Kick Off

Kick off is Africa's biggest selling monthly sport Magazine and the leading authority on South African soccer.

KICK OFF

Kick Off

25th PSL season coming to an end

LETTERS to the editor

THE MONTH THAT WAS

Billiat on borrowed time? • Everything that has happened with Khama Billiat for most of the last three years at Kaizer Chiefs just shows how badly calculated his move to Naturena was. From a trophy-winning team at Mamelodi Sundowns, the Zimbabwean international is now a struggling star on a huge salary, prone to injuries, thin on confidence and with his future hanging in doubt. KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo looks at what has happened and what the future holds.

‘I THINK THE WORST IS BEHIND HIM’

Zinnbauer’s report card • German coach Josef Zinnbauer’s first full season in charge at Orlando Pirates has delivered a trophy following a six-year wait but failure to perform in the league has left fans with many questions. With the signings that the club made at the beginning of the season, the belief is that the 51-year-old coach was provided with all the resources he needed to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns, but failed to live up to expectations. KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo investigates what went wrong.

PIRATES COACHES SINCE THE ‘DOUBLE TREBLE’ • Orlando Pirates have gone through many coaching changes since the historic back-to-back ‘Double Treble’ seasons. Despite reaching a few Cup finals on the way, the club has seen very little success in terms of winning trophies with the 2014 Nedbank Cup and this season’s MTN8 the only two trophies they have won.

‘I wanted to quit football’ • When Rushine de Reuck returned from a stint in Portugal he found himself being turned down by clubs in the GladAfrica Championship and eventually had to settle for playing third-tier football, earning less than R5, 000 per month. Fast forward to just over five years later and he is now playing for champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and knocking ever so hard on the Bafana R5,000 five Bafana door. The 25-year-old spoke to KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo about his trials and tribulations.

RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE BEST

‘The Pirates door will always be open’ • Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Oupa Manyisa has finally returned to football from a lengthy sabbatical after joining Chippa United on an initial short-term deal with a further option. The 32-year-old talks to KICK OFF’s Chad Kelly-Klate about his arduous journey from Chloorkop to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, and finally to the Chilli Boys.

‘They called me a cow’ • Thabo Matlaba is one of the most recognised figures in South African football over the past decade who’s built a reputation as a hardworking wing-back. Having kicked off his professional career at Free State Stars, it took him just 18 months before Orlando Pirates signed him and he went on to win the league title in his first season. KICK OFF’s Lorenz Köhler spoke to the 33-year-old to find out what went wrong after joining the ‘Double-Treble’ winners, his sudden exit in 2018 and his plans for the future as he writes a new chapter in his colourful career at their Soweto rivals Swallows FC.

The man to rebuild Bafana • After failing to secure the services of Carlos Queiroz, Pitso Mosimane and Benni McCarthy, the South African Football Association has turned to experienced Belgian tactician Hugo Broos to lead the side for the next five years. The 69-year-old comes with a good reputation and a recent Africa Cup of Nations winners medal under his belt, but just what can South African fans expect from the veteran tactician? KICK OFF’s Nick Said investigates.

HAPPY MASHIANE KAIZER CHIEFS

Edelbert Dinha My Dream Team • When Edelbert Dinha joined Seven Stars from Zimbabwe side CAPS United, very few fans knew who he was. But by the end of his PSL career,...