more professional
life off the field? There are plenty of
tales of drunkenness, missing training
and going AWOL …
[Pauses for a while] This life is a journey
and it can never be perfect. Right now I
am happy to be playing and enjoying my
football after being given a chance. All I
can do is try to keep doing right. I have
learnt from my mistakes so I don’t have
to repeat them. I don’t have any regrets
because all those things happened when I
was still young. If I was still as reckless as
I was before then I would be a fool.
What was the biggest mistake you made in
your career?
It has to be my lifestyle in general and not
LERATO CHABANGU FACE TO FACE
“IF I WAS STILL
AS RECKLESS AS I
WAS BEFORE
THEN I WOULD
BE A FOOL.”
DIDYOU
KNOW?
Chabangu scored
eight of Amajita’s
22 goals as they
won the 2004
Cosafa tournament
– including a hattrick against the
Seychelles
FEBRUARY 2015
35
FACE TO FACE LERATO CHABANGU
PICTURES BY DUIF DU TOIT/GALLO IMAGES1/GALLO IMAGES1
knowing how to handle all that money
that was coming in. I strongly advise
players to get somebody who can guide
them on money issues. Stick with the
right people instead of being tempted by
evil people that come coated in sugar.
Was there ever a point when you thought
all was finished in your career?
When I went back to Mamelodi
Sundowns after my short stay at
SuperSport United my knee injury took
way too long to heal. It took me almost
two years to eventually come back, but I
thank God for giving me the strength that
I needed … and then meeting Gordon
Igesund, who found reason to bring
me back when nobody wanted me. The
support from Swallows was incredible – if
it wasn’t for them maybe my career would
have gone down the drain.
You are turning 30 this year. What are
your future plans?
I am still trying to get two or three things
right in my life so that when I retire
I don’t walk around the streets with
nothing and become bitter that football
never did anything for me.
How important is it for a footballer to
have a steady off-the-pitch lifestyle?
You always want the best for your family
and never want your kids to grow up the
36
XFull name: Mpho Lerato Chabangu XBorn:
15/8/85 in Tembisa, Kempton Park XOriginal
clubs: Leicester City, Esselen/Avion FC, Kempton
Park FC (all amateur teams) Sources: SuperSportFeyenoord Youth Academy; University of Pretoria
juniors XProfessional debut: University of Pretoria 5
Avendale Athletico 0 (29/8/04) XFirst goal scored: University
of Pretoria 5 Avendale Athletico 0 (three goals, 29/8/04) XPSL
debut: Jomo Cosmos 1 Mamelodi Sundowns 2 (as a sub,
12/3/05, Absa Cup) XFirst PSL goal: Mamelodi Sundowns 3
Wits 2 (2/5/05) XMoroka Swallows debut: Kaizer Chiefs 1
Moroka Swallows 0 (16/2/11, as a sub) XFull Moroka Swallows debut: SuperSport United 3 Moroka Swallows 0 (5/3/11)
XInternational debut: Seychelles 0 South Africa 3 (26/2/05,
Cosafa Castle Cup) XFirst international goal: Seychelles
0 South Africa 3 (26/2/05, Cosafa Castle Cup) XHonours: 32
Full international caps (2 goals), 14 Under-23 caps (3 goals); 6 Under-20 caps (8 goals); 2004 Cosafa Under-20 Cup winner; 2003/04
Second Division champion; 2005/06, 2006/07 PSL Champion;
2008 Nedbank Cup winner; 2007 SAA Supa 8 Cup winner; 2012
MTN8 winner
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
03/04
University of Pretoria
Div. 2
04/05
University of Pretoria
20
10
Mamelodi Sundowns
7 (+ 2 subs) 4
05/06
Mamelodi Sundowns
14 (+ 6 subs) 3
06/07
Mamelodi Sundowns
41 (+ 4 subs) 10
07/08
Mamelodi Sundowns
44
11
08/09
Mamelodi Sundowns
15 (+ 2 subs) 1
SuperSport United
5 (+ 5 subs) 0
09/10
Mamelodi Sundowns
2 (+ 2 subs) 0
10/11
Moroka Swallows
2 (+ 4 subs) 0
11/12
Moroka Swallows
16 (+ 6 subs) 1
12/13
Moroka Swallows
28 (+ 5 subs) 8
13/14
Moroka Swallows
26 (+ 6 subs) 6
14/15
Moroka Swallows
12 (+ 6 sub) 5
TOTALS
232
59
Correct as at 15/1/15. League and Cup matches only. Preseason
and friendly games not included.
FEBRUARY 2015
way you did. It is vital to know that as
a professional you are being watched by
people wherever you go, so I call upon
my fellow professionals to have steady
partners and to live a disciplined life. If
you are going to bed early and having
your drinks at home it doesn’t mean you
are a loser.
How responsible are you, off the pitch?
I socialise with family, friends and
teammates and though I am still Lerato, I
am trying to be calm now. I am not living
that old wild life I used to. I have way too
many responsibilities now because I have
a child who looks up to me for everything.
I am more responsible with the way I
drink. I know when to stop. I don’t want
to be viewed like some of those guys that
are always drinking in the township. I
know I cannot control the way people talk
whenever they see me, but I am now a
responsible human being.
Do you believe all the money you were
paid at Sundowns messed up your mind?
It was very dangerous because we had
many people just becoming our friends
– some were very bad and some good.
We had fake friends, plenty girls, nice
cars, booze and no time to rest! However,
I don’t think I wasted too much of the
money I got because I managed to invest.
How helpful is it to be at Swallows where
there is less attention and less money
being thrown in your face?
It all goes back to people realising the
effort that you are putting towards wanting
to play good football. You thus create your
own environment and choose how you
want to live. The only difference is that at
Sundowns they had way too many players,
while at Swallows we have fewer players
with everyone standing a fair chance of
playing. You know what responsibility you
have every day and I know how to gauge
my fitness at Swallows – at Sundowns,
because there are many players, you end
up relaxing.
Do you think you still have a future in the
national team?
As long as I am giving my best at Swallows
I know that anything can happen. If I am
called up I will gladly accept. I watch the
Bafana games and believe that I can still
play a role. It is all up to me to keep on
scoring and creating goals here at the club.
Your last game for Bafana was at Chan –
afterwards you reacted angrily to Sports
Minister Fikile Mbalula labelling the team
‘a bunch of loser’. You responded that he
was a ‘bunch of loser’. Did Safa ever do
anything?
Safa asked me to write a letter of apology,
explaining why I said what I said, and
Element of doubt?
Not always clear cut – Fani Madida
still holds reservations about Lerato
Chabangu’s lifestyle choices
DESPITE Lerato Chabangu being a regular under
Fani Madida, there is still some doubt in the
caretaker coach’s mind.
“If you remember the last player that was in the
national team bekungu [it was] Lerato, the time
bekungu Gordon asaziphatha kahle [it was Gordon,
when he was good] … uLerato uyinkinga enkulu nje
i-lifestyle yakhe iyinkinga enkulu [Lerato is a problem
and his life style is also the big problem].
“You’ve seen a lot of players, they go down
like him. One day he will look back and say, ‘Hey, I
should have stopped and say I’m taking the right
path’. You know? Live your life that is healthy, not
a ye-lifestyle yabanya abantu [lifestyle of other
people]. Uphilela abanye abantu [You are living for
other people] instead of ungabe uziphilela wena
[living for yourself].
Another source close to the player says: “He has
obviously been on holiday, so I would imagine he
has been getting up to his old ways – but once
training starts he is always at work. If truth be told,
Lerato always wants to be shown love – the way
Gordon did when he was still at Swallows – and
that way he always delivers.
“Every coach will view Lerato differently because
the reality is that he still drinks and smokes, but
he can deliver on the field for you if you show him
love … he is that kind of player. Plus the slightest
of incidents with him will always be blown into
something huge because of his reputation.”
By Robin-Duke Madlala
my apology was accepted. There are no ill
feelings or grudges attached to it now. No
hard feelings. Everything is fine now and if
I am called up then I will go because I still
love my country. KO
TBWA\HUNT\LASCARIS 042283
Congratulations to Cape Town Roses
Football Club, Western Cape for winning
the 2014 Sasol League Championship.
Now that’s
Sasol. Powering women’s football.
www.sasol.com
38
FEBRUARY 2015
GEOFREY MASSA FACE TO FACE
RIGHT FOOT
Cannon
With one of the most powerful right feet in the country, he’s got a
shot that strikes fear into defenders and goalkeepers alike. University of
Pretoria forward Geofrey Massa talks to Lovemore Moyo.
KICKOFF: Geofrey, how have you found
playing at University of Pretoria since your
return to the PSL at the beginning of last
season?
GEOFREY MASSA: There has been progress,
considering that I didn’t play all the
matches last season. I scored six League
goals then, but I already have seven at the
halfway stage this season. My problem
last season was that I spent a lot of time
fighting injuries. This season I have not
been injured.
Why so many injuries last season?
I suppose it was adjusting to the demands
of the League. It had been a while since I
last played here, and I also didn’t have a
pre-season with the team. When I joined
from Cyprus the League was already
underway, so I played immediately once
my work-permit was issued. The travelling
that I did with the national team also
didn’t help my cause.
You seem to have no problem finding the
back of the net at the moment. I am sure
you have noticed your name amongst the
leading scorers?
I want my name to be at the top of that list
at the end of the season. It feels motivating
to see my name up there; it reminds me
of my time in Egypt and Cyprus. This is
where I want to be, this is the real Massa. I
have scored 33 goals for the national team
in 49 matches and this is what I have to
do at club level too. Sometimes I remain
behind after training to do extra shooting
and finishing, which has helped improve
my game. Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando
Pirates have better players, but the top
scorer only scores 11 or 12 goals. If I score
more than 12 I am sure I will win the Top
Scorer award. My target is actually to get
to 15 goals as early as possible. If I score
15 I doubt there is another player who will
score more.
You pack a powerful shot. Is it natural or
has it come with extra work?
[Laughing] Which one have you seen?
Against Bloemfontein Celtic, AmaZulu
or Free State Stars? I also hit another one
for the national team that tore the net
against Congo. Trust me, it wasn’t even a
fake net! It is all about trying to perfect
this at training. I have been doing this
for the last 12 years and even in Egypt
XFull name: Geofrey Massa XBorn: 19/2/86
in Jinja, Uganda XPrevious clubs: Uganda
Police; El Masry, El Shams (both EGY) XPSL
debut: Jomo Cosmos 3 Moroka Swallows 1
(2/12/07) XFirst PSL goal: Jomo Cosmos 1 Thanda Royal
Zulu 2 (22/12/07) XHonours: Uganda international
Career history:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
07/08
Jomo Cosmos
10 (5 subs)
1
Al Etesalat (EGY)
n/a
08-11
11-13
Yenicami (NCP)
n/a
13/14
Univ Pretoria
21 (+3 sub) 6
14/15
Univ Pretoria
12 (+5 sub) 7
TOTALS
43
14
Preseason and friendly matches not included.
I was always practicing this technique. I
really concentrate when I want to hit the
ball into a certain corner. At times I am
unlucky when I hit the ball against the
wall, but practicing this is my thing. I look
up to Cristiano Ronaldo, though we have
different techniques in that he hits the ball
over the wall while I prefer hitting it to the
side of the wall.
Why do you think PSL strikers struggle to
reach 20 goals?
At AmaTuks we usually defend a lot which
means chances are limited, though this
season we are going forward more often.
I find it strange that Chiefs, with a quality
midfielder like [Reneilwe] Letsholonyane
who I played with at Cosmos, can’t
score more goals when he creates a lot
of chances. At a big club you should be
scoring at least every second match.
Scoring consistently in the PSL seems
difficult …
It is not difficult. The problem with strikers
is that we don’t believe in ourselves.
Players miss way too many chances and I
have to admit that I am also a culprit. It
is wrong to suggest that the goalkeepers
and defenders have become better. I have
scored as many goals as I have missed,
which means I am getting the chances
and all I need to do is believe in myself.
You can go a month without scoring –
these things happen to players like Wayne
Rooney – but you need to be strong. If
FEBRUARY 2015
39
FACE TO FACE GEOFREY MASSA
40
FEBRUARY 2015
Race for the Golden Boot
Free State Stars striker Moeketsi
Sekola in action against SuperSport
United – he scored in this match to
help his team to a 3-2 win
THE League title may be all but a foregone conclusion,
but the race for the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot
award remains wide open.
The season’s midway point pace-setter is Puleng
Tlolane – the Polokwane City striker’s eight goals
currently top the table, and he’s already gone one
better than his seven from last season.
It seems likely that last season’s winner, Bernard
Parker, will at least have his 10 goals bettered this
season, although the magical 20-goal mark still seems
some way off.
Free State Stars’ striker Moeketsi Sekola is another
title contender – he also has eight in the bag so far,
and has also raced past the three that he managed all
in the 2007/08 season ...
The team was really struggling. What also
complicated my situation was that the
club I was coming from [El-Shams] were
asking for almost US$250 000 [R2.9million] to release me, and they were
demanding that Jomo [Sono] pay that
money straight into their bank. Before
Jomo paid I spent about four months
sidelined as they refused to release me. I
was here from August and only started
playing in December, so it was tough.
