Kick Off May 2020

As soon as the April edition of KICK OFF Soccer magazine hit the newsstands, the Covid-19 pandemic brought the football season to screeching halt. But despite the fact that there were no live matches played, no open media day or press conferences as the country was on lockdown, our dedicated editorial and production team still managed to work around the clock from home to bring you – our reader – your monthly soccer magazine. Our May edition cover star is none other than Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali, who has been a revelation since regaining his old form this season. Jali has been blowing hot and cold since his return from Europe, but this season he has hit the form at the right time as the Brazilians are fighting tooth…

Age cheating is regressive I think the players who falsify their age must carefully consider the dire implications their actions transmit on football, and even on themselves, during and post their playing days. Besides putting the sport into disrepute and tainting its image, age cheating deprives deserving players an opportunity to shine in their rightful division, which in turn threatens their progress and further limits the pool of players for our national teams. Moreover, age cheating seems to be a gross violation of Fair Play, upon which the beautiful game is founded. Players like Seuntjie Motlhajwa, Sibusiso Mzizi and Musa Magagula, to name but a few, went into oblivion after being found to have trimmed their age. Recently, Guinare N’Daw of Senegal made a disturbing claim that 99% of Senegalese…

The rebirth of Siwelele It is noteworthy to see how Bloemfontein Celtic have restabilised itself. Facing the unknown after Steve Komphela’s departure, the club’s sales saga, financial crisis and players’ disgruntlement, Bloemfontein Celtic was virtually threatened with extinction. But the club’s determination and resilience to recompose itself during the ordeal is awesome. The Siwelele fans will be forever indebted to the Celtic head coach Lehlohonolo Seema for being always with the team in difficult times. When Komphela left Phunya Sele Sele, Seema took up the challenge again. Since then the team is restabilising. The Bloemfontein-based outfit is playing aggressively entertaining football. Seema has been reviving the team spirit despite the ordeal. He turned the club into a formidable force with limited resources. Because of his humble nature, the former Celtic youth…

ALSO LAST MONTH… • Kaizer Chiefs paid homage to former star Chris ‘Rollaway’ Ndlovu, who passed away over the Easter weekend. • GladAfrica Championship promotion hopefuls Uthongathi say they will not contest the decision if the Premier Soccer League call the season null and void. • Maritzburg United coach Eric Tinkler says it would be “disrespectful” to comment on speculation linking him to Mamelodi Sundowns. • SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews says even the most established PSL clubs will have to cut players’ jobs or salaries if the football shutdown continues indefinitely. • South Africa’s men’s football team has the ability to go on and win the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after FIFA adjusted the age limit to 24, according to SAFA boss Danny Jordaan. • Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt…

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Andile Jali’s recent performances have been sending reminders that daring to write him off is akin to stepping on to a snake’s tail. Without doubt his impact upon his return to domestic football following a four-and-a-half year stay at Belgian club KV Oostende was neither inspiring nor encouraging, with his critics describing him as water down the drain. What contributed to Jali’s false start to his time at Chloorkop last season was that he spent much of the campaign walking as tabloid fodder for all of what was said to be happening in his off-field life, which had sucked in his family. However, what is without doubt is that when he is fit and in the right frame of mind, he should be easily walking into the…

How those that played in the PSL, left for Europe and then joined Sundowns upon returning, fared at Chloorkop: MATHEW BOOTH – he was a useful signing on both occasions that he came back from England and then Russia. RAPHAEL CHUKWU – the last of his stints with Sundowns after returning from Europe in 2004 was his worst as his best years were evidently behind him. JOSTA DLADLA – came back from Denmark in 2004 and contributed well for all the years he spent at Chloorkop. CLEMENT MAZIBUKO – came back from a stint in Greece in 2005 and fact remains that he didn’t set the scene alight at all. BENNETT MNGUNI – returned in 2006 but battled to establish himself and then left. MBULELO MABIZELA – came back from…