Kick Off

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Kick Off

Afcon doesn’t get the respect it deserves

LETTERS to the editor

THE MONTH THAT WAS

Big decisions on Chiefs strikers • The Kaizer Chiefs trio of Samir Nurkovic, Leonardo Castro and Lazorous Kambole will see their contracts expire at the end of this season. Must the international trio be given a new deal or should the club let them go and invest that money elsewhere in the team? KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo investigates.

The Legend of Orlando Pirates • Soweto giants Orlando Pirates will celebrate their 85th anniversary in 2022 and are among a handful of clubs who can lay claim to having been a rich thread in South African football tapestry from the very beginning of the game being organised nationally. They were, for many, the original glamour club, who had the most eye-catching players, and while the emergence of Kaizer Chiefs, created by one of their own, and later Mamelodi Sundowns would lessen their impact to a degree, they remain a force in the local game. KICK OFF’s Mark Gleeson and Nick Said look back at their rich history.

Hard work key for Shalulile • Such has been the form that Peter Shalulile has enjoyed since his arrival at Mamelodi Sundowns at the beginning of last season that it has become a huge part of what defines the club’s dominance. The rate at which the Namibian has been scoring goals is the reason why there is so much talk about The Brazilians winning their fifth consecutive league title. KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo gives insight on the Namibian forward.

‘We can win the league’ • After joining SuperSport United from Orlando Pirates in 2019, Thamsanqa Gabuza appears to have found a happy place. This season he is rediscovering the form that saw him emerge as a youngster packed with potential at Lamontville Golden Arrows. The former Bafana Bafana striker has scored six goals and looks destined to make double figures in the current campaign. In this interview with KICK OFF’s Hosea Ramphekwa, he talks about chasing Peter Shalulile, SuperSport United’s chances of winning the league and how he didn’t live up to expectations at Pirates.

‘We need an African footprint’ • Swallows FC have gone through a rollercoaster ride since their return to theDSTVPremiership last season, including a change in coach and wildly inconsistent results. KICK OFF’s Hosea Ramphekwa put club chairman David Mogashoa in the hotseat to talk about all the goings on at the Soweto club.

KEAGAN DOLLY KAIZER CHIEFS

David Notoane My Dream Team • David Notoane was recruited by Santos from the University of the Western Cape in 1993. He played for the team until joining SuperSport United during the 1999/00 campaign. His return to Santos was his most successful period in his career as The People’s Team won the League title, Bob Save Super Bowl, Absa Cup and BP Top 8. In this edition of My Dream Team, the South African Under-23 coach picks the best players he played with.

How football has changed in 28 years • Much has changed in South African football since KICK OFF magazine was launched in 1994, a venture started by businessman Rob Moore, who selected Mark Gleeson to be the founding editor. The whole landscape of the local game has changed since then and in many places is unrecognizable from those National Soccer League days. Nick Said looks back at some of the major movements in South African football over the last 28 years.

‘Super League will boost Africa’ • South African Football Association President Dr Danny Jordaan has been around the block and back again. He has served as a marketing expert for FIFA and was the face of the South African FIFA 2010 World Cup. While the winds of change have been blowing strongly across Africa, Jordaan...