Even when I started playing it was just
one match before the Christmas break.
Then when I came back in January I was
injured most of the time and only played
seven matches. It was really tough for me
and when the League finished I told Jomo
‘f@#k, I have to go back’. Plus the team
of last season.
Hot on their heels is Geofrey Massa – his seven goals
underpin his bold declaration that he wants to take the
Top Scorer accolade back to his homeland in Uganda.
His AmaTuks teammate Thabo Mnyamane, as
well as Platinum Stars’ Ndumiso Mabena, are in the
hunt with six goals apiece, as is the only ‘Big Three’
representative Lehlohonolo Majoro.
At five goals to date, but never to be ruled out
in this race, is veteran Moroka Swallows striker
Siyabonga Nomvete. Of the list of players with at least
seven goals at the end of last season, only Tendai
Ndoro of Mpumalanga Black Aces has shown interest
again so far with five goals to his name.
had been relegated and I couldn’t play
in the NFD. Jomo said okay and luckily
there was a club willing to pay him the
same money he had paid for me.
How do you feel about Uganda’s failure to
qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations?
It is frustrating, and it is even worse for
me because of all the goals I scored for
The Cranes in qualifiers. We have been
very close several times and we have been
unlucky – like the time when Zambia
needed a 3-0 victory against Bafana
Bafana in 2007 and they got that unlikely
result which knocked us out. In the last
qualifier we needed a draw and we lost.
We have had very good players in this
generation; it will be a great injustice
for them to retire without playing at the
Nations Cup. KO
PICTURES BY SABELO MNGOMA/BACKPAGEPIX2
you are weak and you don’t score for four
matches and they start benching you, you
will go down and never come back.
What is the situation with you regarding
interest from other clubs?
[Laughing] My contract is not a secret
because it will expire in June. Regarding
interest from other clubs, I will rather
not say anything about that for now. I
am enjoying my game at Tuks and I want
the players here to help me finish as the
top scorer. I also want to help the team
finish in the top eight. Football is all about
money and soon I will be 29. If any team
comes with a good offer for me before the
expiry of my contract and the club agrees
to release me then I will have no control
over that.
You are building exciting partnerships with
Thabo Mnyamane and Atusaye Nyondo upfront …
I am a striker who plays for the team. I
learnt this from the great Hossam Hassan
during my time at El-Masry. He taught me
discipline on and off the pitch, showing me
how a professional footballer should live
and told me that as strikers you are like
twins or a family, and you need to stick
together and keep talking. This is what I
have incorporated into my relationship
with other strikers here.
Do you realise how lucky you were to
partner Hassam?
I really do believe I am lucky. He played
until he was over 40, retiring after they
won the 2006 Nations Cup at home. He
is such a great guy and I really thank God
that I played with him.
How did your teammates react to the
departure of Steve Barker?
It was tough. We had just played Moroka
Swallows and won that match 3-2, and
the next day at training he told us that
he was leaving. Everybody was down; we
didn’t enjoy training that day. But it was
his decision and we have to live with it.
He is the one who brought me back to
the country. He will remain close to my
heart because he came to Uganda a couple
of times to watch me. My move to South
Africa was all down to Steve’s persistence
and belief in me.
How different is Sammy Troughton and
what has he brought to the team since he
took over?
Sammy is an experienced coach who is
a bit like Steve in that he understands
players. He keeps us in shape and we are
happy to work with him.
You scored just a single goal during your
last spell in the country with Jomo Cosmos
THE SECOND HALF STARTS NOW!
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1ST QUARTER WINNER
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Bolubedu Stars FC
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2ND QUARTER WINNER
Sony PlayStation 4 console
Motlalepula Maduna
(mO’rain XI) – 835 pts
WEEKLY PRIZES
After each round the manager
whose Fantasy League team scores
the highest number of points wins
a case of ice-cold Castle Lager,
provided they are over 18!
Prize
sponsors
MONTHLY PRIZES
1ST PRIZE
Gobii smartphone +
Skullcandy headphones
August – Forever Fearless
(Precious Nhlapo) – 464 pts
September – Mmabatho Kicks
(Tebogo Jackson) – 208 pts
October – Baams FC
(Nkulumo Mpofu) – 171 pts
November – Wu KillArmy
(Albert Matsebatlela) – 274 pts
December – mO’rain XI
(Motlalepula Maduna) – 540 pts
2ND PRIZE
Sony PlayStation Vita
handheld gaming device
August – Treble Stars
(Thami Sithole) – 463 pts
September – Des builder
(Moagi Ivan) –198 pts
October – Pressure 4sure
(Kailane Letsoba) – 167 pts
November – Fuze Fantasy FC
(Mholi) – 270 pts
December – Fantastic XI FC
(Mamoholi Matlapeng – 533 pts
3RD PRIZE
R500 anytime, any network airtime
August – Kwasa-Kwasa
(Bheki) – 454 pts
September – PSL Classique
(Hendry Mashego) – 191 pts
October – Ndalas Best 11
(Nandipha Kolo) – 166 pts
November – Striking Miners
(Enrico Jacobs) – 265 pts
Mathatho Power Stars
(Oliphant Mathatho) – 265 pts
December – xpressor
(Aaron Khosa) – 531 pts
There have also been four monthly winners
since the season started in August. Every month
represents a new chance for all Fantasy League
managers to win our great prizes!
14/15 BAFANA BAROMETER
UP UNTIL
GAMEWEEK 18
South Africa’s best XI (as at 5/11/14)
GK – Brilliant Khuzwayo
DEF – Tefu Mashamaite
DEF – Tsepo Masilela
DEF – Thulani Hlatshwayo
DEF – Siboniso Gaxa
MID – Mandla Masango
MID – Teko Modise
MID – Reneilwe Letsholonyane
MID – Lerato Chabangu
STR – Moeketsi Sekola
STR – Kermis Erasmus
(73 pts)
(134 pts)
(118 pts)
(113 pts)
(101 pts)
(116 pts)
(115 pts)
(113 pts)
(110 pts)
(139 pts)
(123 pts)
Reserves
GK – Moeneeb Josephs
GK – Ronwen Williams
DEF – Buhle Mkhwanazi
DEF – Mulomowandanu Mathoho
DEF – Ramahlwe Mphahlele
MID – George Lebese
MID – Thuso Phala
MID – Cole Alexander
MID – Oupa Manyisa
STR – Puleng Tlolane
STR – Ndumiso Mabena
STR – Bongani Ndulula
(65 pts)
(61 pts)
(93 pts)
(90 pts)
(88 pts)
(104 pts)
(91 pts)
(90 pts)
(90 pts)
(117 pts)
(104 pts)
(98 pts)
Top foreigners
STR – Geofrey Massa
STR – Cuthbert Malajila
STR – Tendai Ndoro
STR – Kingston Nkhatha
STR – Dove Wome
(130 pts)
(124 pts)
(106 pts)
(92 pts)
(91 pts)
HOW TO PLAY
It’s as simple as going to www.KickOffFantasy.
com, selecting your squad of PSL players
who will earn you points in the real-life Absa
Premiership, and then managing your team on
a weekly basis by choosing your starting XI,
making transfers and selecting your captain.
Not for sale to persons under the age of 18
Bafana Bafana Afcon 2015 squad
PHOTOS BY MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX(1)
Back row (L-R): Sibusiso Vilakazi, Tokelo Rantie, Oupa Manyisa, Thabo Matlaba, Rivaldo Coetzee, Patrick Phungwayo, Themba Zwane, Mandla Masango, Thuso Phala,
Bernard Parker Middle row (L-R): Andile Jali, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Siyabonga Nhlapo, Bongani Ndulula, Jackson Mabokgwane, Brilliant Khuzwayo, Darren Keet, Mulomowandau
Mathoho, Bongani Zungu, Thamsanqa Sangweni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane Front row: (L-R) Kabelo Rangoaga (Fitness trainer), Thabo Senong (Assistant coach), Anele Ngcongca,
Shakes Mashaba (Head coach), Dean Furman, Owen da Gama (Assistant coach), Lucky Shiburi (Goalkeeper coach) (Not in picture: Ayanda Gcaba, who replaces Phungwayo)
Yaya Toure
DIDYOU
KNOW?
Since April 2014,
Manchester City
have not won a
single match when
the talismanic
Yaya Toure has not
played.
YAYA TOURE
STAR
OFAFRICA
For well over a
decade, four-time
African Footballer of
the Year YAYA TOURE
has shone for some of
the world’s greatest
teams. In this exclusive
interview, the Ivory Coast
and Manchester City
midfielder looks back on
his illustrious career.
BY STEPHANE DE SAINT SALVY
KICK OFF: Yaya, during your three seasons
at Barcelona you became one of the best
defensive midfielders in Europe. But
despite that, your club and your coach Pep
Guardiola let you leave for Manchester City
in 2010. Did you feel any bitterness and
sadness at the time?
YAYA TOURE: My years at Barcelona put
me on the global map. After that everyone
knew who I was, and it also highlighted
the role of the modern midfielder – to
be as good in getting the ball back as
going forward, scoring or delivering
assists. This convinced Manchester City
at a time when Barcelona saw things
differently. It is true that my departure
came as a surprise, knowing the role I
was playing within the team, but I left
without any bitterness, and with a feeling
of accomplishment.
Other than your development into the
modern ‘box-to-box’ player, what other
attributes convinced City to sign you?
The club also needed world-class players
who had the culture of victory. The club
had not won silverware for a long time,
but in the first season we won the FA Cup
and finished third in the Premier League.
I was one of the very first world-class
players to put faith in this club and many
more followed. Since I joined we have
managed to scoop five major trophies
and are competing regularly in the Uefa
Champions League.
Amongst other silverware, you won two
Premier League titles with City in 2012
and 2014. What to date is your best
memory at the club?
For me it remains the FA Cup in my first
season. There was huge expectation from
the fans. I was very pleased to give some
happiness to this very warm crowd, and
on top of that I scored the only goal in the
Final against Stoke City. The club had not
won the Cup since 1969. That win remains
a milestone, and the next season we were
crowned Premier League champions.
You made your international debut against
Cameroon in Yaoundé in July 2004. What
memories do you have of your first cap for
Ivory Coast?
It was a great source of pride because
every Ivorian player aspires to represent
the Elephants. I was very happy, especially
since I had
already played
for my country
at youth level, so
it was the next
logical step. I am
very proud each
time I wear this
shirt because
it gives me a
responsibility: to
honour the flag
of my country –
this is priceless.
“I WAS ONE OF
THE VERY FIRST
WORLDCLASS
PLAYERS TO
PUT FAITH IN
THIS CLUB ...
MANY MORE
FOLLOWED.”
FEBRUARY 2015
45
Up there with the finest – Yaya Toure
puts in a tackle on Lionel Messi as
Barcelona and Manchester City clash
in the Uefa Champions League
XFull name: Gnegneri Yaya Toure XBorn:
13/05/1983 in Bouake, Ivory Coast XYouth
Career: ASEC Mimosas XHonours: 88
international caps, 18 goals; Ivory Coast Premier
Division 2001; Greek Super League 2005/06;
Greek Cup 2005/06; La Liga 2008/09, 2009/10; Copa del Rey
2008/09; Uefa Champions League 2008/09; Uefa Super Cup
2009; Fifa Club World Cup 2009; Premier League 2011/12,
2013/14; FA Cup 2010/11; Community Shield 2012; League
Cup 2013/14
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
01-03
Beveren
66
3
03-05
Metalurh Donetsk
33
3
05-06
Olympiacos
26
3
06-07
Monaco
27
5
07-10
Barcelona
118
6
2010 Manchester City
209
61
TOTALS
479
81
Preseason and Friendly matches not included.
46
FEBRUARY 2015
This love for my country comes from my
father, who served in the Ivorian army and
to whom I pay tribute for all his efforts to
teach us the values of respect, patriotism
and hard work.
You have participated in five editions of
the Africa Cup of Nations between 2006
and 2013, but you are yet to have success
in the competition. You must have mixed
feelings about the tournament, some good
and bad moments?
From a positive perspective, it was part
of my objectives to play at the Nations
Cup. And each time I score a goal it is an
additional satisfaction for me. But I have
had disappointment as well. The Final we
lost to Zambia in the 2012 Nations Cup
was devastating. The trophy was within
our reach, but we missed a penalty
during the game and lost the shoot-out
8-7. It was a lot to swallow, especially as
we had enjoyed a very good campaign.
I remember crying on the day; we really
wanted to make our supporters happy. It
was a terrible disappointment.
You also competed at three Fifa World
Cup finals (2006, 2010 and 2014), with
a first round exit on each occasion. You
came close in Brazil in 2014 against
Greece – what do the Elephants need to
make the leap?
We lacked a little bit of luck that often
accompanies the winners because we
were really determined.
Over the course of your long career,
which player has impressed you the
most?
