September 2021

Kick Off

Soccer at its best!

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Kick Off
EDITORIAL TEAM: Zola Doda (Editor) Nick Said (Sub-editor) Ernest Fakude Lorenz Kohler Lovemore Moyo Mark Gleeson Liam Bekker PRODUCTION & DESIGN Brent Smith SOCIAL MEDIA Shaistah Kader DISTRIBUTION QUERIES Nozuko Mkonwana PHOTOGRAPHY Gallo Images, Ba
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Messi To PSG The Biggest Transfer News
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 Ba
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Star Letter
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,
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LETTERS To The Editor
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 cal
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The Month That Was
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. The South Africa Under-23 coach was always up aga
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‘We Are A Bunch Of Winners’
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
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Standing On The Shoulders Of A Giant
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, C
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A Unique Achievement
Rivaldo Coetzee remains the only professional footballer to come from Kakamas – a farming town nestled in the Northern Cape close to the Namibian border. The only clubs to play in the town feature in the ABC Motsepe League. “There has never been a pl
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‘An Exceptional Talent’
When Boitumelo ‘Dida’ Radiopane turns 19 later this year he will be envied by his peers for what he has already been able to achieve so early in his playing career. From starting out in Sebokeng Zone 3, where he was spotted by Themba Dlamini, an enth
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Waiting For Their Chance
The teenager has already had a taste of first team football from last season and will be keen to build on from last season. He functions in the attacking spaces in midfield. “He was recommended to me by someone from the East Rand. This guy’s son play
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The Return Of CBD
Much has already been said about the resurrection of the once famous ‘CBD’ combination following Keagan Dolly’s free transfer arrival at Kaizer Chiefs to reunite with Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat. This is the trio that provided the spark at Mame
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‘He Will Do Well’
The community of Westbury has always taken pride in their own, having produced probably one of the best that the country has ever had in Steven Pienaar. Pienaar played for the now defunct amateur club Westbury Arsenal, the same team where Keagan Doll
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Quest for Qatar
The quest for a return to the World Cup begins in September for South Africa, who last qualified for the finals 20 years ago, although played as hosts in 2010. On the back of botched qualification for 2021 African Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, a
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‘I’m Waiting For That Call-up’
“I was a bit nervous,” Sithebe admits with a laugh as he recalls the moments immediately preceding South Africa’s famous triumph at the 2021 COSAFA Cup. He and his Bafana Bafana teammates had just toiled through more than 120 minutes of football with
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Who Can Challenge Sundowns?
Benni McCarthy Keagan Buchanan – If the silky midfielder can stay fit and mentally focused, there is no doubt he is one of the leading players in the DStv Premiership. At the age of 30, it is now or never for him. 2020-21: 2nd 2019-20: 13th 2018-19:
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My Dream Team
In international football, Katlego Mphela will always be remembered or the free-kick he scored against Spain’s Iker Casillas during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The ormer striker achieved a lot on the domestic scene where he played or Jomo Cosmo
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‘Skin Colour Is A Factor’
If he took a stroll through a busy mall in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Polokwane, Masilo Modubi’s presence would be devoid of fanfare as many a selfie seeker may not be familiar with the status of the erstwhile South African international. And yet the
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Home Of The Brave
Rebranded Marumo Gallants will be hoping to build on what was, in the end, a solid first season as a top-flight side in the 2020-21 campaign when they played under the name Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM). The club were initially a laughing stock
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New Signings
A Dutch-born right winger who has DR Congo heritage, the 26-year-old previously played for Floriana in Malta last season. It was a fourth club since the start of 2019 for the much-travelled midfielder, who has also turned out for teams in the Netherl
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Aiming Higher
Born in Mamelodi, Pretoria, Mashego started to make a name for himself long before his move to Cape Town, after he impressed as a teenager with Mthatha Bucks during the early stages of his career. His strong performances during his spell with the Eas
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The Fight For Unity
It is 30 years ago now that the first steps towards South Africa’s integration into the world of football began, heady days after decades of Apartheid-enforced isolation with the exciting prospect of international competition just around the corner.
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‘My Time With Chiefs’
KICK OFF: You were at Bidvest Wits looking for first-team football and stability after leaving Kaizer Chiefs. What went through your mind when you were informed the club was sold? Lorenzo Gordinho: It was difficult because I had just arrived at Wits.
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A Change In Thinking
Samuel Eto’o is undoubtedly one of Africa’s greatest icons with his achievements in football elevating his status beyond the realms of just sports fandom. A legendary, almost mythical, figure who became the first-ever player to win consecutive Europe
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From Chiefs To The Police
In 1998, the last year before the amalgamation of Cape Town Spurs and Seven Stars to form Ajax Cape Town; a teenage forward ran out for his debut in the colours of Spurs against Vaal Professionals, playing with the enthusiasm that came with his age.
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Did You Know?
35 Lionel Messi won 35 titles with Barcelona before his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in France’s Ligue 1. These are 10 LaLiga titles; 7 Copa del Rey; 8 Spanish Cup; 4 UEFA Champions League; 3 UEFA Super Cups and 3 FIFA Club World Cup. 3 Despite hi
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Why Players Struggle To Get Euro Moves
Let’s look at the question of Keagan Dolly first. I strongly believe that it’s not his fault for wanting to leave Europe and come back to the PSL because who wanted him in Europe? No clubs showed interest in him. He only played a few games in three y

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