THE VOICE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL!
JANUARY 2020| ISSUEÂ 05
SOCCERZELA FEATURE!
THE GENIUS PITSO JOHN HAMILTON MOSIMANE 2019 AFRICAN FOOTBALL RECAP FEATURE!
IN-DEPTH 2019 CAF AWARDS PREVIEW
HEART TOUCHING OPEN LETTER TO 'MLUNGISI'
EXCLUSIVE! PAGE 23
THE FOOTBALLER THAT STOPPED A CIVIL WAR
JANUARY 2020 | FREE
WWW.SOCCERZELA.CO.ZA
 DECEMBER 2019 | ISSUE 124
EDITOR'S NOTE Hello 2020! Firstly, on behalf of the entire Soccerzela team we would like to wish all of our readers a happy New Year. We made it, phew, Issue number 5 is here and it came with a lot of reflection. 2019 was an amazing year of football for Africa. I mean it's not often that three Africans share the coveted English Premier League Golden Boot! In Issue 5, we took the opportunity to celebrate arguably one of the most successful coaches on the entire African continent in the form of Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane while we also re-lived the historical moment of Ivory Coast's 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification which was historic for both footballing and nonfootballing reasons. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Zaahid Nanabhay Editor-in-chief
Join the fast-growing Soccerzela online community: @soccerzela Soccerzela @Soccerzelaza +27 81 780 8942 www.soccerzela.co.za
SOCCERZELA
CONTENTS 05
THE VOICE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL
05 FEATURE!
PITSO THE GENIUS EXCLUSIVE!
10 THEFOOTBALLER THAT ENDED A CIVIL WAR
15
FEATURE
2019 CAF AWARDS BREAKDOWN
10
18
18 AFRICAN FOOTBALL RECAP FOOTBALL RECAP FROM 32 2019 ABROAD
33 OPEN LETTER
SUPERFAN SENDS 'MLUNGISI' AN OPEN LETTER 2019 AFRICAN FOOTBALL RECAP
MORE THAN FOOTBALL DROGBA
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THE GENIUS - PITSOÂ JOHN HAMILTON MOSIMANEÂ BY ZAAHID NANABHAY
Pitso John Hamilton Mosimane is a coach who has captivated African media more than any other in the 21st century - a managerial juggernaut that has powered through success and controversy alike however when push comes to shove, none (and I mean it, literally none) can deny the fact the ' Jingles' has taken South African football to a whole new level. He has helped write his own legend with spectacular triumphs on the pitch, talkative behaviour off it, and sabre-toothed soundbites from which not many in football could count themselves safe from..
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A potted history of Mosimane's career is littered with trophies, and it isn't difficult to see how he forged such a high opinion of himself. He began his managerial career in the early 2000's with SuperSport United, where he spent six seasons before being roped in by the national team Bafana Bafana. Mosimane first served as an assistant coach before being named head coach of Bafana Bafana in 2010. He then joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2012 and as the saying goes, the rest is history.
Pitso was born on the west of Johannesburg and in a place known as Kagiso Township on the 26th of July, 1964. Consequently, the coach is currently 55 years old. I think one of the key things about Pitso is that, while While other Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches focus on domestic success in the lucrative league and cup competitions on offer in the country‚ Mosimane has always firmly stated that his focus is a bigger picture.
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Now, with elite level status, so comes scrutiny and criticism of the same caliber. Many will argue that Mamelodi Sundowns are only at the level they're at because of the millions of Rands club owner Patrice Motsepe has pumped into his team however the important thing to note is that a talent-laden squad never equates to instant success. Mosimane has fine tuned his Sundowns team to a level that even if he faces a 'more expensive' or 'talent enriched' team, he is able to tactically overpower them and I'm going to give you an example of what I'm saying: 06 April 2019, the venue is Loftus Versfeld, it was a massacre! Pitso Mosimane's Mamelodi Sundowns side which was valued at more than half (8 Million Euros) thumped the most successful team in African history Al Ahly, who was valued a whopping 17 Million Euros purely based on tactics. Pitso is further able to compete on 3, 4 and sometimes five fronts. The Absa Premiership has grown to be one of the most inconsistent leagues in terms of result with any team being able to defeat any team on the day but Mosimane has successfully managed to dominate the Absa Premiership winning a total of 4 titles in 6 years.