Patrick Vieira, with whom I played
at Manchester City, and the Brazilian
Socrates remain my idols. You will tell
me that we have the same profile, are
similar in size, but these players have
proved that you can be tall, have good
technique and score goals. Otherwise,
I have played with many great players
throughout my career – players like
Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,
Samuel Eto’o, Xavi Hernandez, Andres
Iniesta, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and many
more.
YAYA TOURE EXCLUSIVE
Yaya Toure collects his fourth
consecutive African Footballer of
the Year award
A classic box-to-box midfielder –
Yaya Toure smashes the ball into
the net as Manchester City beat
Southampton 3-0
KICK OFF: You, alongside former Liberia
star George Weah, have given your support
to the fight against Ebola. Could you tell
us more about it?
The Ebola outbreak has been a major
worry since July 2014. I felt it was my
duty to do something and called for action
to fight it. The popularity of football must
help to raise awareness. And as my big
brother George Weah – to whom I pay
tribute for all the things he is doing for
Africa – had already launched an initiative,
I decided to give him my support.
What would you like to say to your fans,
and to all the Africans?
The message I would like to send to
young Africans is that they must turn
their dreams into targets and seize all
the opportunities available to them to be
successful in any area. It is through hard
work that we can reach our objectives.
Let’s take control of our own destiny.
Despite all the difficulties our continent
is still standing and remains dynamic. We
must remain mobilised and united. KO
“MY MESSAGE
TO YOUNG
AFRICANS IS
TO TURN THEIR
DREAMS INTO
TARGETS AND
SEIZE ALL THE
OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO
THEM.”
To make a donation to the Africa United
humanitarian organisation, visit the
website www.weareafricaunited.org
FEBRUARY 2015
47
CAF PREVIEW | 2015
Africa awaits!
South African sides have often seen continental competition as a distraction,
but 2015 could see them pushing for African glory. By Zola Doda.
W
hen Mamelodi
Sundowns and Kaizer
Chiefs kick off their
CAF Champions
League campaigns
in February, there
will be contrasting
expectations from fans.
It is an open secret that for Sundowns
president Patrice Motsepe, the most
prestigious club competition on the
continent has been an obsession since he
took over the club 11 years ago.
Coaches have come and gone, and all
48
FEBRUARY 2015
have committed one sin: failure to deliver
the ‘Holy Grail’ of African football. And
now Motsepe has placed that responsibility
in the hands of a local coach, Pitso
Mosimane.
But for Sundowns’ neighbours Chiefs,
the continental championship has in the
past been nothing but an annoyance the
club can seemingly do without.
This attitude is not unique – since 1993,
there have been many instances of clubs
declining to participate on the continent,
starting with Cape Town Spurs in 1995.
Embarrassingly, in some years South
Africa have had just a single participant on
the continent as cup winners and League
runners-up forfeit the chance to compete.
In 2002 Chiefs qualified for the
CAF Cup Winners’ Cup as defending
champions, but refused to travel to
Madagascar to honour their return fixture
against US Transfoot (despite leading 4-0)
and were disqualified.
Three years later they qualified for the
CAF Champions League after winning
the PSL title, but after being knocked
out before the group stages, Chiefs were
relegated to the less prestigious CAF
In-form Chiefs will
take the Champions
League seriously
Confederation Cup where they once again
refused to travel to honour their fixture,
this time against Al-Ismaily of Egypt. That
resulted in the club being disqualified and
banned for three years from all CAF interclub competitions.
Last year when they were knocked out
of the CAF Champions League by AS Vita
Club and relegated to the Confederation
Cup, there was a sense of déjà vu – instead
of refusing to play the fixture, Chiefs sent
a second-string side and assistant coach
Doctor Khumalo to their away match
against Asec Abidjan, where they were not
unexpectedly knocked out.
This year, however, Amakhosi seem
to be singing a different tune. While
Sundowns kick off their campaign against
St Michel United in the Seychelles on
Valentine’s Day, Chiefs will host Botswana
side Township Rollers on the same
weekend.
Simba Marumo takes
on Al-Ahly during the
CAF Champions League
Hareaipha ‘Simba’ Marumo, who helped
Sundowns to the 2001 Champions League
Final, believes that Amakhosi will let
the country down if they approach the
competition with the same attitude as last
season.
“The impression Kaizer Chiefs gave
was that the Champions League was
not a priority, and if they approach the
competition the same way this year they
won’t do well,” the former striker says.
“They need to prioritise the competition
– as a big club you can do well in your
domestic League, but if you don’t perform
well in continental competition it’s not
good enough.
“We need to take our continental
competitions seriously. Travelling around
Africa and playing is not as easy as playing
in South Africa; it requires players, clubs
and management to make sacrifices. I hope
Kaizer Chiefs recognise that.”
Kaizer Chiefs’ record in Africa
1993 Champions Cup – second round
1997 Champions Cup – did not compete
1998 Cup Winners’ Cup – did not compete
2000 CAF Cup – second round
2001 Cup Winners’ Cup – winners
2001 Super Cup – finalists
2002 Cup Winners’ Cup – disqualified*
2005 Champions League – quarter-finals
2005 Confederation Cup – disqualified**
2014 Champions League – second round
2014 Confederation Cup – third round
* Did not travel to Madagascar, citing security
concerns.
** Did not travel to Egypt to fulfil fixture against
Al-Ismaily
Another former Sundowns player, Zane
Moosa, shares Marumo’s sentiments.
“Orlando Pirates were more determined
FEBRUARY 2015
49
CAF PREVIEW | 2015
Mamelodi Sundowns have
an array of African players
to bring their experience
to continental competition
“When we talk of the
Champions League, we’re
talking about 2014/15
season planning” – Doctor
Khumalo
to go all the way and win the competition
[in 2013] but Kaizer Chiefs didn’t give
their all,” Moosa says. “To them the
competition was more an irritation. They
were not really interested. But with Pirates
things were different and they showed
how it should be done. Hopefully this year
Kaizer Chiefs will change their mindset.”
After Chiefs finished second last
season and qualified for the Champions
League due to CAF increasing the
number of South African sides in the
competition from two to four, there were
rumours that Amakhosi might turn
down the offer. But their participation
was confirmed by club chairman Kaizer
Motaung, who promised that they will go
all out this year.
Sundowns’ record in Africa
1994 Champions Cup – second round
1998 Cup Winners’ Cup – second round
2000 Champions League – group stage
2001 Champions League – runners-up
2007 Champions League – group stage
2009 Confederation Cup – quarter-finals
50
FEBRUARY 2015
Khumalo confident
Chiefs legend and current assistant coach
Doctor Khumalo – who took the reins
in last years’ statutory away match in
Abidjan – explains that Amakhosi have
already put plans in place ahead of the
first match.
“When we talk of the Champions
League we’re talking about 2014/15
season planning, so Rollers were part of
our plans,” Khumalo says. “Looking at
the squad that we have, the programme
and achieving our goals, we have to yield
results because it’s about South African
pride as well as the Kaizer Chiefs brand.
“We have a team, we have players that
will go and participate [in the Champions
League]. We might field 90 percent of
players we use in the PSL when they
come here, but going there we might use
players that are not featured that much in
the League. We have to still deliberate on
it, but we want to give our youngsters an
opportunity as well.”
Despite this seemingly laissez-faire
attitude towards participation in the
Champions League, very few will argue
that on the domestic front Chiefs are the
in-form team. In goals the experienced
Itumeleng Khune is now joined by upand-coming Brilliant Khuzwayo, whose
form saw him awarded a place at the 2015
Africa Cup of Nations.
The defenders are no slouches
either: Siboniso Gaxa, Tsepo Masilela,
Mulomowandau Mathoho and Tefu
Mashamaite, backed by Morgan Gould,
have been rock-solid, conceding a mere
eight goals in 18 League matches.
The midfield attacking trio of George
Maluleka, George Lebese and Mandla
Masango – otherwise known as MA-LEMA – have been in red-hot form and
gives coach Stuart Baxter many options,
while the likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala and
Bernard Parker have recovered from earlyseason injury and will play a prominent
role going forward.
Now it will be a case of taking that
impressive form to Africa. The Achilles
heel though, has always been scoring and
Marumo believes that is the area they need
to sort out.
“Chiefs’ biggest problem is that they
always get narrow wins – 1-0 here, 2-1
there – and in Africa you need to take your
chances and score more,” Marumo says.
“In terms of their overall squad they
have what it takes to go the distance.
Sometimes they will be tested physically
because the pitches in Africa are not
conducive to good football and the
opposition are often very physical. Players
have to show strength and use their bodies
Ramalhwe Mphahlele
will play a crucial role
in Sundowns’ African
campaign
domestic League 12 times and despite
being ‘neighbours’, have never faced a
South African side in CAF competition.
They are no slouches though, and
players such as Mogogi Gabonamong,
Joel Mogorosi, Boitumelo Mafoko and
Moemedi Moatlhaping all cut their teeth
there before moving to the PSL.
But despite the impressive records,
Moosa believes that the real challenge
will begin at the latter stages of the
competition.
“Normally the first match is not really
challenging and both teams should be able
to go through to the next round,” Moosa
argues. “They need to make sure they do
well at home. Pirates showed other clubs
how to play in Africa and even Al-Ahly in
the Final of 2013 were there for the taking,
but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
‘Sundowns better
prepared’
more to regain possession. There are those
challenges.
“There is also an issue with traveling
and accommodation because they might
not be what our players are used to,” he
continues.
“But in terms of their squad they can do
well. They have the likes of ‘Yeye’ [Reneilwe
Letsholonyane] and have to depend on
their skills and avoid going shoulder-toshoulder with African players.
“‘Shabba’ [Tshabalala] needs to use
his speed more. When they play at home
they need to win. You can’t get a draw at
home and hope to do well away. That will
put them in a difficult situation. But given
their domestic form they can pull through
if they can continue what they are doing.
Chiefs’ style is effective in the PSL and if
they can continue and increase the speed
of the ball they will do well.”
Sundowns opponents St Michel have
won their domestic league 12 times in their
short history, having only been formed in
1996. They have also won the Seychelles
FA Cup 10 times, the League Cup five
times and the President’s Cup 10 times.
They have previous experience in Africa
and local fans will remember them from
2004, when they were beaten 8-3 on
aggregate by Orlando Pirates in the second
round of the Champions League.
Chiefs’ opponents have also won their
Despite Patrice Motsepe’s obsession with
conquering Africa, coach Pitso Mosimane
told KICK OFF in his first interview after
joining the Brazilians that his main reason
for signing was the prospect of playing in
Africa.
Unlike Chiefs, Sundowns have never
had qualms about playing in continental
competition and their team is full
of quality players with vast African
experience: goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene
won the 2012 Nations Cup with Zambia,
Nigerian international Ejike Uzoenyi
was the Most Valuable Player at the Chan
competition last year, and Kudakwashi
Mahachi, Hlompho Kekana, Surprise
Moriri, Mame Niang and Co. will give
Mosimane a good selection headache.
“It is a very important competition for
everyone at the club and it’s a campaign
most of us are really looking forward to
– hopefully we will do well,” says rightback Ramahlwe Mphahlele. “We’ve been
travelling to countries like Zambia and
Ghana for friendly tournaments just to get
a taste of what we will be up against. We
are doing everything we can to make sure
we are ready.
“The attitude is not a problem because
we have learned from teams like Pirates
that taking this competition seriously can
get you far. We have a lot of players in our
team who have African experience from
Confed challengers
2013 CAF Champions League finalists Orlando Pirates
and Bidvest Wits will be South Africa’s representatives in
the Confederation Cup. Gavin Hunt’s side take on Royal
Leopards on the weekend of 13-15 February, while the
Buccaneers have received a bye and will kick off their
campaign on the weekend of 13-15 March against either
Uganda Revenue Authority or Madagascar’s ASSM Elgeco
Plus.
Wits have only played in the competition twice before
– in 2004 and 2011 – and they were knocked out in the
first round proper on both occasions. While the team are
relatively unblooded as far as continental competition
is concerned, Moosa believes that Hunt – with vast
experience in Africa from his days at SuperSport United –
will bring determination to the Students.
“Gavin likes challenges and I don’t think he has
received the recognition he deserves in football. He has a
great squad and now they are talking about beefing it up
up-front, and that shows how serious they are,” Moosa
says. “Their defence is strong and they are a team that is
hard to beat. They’ve done consistently well in the last
few seasons and in my opinion they can surprise a lot of
people in Africa.”
In 2008, Platinum Stars, who were new kids on
the block in Africa, shocked many fans when they
defeated Al-Ahly 2-1 in the second round, first leg.
But after losing 2-0 away from home, Dikwena were
knocked out. According to Marumo, Wits is capable
of going further than Dikwena in the Confederations
Cup.
“I don’t regard Wits as a small team. It’s a very, very
solid team and they have a great quality. They will be
be a mystery because clubs will be asking, ‘Who is this
Wits?’. Clubs won’t know who Wits are and that will
give Gavin an upper hand. They need to win the first
match and then build the momentum. Success breeds
success.”
*Orlando Pirates’ first match is on the second
weekend of March. Look out for a full Pirates
preview in the next edition.
