Kick Off October 2021

As things stand regarding COVID-19 Alert Level 2,“only the required number of players, match officials, support staff and medical crew required for the sport match, are allowed at the venue of the sport match”. This means that, until further notice, no spectators will be allowed at all the country’s sport venues. Football fans and journalists have spent more than a year now watching and following the Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches on TV. Even though this has been a difficult period for everyone involved, playing all sport matches behind closed doors for the last year was a necessary step to take by the government to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus. But with vaccinations in progress across the country and around the world, it’s about time our government starts…

Hunt’s premature departure As a Kaizer Chiefs fan, I’m still trying to find closure on Gavin Hunt’s departure. I’m still struggling to find the reason why Hunt was shown the exit door. Was he bad for the team, or maybe they thought Chiefs is too big for him? He’s a very good coach, he never disappointed any team he coached before. Hunt had never been sacked in his coaching career but always resigns for new opportunities. Chiefs’ management made sure that comes to an end. For what good reason if I may ask again? Hunt came to Chiefs in the wrong season whereby the team was facing a ban from signing players, all thanks to our so-called team manager Bobby Motaung, who seems to be clueless about football. They should’ve…

GOOD MONTH FOR … HUGO BROOS The Bafana Bafana coach had plenty of detractors and nay-sayers after he announced his youthful squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana, but he has been vindicated to a point. It is a promising start for him in the dug-out. BAD MONTH FOR … THEMBINKOSI LORCH The Orlando Pirates forward is ruled out for the remainder of 2021 after having to undergo shoulder surgery. It is a blow for a player who has been absent for large stretches recently. ALSO LAST MONTH… • Royal AM claim a first ever top-flight win with a 1-0 success over Chippa United on September 12. A few weeks earlier newly-promoted Sekhukhune United did likewise with a 2-0 success at Maritzburg United.• Swallows FC sign midfielder…

Despite signing a four-year contract extension just last year, it seems as if Hlompho Kekana has been deemed surplus to requirement by his club Mamelodi Sundowns. From being bestowed a legend status when he signed that new deal at the back of leading the club to numerous honours, Kekana now finds himself in limbo. While his situation of stopping training with the first team has only been confirmed via the grapevine, some will argue that it was all too evident that Kekana was headed to the exit door the moment Pitso Mosimane left. A mere five starts from the 15 appearances that he was afforded last season already gave indications that he wasn’t going to be the influential figure whose leadership was relied upon in the nine seasons prior when…

1985 Dave Milton P2 W0 D2 L0 GF4 GA4 Pirates were in relegation danger in September 1984 when the unheralded Milton was appointed to help them out of trouble and guided them to the Mainstay Cup finals that year where they lost to Kaizer Chiefs via a Teenage Dladla penalty. Milton, who had coached previously at Benoni United, departed soon into the 1985 season after a couple of draws as Pirates was torn in two by the split from the National Professional Soccer League, which saw the creation of the National Soccer League. Johannesburg lawyer Leon Hacker was appointed to oversee a committee to try and resolve the split and he brought Sergio dos Santos aboard as coach. Sergio DosSantos P16 W3 D6 L7 GF18 GA24 Dos Santos had been…

When Percy Tau left Mamelodi Sundowns for Brighton & Hove Albion on July 20, 2018, he departed South Africa as acult hero after winning the DStv Premiership, CAF Champions League and CAF Super Cup in the previous season under Pitso Mosimane. The coach himself questioned Tau’s readiness for Europe at the time but the record R50-million deal was lauded by fans, as the Witbank-born talent became the symbol of hope for local football. His meteoric rise from reserve team football and a National First Division loan stint at Witbank Spurs to the English topflight was easy to celebrate, but the joy was short-lived as work-permit issues prevented Tau from representing the English club. Three separate loans followed with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the affiliate club of the Seagulls, where he won…