Kick Off -julkaisun January 2022 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

The last two years, 2020 and 2021, were two of the most challenging in our football history because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And with 2,000 vaccinated fans allowed to attend South Africa’s World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, we all thought it was a matter of time before things go back to normal. Political parties were also in full swing campaigning with thousands of supporters in attendance at their rallies ahead of the local government elections. And when this happened, it just seemed a matter of time before we would be back in local stadiums. And then BOOM … the fourth wave hits us out of nowhere and now we are back at square one not knowing how long it will take before things start opening and fans and the media…

Ghana hasn’t exported the best of talents to South Africa through the PSL era with not many making the cut at any of the bigger clubs. Kwame Peprah has been lucky in that he has found a fellow countryman in Richard Ofori at Orlando Pirates, giving him a shoulder to lean on. Though Ofori has his own issues to deal with, his familiarity with the league will help him as he is into his fifth year playing in the PSL having joined Pirates at the beginning of last season after three years with Maritzburg United. Previously, Pirates had goalkeeper Fatau Dauda, but he battled to play before leaving for Chippa United where he also didn’t last long. So much was expected from Bernard Morrison, but he didn’t deliver while Edwin Gyimah…

Vincent Enyeama Vincent is a good and reliable goalkeeper – one of the most experienced guys when I played for the national team. When he was in goals, I knew that I could trust him. Innocent Mdledle Innocent was a technically gifted player, a skillful defender who could defend and initiate attacks. I got along well with him, and we were good friends on and off the field. Gift Leremi The late Gift was brave and competitive. He was strong. When I joined Pirates, I used to kick him, and he would kick me back – he was not afraid no matter who he was playing against. John Utaka John is a very good guy and when youngsters were selected, he welcomed them and made sure they felt comfortable. On…

Algeria have broken records with their consistency since winning the last Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt in 2019 and their strength in depth suggests the possibility of another dynastic run, including retaining their title at the finals in Cameroon from January 9-February 6. The Cup of Nations has rarely been dominated by one country over an extended period of time although Egypt won three titles in a row from 2006 to 2010 – failing to qualify to two World Cups in the process – and Algeria’s Fennecs have the capacity to match that achievement. They defend their crown in Cameroon one year later than scheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and amid much concern about the Spartan conditions that many of the countries will have to endure in…

ALGERIA Previous appearances in finals: (18) 1968, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Best performance: Winners 1990, 2019 Coach: Djamel Belmadi Key player: Riyad Mahrez BURKINA FASO Previous appearances in finals: (11) 1978, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 Best performance: Runners up 2013 Coach: Kamou Malo Key player: Bertrand Traore CAMEROON Previous appearances in finals: (18) 1970, 1972, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019 Best performance: Winners 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017 Coach: Toni Conceicao Key player: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting CAPE VERDE ISLANDS Previous appearances in finals: (2) 2013, 2015 Best performance: Quarter-finalists 2013 Coach: Pedro Leitao Brito ‘Bubista’ Key player: Garry Rodrigues COMOROS…

90 Karim Benzema made his French senior national debut in 2007 at the age of 19 and has earned 90 caps so far. The Real Madrid striker was not part of Didier Deschamps squad that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. 362 He has scored 362 club career goals in all competitions for both Real Madrid and Olympique Lyon. He scored his first professional double in a 4-0 win over Grenoble in the Coupe de France, with his first league goal coming in March 2006 in a 3-1 win over Ajaccio. 200 In September 2021, Benzema scored a brace in a 6-1 win against Mallorca to become the fourth player in Real Madrid history to reach 200 goals after Alfredo di Stefano, Raul Gonzalez and Cristiano Ronaldo. 26…

Paying the penalty These days penalties are attempted in sometimes unconventional ways. Coaching personnel must continue to emphasize the simple basics, i.e., run up, pick your spot, and hit the ball as low and hard as possible. If the keeper saves, you will at least know that you have given it your best, with no regrets. Except for the fact that not more senior and experienced players putting their hand (or foot) up to take a penalty in the recent Euro 2020 final, England lost the match due to not sticking to the basics when executing penalties. Let’s unpack. Italy’s Domenico Berardi scored, by simply picking his spot. Up stepped England skipper Harry Kane – who slotted an equally good penalty. Andrea Belotti attempted a calculated penalty, saved by England…

Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Khama Billiat appears to be rediscovering the form that once had him as one of the most feared attackers in the PSL. Since joining Chiefs, Billiat has not lived up to expectations after his sterling performance at Mamelodi Sundowns, where he was a key figure in their trophy haul. However so far this season, there are glimpses of Billiat’s brilliance. His impressive form has coincided with that of his fellow attackers, Bernard Parker and Keagan Dolly. With the trio in attack, AmaKhosi have been marauding and menacing. Former Chiefs and Sundowns midfielder Jabulani Mendu is of the view that Parker’s influence and Dolly’s arrival have been a breath of fresh air for the Zimbabwean international. “Parker has been consistent, and he has been there when everything was…