Wits’ record in Africa
2004 Confederation Cup – first round proper
2011 Confederation Cup – first round proper
FEBRUARY 2015
51
CAF PREVIEW | 2015
their previous clubs. We are not lacking
in that department – we know we will be
going through hardships that come with
playing in this competition. But I can tell
Pirates’ record in Africa
1995 Champions Cup – winners
1995 Super Cup – winners
1996 Champions Cup – quarter-finals
1997 Cup Winners’ Cup – qualified but took the place
of Chiefs in Champions Cup
1997 Champions Cup – quarter-finals
1999 Cup Winners’ Cup – semi-finals
2004 Confederation Cup – disqualified*
2006 Champions League – semi-finals
2007 Champions League – did not enter
2010 Champions League – preliminary round
2012 Champions League – runners-up
* Second leg against Sable de Batie in Douala
abandoned at 0-0 on July 25 after 50 minutes due
to rain; replays washed out on July 27 and 28 and
rescheduled for August 15 in Douala; Pirates did not
show up for the rescheduled tie and were disqualified.
you now we will be more than ready.”
With their participation comes
the responsibility of juggling three
competitions at once – the Champions
League comes at a time when Sundowns
and Chiefs are going neck-and-neck in
the race for the PSL title. At one stage
last season Chiefs were leading Sundowns
by 11 points, but after their Champions
League campaign kicked off they stumbled
in the title race and Sundowns were
crowned champions.
Then there is also the matter of the
lucrative Nedbank Cup. Mphahlele though,
is adamant that Sundowns will not lose
focus.
“We want to do well in all competitions.
A team like Sundowns cannot afford to
choose what competition they want to win.
We have to go all out on all fronts. We need
to approach every match as it comes and
not think too far ahead,” Rama says.
Sundowns’ bloated squad has been
both a gift and a curse for the coaches.
While it provides the coach with options
in cases of injuries and suspensions, it
has also been a disadvantage in terms
of consistency. This season Mosimane
has been tinkering with his line-up and
trying to keep everyone in the team
happy, but this has had a negative
impact as he has yet to settle on his
preferred starting XI.
“Sundowns is better prepared than
Kaizer Chiefs,” Marumo adds. “But
they seem to be struggling with their
combinations; a player will make one
mistake and then be out of the team. In
terms of their combination they haven’t
found their rhythm and that might count
against them. But I still think they can go
far because they have quality.
“But neither team should get ahead of
themselves and start thinking about the
Final. There is no science – when I was at
Sundowns we played Al-Ahly in the Final
and lost, and if we had met them in the
early stages of the competition we might
have been knocked out early. When I was
at Platinum Stars we met Al-Ahly early,
we beat them at home and lost away. So
playing a cup competition is also about
who you meet and whether you are on
form that day.” KO
Chip
OFF THE
old bloc
n many cases, football sons
have lived in the shadows of
their famous fathers. But in the
case of South African Under-17
striker Khanyisa Mayo, the
son might surpass his father’s
achievements.
Khanyisa (inset), the son of
former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana
Bafana striker Patrick Mayo,
has just signed for SuperSport United’s
development side and if word on the street
I
54
FEBRUARY 2015
is anything to go by, the young talent is
well on his way to success.
Patrick started his football career in
Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, before joining
then newly-formed Michau Warriors
as a defender ahead of the inaugural
PSL season in 1996. Just a season later,
Warriors suffered the misfortune of
relegation, but it turned out to be a blessing
in disguise for Mayo, who joined Bush
Bucks as a striker and went on to score 40
goals in 103 matches over four seasons.
From Umtata, the next destination was
Pretoria, where he joined SuperSport. But
a fallout with coach Pitso Mosimane took
the striker to Kaizer Chiefs, where he won
back-to-back League titles.
“When I look back, I can say that I have
achieved all the things I planned to achieve
in my career,” Patrick says. “It’s every
player’s dream to win the League and I
was fortunate to win it twice. Other players
retire without winning the League and if
you don’t win the League in your career,
FATHERS AND SONS FEATURE
DIDYOU
KNOW?
Patrick Mayo played
as both a striker
and a defender as
he helped Kaizer
Chiefs win back-toback League titles
k
it’s like you didn’t achieve anything.
“My other dreams were to play for
Kaizer Chiefs and the national team and I
achieved that too. I left my legacy at Chiefs
because I won trophies and I played both
as a defender and a striker, and that is
rare. But looking at my sons [Khanyisele
and Khanyisa], I think they have all the
attributes to become better players than I
was if they stay humble.”
Mayo senior regards the time he spent
at Bush Bucks and Chiefs as the best of his
Khanyisa and brother Khanyisele want to
emulate and possibly better the achievements
of their father, former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer
Chiefs forward Patrick Mayo.
BY ZOLA DODA.
career. “Michau Warriors was a good start
for me because we were not playing for
money. We would just play for fun and to
be televised. But I played my best football
at Bucks because there I was not restricted.
I could play wing, defence and as a striker,
and I was enjoying my football. When I
joined Chiefs I had just recovered from
injury and regaining my old fitness. Ted
[Dumitru] played me as a main striker
ahead of Shoes Moshoeu. We had a good
understanding. He made my job easy and
I knew that when I took out two defenders,
Shoes would be free. Jabu [Mahlangu],
Thabo [Mooki] and Arthur [Zwane] were
also there putting in passes and crosses.”
Despite his prowess for Chiefs, Mayo
only won 18 caps for Bafana.
He recently held a coaching position at
Chippa United where he was responsible
for the Diski Challenge team, which
included son
Khanyisa. But
after taking
Khanyisa to
SuperSport,
he was sacked
by Chippa for
being “disloyal”.
The 41-year-old
maintains the
transfer was in
the best interest
of his son.
“I’m happy
that both my
sons are at
SuperSport
United because it’s a good environment
for them,” Mayo says. “If I hadn’t taken
them to SuperSport I would have taken
them to Ajax Cape Town, but not to any
of the ‘big three’. In my opinion, Ajax and
SuperSport have good youth structures
and they promote development. Youngsters
are well looked after at those clubs and
they also get a chance to play without
pressure.”
Khanyisa has already won the hearts
of many South African football fans.
The left-footed striker scored two
“LOOKING AT
MY SONS,
I THINK THEY
HAVE ALL THE
ATTRIBUTES TO
BECOME BETTER
PLAYERS THAN
I WAS”
superb goals against Egypt that took the
national Under-17 team to the CAF Youth
Championship finals. At a time when
South African football is short of quality
strikers, Khanyisa is already said to be the
next big thing.
“He is very good as a striker,” Mayo
senior says. “At his former club Crystal
Palace in Motherwell, he was not effective
because he played as a left winger. But
after he moved to Chippa United he played
as a striker and showed great potential. He
enjoyed a great combination with William
Thwala in the Diski Challenge. With the
national team, the coach [Melefe Ntseki]
understands Khanyisa very well and
knows what is the best position for him.
Khanyisa is the type of striker who likes to
go out wide and has a great technique.”
Ntseki agrees with Mayo, and foresees a
bright future for the icon’s son. “Khanyisa has a potential to be one of
the best strikers of his generation,” Ntseki
explains. “His pace and ability to shoot
with both feet are his main strengths.
He has good ball control, can take on
defenders and can shoot with both his left
and right foot. At this stage in his career
he has a long way to go because he is still
young. But fortunately he is a coachable
boy and listens a lot.” When Khanyisa returned from Egypt
after the CAF Under-17 Youth qualifiers, he
received a hero’s welcome from both fans
and the media. But Ntseki warns that the
player will need to be protected in order to
stay on the right path.
“After we came back from Egypt I saw
Khanyisa doing TV interviews and radio
interviews with his father Patrick. This
is something we need to guard against
because we need to protect this boy. He
has already received huge media exposure
and when he goes through difficulties
people are going to start asking questions
and that is not fair. We really need to
protect him against massive media
exposure.”
Khanyisa has already shown his
ability and potential to achieve greater
things than his father, who never played
FEBRUARY 2015
55
junior international football. But what
happens between the CAF Under-17 Youth
Championships in February and the end of
the player’s career still remains a mystery.
Mayo senior assures that he will do what
it takes to make sure that his son remains
on the right path. “I tell him every day, just
because you are playing for the national
team doesn’t mean you must not be
humble. You must respect other people, not
just me as your father.
“There is a lot of money in football,
but I always stress to both my sons that
education is the most important thing,”
Mayo continues. “I need to prepare their
future. There is also a matter of going
overseas because like any other player, my
sons want to play overseas one day. When I
took them to SuperSport, I added a clause
in their contracts that next season they
have to go overseas for trials.
“We also talk about bad influences off
the field because they will have to face
these things. We talk to them about friends
and girls. When Khanyisa scored two goals
in Egypt he had many people trying to be
his friends, and I also had agents calling
me. These are things that he needs to be
able to deal with.” KO
Young Jordan on the brink
Bidvest Wits’ Liam Jordan, son of
the late Keryn Jordan, will be a key
player for Amajimbos as they look
to conquer Africa
International father
and son duos
Teddy (Manchester United, Tottenham
Hotspur, England) and Charlie Sheringham
(Dartford, non-league)
Johan (Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, LA Aztecs,
Washington Diplomats, Levante, Feyenoord,
Netherlands) and Jordi Cruyff (Barcelona,
Manchester United, Alaves, Espanyol,
Metalurh Donetsk, Valletta, Netherlands)
Steve (Manchester United, Norwich City,
Birmingham City, Sheffield United) and Alex
Bruce (Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City,
Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Hull City, Republic
of Ireland, Northern Ireland)
Cesare (Triestina, AC Milan, Torino, Italy) and
Paolo Maldini (AC Milan, Italy)
Paul (West Ham United, Manchester United,
Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesborough,
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town,
Macclesfield Town, England) and Tom Ince
(Liverpool, Blackpool, Hull City)
Harry (West Ham United, Bournemouth,
Brentford, Seattle Sounders) and Jamie
Redknapp (Bournemouth, Liverpool,
Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, England)
Frank Sr (West Ham United, Southend United,
England) and Frank Lampard Jr (West Ham
United, Chelsea, Manchester City, England)
56
FEBRUARY 2015
BIDVEST Wits youngster Liam Jordan is another talented
footballer looking to emulate his father’s achievements
in the beautiful game. The 16-year-old midfielder is
the son of the late Keryn Jordan, a prolific striker who
succumbed to cancer in October 2013, aged just 37.
Jordan senior earned just one cap for Bafana Bafana,
in a 2-1 win over Botswana in 1999, yet held an
impressive club record, scoring 52 goals in 94 starts for
Manning Rangers as he helped them win the inaugural
Premier Soccer League title in 1996/97.
After turning out for Pretoria City (now SuperSport
United) and Moroka Swallows, Jordan then moved to
New Zealand in 2004, scoring 76 goals in 100 games
in the colours of Auckland City and Waitakere United.
He was named Auckland City’s Player of the Season in
2005/06 and 2007/08, and was last year named as New
Zealand’s ASB Premiership Player of the Decade.
Keryn’s son Liam has been registered with Wits’
senior side over the January transfer window and is
looking impress coach Gavin Hunt, having enjoyed
training stints with Manchester United and Sunderland
last year. The skillful midfielder has been billed as a
key player for South Africa after being named in the
Amajimbos side who are finalising their preparations
for the CAF U17 Youth Championships, to be staged in
Niger in February.
By Fabio De Dominicis
Read more about Liam Jordan on page 20
FATHERS AND SONS FEATURE
More
DENNIS &
MIKE LOTA
FAMILY
Connections
Whether he was playing for
his country Zambia or at club
level with Orlando Pirates
or Moroka Swallows, Dennis
Lota gave defenders sleepless
nights. The late striker joined
Pirates in 1998 and was part of
the team that won the League
under Gordon Igesund. In
three seasons in the maroon
and white colours of Swallows,
Lota won the 2004 Absa Cup
before eventually working as
assistant coach with the club
after he retired from playing.
Just a few months after his
death, son Mike is working his
way up the Swallows ranks.
Lota junior made his Diski
Challenge debut when he came
on as a substitute for Sphesihle
Nxumalo against AmaTuks in
October 2014.
ERNEST &
PATRICK MTAWALI
Mention the name Ernest
Mtawali to any Mamelodi
Sundowns or Bloemfontein
Celtic fan, and the likely
answer you will get is that
he is one of the greatest
players to ever play in
South Africa.
The former Malawian
international arrived in
South Africa in 1983 when
he joined Welkom Real
Hearts before moving
to Celtic after just seven
matches. After helping them
win the 1985 Mainstay
Cup, Mtawali – then known
as Chirwali – was voted the
Player of the Year.
The midfielder later
joined Sundowns and was
the driving force in the
team that won the 1993
League title.
After a long and
illustrious career which
took him to Argentina
with Newell’s Old Boys
and Talleres, Toulouse in
France, Al Wehda in Saudi
Arabia, Orlando Pirates
and Ajax Cape Town,
Mtawali joined Wits, where
he teamed up with his son
Patrick.