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Despite his league triumphs, none compares to that of the CAF Champions League title he won in 2016 taking his status to not only of South Africa's finest but placing him among the cream of the crop on the entire continent.
His talkative nature has always placed him in hot-water however many forget that a master tactician like Pitso never speaks in vain. His 'let the league go where it's supposed to go' theme for 2018/19 proved to be a trump card in taking the attention away title contenders Orlando Pirates, who were playing some of the best football the Buccaneers have played in recent years and placing it on the administration of the league. The truth is, like a handful of elite coaches, Pitso knowns how to shape the narrative that best suits his purpose. Pitso's trophy Cabinet: Absa Premiership: 2013/14, 2015/16, 2017/18 and 2018/19 (Mamelodi Sundowns) SAA Super 8: 2004 (SuperSport United) Nedbank Cup: 2005 (SuperSport United) AND 2015 (Mamelodi Sundowns) Telkom Knockout: 2015 and 2019 (Mamelodi Sundowns) CAF Champions League: 2016 (Mamelodi Sundowns) CAF Super Cup: 2016 Mamelodi Sundowns
Some famous yet hilarious Pitso Mosimane quotes (on a lighter note) : “They have a very good goalkeeper in Elvis Chipezeze. He deserved man of the match for playing. He deserved man of the match for killing time. He is the best in killing time. He is another level. He did it against Pirates so many times limping. How can you limp so many times and you manage to play the full game? When it goes to penalties you dive without limping. It reminds me of the AS Vita keeper here. He is good keeper, there is no doubt, and deserved the man of the match award. But when somebody does that how do you crown him man of the match? Where is fair play?” - After drawing goalless against Baroka FC, he blamed their goalkeeper for time wasting tactics. “They come to South Africa and they want to bully us? No. We are even local. We know what to do. If people bully us we give it back. Gone are the days. … The North Africans are always bullying everybody. Always. They bully referees‚ they bully everybody. They don’t want to lose. They are going to lose tonight. We beat them fair and square. Two legitimate goals. They must go home. When we lose at Wydad‚ in Casa‚ we don’t do anything. We walk out properly. What is all this? Wydad are use to winning and bullying and pushing the referees and everybody. Not in Atteridgeville.” - After Sundowns beat nemesis Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca 2-1 in a fiery Caf Champions League Group A game at Lucas Moripe Stadium on January 19: “If we benefited‚ it is about time. In this PSL league‚ people benefit and I’m happy to go three more games [with benefits]. If it was not offside‚ I don’t care. I’m waiting to benefit also. Some people benefit in a series of five games in a row [a veiled reference to Chiefs]. So I want to [benefit] also and I’m not ashamed of that. I’m happy‚ I don’t care.” Pitso on the theme of benefiting after there were questions whether Judas Moseamedi’s late overruled offside goal for Maritzburg near the end of December’s TKO final should have stood‚ as Downs won 2-1
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“We are in this game to have our say and I’ll say it the way it is. Don’t take it personal. The problem is that people take it personal with me. I’m just talking. Why do you take me seriously? It is an opinion. It doesn’t mean I’m right. I might be wrong and I’m happy to be wrong but you must show me when I’m wrong. But I always like to talk on facts. The problem is the third force team in the country (Mameldoi Sundowns). This team is making too much noise,” - Pitso Mosimane.