KICK OFF: How did you learn you would be taking over the reins at Chippa United, which has also brought your playing career to a sudden halt? Kurt Lentjies: I got a call from the chairman [Siviwe Mpengesi] and it was like … he didn’t throw it into my lap and say, ‘I want you to be the next head coach’. He was talking about the previous coach [Hunt] and about putting the club first. I thought he was just asking me for advice! When he finally said he wanted me to be the coach, I didn’t feel like I wasn’t ready. I felt like it was a great opportunity and once that took over, you don’t think about playing anymore. Only when the call ended did I think, ‘Oh,…

KICK OFF: Malawi have qualified for the only their third ever Cup of Nations finals, and for the first time since 2010. Is there a fever building up in the country? Meke Mwase: Everyone is so excited, it’s taken a bit of time since 2010 for Malawi to qualify for the finals, so everybody’s happy. We just have just had the trophy tour, which they took around to several centres in the country and you got a real sense of how much everyone is looking forward to the tournament and how much the public wants us to do well. It is really building up and by the time the tournament starts the whole country is going to be watching and be behind us. You edged out Uganda in a tough…

Former GladAfrica Championship side Cape Umoya had a similar case against Cape Town Spurs when they asked the PSL to postpone their match in January because of a COVID-19 outbreak in their team. But that request was rejected with Spurs awarded three points and a walkover, points that would be crucial in ensuring they were not relegated last season. But before we can talk about Cape Umoya, let’s take one step back. Let us look at what happened with the former PSL prosecutor, Nande Becker and lawyer Michael Murphy. Nande was the prosecutor on disciplinary matters and Murphy a lawyer for the PSL. It’s very strange to me that two of the most senior officials, in terms of discipline and rules and regulations at the PSL, have both resigned at…

GOOD MONTH FOR … PERCY TAU The Bafana Bafana striker has been in red-hot form for Al Ahly in Egypt, silencing his critics who questioned whether he would fit into the team and the Egyptian Premier League. BAD MONTH FOR … KAIZER CHIEFS A COVID-19 outbreak at Naturena that infected 31 people led to Chiefs asking the PSL to postpone all their games in December. But the league had already set a precedent in this regard when they awarded points to Cape Town Spurs when Cape United could not fulfil their fixture last season. ALSO LAST MONTH… Swallows FC axe Brandon Truter after the team wins only two out of their previous 31 DStv Premiership games. He is replaced by Englishman Dylan Kerr. Baroka FC send coach Thoka Matsimela to…

1 Goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa When it comes to the best goalkeeper I’ve played with, I will have to go for the late Senzo Meyiwa. When I returned to Orlando Pirates after a short spell in Europe, he was an up-and-coming player, but he was already showing signs that he was a great keeper. A wonderful person to be around with and a great teammate to have as well. He was determined and loved his job. 2 Right-back Lucky Lekgwathi I will pick my former captain and Orlando Pirates teammate Lucky in this position. A very strong guy and disciplined. He always carried himself like a professional and I enjoyed playing with him. 3 Left-back Taye Taiwo Taye had a powerful left foot and could take great free-kicks. A very quiet guy who kept…

1957 – Egypt (Sudan) 1959 – Egypt (Egypt) 1962 – Ethiopia (Ethiopia) 1963 – Ghana (Ghana) 1965 – Ghana (Tunisia) 1968 – Congo-Kinshasa (Ethiopia) 1970 – Sudan (Sudan) 1972 – Congo (Cameroon) 1974 – Zaire (Egypt) 1976 – Morocco (Ethiopia) 1978 – Ghana (Ghana) 1980 – Nigeria (Nigeria) 1982 – Ghana (Libya) 1984 – Cameroon (Ivory Coast) 1986 – Egypt (Egypt) 1988 – Cameroon (Morocco) 1990 – Algeria (Algeria) 1992 – Ivory Coast (Senegal) 1994 – Nigeria (Tunisia) 1996 – South Africa (South Africa) 1998 – Egypt (Burkina Faso) 2000 – Cameroon (Ghana and Nigeria co-hosts) 2002 – Cameroon (Mali) 2004 – Tunisia (Tunisia) 2006 – Egypt (Egypt) 2008 – Egypt (Ghana) 2010 – Egypt (Angola) 2012 – Zambia (Equatorial Guinea and Gabon co-hosts) 2013 – Nigeria (South Africa) 2015…

Powerful shots packed by Patrick Malokase were a trademark that defined his game as he made it a habit of either scoring himself or assisting teammates. “I started out in karate, so I suppose there is reason to believe that the art of kicking was somehow developed there,” he chuckles, turning back the hands of time to show what he launched his football career. “I then got into soccer afterwards, though the biggest attribute from karate was discipline,” he says. Though his playing career was in attacking positions, he idolised Lucas Radebe growing up in Thaba Nchu near Bloemfontein and began his football journey as a defender. He wouldn’t stay guarding the opposition forwards for long though as he showed that he was better suited to playing further up the…