While Mtawali senior
holds legendary status,
his son Patrick’s career
never really took off. After
a spell with Wits, Patrick
moved to Black Leopards
where he was part of the
team that missed out on
promotion to the PSL
during the 2010/11 season.
He also spent some time
in hospital after falling ill.
He has not yet recovered
and is currently back home
in Malawi, where he is not
playing.
Former Mamelodi Sundowns
midfielder Isaac Shai joined
the club in 1990 before
making his professional debut
three years later in a 2-1 loss
against Bloemfontein Celtic.
The left-footed schemer was in
the Sundowns team that won
three League titles between
1998 and 2000, and remained
at the club until 2004, where
he now works as a youth
development coach. Shai
was unable to show his true
potential at international level,
however, winning just seven
caps for Bafana Bafana. Isaac’s
son Siyabulela is a midfielder
who plays for Chippa United,
on loan from Sundowns. The
21-year-old spent the last three
seasons on loan, first with First
Division side United FC, before
linking up with the Chilli Boys,
where he has been for the last
two seasons.
MANNY FERIA &
LORENZO AND ANTHONY
GORDINHO
They may not share a surname,
but Manny Feria – who played
for Orlando Pirates and Benoni
United in the 1980s – has two
sons plying their trade in the
country. Nineteen-year-old
Anthony plays for Ajax Cape
Town reserves and has seen
action in the Multichoice Diski
Challenge. Lorenzo, one year
older than his brother, was
snapped up by Kaizer Chiefs
in 2013, and has since played
for the Diski team and put in
two performances for the first
team – one off the bench – in
the 2013/14 season. KO
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY LEFTY SHIVAMBU / GALLO IMAGES1/SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/BACKPAGEPIX1/CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX1/DUIF DU TOIT\GALLO IMAGES1/RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX1/
DUIF DU TOIT/GALLO IMAGES1/MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX1/RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX1/RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX1
ISAAC &
SIYABULELA SHAI
57
SA’S
JOSE?
58
FEBRUARY 2015
Being a coach can be a thankless task, and one that takes
real passion. KICK OFF chats
to up-and-coming Mamelodi
Sundowns’ assistant coach
RHULANI MOKOENA.
BY TIYANI WA KA MABASA
RHULANI MOKOENA
Nicknamed ‘Mourinho’ for his coaching ability,
Mamelodi Sundowns’ new assistant Rhulani
Mokoena is showing a lot of promise.
KICK OFF: You are currently Pitso
Mosimane’s assistant. What’s your plan
for the next few years?
RHULANI MOKOENA: A part of my plan
is to still serve Sundowns for the next
three or four years as an assistant, but in
that time serve my apprentice and still
gather more knowledge, particularly do
my Uefa coaching badges. I would really
like to end up coaching in Europe. I
have been to Italy for their FA coaching
course and I have built strong relations
with coaches
at Everton’s
academy.
It is just
something
– you go on
and build
a strong
network and
hopefully you are able to support that
with a lot of hard work.
A lot of people will tell you this is a
thankless job. What attracted you to
coaching?
I always say football is the most
important thing of the least important
things in life. When players you coached
go through an evolution and change
from good players, through the work you
put in, to become great players – like
Percy Tau, who I coached at Sundowns’
youth team and Mzikayise Mashaba,
who was in my Under-19 team at
Platinum Stars – that for me is a great
sense of fulfilment. I was part of their
journey and as our president will say, I
made ‘a small but humble contribution’
towards their success. That is what keeps
me going.
What is it like following in the footsteps
of Mosimane, who started coaching at
grassroots level in Soweto? Are you
benefitting a lot from him?
It is not by chance that Pitso is the first
black South African coach to win the
Absa Premiership title, and success
works on a queuing system. You must
be able stay in a queue patiently – the
game is not stupid, because it always
rewards those who are dedicated, those
who work hard, and those who can
wait patiently for their chance. Coach
Pitso is a perfectionist. He is a coach
who has gone through hardships and he
will be the first to tell you about them.
That can only empower you. He was
Bafana Bafana coach, yet he was able to
serve other coaches and educate them
in his spare time. If you look at Louis
van Gaal, for example, he had Ronald
Koeman under his wing and Koeman is
now the head coach at Southampton. He
had Jose Mourinho, who is now one of
the best coaches in the world, and so on.
Coach Pitso is similar in a sense that he’s
able to identify potential and help them
to become even greater leaders. Part
of your success needs to be shared by
helping others.
Will we see more local coaches being
Mosimane on Mokoena
“Rulani is something to watch ... watch this
space, he is the future. He is a good coach
and he knows his stuff. He is young and a
little bit raw, but he is quality. We need to
promote from the youth. We need to show
and encourage coaches in youth programmes
to say that the future is bright. We promoted
Rhulani because he deserves it ... he must
earn it. I was given a chance as a coach
around the age of 33. I need to give other
guys a dream and a vision so that they can
also taste it.”
XFull name: Rhulani Mlungisi Mokoena
XBorn: 9 January 1985 in Orlando West, Soweto
XPlaying career: “I played only until I was
19, including for Jomo Cosmos juniors. I stopped
because I had ligament problems.” XCurrent position: Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach XPrevious clubs coached:
Platinum Stars development team XQualifications: Safa
Level III Professional Coaching Licence, CAF ‘A’ Licence
given a chance in the future?
We must look at how best we equip
ourselves to take on the responsibility
and part of the answer is to have a lot
more understanding of the modern
game, the training principles that are
applicable in the local game, etc. You
can’t demand more from your players
when you are shallow!
What’s your approach to coaching?
Part of our job is to make sure that
players are able to think. Players must
have a variety of solutions for different
problems and this allows them to
become better players. KO
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY SYDNEY MAHLANGU/ BACKPAGEPIX1/LEFTY SHIVAMBU/GALLO IMAGES1
“FOOTBALL IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT
THING OF THE
LEAST IMPORTANT
THINGS IN LIFE.”
RISING COACHES
59
A ball for all
KICK OFF editor Richard Maguire visits
a development project, and discovers
a ball like no other …
A schoolkid gets to grips with the One
World Futbol (top); Dreamfields insist
that girls also get the opportunity to
participate (middle); Chevrolet brand
manager Tim Hendon with some of his
Ute Force team (bottom).
hile every kid
would love to
play with an
Adidas World
Cup ball, or a
similar high-end football, the
reality is very few have that
chance.
Worldwide, millions of kids
still kick around a tin can or a
home-made ball. Often those
lucky enough to have a proper
football soon discover that
their ball becomes scuffed on
rough surfaces and wears out
pretty quickly.
PICTURES BY EUNICE DRIVER
W
60
FEBRUARY 2015
There is a solution, however
– the One World Futbol. This is
the ball that does not die!
The One World Futbol is
made of the same type of
durable material as Crocs,
those shoes written off by most
as a fashion disaster.
Kick this ball into a barbed
wire fence and you will hardly
notice a scratch and it doesn’t
puncture. Drive a car over it
and marvel at how it bounces
back into shape in seconds.
It also does not take on
water like most balls, and
it does not scuff on rough
surfaces.
The manufacture of the
ball was funded by 80s pop
superstar Sting, and over a
million One World Futbols have
been distributed worldwide
with the help of Chevrolet, the
motor manufacturing giants
who sponsor Manchester
United. The balls have made
their way to South Africa too,
including 55 000 donated by
Chevrolet to Safa.
“The ball is fantastic!” Safa’s
Robin Petersen enthuses.
“We’ve donated 18 000 to
various NGOs and the rest
have gone to the Safa regions.
Hopefully we’ll receive more in
future.”
KICK OFF watched the One
World Futbol in action near
Jozini in far northern KZN as
eager young schoolkids played
on a hard, dusty pitch.
The occasion was the finals
of a Dreamfields Project
tournament held in partnership
with Chevrolet Ute Force,
which brought together
18 primary schools in the
Watch the One World
Futbol in action
Umkhanyakude District. This
was the culmination of a week
of activity which included
Dreamfields personnel training
school teachers to coach
soccer. So far Dreamfields and
Ute Force have benefitted 76
schools countrywide.
While the One World Futbol
– a regular size 5 – does not
have quite the same bounce as
a regular ball, its movement
and flight is pretty close to the
real thing. For most of the kids
participating, this was the best
ball they had ever kicked.
KICK OFF also tested the
ball on some top-class youth
players, members of the Ajax
Cape Town Youth Academy,
and even these more privileged
young players gave the ball a
thumbs up.
“The ball is quite hard, but
when you kick it, it ‘goes in’ as
you make contact, then regains
its shape, so it moves just like
any other ball. I think it’s
great,” says one of the young
Ajax players, Jack Welch.
For more on Dreamfields:
www.dreamfieldsproject.org. KO
FEBRUARY 2015
61
KING HENRY
62
FEBRUARY 2015
122
Scored on average every
122 minutes of Premier
League football, the best
ever scoring ratio of any
player to have scored
more than 100 Premier
League goals
It is easy to say too much about
THIERRY HENRY, so here we have
let the numbers do the talking for
one of the greatest strikers ever
to have played the game.
20+ 30+
228 5th
Arsenal’s
all-time leading
goalscorer
goals for 7 consecutive
seasons at Arsenal
goals for 5 consecutive
seasons at Arsenal
highest all-time
Champions League
goalscorer (50)
Only player to win the
Premier League Golden Boot
4 times (2001/02, 2003/04,
visit2004/05
www.kickoff.com
and 2005/06)
4
TEAM
HONOURS
MONACO –
1x Ligue 1 title
(1996/97), 1x
French Champions’Trophy
(1997)
NEW YORK RED
BULLS – 1x MLS
Supporters’ Shield
(2013), 2x Eastern
Conference (2010,
2013)
FRANCE – 1x
World Cup (1998),
1x European Championship (2000), 1x
Confederations Cup
(2003)
BARCELONA – 2x La Liga titles (2008/09, 2009/10), 1x Copa del
Rey (2008/09), 1x Champions League (2008/09), 1x Club World Cup
(2009), 1x UEFA Super Cup (2009), 1x Spanish Super Cup (2009)
ARSENAL
– 2x Premier
League
titles (2001/02,
2003/04), 3x
FA Cups (2002,
2003, 2005),
2x Community
Shields (2002,
2004)
CREATIVE INFLUENCE
MAJOR
PERSONAL
HONOURS
Holds the record for the mos EPL
20
assists in a single season (20 in
2002/03) and set up 93 goals overall.
GREAT
PLAYER
GREAT
TEAMS
2x PFA Players’ Player of the Year
(2002/03, 2003/04)
3x Football Writers’
Association Footballer of the Year
(2002/03, 2003/04, 2005/06)
5x UEFA Team of the Year
(2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
4x Premier League Golden Boot
(2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05,
2005/06)
2x European Golden Boot
(2003/04, 2004/05)
2x FIFA World Player
of the Year runner-up
(2003, 2004)
DURING the record Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ run
of 49 games without defeat, Henry played
the most minutes (4 312), scored the most
goals (39) and made the most assists (19).
DURING the 2009 calender year, Henry
proved key as Barcelona completed an
unprecedented sextuple as the triumvirate
of Henry (26), Lionel Messi (38) and Samuel
Eto’o (36) scored 100 goals in all competitions, forming arguably the finest ever
attack in the history of club football.
All-time most assists for New York Red Bulls
(42) and also their all-time leader in game-winning goals (14) and game-winning assists (11).
MONACO
25 - Assists
160 - Appearances
2.47 - Scoring Ratio
31 - Goals
NEW YORK
RED BULLS
ARSENAL
132 - Games
377 - Appearances
51 - Goals
228 - Goals
42 - Assists
93 - Assists
FRANCE
BARCELONA
123 - Caps
121 - Appearances
51 - Goals
49 - Goals
ARSENAL GOALS
4th
highest all-time Premier
League goalscorer (175)
3
Henry, Alan Shearer and
Jimmy Greaves – the only
3 players to be League
top-scorer 3 seasons in a row
CONSISTENT
PERFORMER
ONLY player to score 15+ EPL
goals in 7 successive seasons
ONLY player to score 20+ EPL
goals in 5 successive seasons
Scored against 34 of the
35 teams faced in EPL
Most goals at a
single EPL stadium
(114 at Highbury)
39 33
32 32 30 30
26 24 24 25 27
22
12
17 17
10
TOTAL
LEAGUE
1999/00
2000/01
2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
JHB 48226/OJ
WATCH OVER 150 PSL GAMES LIVE IN HD, WITH THE BEST PRESENT
ERS,
ANALYSTS AND COMMENTATORS. CATCH ALL THE ACTION IN A
CHOICE OF 3 LANGUAGES. DON’T JUST EXIST, LIVE IT LOUD!
STEVEN GERRARD AROUND THE WORLD
A LEGEND
CALLS
TIME
Few players compare to
iconic Liverpool skipper
Steven Gerrard. But after
26 years at Anfield, the
midfielder has finally
called time on his
Premier League career.
BY FABIO DE DOMINICIS
FEBRUARY 2015
65
s he the best in the world? He
might not get the attention of
Messi and Ronaldo but yes, I think
he just might be.”
