Kick Off July 2020

In the last few weeks, we have seen and read a lot of unconfirmed reports about the possible sale of Bloemfontein Celtic and Bidvest Wits. The Celtic rumours started as early as last season with current owner Max Tshabalala not denying that he was indeed selling the club or looking for new buyers due to financial constraints. But the Wits talks – which have been vehemently denied by the club – is something that has been hitting the newswires as recently as the beginning of the lockdown. And the talks of key players – Deon Hotto and captain Thulani Hlatshwayo – moving on to greener pastures added more fuel to the fire. There is no denying that the world economy has come under severe strain in the last few months…

Chiefs transfer ban The Kaizer Chiefs ban appeal date at the Court of Arbitration for Sport is set for September, so the team will serve the ban until a decision is made in September. What happens when Fosa Juniors lose the case and they appeal also? If Chiefs are cleared of any wrongdoing and they lost a transfer window to strengthen their team, will they be allowed to sign players, or they will have to wait for next transfer window? By Kgothatso Provision Motlhabane Ed’s reply: As things stand, Kaizer Chiefs are banned from signing players and if they win the appeal, they can only sign players from the next transfer window in January 2021. It is very strange that Kaizer Chiefs is expected to start serving the ban from…

Sundowns still shine bright It’s not an easy task for a professional outfit to lose four high profile players and continue with their form as if nothing had happened, and following the loss of Tefu Mashamaite, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kingston Nkhatha and Mandla Masango, Kaizer Chiefs were never the same. They had just won Absa Premiership under the guidance of coach Stuart Baxter in 2015, but Chiefs have not won a trophy since. Contrast that with Mamelodi Sundowns, lost five of their most high-profile players in the trio known as CBD, Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly, as well as Percy Tau and Bongani Zungu. Still they have managed to win championships and stay at the top of the local game. Under the guidance of award-winning coach Pitso Mosimane, the…

ALSO LAST MONTH… • Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari recovers from COVID-19 to resume light training in early June. • Benni McCarthy says he believes Percy Tau could break his record of 31 goals for Bafana Bafana. The 26-year-old Tau currently has nine goals. • Highlands Park striker Peter Shalulile admits the R30-million price tag the club has put on his head is making it difficult for him to leave the club. • Bidvest Services CEO and Wits chairman Alan Fainman refutes media reports that the club could be sold. • GladAfrica Championship log leaders Ajax Cape Town extend the contract of veteran defender Rooi Mahamutsa to the end of July in the hope he can help them complete their promotion push. • Two Benfica players were hospitalised after the…

Happy Jele 24 appearances (2 goals) Suspensions have been the reason why Jele hasn’t played in the three games he has missed this season. As captain he has been a commanding leader and has contributed two goals to the cause as well. He was in the starting line-up under ‘Micho’ Sredojevic and remained a vital cog under Rhulani Mokwena, featuring in 11 out of 14 games, while under the Germany Zinnbauer gaffer he has played every minute. The one-club man has gone about his duties like the experienced man that he has become and is always the first to stand up when the going gets tough. No coach would be tempted to sacrifice a man who has won it all in domestic football and played in both the CAF Champions…

When Keletso Makgalwa arrived at the 2014 SAB Under-21 Provincial Championships representing Limpopo, he was an ambitious 17-year-old, pumped up as much by the pace he had as his teenage enthusiasm. His gusto was driven by naivety at times, but there was no blaming him for that having never played in a structured football programme. He was a kid who had played first team football in the fourth-tier SAB League from the age of 15, when he started out at Dynasty FC and then moved to Yster United. “All I ever did to be able to compete at that age was to outrun my opponents,” he chuckles. His selection to the SAB Championships held in the North West province that year came on the back of impressive showings for United.…