The clock has already started counting in the new campaign as season number eight since Kaizer Chiefs last won a trophy. Such has been the length of agony since May 2015 that the memories of that DStv Premiership title celebration have become a faded

KICK OFF: How did you move to Cape Town City come about? Marc van Heerden: We knew for a while that Stellenbosch wasn’t going to renew my contract. And yeah, we were on the verge of looking elsewhere, possibly the teams in Joburg. But I got a call fr

KICK OFF: You have remained connected with where you grew up in Tembisa by always being involved in various projects around the township, which is inspiring … Themba Zwane: Look, having grown up in Tembisa I know the struggle because I also went thro

It’s hard to imagine that when we celebrated KICK OFF magazine’s 28th birthday in February this year, it would be our last one as a print publication. KICK OFF magazine was launched in February 1994 as a magazine that was going to give a voice to Sou

The squad that lifted the Wafcon title averaged an astonishing 50 caps per player, which highlights the huge amount of experience that has been built up over the last decade or so. The 23 players have a total of 1,161 caps between them, led by three

29 After spending a few years of his career with clubs like Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla – Ciro Immobile joined Lazio in 2016 and scored 29 goals in 33 matches during his second season at the club. 182 The 32-year-old forward is currently

At birth in November 1979 at a police camp in Lusaka, it was inevitable that the latest addition to the Mutapa household would turn into a footballer. The new baby was Perry and along with older brother Oswald Jnr, was born to Oswald Mutapa Snr, who

Orlando Pirates fans may have been expecting a so-called ‘big-name’to take charge of the side for the 2022/23 season with the likes of Pitso Mosimane, Gavin Hunt and Benni McCarthy all free agents as they desperately seek to close the gap on Mamelodi

Manchester City in action against West Ham during the opening weekend of the 2022/23 season. ■

Combined transfer fees: €169.1 million (R2.8 billion) AC Milan veteran Zlatan Ibrahimović is one of the game’s great journeymen and has enjoyed a glittering 23-year career that has spanned nine clubs across seven countries and two continents so far.

KICK OFF: What was it like to be back on the pitch with some of your former Manchester United teammates in the recent charity match against Liverpool? Quinton Fortune: It was great, my body took a beating because I still think I can sprint! There was

Stellenbosch FC quietly pulled off one of the deals of the transfer window in July after snapping up former Germany youth international Lasse Sobiech on a free transfer from 2. Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98. The move to bring the near-two-metre-tal

Date of birth: 02/03/2001 Position: Goalkeeper/Club: Cape Town Spurs The gloveman came through the academy at what was then Ajax Cape Town before the Dutch club pulled their partnership and will be looking to establish himself at re-branded Cape Town

KICK OFF: Your 2021-22 season didn’t start well but you had great performances after the Christmas break and helped the club retain topflight status. How would you summarise the last campaign? Given Msimango: Last season was tough for me to be honest

Bongani Zungu’s tumultuous five-year affiliation with Amiens has come to an end after the 28-year-old turned down a contract extension with the French Ligue 2 side. After forming part of Glasgow Rangers’ Scottish Premiership-winning squad during a lo

KICK OFF: How did you feel wearing the national team colors and representing the country against Morocco? Sphephelo Sithole: It’s an indescribable feeling, suffice to say I felt proud knowing that I have finally earned the right to wear the green and

Ricardo came through the ranks at Vitoria Setubal and went on to play for Fulham in England, where he started out as second choice to Edwin van der Sar. He has since come back to play here at home for Casa Pia AC. I was with him in the junior nationa

KICK OFF: Leo, what has been going through your mind since Kaizer Chiefs confirmed they are not extending your contract? Leonardo Castro: For me this is normal because I have been through similar experiences before in South America. I faced this situ

Date of birth: 8 July 1992 Current club: Tottenham Hotspur Previous clubs: Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen (both Germany) 16 Son Heung-min made his professional debut at the age of 16 for German Bundesliga side Hamburg. The forward was born in Gangwon Prov

Being born as the fifth child in a family of eight kids to poor parents meant Alec Mokgokgoana Bapela was faced with the true definition of poverty from his first breath, so much so that he became accustomed to hardships. Just like many kids in Zebed

KICK-OFF: Daniel, you’ve just left a club you represented for a large part of your career. What are some of the take aways from your time with Kaizer Chiefs? Daniel Cardoso: It was a positive stay. I met so many great players, coaches and just good p

It was always given that Bienvenu Eva Nga would be leaving Chippa United after reaching double figures on the scoring charts and finishing third on the DStv Premiership list behind Peter Shalulile and Victor Letsoalo. What also fuelled his departure