Big words spoken by none other
than Zinedine Zidane, himself
one of the greatest players of
the beautiful game; words that
describe Liverpool captain, inspirational
leader and midfield stalwart Steven
Gerrard.
A true one-club man, Gerrard has been
the essence of Liverpool and idolised by
the Kop faithful for the past decade-and-ahalf. Born on Merseyside, he was spotted
while playing for his hometown team
Whiston Juniors and joined the Liverpool
Academy as a nine-year-old, rising
through the junior ranks before making
his first-team debut in 1998, aged 18.
An intelligent strategist, strong tackler
and pin-point passer with a ferocious right
boot, the versatile midfielder has been the
heartbeat of the Reds’ midfield for the past
17 years.
Apart from his obvious footballing
talent, Gerrard’s superb leadership
qualities were soon recognised as then
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier – who
had given the youngster his debut five
years earlier – rewarded the midfielder’s
commitment both on and off the field by
handing him the captain’s armband in
2003.
“He devoted his time and energy for
the job and that’s why he was successful,”
Houllier recalls. “He became world-class
because of the sacrifices he made ... he
worked very hard to be successful. His
character stood out very quickly; that’s
why I made him captain at 23.”
Gerrard has epitomised big-match
temperament – oftentimes his last-minute
goals have produced an unlikely win or
kept the Reds in the hunt – and his resolve
and determination have made him a true
leader.
His never-say-die attitude was never
more evident than during Liverpool’s
famous 2005 Uefa Champions League
triumph where, from 3-0 down at halftime, Gerrard led his charges to one of the
greatest comebacks of all time.
“I slept with the Cup in my hotel room,”
Gerrard said of what winning Europe’s
elite club competition meant to him. “I did
not want it out of my sight. When I woke
up and someone took it away, I felt I had
lost a part of me.
“Lifting the Champions League trophy
above my head as the captain of my team,
it’s something that lives with you forever.”
I
66
FEBRUARY 2015
England’s best hop across the pond
A formidable pairing –
Gerrard and Lampard
formed the spine of
England’s midfield for
many years
THROUGHOUT their careers, Steven Gerrard and Frank
Lampard have been compared with each other, with
debates over who is the better player and whether they
were an effective combination in the England midfield.
And now, as they both begin the final steps in their
lengthy careers, both are set to ply their trade in America
next season.
However, Lampard’s debut in the MLS has been delayed,
leaving many an American fan disgruntled. The Chelsea
legend signed with New York City FC in July last year, but
was loaned to parent club Manchester City to ensure gametime before the start of the new MLS season.
An impressive run of form has now resulted in an
extension to his City contract until the end of the current
season, meaning he will miss the first three months of
action for his MLS side – despite his official unveiling in New
York, with fans expecting his arrival in March and having
already purchased match tickets and club merchandise with
the English midfielder’s name imprinted on it.
With both Lampard and Gerrard ending long associations
with their Premier League clubs and both set to continue
their football careers in America, will Stevie G’s route to
the ‘Land of Plenty’ follow a similar route to his English
compatriot?
Described by many as the greatest
Premier League player never to win the
Premier League title, Gerrard’s loyalty to
his childhood club is what has etched his
name alongside the many greats, despite
his club’s lack of major silverware in
recent years.
And the midfielder says it was never the
money that kept him at Anfield.
“I know it sounds hollow talking about
dreams and prizes when footballers
earn all the money we do, but the
things I’ve got at home, the medals and
memorabilia, they mean more to me
than extra noughts in my bank account,”
the 34-year-old says.
Gerrard took his impressive club form
onto the international stage as well,
making his England bow just 18 months
after his Liverpool debut. Captaining the
Three Lions on numerous occasions,
Gerrard contributed 21 goals and 22
assists in his 114 matches for England
before calling time on his international
career after the 2014 World Cup.
And now the two-time England Player
of the Year has decided to draw the curtain
on his Premier League career as well.
Words from the game’s biggest names
“He has become the most influential player
in England, bar none. Not that Patrick Vieira
lacks anything, but Steven Gerrard does
more.”
– Sir Alex Ferguson
“I can’t think of a striker in the world who
has scored so many important goals, never
mind a midfielder.”
– Thierry Henry
“Steven Gerrard is the best player I’ve ever
played with.”
– Luis Suarez
“Steven Gerrard would be the captain of my
World XI dream team.”
– Francesco Totti
“I heard what Alex Ferguson said about him
being better than me. He’s probably right.”
– Patrick Vieira
A young Steven
Gerrard (back right)
with other Liverpool
academy graduates
including Steve
McManaman, Jamie
Carragher, Dominic
Matteo, Michael
Owen, David
Thompson and
Robbie Fowler
Describing it as “one of the toughest
decisions of my career”, Gerrard knew
that after chatting with manager Brendan
Rodgers earlier in the season, his time at
Liverpool was coming to an end.
“There was more than one moment that
has made me come to this decision, but
I think the key conversation or moment
was with the manager when he sat me
down not so long ago and said it was time
to manage my games for me and for the
team,” the veteran reveals.
“I’m bright enough to realise it is the
right thing for everyone, but when you’ve
been a starter and a mainstay in the team
XFull name: Steven George Gerrard
XBorn: 30/05/1980 in Whiston, England
XProfessional debut: Liverpool 2 Blackburn
Rovers 0 (29/11/1998) XFirst goal scored: Liverpool 4 Sheffield Wednesday 1 (5/12/1999) XInternational
debut: England 2 Ukraine 0 (31/05/2000) XHonours: Uefa
Champions League 2004/05; FA Cup 2000/01, 05/06; League Cup
2000/01, 02/03, 11/12; Community Shield 2001/02, 06/07; Uefa
Cup 2000/01; Uefa Super Cup 2001/02, 05/06
Career record:
SEASON
CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
1998-2014
Liverpool 672
175
for such a long time, it was a very difficult
conversation to have.”
“As a leader and as a man, he is
probably incomparable to anyone I have
ever worked with,” Rodgers says of his outgoing skipper. “He’s a world-class player
who might be getting older, and at times
the legs fatigue a bit, but he’s an absolute
top drawer, top-class player.”
Talk of Gerrard being involved in a
coaching role at Liverpool in future has
been welcomed by the former England
international, who will first be plying his
trade in America’s MLS from July for LA
Galaxy.
But the media hype around his
announcement has done little to deflect his
attention away from his job, as Gerrard
focuses on his last six months at Anfield.
“I’ll do the bits and bobs that I need to
do,” he said, regarding finalising his move
to Los Angeles. “Then we try to go and win
a trophy and forget about Steven Gerrard
for a bit.”
True to form, just two days after
announcing his departure, the Liverpool
skipper was inspirational in his side’s
6 April 1987
– Joins Liverpool
Football Academy
5 November
1997 – Signs his first
professional contract
with Liverpool
29 November
1998 – Makes his first
team debut against
Blackburn Rovers
5 December 1999
– Scores his first goal
against Sheffield
Wednesday
31 May 2000 – Makes
his debut for England
against Ukraine
25 February 2001
– Wins his first of three
League Cups
1 September 2001
– Scores his first goal
for England, against
Germany
12 May 2001 – Wins
the first of his two FA
Cups
16 May 2001
– Scores in Liverpool’s
5-4 Uefa Cup victory
over Alaves
11 September 2001
– Makes his 100th
appearance for
Liverpool
15 October 2003
– Captains Liverpool
for the first time
31 March 2004
– Captains England for
the first time
23 November
2004 – Makes his
250th appearance for
Liverpool
25 May 2005 – Wins
Uefa Champions
League
28 October 2007 –
Makes his 400th club
appearance
1 October 2008
– Scores his 100th
goal for Liverpool
5 December 2009
– Makes his 500th
appearance for
Liverpool
9 August 2012
– Scores his 150th
goal for Liverpool
14 November 2012
– Makes his 100th
appearance for
England
12 January 2014
– Makes his 650th
appearance for
Liverpool
21 July 2014
– Announces
retirement from
England
3 January 2015
– Announces he will
leave Liverpool at the
end of the season
2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon, scoring
both goals to ensure his side are still in
with a shout at FA Cup glory this season.
And while his team is still involved in
the Uefa Europa League competition,
Gerrard is hoping to deliver one last
trophy to his fans before his final send-off
at the end of the season.
“There’s still a bit to go and I’d love
nothing better than to walk around
Wembley or another big stadium at
the end of the season with a trophy for
them.” KO
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY: LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/GETTY IMAGES1/FRANCK FIFE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES1/PA WIRE/PRESS ASSOCIATION IMAGES1/MICHAEL STEELE/GETTY IMAGES1
Steven Gerrard:
career milestones
67
Lifestyle
AT HOME WITH BERNARD PARKER
Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana striker
Bernard Parker welcomed KICK OFF into
his beautiful home in Sunward Park on
the East Rand, and chatted about club and
country with Chad Klate.
LIFE IN THE
68
FEBRUARY 2015
’ve signed in at the security
boom of Sunward Park
on Johannesburg’s East
Rand – this is an exclusive
estate and Bernard Parker
has authorised my visit.
Although it’s just 10
kilometres from where
he was born and raised
in Reiger Park, the green
lawns and large houses
must have seemed a world away for the
striker all those years ago. And he’s not
a man who forgets his roots.
“I like it here because this is near
where I grew up – in Boksburg – and I
decided to stay here just to be close to
my mom,” Parker says as he greets me
at the gates to his home.
“My family loves it here too, my wife
especially, because it’s outside the ‘city
life’ on the east of Johannesburg. It’s
more chilled here, it’s good for family
in a lifestyle sense, and there are good
schools for my kids.”
As we walk across his large lawn,
complete with swimming pool,
landscaped garden and a soccer net,
‘Hond’ looks relaxed.
He’s no stranger to success and the
perks it affords, and this season he
is again showing why he’s one of the
country’s top strikers.
After recovering from surgery on a
troublesome ankle in June last year
which ruled him out for three months,
the 2013/14 Golden Boot winner
returned to action for Amakhosi on the
last weekend of August, five matches
into the season, and has since scored
three goals and made two assists in his
12 League appearances.
As we head into his entertainment
area, I remind the former FC Twente
striker that he recently clocked up his
century in appearances for Chiefs since
his return to the PSL at the start of
the 2011/12 season, and I’m surprised
to hear that he’s unaware of his
achievement.
“Serious? I had no idea! That is quite
special actually, how many goals have
I scored?” he asks with a huge smile on
his face. I’ve got the numbers on hand
– in a total of 113 appearances for
Chiefs, the versatile attacker has found
the back of the net 32 times in all
competitions, averaging 0.28 goals per
match in his three-and-a-half seasons at
Naturena.
It’s clear he’s a man who enjoys team
success more than individual accolades
as his bar area is covered with the
I
SUN
trophies Amakhosi have gathered
during his time there.
He can hardly contain his grin when
I ask him about the mood around
the camp during the extended festive
break. There is a lot to be happy
about – the League leaders boasted
a 17-match unbeaten streak going
into the break, giving them a massive
15-point margin over second-placed
Mamelodi Sundowns.
“To be honest, the more we’ve
trained, the better we’ve become,”
Parker tells me. “During every training
session the coach makes sure we give
and do the best we can according to his
structure and the Kaizer Chiefs way of
playing.
“Every session so far has been 100
percent effort from the guys, and that
has been key in our performances. All
we have done is take what we do and
give on the training ground into the
match, with the same mentality and
intensity.”
Winning the MTN8 and having the
edge over perennial rivals Orlando
Pirates has helped keep spirits high
and players focused, Parker says as we
head towards his garage.
“The mood is good. The guys are
all motivated, all in the right frame of
mind, and I think it’s because of the
results we’ve achieved so far, and also
the compliments we have been getting
from the fans wherever we go,” he says.
“The coach also makes sure that
there are no clouds in the sky;
everything is crystal clear, and that has
been key as well. Beating Pirates twice
already this season has also helped us
a lot. If I remember correctly, in the
three seasons before last, Pirates were
on a high when they won the treble in
successive years.
“[During that period] even in the
Derbies they had the upper hand, so
it’s our time now and we have to make
sure of it this time. That’s football, it
happens, but it’s a wonderful feeling to
be the ‘Kings of Soweto’,” Parker jokes.
PIMPING HIS RIDES
Staying in the East Rand has more
benefits than just the peace and quiet.
