Kick Off September 2021

When Diego Maradona left Barcelona to join Napoli in July 1984, that was the biggest and perhaps the most unusual transfer news of the year considering that the Italian side were not as big as AC Milan, Inter Milan or Juventus. AC Milan had Franco Baresi, Ray Wilkins and young Paolo Maldini on their books; Juventus had the great Michel Platini and World Cup winner Marco Tardelli, while Inter had Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi, Liam Brady and German international Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Napoli, on the other hand, had no great players after the departure of Dutch international Ruud Krol at the end of the 1983/84 season. And the club needed a star that would turn their fortunes around. On July 5, 1984, a crowd of more than 80,000 Neapolitans and journalists…

We will always cherish Katsande We’ll forever cherish the time we, Kaizer Chiefs, had with Willard Katsande. We shouldn’t kick the man while is down but be grateful for Katsande’s glittering career at Chiefs. His departure was imminent – looking at the game time a player of his calibre had last season. He took a brave decision by declining a contract extension. However, I felt like he was sacrificed to force his hand to come to the decision. Katsande was the core and heart of Chiefs success that transformed its fortunes over the past decade. He left behind an indelible legacy that everyone could be proud of, and we will cherish his time with us. He joins several great players to wear the famous Chiefs colours. There will never be another…

Future of Free State football We, as Free State citizens and passionate football lovers, are very worried about the state of the game in our province. We’re likely to be left without a DStv Premiership representative from next season if Bloemfontein Celtic go down. In the 1980s, the Free State used to be represented by two credible and competent clubs – Celtic and Welkom Real Hearts. After the relegation of Free State Stars from the Premiership, the province is pinning their hopes on Celtic, whose future is uncertain as they’ve been banned from signing new players. Celtic have been struggling financially since the club was taken over by a local businessman, Max Tshabalala. They lost their MTN sponsorship after alleged mismanagement was discovered at the club. Last season they were slapped…

GOOD MONTH FOR … PITSO MOSIMANE Another CAF Champions League victory under his belt and the Al Ahly squad building nicely for next season with some exciting acquisitions. He will be relishing another shot at the FIFA Club World Cup. BAD MONTH FOR … DAVID NOTOANE The South Africa Under-23 coach was always up against it with injuries, withdrawals and untimely COVID-19 outbreaks, but three tough defeats at the Tokyo Olympics was cruel. The side showed flashes of excellence but were found wanting in Japan. ALSO LAST MONTH… Swallows FC sign veteran left-back Tebogo Langerman from Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as midfielder Keletso Makgalwa. They also bring in former PSL top-scorer Mwape Musonda. AmaZulu confirm they have parted ways with former Bafana Bafana star Siphiwe Tshabalala but do bring in…

KICK OFF: How has it been playing football in empty stadiums for the past year? Rivaldo Coetzee: It has been a new experience, but it has meant we hear instructions clearer and communication is clearer. It took a bit of adjusting but we are now able to motivate ourselves without supporters. But fans remain important, especially to us who are role models, so we have to take the lead in wearing masks and sanitising. How have you grown in your career to this point as you head into your fifth season at Sundowns? I have matured a lot by being here, considering that I have been away from home since I was 14, which prepared me for the bigger stages. Off the field I have a baby now, along with…

Named after retired Brazilian star Rivaldo – Coetzee has always been aware of the weight that his name carries since he was a kid. Though the Brazilian was a left-footer who played in advanced positions, reaching his best at AC Milan and Barcelona, Coetzee still feels he can only hope to emulate a bit of what the older Rivaldo did. “No. Not yet,” he responds when asked if he feels he is living up to his name. “I was obviously named after the Brazilian and I came to know of that from Primary School because my father’s friends used to make fun of the name. “Before I went to Ajax people used to make fun of the fact that my name is Rivaldo, yet I am a defender instead of…