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THE FOOTBALLER THAT STOPPED A CIVIL WAR By Mazibuko Am Having just qualified for the 2006 World Cup, the Ivorian team sang and danced joyously. Conducting the team’s lavish celebrations was Ivory Coast’s number 11, Didier Drogba, or “Didi” as he is affectionately known as, was singing from the very top of an already glittering professional career. Not only was he leading the line at one of Europe’s biggest clubs in Chelsea, he had just booked his place at the pinnacle of competition, helping end his country’s 76-year wait to qualify for its first ever World Cup however at the same time the Ivory Coast was embroiled in a bloody civil war which would kill an estimated 4,000 people and displaced over 1 million. PAGE 11 | SOCCERZELA
23
The Ivorian Civil War began ten days
The protections enjoyed under
after Didier Drogba’s international
Houphouët-Boigny’s regime were
debut against South Africa. Starting
long gone, and the northerners took
up front alongside Feyenoord’s
up arms to defend themselves. In
Bonaventure Kalou, this 0–0 draw
2002, the civil war began between
would be an innocuous start to a
government forces under Gbagbo
career with Les Éléphants that would
and rebels called New Forces who
unravel into one unparalleled in its
had secured strategic victories by
influence, especially off the pitch.
capturing several towns and cities in the north, with their headquarters
With much of the groundwork laid by
in the predominantly Muslim city of
controversial policy changes in the
Bouaké.
mid-90s, a military coup in 1999, and deep-rooted resentment between the
There was a failed attempt to take
predominantly Muslim north and
hold of Abidjan, Drogba’s home city
Christian south, the story of the
and the country’s economic capital,
conflict in the Ivory Coast and
but they were met by resistance
Drogba’s mediation efforts are
from government troops and the
incomplete without a brief history
peacekeeping envoy from France.
lesson on the circumstances that led
The violence would continue for
to them.
almost two years: an endless cycle of failed peace agreements, power-
When the military overthrew Bédié’s
sharing attempts, and death.
government in 1999, and a new election was called in 2000, the National Assembly upheld the law
"I left Cote d’Ivoire with a
that excluded Ouattara from
certain image: It was beautiful,
competing five years earlier, leading
its streets were lovely, there
to a victory for Laurent Gbagbo—
was greenery everywhere and
another southern Christian. With the
people were happy. And when I
Ivorian economy experiencing a downturn, the Burkinabé became the scapegoats as nationalists from the south challenged their ‘purity’ and right to vote.
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came back a few years later, I saw a real change. That's when I started asking myself questions," Drogba said. NOMADIC
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24
23
After a 3-1 victory in Sudan to secure
The idea of sports and politics
their place, scenes of jubilation from
existing in separate worlds has
within the dressing room were
always been a fallacy that
relayed to the world. Amidst this
conveniently ignores the fact that,
outpouring of euphoria, then captain
for better or worse, when eleven
Cyril Domoraud had invited a
men or women file out to represent
member of the media to join them.
their nation, they are ambassadors for their country’s beliefs and
While filming for Radio Télévision
policies. International football, by
Ivoirienne, Drogba was handed a
its very nature, is politics.
microphone. “Men and women of the Ivory Coast…” he began earnestly,
“Pardonnez!” – “Forgive! Forgive
momentarily quelling the
one another!” Over the outbreak of
celebrations of his teammates. With
desperate cries, from Kolo Touré,
an unwavering gaze, he looked
Emmanuel Eboué to Arouna Koné,
straight into the lens and continued:
from Muslim and Christian, to
“From the north, south, centre, and
Baolé and Bété, Drogba begged his
west. We proved today that all
fellow Ivorians: “Forgive! Forgive!
Ivorians can co-exist and play
Forgive! The one country in Africa
together with a shared aim: to
with so many riches must not
qualify for the World Cup.”
descend into war. Please lay down your weapons. Hold elections. All
The enormity of his words didn’t hit
will be better.”