His home may be 40 kilometres from
his club’s training base in Naturena,
but Parker says the trip to work in the
morning is a breeze because he faces no
traffic while traveling southward from
the east, unlike many of his teammates
FEBRUARY 2015
69
Lifestyle
AT HOME WITH BERNARD PARKER
A real family man – Parker enjoys the space
and comfort his home and the neighbourhood
provide for his family
XFull Name: Bernard Melvin Parker
XBorn: 16/3/86 in Reiger Park, Boksburg
XPrevious teams: Safa Transnet School of
There is no shortage of trophies and
medals on display in the Bafana
Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs striker’s bar
70
FEBRUARY 2015
Excellence, Hellenic/Benoni Premier United/
Thanda Royal Zulu, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), FC Twente
(Holland), Panserraikos (Greece, loan)
XPSL debut: Winners Park 4 Hellenic 2 (5/2/05)
XFirst goal scored: FC Fortune 2 Benoni Premier United 6
(8/10/05, 4 goals) XKaizer Chiefs debut: Kaizer Chiefs 2
Bidvest Wits 1 (7/8/11, MTN 8) XFirst Kaizer Chiefs goal:
Kaizer Chiefs 2 Bidvest Wits 1 (7/8/11, penalty)
XInternational debut: Malawi 0 South Africa 0 (26/5/07,
Cosafa Cup) XFirst international goal: South Africa 3 Malawi 0 (30/9/08, Friendly) XHonours: 70 senior international
caps (23 goals), 22 Under-23 caps (1 goal)
Career record:
SEASON CLUB
MATCHES
GOALS
04-08
Thanda Royal Zulu
101(+21 subs) 31
08/09
Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) 11 (+5 subs) 6
09/10
FC Twente (Holland)
6 (+19 subs) 2
10/11 FC Twente
1 (+2 subs) 0
Panserraikos (Greece, loan) 12
1
11/12 Kaizer Chiefs
29 (+5 subs) 4
12/13 Kaizer Chiefs
32 (+3 subs)
13/14 Kaizer Chiefs
35 (+5 sub) 11
14/15 Kaizer Chiefs
11(+5 sub) 4
TOTALS
238
73
Correct as at 12/1/15. League and cup matches only. Charity
games and friendlies not included.
Like most guys, Parker enjoys the feel of
horsepower under his right foot ... and his
BMW M3 is only too happy to oblige!
who live in the northern areas such as
Midrand.
“It’s not much of a challenge. I think I’m
actually closer than the guys who travel
from Midrand – guys like Siboniso Gaxa
and ‘Killer’ [Katlego Mphela] – because
I join the N17 and then I’m in Naturena
within 20 minutes. We usually start
training at 9am, so I leave home at about
half past eight,” he says.
And there’s no shortage of rides to
choose from. Top of the horsepower pile is
his silver BMW M3, which Parker bought
when he first arrived on the professional
football scene at Thanda Royal Zulu in
2004. His wife Wendy drives a new Range
Rover, but his pride and joy is his fullycustomised Jeep Wrangler Unlimited,
which he uses on a day-to-day basis.
“You know us from the location [laughs]
… I’ve always wanted to have a nice
pimped-out ride, and that’s what I did to
the Jeep – it’s actually my favourite [out
of the three]. It’s my everyday car, so I just
pimped it out to make it more comfortable
for myself.
2015: STILL LOTS TO ACHIEVE
Bearing in mind the manner in which
the Glamour Boys lost the League title
to Sundowns at the death last season,
Parker says there will be no repeat of that
mistake.
“We just loaned them the trophy last
season, and it’s about time that we get
our trophy back. I think it was a mental
thing; we played so many matches and
most of us who were in the national
team during the Chan tournament went
straight into the [CAF] Champions
League. It took a lot out of us because
we had a small squad at the time.
“We feel more prepared about the
upcoming Champions League campaign;
we feel a lot better than last year and I
think with the right frame of mind we can
Targeting the best
AFTER a lengthy absence from the national
team set-up, Parker has been rewarded with
a Bafana Bafana recall, and the experienced
international striker is relishing the prospect
of chasing down a special target: Benni
McCarthy’s record of 32 international goals.
“I’m looking forward to reaching Benni’s
record. I want to get there as fast as possible –
I’d love to stretch it beyond 32 goals,” he says.
“I’ve always looked up to Benni – he told
me personally that he sees me as the only
player who can break his record. So in the
back of my mind I’m always thinking of those
words.”
Much will hinge on his form at the 2015
Africa Cup of Nations – his 70 international
caps and 23 goals suggest that he could be a
key factor if Bafana are to progress.
“The coach has got his core and those guys
click well together, which is key. You can see
they are playing without fear and doubt, and
playing with confidence. I want to be part of
that,” Parker says.
do well and get through the preliminary
stages to qualify for the group stages,”
Parker adds.
“We know what lies ahead for us in the
competition and mentally we’re okay ...
all we have to do is clear the clouds from
our minds, compete in every area on the
field and see what happens. I’m sure with
the squad we have we can do well.” KO
FEBRUARY 2015
71
Lifestyle
A brand new year means
brand new wardrobe updates.
Transform your look between
work and play, but remember
to do it in style.
Active
Weekend
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C. Squared/ Jogger jeans R549 Cutty at Spree/ Hi-top sneakers R1200 Onitsuka Tiger
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shirt R249 Cotton On/ Patterned socks R49 Falke at Stuttafords/ Dress shoes
R499 Gino Paoli
Lifestyle
Smell as good as you look
The carrier
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Hooded jacket R449
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The essentials
With every buy, it’s wise to
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items that serve double duty. In
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and quality of shoes they wear.
Make your next move the best
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Leather strap watch R3 000 Citizen at CJR
CREDITS
Fashion Mandisi Maboee
Photographer James Garaghty
Model Dave Kabamba
Wayfarer sunglasses R1932
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FEBRUARY 2014
75
FOR THE READERS BY THE READERS
STAR LETTER
LIVE TV TAKING BUMS OFF SEATS
SA football needs a
‘Super Cup’
I have always been concerned about
why we don’t have a recognised season
opener like a Super Cup. The elimination of the Telkom Charity Cup was hard
to swallow. As much as my Chiefs play
in the CBL, I feel other teams are being
side-lined. The Super Cup is played all
over the world, so why not bring it to
SA? It can either be played between the
League and Nedbank Cup winners, or
better still a whole day tournament featuring the MTN8, Telkom, ABSA League
and Nedbank Cup winners. Football
authorities should consider creating this
‘tournament of champions’.
Sifiso Ntokozo Dlamini, Swaziland
OJ a lost cause
The more televised PSL football games there are, the less
people go to stadiums. If you
look at the average stadium
attendances for PSL games,
the numbers are decreasing.
* 2011/12 season: 7120
* 2012/13 season: 6722
* 2013/14 season: 5073
In America, there is a term in
broadcasting called blackout
broadcasting. If a NFL, NHL
or NBA team does not sell a
certain percentage of tickets
before a certain time ahead of
a game, the match will not be
televised in the region of the
home team. This forces supporters in the region to go to
the stadium to see their favourite players in action. Clubs will
also benefit from this as ticket
sales are an income stream.
Enrico Jacobs, Cape Town
Congratulations!
Enrico Jacobs wins a pair of Adidas LZ TRX Samba boots! Five Predator Zones
give explosive power and sublime control, while the Sprintframe gives
excellent manoeuvrability and traction. You can also win a pair of Adidas
boots
bo
o by sending your views in a star-quality letter to KICK OFF.
Make your point to the nation
To air your views, send your letters to Kick Off, People’s Forum, PO Box 16368,
Vlaeberg, 8018 or e-mail them to forum@kickoff.com
The views expressed in the letters published in People’s Forum do not reflect the views of KICK OFF magazine, its editor, publisher or Media24.
The editor reserves the right to edit and shorten letters. Letters shorter than 200 words will be given preference.
76
FEBRUARY 2015
It’s high time for football clubs to stop
bothering themselves with OJ Mabizela.
The chap is really sick and tired of
playing football, which he clearly
doesn’t regard as a career judging by
his actions. He went to England at an
early age and came back early because
of wrong choices. If someone as experienced as Clive Barker failed to get him
on the straight and narrow, nobody can.
We must not worry ourselves over this
old man. We must stop defending him
and say he’s bewitched. Attempting to
remedy Mabizela’s bad behavior is like
trying to have a relationship with a girl
who is not interested in you.
Terah Maqepula, eMgezwa, Lusikisiki
Pro footballer to
mango seller
Sthembiso “Last Number’’ Dlamini was
a pro-footballer and is now a mango
seller, how sad is that? He was a great
young player known for his educated
and skilled left foot who shone through
AmaZulu’s ranks. He’s now lost to
football. He’s been seen selling mangos
on the streets of Lindelani on the south
coast of Durban. He told a KZN-based
Zulu newspaper that selling mangos was
the only way he makes a living as he’s
struggled to find a club since being fired
by Free State Stars back in 2010 for
ill-discipline. As a teenager, I’m disappointed with players such as Dlamini
who we looked up to in the townships.
Development should not only be about
watering the flower for short term use.
TALKING POINT Bafana Bafana’s Nations Cup squad
Mashaba’s
shaky criteria
I admire what Shakes has
done with the national
team, but he must guard
against becoming his own
worst enemy. If Thulani
Serero really did something
wrong, Shakes would have
come out and said it as he’s
always done. This looks like
he wanted to remind people
who’s boss, nothing else.
The criteria always changes
when he gives reasons for
not selecting players. If he
claims to select based on
current form then Ndulula
should’ve been replaced
by Majoro, Tlolane or even
Zulu. Clearly the team
selected does not reflect the
criteria. Power struggles and
favouritism should be put
aside. I’m behind the team
all the way. They should go
make us proud.
Siphiwe Tolom, Johannesburg
Itumeleng’s
omission
Ever since Shakes Mashaba
took over the ranks, Itumeleng Khune has never played
a single game under him.
I’m a Chiefs fan and have
nothing against Khune. He
is one of the best goalkeepers South Africa has ever
produced, but it wouldn’t be
fair for Shakes to pick him
on reputation alone while
the other ‘keepers have been
playing regularly at their
respective clubs. Mashaba
is selecting players based on
their current performances.
Khune has to fight to get his
place back.
Letladi Mphahlele, Maralaleng
us proud. Thatha Bafana
Bafana thatha!
Matome Kubu, Arcadia, Pretoria
Bafana need
our support
Hunger is back
If Bafana Bafana and the
technical staff ever needed
our support, it would be
now. For once I feel like the
selected 23 players representing us in Equatorial Guinea
have been selected on merit.
There are no big names.
Egos have always stood
between Bafana Bafana and
progress. The majority of the
selected players are young
and hungry for success. We
must focus on the 23 men,
give them our full support
and waste no time discussing
who has been omitted. We
need to be united for Bafana
and they will certainly make
Bra Shakes Mashaba has
brought in a high level of
competition in the current
squad which is good. You
now see a committed team
on the field from the word
go right until the end of the
game. I like it when players feel they cannot relax
as we’ve seen with previous
Bafana teams where certain
players would always get the
nod even if they weren’t giving their all. Those days are
over. It matters not whether
you’re playing in Europe, the
PSL or NFD. If you perform,
Bra Shakes will ‘shake’ you in.
Unathi Makalima, Maclear
FEBRUARY 2015
77
FOR THE READERS BY THE READERS
Safa and the PSL should come up with
a curriculum, from LFA to PSL level, to
guide every person involved with creating future stars.
Mpumelelo Msani, Durban
Nkhatha was pushed
out
I remember a game Chiefs played against
Pirates and Kingston Nkhatha didn’t
start. Pirates controlled that match.
Siyabonga Sangweni and his defensive partners were on holiday. All that
changed when Nkhatha came in. My
point is this: Kingston always pressurises defenders. His ability to play with
his back facing the goal brings other
players into the game. He is the reason
we scored goals from everywhere. He
is the reason we are the highest scoring
team. He made MaLeMa shine. It’s sad
that some Khosi fans can’t read matches.
Watch this space, his departure will
destabilise Chiefs. Stuart Baxter is no
fool.
Khosibybirth, via kickoff.com
Has Bafana and Safa
improved?
Looking at where we’re at as a football
nation has left me wondering about a few
things. There have been many positives
in the past year which has seen the appointment of a local coach. Our national
teams across the board are doing well
and we’re seeing young players like Rivaldo Coetzee and Fagrie Lakay making
their debuts for the national team. On
the negative side, we’ve gone to Afcon
without some of our young best players
such as Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu,
Kamohelo Mokotjo and Ayanda Patosi.
All four players can easily make the
Bafana midfield with their talent. Will
Safa ever improve relationships with
overseas clubs and players? But with
all that said, good luck to Shakes and
Bafana. Bring back the Afcon trophy.
Anwar Gallant, Vredenburg
Are our clubs losing
their history?
The digital age has aided advancements
in certain strategies that our local clubs
should adopt from their global counterparts. We see it worldwide where clubs
have their own retail stores, museums
and other strategies. A simple website or
blog post is really not enough to engage
fans these days. Why do clubs treat fans
and the club as separate entities? They
are supposed to be connected in more
ways than just attending matches. Clubs
do not give fans the chance to know their
history. Why are there no club magazines
or shows for all PSL and NFD teams
either? These are important features that
can benefit the heritage and survival of
teams many years from now. The Jomo
Sonos of yesteryear should not disappear
with the times.
Sifiso Bhengu
Afcon has lost
its spark
I would like to see the African Cup of
Nations played in winter when most of
Europe’s top leagues are closed for the
season. The simple reason is most of Africa’s best players ply their trade abroad.
Hosting the Afcon midway through the
European season places certain clubs
at a disadvantage when their African
players become unavailable. A typical
example is Yaya Toure of Manchester
City, who is arguably their best player.
