Kick Off April 2021

When Manchester City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko was marking Percy Tau in a league match against Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this year, he was confused and lost like a sheep on astroturf as he twisted and turned chasing shadows throughout the match. Tau, who was making his long-awaited league debut after spending three years on loan in Belgium while waiting for his United Kingdom work permit, was making a meal out of the Ukrainian. And after the match South African fans were buzzing with excitement on social media, praising Tau’s performance while looking forward to more like that from him in future. Even though Pep Guardiola’s side won the match 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium, Tau’s performance was enough to convince even the most sceptical English commentators and pundits. Three…

What lies ahead for SuperSport? To air your views, email your letters to forum@kickoff.com The views expressed in the letters published do not reflect the views of KICK OFF magazine, its editor, publisher or CT Media Publications (Pty) Ltd. The editor reserves the right to edit and shorten letters. Letters shorter than 200 words will be given preference. Please note there are no prizes for star letters at this time. SuperSport media and Engen have dumped SuperSport United as main and subsponsors, respectively. Now it is believed that the Tshwane club will be sold at the end of the season. Mamelodi Sundowns have already identified Sipho Mbule, the young, dynamic midfielder as their target, while Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are believed to be eyeing Bafana Bafana duo of goalkeeper…

Let’s honour Jomo Sono I think it is time that SAFA, if not South Africa as a Republic, should honour Jomo Sono for his contribution to the football fraternity. Jomo’s name should be recognised, he’s been too productive for SA football, but our government seems to be too blind to see that. If you still remember the squad that won us the 1996 Afcon, it was made up of Jomo Sono’s products. The likes of Helman Mkhalele and Mark Fish, just to mention a few. Remember, it is the same squad that represented us at the 1998 World Cup in France. With another product of Jomo Sono, Phil Masinga, whose goal against Congo-Brazzaville in 1997 qualified us for France. The very same Jomo Sono took us to the Afcon in…

GOOD MONTH FOR … MAMELODI SUNDOWNS The Brazilians became the first team in 12 years to beat DR Congo giants TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi in a CAF Champions League match with a 2-1 success, and in doing so made a major statement about their potential to win the competition this season. BAD MONTH FOR … SOUTHAMPTON The Saints suffered a humiliating 9-0 loss to Manchester United in the English Premier League … just a little over a year since they were also hammered 9-0 by Leicester City! In both instances they had a player sent off very early in the game. ALSO LAST MONTH… Bongani Zungu lifts the Scottish Premier League title with Glasgow Rangers having returned to the squad following a suspension for breaching COVID-19 protocols. TTM’s January transfer…

Yet another season – the sixth in a row – will come to come to pass with Kaizer Chiefs having failed to lift any silverware after firing blanks and raising questions about what kind of solutions will be needed to change the club’s fortunes. For all the hope that Ernst Middendorp created last term as they came within half-an-hour of lifting the league title, the evidence of what has been seen this season shows that they have deteriorated. Was sacking Ernst Middendorp through such a period a sensible idea? Couldn’t he have at least been allowed to complete this season considering that it was already known the club would not be able to make signings? In terms of playing personnel, the question that should be answered at the end of…

Kaizer Chiefs have 11 players who are already over 30 in their underperforming squad. If they are to plan for the future, then the chopping should start with the oldest who are making minimal contribution in the team. The older crew also makes up the high earners. There is Itumeleng Khune, Bernard Parker, Willard Katsande, Lebogang Manyama, Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat. Daniel Akpeyi, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Daniel Cardoso, Erick Mathoho and Kgotso Moleko follow closely behind. “Nothing was going to go right this season for Chiefs, knowing very well that they cannot sign new players. What is happening at Chiefs is a big knock for Gavin,” says former Chiefs midfielder Robert Nauseb. “Some of the mistakes that have been made by Khune have been questionable. Does he want the coach…