Drogba until the next day when the team flew back to Abidjan, and he
Rising to their feet, smiles once
realised his message had been
again spreading across their faces,
played on the main television and
the group resumed their jubilatory
radio news bulletins for hours on
song to the same tune, however
end. It would remain on loop for the
this time with revised lyrics: “We
next few weeks. This was football
want to have fun, so stop firing
and politics colliding yet again, as
your guns.”
they often do in Africa, despite FIFA’s best efforts to separate the two.
NOMADIC
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"I HAVE WON MANY TROPHIES IN MY TIME, BUT NOTHING WILL EVER TOP HELPING WIN THE BATTLE FOR PEACE IN MY COUNTRY. PEOPLE HAVE AN OPINION OF AFRICA AND IT IS NOT SO GOOD, BUT WE HAVE TO LET SPORT UNITE US ALL." - DIDIER DROGBA. PAGE 25 | SOCCERZELA
Africa's football elite will all descend in Egypt on the 7th of January 2020 for the annual Awards Evening
With the 2019 CAF Awards just a day away, the final nominees for each respective award has been revealed. Who are the elite of the elite and how were they chosen? Soccerzela is going to break it down for you: Top Three Selections: The shortlist of the top three nominees for each award category was reached following votes from a CAF Technical & Development Committee and a panel of media experts with emphasis on the nominees’ performance during the year under review, 2019. It also included votes from a select panel of CAF Legends, made up of former winners of the prestigious African Player of the Year award. The legends took part in the voting process for the Player of the Year (Men & Women). PAGE 15 | SOCCERZELA
Who decides who the eventual winner is from here on?
The final phase of voting for the men’s and women’s African Player of the Year, as well as the male and female Coach of the Year, will be selected by Head Coaches/Technical Directors and Captains of senior national teams from CAF Member Associations.
The newly formed Inter-club POTY award? The Interclubs Player of the Year will be decided upon by the Head Coaches and Captains of the group phase of the current season of CAF Interclubs competitions.
So who are the final nominees? South Africa is proudly represented by Banyana Banyana with 3 final nominations in the form of coach Desiree Ellis, reigning Queen of African Football Thembi Kgatlana and Amanda Mthandi for her wonder goal against Zimbabwe.
African Men's Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool) Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City) Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool) African Women’s Player of the Year: Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga) Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona) Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC) African Interclubs Player of the Year: Anice Badri (Tunisia & Esperance) Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek) Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)
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African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund) Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal) Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille) African Men’s Coach of the Year: Aliou Cisse (Senegal - Senegal) Djamel Belmadi (Algeria - Algeria) Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia - Esperance) African Women’s Coach of the Year: Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon) Desiree Ellis (South Africa) Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria) African Men’s National Team of the Year: Algeria Madagascar Senegal African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon Nigeria South Africa CAF Goal of the year 2019: (voted for by fans on the official CAF website) Amanda Mthandi (South Africa) vs Zimbabwe Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) vs Nigeria Abdoulaye Diaby (Mali) vs Mauritania Amadou Haidara (Mali) vs Angola Youcef Belaili (Algeria) vs Guinea Idris Mbombo (Al Hilal) vs Nkana FC PAGE 17 | SOCCERZELA
2019 FOOTBAL RECAP
2019 NEDBANK CUP CHAMPIONS: TS GALAXY FC
2019 ABSA PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS: MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
2019 CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: ESPERANCE DE TUNIS
2019 CAF CONFEDERATIONS CUP CHAMPIONS: ZAMALEK
2019 AFCON CHAMPIONS: ALGERIA
2019 MTN8 CHAMPIONS: ALGERIA
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2019 TKO CHAMPIONS: MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
