inside: andile dlamini / Xabi alonso / bidvest wits poster / SaffaS StrUggling abroad / Uthongathi fc

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1 inside: andile dlamini / Xabi alonso / bidvest wits poster / SaffaS StrUggling abroad / Uthongathi fc

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3 AUGUST 2017 contents 10 HEART AND SOUL Siphiwe Tshabalala is a loyal servant Kaizer Chiefs can t do without 15 MAKE OR BREAK He isn t a fan favourite, but Thamsanqa Gabuza has plenty to offer Orlando Pirates SHORTS 4 FROM THE CLUBHOUSE 7 READERS LETTERS 18 REF S RAP 29 GETTING TO KNOW 30 POSTER 36 JANINE VAN WYK 41 NUMBERS GAME 48 FLASHBACK 58 EXPERT OPINION WIN 8 Samsung TV, Samsung Galaxy Tab, PSL replica jersey and Shoprite gift cards 16, 25, 39, 51 One of four R2 500 TFG gift cards FEATURES SCORE OR SUFFER Sibusiso Vilakazi still has plenty to prove at Mamelodi Sundowns NEW ORDER SoccerClub looks ahead to see what the upcoming PSL season may deliver A WINNING COMBINATION Daine Klate and Gavin Hunt will look to repeat Bidvest Wits heroics THE HOLY GRAIL Will we ever see a striker score 20 goals in a PSL campaign again? HIGH STAKES Cape Town City have taken a big gamble on appointing Benni McCarthy as coach NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Uthongathi FC want to make an impression in the NFD and have the PSL in their sights FRESH START Our Saffas abroad have struggled, but a new season brings renewed hope BRIGHT FUTURE Thabo Cele s displays for Amajita have secured a lucrative deal with Benfica 34 PSL GIANTS SoccerClub looks at 10 PSL seasons worth remembering 54 INTERNATIONAL WRAP SoccerClub takes a look at football action from around the globe 3

4 FROMTHECLUBHOUSE Embracing Technology Just as rugby s TMO and cricket s Third Umpire have become part of the game at the highest level, so the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will eventually be woven into the fabric of football. Having had trial runs at the 2016 Fifa Club World Cup, the U20 World Cup in May and the Confederations Cup in June, the VARs are due to be rolled out at next year s World Cup in Russia. There s no question that the VARs experienced teething problems at the Confederations Cup, but it would have been idealistic to expect the system to run without any hitches while technicalities are still being ironed out, particularly with the match officials said to have had only five days to prepare. It will take time for players, coaches and fans to get used to the system, but there s no turning back on an innovation that s long overdue, particularly at a time when referees decisions are being dissected from all angles thanks to the high number of high-definition cameras. Sure, it has been confusing at times for everyone to come to terms with a goal being disallowed after consultation with the VAR or one being confirmed after a few minutes while the two teams wait for the referee s final decision. HOW TO JOIN THE CLUB CALL (Between 08:30 and 17:00) SMS SOCCER and your account number to *Standard SMS rates apply But any fan, while bemoaning the time spent making the decision, will in the end be happy that the right decision has been made and that the outcome of the game has not been affected by a wrong decision by either the referee or one of his assistants. Fifa president Gianni Infantino expressed his happiness with the VAR, noting that the Confederations Cup trial would help improve the process and fine-tune communications. Clearly a start has to your account number or ID number to soccerclub@tfg.co.za NOT A TFG ACCOUNT HOLDER AND WANT TO SUBSCRIBE? Great News! You can now subscribe for six to 12 months via debit order or once-off payment and win a R100 TFG shopping voucher! Ts&Cs apply MOGAMAD ALLIE SoccerClub Editor SMS SMS SOCCER + your feedback to and you may win a PSL replica jersey to the value of R899! Remember to include your account number in your message be made somewhere and the system can only get better with more regular use. While admitting the video reviews haven t always looked good, saying faster, clearer communication was needed, Fifa s head of refereeing, Massimo Busacca, believes the VARs prevented mistakes that could have affected the outcome of several games. The big challenge for Fifa is to convince more member federations to help by using video reviews in their domestic competitions so match officials can familiarise themselves with the system. This is crucial if the VARs are to be used efficiently and effectively at next year s World Cup. Financing the implementation of the system will be challenging, particularly in Africa, where there are other priorities, such as providing better infrastructure and playing conditions. TOLGA BOZOGLU/BACKPAGEPIX 4

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