Kick Off

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

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THE MONTH THAT WAS

Hit or miss ? • Kaizer Chiefs will have plenty to ponder regarding their playing personnel come end of the season with Lebogang Manyama definite to come under scrutiny after four years at Naturena. KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo seeks to find the answers on what has gone right and wrong for the 31-year-old through his time at Naturena, and what will be the way forward.

OVERSEAS SIGNINGS

‘He is a fighter’ • In an Orlando Pirates side that has battled with consistency this season, versatile player Bandile Shandu has stood head and shoulders above the rest with his impressive performances. His recent call-up to Bafana Bafana is testament to the great season he is having. The man who joined from Maritzburg United at the start of the campaign is proving to be an integral part of The Buccaneers. KICK OFF’s Hosea Ramphekwa takes a look at his progress so far.

‘Goalkeeping is mostly mental’ • Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene is a classic example of ‘perseverance pays off’. From being turned down at Silver Stars and relegation in his first year in the PSL, to lifting multiple trophies in the domestic and continental football. Despite being on the bench for extended periods, Mweene has been able to deliver top performances when called upon for duty this season, with an increased game load. KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo spoke to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner.

MEET BRADLEY MWEENE

Who has been the Best of the Best? • It has been another strange, COVID-conflicted season, mostly without fans. It has also followed the pattern of early dominance by Mamelodi Sundowns, now a dangerous impediment to the competitiveness of the Premier Soccer League, leaves the interesting issues confirmed to who finishes runners-up and who gets relegated. Player quality has thin on the ground and spread across 16 clubs means there are too many games that are littered with errors, because there is too much mediocrity. It should not be this way because South Africa does not export many players and therefore the individual quality in the league should be higher. This should be a major concern for the future of the domestic game. But, nevertheless, there have been some outstanding performers and KICK OFF’s Mark Gleeson picks the best eight for the 2021-22 season.

Hebe Usuthu • AmaZulu’s maiden CAF Champions League campaign has come to an end with Usuthu reaching and falling at the group stage of the competition. KICK OFF’s Liam Bekker reflects on the key learnings from Usuthu’s proud foray across the continent, which included famous victories over former champions TP Mazembe and ES Setif, and the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the knock-out stage of the competition.

‘The PSL is fast and skilful’ • From being born at a refugee camp and separated from his father as a child, to relocating to Australia, AmaZulu’s January transfer window signing Abraham Majok has always had to fight against the odds. The South Sudanese forward spoke to KICK OFF’s Lovemore Moyo about his unusual journey to the Premier Soccer League.

CHOOSING SOUTH SUDAN OVER AUSTRALIA

ANDILE JALI

My Dream Team • Former Burundi international Valery Nahayo came to South Africa to join Jomo Cosmos and quickly stamped his authority as a no-nonsense defender. After joining Kaizer Chiefs he moved to Belgium where he played for Gent. His Dream Team is made up of mostly Chiefs and Cosmos because, as he puts it, “they were better than all the players I played with in Belgium”.

‘We must qualify for CAF’ • Brazilian defender Ricardo Nascimento never in his wildest of dreams imagined...