2019 RECAP ABROAD ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE - MANCHESTER CITY LALIGA - BARCELONA SERIE A - JUVENTUS LIGUE 1 - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN BUNDESLIGA - BAYERN MUNICH COPA AMERICA - BRAZIL UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - LIVERPOOL UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - CHELSEA UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE - PORTUGAL FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - LIVERPOOL FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PAGE 32 | SOCCERZELA
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#ZelaFanVoice NURKOVIC BRINGING OUT THE ORCHESTRA - LEEJOY MASHABA Kaizer Chiefs hitman, Samir Nurkovic, has made the final thirds of the pitch a grave yard burying goals like there is no tomorrow.The Serbian born striker, nicknamed 'Kokota Piano' after the Kabza Da Small hit song, recorded his first hat-trick of the season as Chiefs put five past Celtic in an eight goal thriller. 'Piano' has found the rhythm and its melodic beats pleases ear drums. Nurkovic is lethal in front of goals and is a defender’s nightmare. At this rate, Nurkovic is set to bang twenty-plus this season. A feat we last saw ages ago.Sharing the goal scoring responsibilities is that of Nurkovic’s partner in crime, Leonardo Castro. Castro grabbed a brace on the night as Chiefs proved too strong for Siwelele. The duo was a nuisance to the Celtic back four and cruised with ease. The Serbian is now among the serial goal poachers in the league with eight goals along with Peter Shalulile and Knox Mutizwa.In his maiden season in the PSL, Nurkovic wasn't expected to hit the ground running. Football fans in the country tend to judge players that are unknown before they even make a debut. Piano didn't need time to acclimatise before winning the hard to please Chiefs supporters over. The Serbian is already a household name in the PSL.With the notes systematically connecting, the Piano melodies are too loud to the defenders.
COACHES COMMENTS CAN CAUSE HARM - ASANDA MASTERMIND LUTHULI LONG TIME AGO WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE CHIEFS SUPPORTERS AND OTHER TWO BIG TEAMS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SIT TOGETHER AND WATCH THE GAMES , ALWAYS SEPARATED. NOWADAYS WE CAN SEAT TOGETHER AND ENJOY THE GAME AND CHILL TOGETHER BUT A COACH OF PITSO'S CALIBER CAN SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SHAMEHE IS ENTITLED TO MAKE COMMENTS BUT TO MAKE SUCH ALLEGATION MOST SUPPORTERS WILL FIGHT WHENEVER THEIR TEAM LOST , SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WILL SAY IT IS AS A RESULT OF POOR REFEREEING PAGE 34 | SOCCERZELA
#ZelaFanVoice OPEN LETTER TO 'MLUNGISI' SOUR1 There are times in life where you feel like the whole universe has turned against you. The times where you loose the belief of your long time admirers. I'm a Buccaneers by heart and I always put the team first than any individual. Coach Rhulani Mokwena is going through a rough patch and some of those who have been backing him, including me, are starting to show some doubts on him. I'm backing him still and I see his capabilities but I won't stand against club chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, does he decide to find a new man to lead the ship. The young man had been with the team two seasons prior to his appointment as caretaker coach after the resignation of Serbian Milutin Sredejovic. He has played a lot of matches now, competing across three tournaments, but good results aren't really coming his way. He's a good figure at the team and not that his abilities are going unnoticed but he has don''t it all but still failed to bring winning mentality to the team. Or rather we may say, he has failed to use players with winning mentality. We've seen main stays of the recent seasons, like Luvuyo Memela, Musa Nyatama and Asavela Mbekile, being sidelined though their contribution to the team are known to everyone. You are indeed a top quality coach, Mr Mokwena and you're trully going to be a great asset in our country but you're just not in the good space now. Find the good space and make yourself a succesful career, Sooner rather than later. I'm one person who'll always be behind your back in or out of the Sea Robbers camp.
GABUZU IS FIXING THE COUNTRY - DJ MALINI SKHOKHO Supersport United striker Thamsanqa Gabuza has found a new lease of life in the capital city, regaining his form at the right time to help his side to MTN8 victory. LETS GET HIM BACK TO BAFANA BAFANA. MAYFAIR BOYS WILL REGRET TREATING HIM LIKE DIRT, MARK MY WORDS PAGE 35 | SOCCERZELA