Imagine Madrid without Cristiano
Ronaldo for a whole month! To be honest, the Afcon has lost its spark because
most of our stars reserve their best for
their clubs. This is the reason why our
players retire from international football
KICK OFF KAPPA KITOUT
KIT OUT YOUR TEAM WITH KICK OFF & KAPPA
KICK OFF and Italian sports apparel manufacturers KAPPA team up to bring
readers the chance to win playing kit for themselves and their teammates.
78
Xolani Khumalo, coach of One Touch
FC from Orlando West in Soweto,
motivated on behalf of his team
and will receive a brand new kit
from Kappa.
2. What I like most about the new Kick
Off for 2014/15 is … It continues to be
relevant to football lovers and even as it
continues to grow, we still get accurate and
up-to-date content.
THESE WERE THEIR ANSWERS
TO OUR QUESTIONS:
1. My team deserves to be kitted out
by KICK OFF and Kappa because …
Our love for football has made us a
strong and disciplined team. Wearing
the Kappa kit would be our proudest
moment because we would have done
it as a team and this would afford us the
dignity we so desire.
3. Something I don’t like about the
new-look Kick Off is … Less coverage of
women’s football despite the progress and
growth we continue to see.
FEBRUARY 2015
HOW KAPPA4TEAM WORKS
Gone are the days of having to order a
standard soccer kit of 14 jerseys with stock
sizes and no flexibility ... The Kappa4Team
website allows you to choose exactly which
type of kit you want, for exactly the right
number of players and in any sizes you
need.All you have to do is visit www.
kappa4team.co.za, view the available
catalogue of choices and visit your nearest
Kappa4Team stockist to get your hands
on a brand new, world-class kit – exactly
like the pros!
at an early age – think of Steven Pienaar.
CAF must swallow their pride for the
benefit of African football!
Tente Mokoka, Diepsloot
Defenders deserve
more recognition
There’s a tendency to lay blame for
the lack of goals per season solely on
the strikers. Don’t you think defenders
should be praised for doing good work at
the back? They are the ones preventing
the strikers from scoring.
I believe at least two defenders should
have won Player of the Season award
in the previous two seasons. Defenders
deserve as much praise for doing their
jobs as strikers.
Sackynho Nkurenkuru, Namibia
BEAT THE PLAYER
Chiefs win during their opening
15-game unbeaten streak?
8. Was VV fired or did he resign
at Orlando Pirates?
9. Who ended Chelsea’s
unbeaten run this season?
10. Who scored a brace for
Swallows in the 2-1 win against
Maritzburg United?
1. Against which team did
Siphelele Mthembu score his
first goal this season?
2. Who did AmaZulu beat to
win their first League game of
the season?
3. Name one player on the
cover of the 2014/15 KICK OFF
Yearbook.
4. Which teams are in Bafana
Bafana’s Group C for Afcon
2015?
5. What jersey number does
Diego Costa wear for the Spanish national team?
6. Which team won QInnovation, Q2 this season?
7. How many games did Kaizer
PRINCE MAROPANA
TSHOKOLO LEDUMA
COLE ALEXANDER
AGE: 20
FROM: Polokwane
TEAM: Sundowns
AGE: 21
FROM: Kleinmond
TEAM: Kaizer Chiefs
AGE: 25
FROM: Midfielder
TEAM: Polokwane City
1. Orlando Pirates
(correct)
2. Orlando Pirates
(incorrect)
3. Teko Modise
(correct)
1. SuperSport United
(incorrect)
2. Orlando Pirates
(incorrect)
3. Reneilwe Letsholonyane
(incorrect – Teko Modise,
Itumeleng Khune and Senzo
Meyiwa)
4. Algeria, Ghana and Ethiopia
(incorrect)
5. 10
(incorrect)
6. Kaizer Chiefs
(incorrect)
7. 14
(incorrect)
8. Resigned
(correct)
9. Don’t know
(incorrect)
10. Siyabonga Nomvete
(correct)
1. Platinum Stars
(incorrect)
2. University of Pretoria
(correct)
3. Itumeleng Khune
(correct)
Goalkeeping is different from outfield
positions. It is a lot easier to replace
an outfield player. That is why,
amongst other reasons, a goalkeeper
will almost be a constant feature
in any team. If Itumeleng Khune is
prepared to sit on the bench waiting
for Brilliant Khuzwayo to get injured
or suffer a catastrophic loss of form,
then he can stay. Otherwise he must
try elsewhere if he believes he is too
good to warm the bench at Kaizer
Chiefs. I’m sure we can all agree that
Khune cannot just walk into the
team now that he is fully fit. If he
goes to another club (provided the
deal is worth it), then good for him.
If he stays with Chiefs, even better for
us fans.
Tshinyiwaho Radali, via KickOff.com
4. Senegal, Ghana, Algeria
(correct)
5. 9
(incorrect – 19)
6. Polokwane City
(correct)
7. 10
(incorrect)
8. Resigned
(correct)
9. Newcastle
(correct)
10. Lerato Chabangu
(incorrect)
4. Senegal, Ghana, Algeria
(correct)
5. 9
(incorrect)
6. Polokwane City
(correct)
7. 11
(correct)
8. Resigned
(correct)
9. Newcastle
(correct)
10. Siyabonga Nomvete
(correct)
TOTAL: 6/10
TOTAL: 2/10
TOTAL: 8/10
Two readers take on a PSL star in a quiz. You can also take part by sending a hi-res photo with your full
name, age, phone number and location to forum@kickoff.com, with the subject line ‘Beat the Player’.
FEBRUARY 2015
PICTURES BY JOHAN RYNNERS/GALLO IMAGES1/SABELO MNGOMA/BACKPAGEPIX 1/SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/BACKPAGEPIX1/SAMUEL SHIVAMBU/BACKPAGEPIX1
Khune must decide
79
LAUGH OUT LOUD
Hands off Yaya!
Guess who’s back, back again!
To all men out there: Mario’s back, so hide your girl! Ask Jonata, who caught the Italian
striker trying to poach his Icelandic girlfriend Maria on Instagram. Jonata (@jonataningi)
wrote: “The moment when Mario Balotelli tries to steal your girlfriend :(”
It seems Yaya Toure is one of the world’s most sought after players both on and off the
field judging by a recent interview. “I hide from women in order to escape them. You
have to change your phone number regularly as they’ve all got good contacts. There
was one who openly courted me. She asked for my phone number and I gave her a
wrong number in order to get away from her. I’m married! My wife is enough for me.”
I’m stuck! But at least I
have my phone!
A Nike store in the US sold Angel
di Maria replica shirts with his
name spelt incorrectly!
LAUGH WITH PROFF
CONTACT PROFF To get in touch with Proff, check out his blog – diskioff.blogspot.
com – or catch him on www.kickoff.com/forum.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi set
tongues wagging about a possible move
to Chelsea after following the club’s Instagram account on the 5th of January.
However, it turns out this is far from
the truth as a tape recording from Messi’s
house revealed what really led to the
striker following Chelsea’s Instagram
account.
Messi: “Oh Thiago! Give the phone back to
daddy now.”
Charming gone wrong
While waiting for the same bus, a lady noticed that Junior Khanye had forgotten to
zip up his trousers. Although embarrassed,
she very politely pointed this out saying:
“Sir, your garage is open.”
80
FEBRUARY 2015
If you
thought
your team’s
fines were
ridiculous,
take a look
at seventh
tier English
league
club Blyth
Spartans
AFC’s fines
list.
PSG defender Thiago Silva was
stuck inside an elevator for
more than an hour. He luckily
had internet connection which
allowed him to document his
tormenting experience on
Instagram. “Get stuck in elevator sometime, no one deserves
it, right. Very sleepy. 1:20 a.m.
Stuck waiting for the good
will of the people responsible.
Unfortunate,” he wrote.
What ‘i’ blunder!
It wasn’t me!
Lengthy fines, anyone?
Khanye gave her a naughty smile as he
zipped up and asked: “Did you see my big
black Range Rover parked inside?”
The lady smiled back and said: “No, just
one small Fiat Uno with two flat tyres.”
Giving the Scousers a bad name
A young mother was pushing her
baby along a street in Manchester
when suddenly a huge Rottweiler,
which was not on a lead, lunged
towards the pram.
The young woman thought the
dog was about kill them when
suddenly a man rushed over,
wrestled the dog to the ground, got
it in a headlock and broke its neck
with his bare hands.
Another man rushed to the scene
exclaiming: “I’m a reporter and saw
everything. Wait until I write my
headline for the paper. It will read
‘Manchester United fan saves mother
and baby from savage Rottweiler!’”
“No you can’t write that!” replied
the man.
“But why not?” asked the reporter.
“Because I am not a Manchester
United fan, that’s why!” replied the
man.
“Oh, okay then,” said the reporter, “I
will write ‘Manchester City supporter
saves mother and baby from savage
Rottweiler!’”
“You can’t write that either,” said the
man. “Because I am a Liverpool fan!”
“Oh, I see,” said the reporter. “How
about this then: ‘Scouser mauls
family pet!’”
DREAM TEAM |
Afcon Dream Team
Ten Africa Cup of Nations tournaments have been played since
1996, when hosts Bafana Bafana were crowned champions after
beating Tunisia 2-0 in the Final. KICK OFF picks an Afcon Dream
Team from 1996 to 2013.
Goalkeeper
Midfielders
Essam El-Hadary (Egypt)
The Egyptian goalkeeper
was key when Egypt won the
tournament in 2006, 2008 and
2010. In 1998 he was also a
member of the squad that won
the tournament in Burkina
Faso, beating Bafana Bafana
2-0 in the Final.
Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
The Egyptian is arguably one
of the best African players of
all time. His influence in the
Egypt team that won the 2006
and 2008 tournaments was
second to none, and he scored
two goals in 2006 as well as the
decisive penalty in the Final
against Ivory Coast. In 2008 he
took his tally to four, including
the winning goal against
Cameroon in the decider.
Seydou Keita (Mali)
Keita is one of the three players
in the ‘dream team’ who has
never won the trophy, but his
performance and commitment
in the six tournaments he
played cannot be questioned.
Khaled Badra (Tunisia)
The former Tunisian
international received a
winner’s medal in 2004,
despite missing the Final
through suspension. But
through his career Badra
was the rock of the Tunisian
defence. Apart from his
defensive duties, he also took
set-pieces, including the two
penalties he scored in the 2004
semi-final against Nigeria.
Rigobert Song (Cameroon)
When Cameroon travelled
to South Africa for the 1996
Afcon, Song was a 19-year-old
rising star. But by the time
the Indomitable Lions won
the tournaments in 2000 and
2002, he was one of their most
experienced players. At the
2006 edition, when Cameroon
were eliminated in the group
stages, Song became his
country’s most capped player.
Wael Gomaa (Egypt)
Gomaa was at the heart
of Egypt’s defence during
the country’s glory days
and made the CAF Team of
the Tournament on three
occasions. He took his form
to his club Al-Ahly, helping
them win five CAF Champions
League titles.
82
FEBRUARY 2015
Eto’o, led the Cameroon attack
to 2000 and 2002 Nations Cup
victories. He finished the 2000
tournament in Nigeria with four
goals, and was joint top-scorer
in 2002 in Mali with three.
Forwards
Hossam Hassan (Egypt)
In 1998 Hossam Hassan led
Egypt to Afcon glory, finishing
as joint top-scorer with Benni
McCarthy (seven goals). It was
Hassan’s second title – his first
came in 1986. Aged 40, the
veteran striker captained Egypt
to 2006 glory, playing three
times and netting one goal.
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Now in the twilight of his career,
Didier Drogba never won an
Afcon title. The striker reached
two Finals – the first in 2006
where the Ivorians lost to Egypt;
the second in 2012 against
Zambia, where he missed a
crucial penalty. Despite that,
the striker remains a legendary
Afcon figure.
Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
The former Barcelona striker
won the tournament in 2000
and 2002, and finished as topscorer in 2006 when Cameroon
were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Ivory Coast. In 2008
Eto’o became the tournament’s
all-time top scorer with 15
goals after converting a penalty
against Sudan.
Subs
Egyptian Mohamed Aboutrika is
challenged by Ivorian Kouassi Yao
in the 2008 Nations Cup
Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)
Mark Fish (South Africa)
Abedi Pele (Ghana)
Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria)
Shaun Bartlett (South Africa)
Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia)
PICTURE BY BACKPAGEPIX
Defenders
Mali reached four semi-finals in
Keita’s time.
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)
The four-time African Footballer
of the Year represented his
country at five Nations Cup
tournaments. He led The
Elephants to the 2006 Final
where they lost against Egypt,
and again in 2012, when they
came agonisingly close, losing
to Zambia in a penalty shootout.
The Manchester City star is one
of the few surviving members of
the so-called ‘golden generation’
of Ivory Coast footballers to
feature in 2015.
Patrick Mboma (Cameroon)
While Samuel Eto’o was an
up-and-coming youngster, it
was Patrick Mboma who the
Indomitable Lions relied on
for goals. Mboma, alongside
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Kick Off -February 2015

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