MBESUMA MAYAMBELA KAMO A BIG YEAR AHEAD FOR MOTUPA & MASUKU. REVERSE AGE-CHEAT COMES CLEAN! Page 14. WHY I HAD TO LEAVE CHIPPA Page 18

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1 February 2016 ISSUE NUMBER 466 R15 00 (R1.84 VAT INCL.) OTHER COUNTRIES R13 16 (TAX EXCL.) NAMIBIA N$15 00 (TAX INCL.) 22 YEARS OF SOCCER AT ITS BEST! A BIG YEAR AHEAD FOR MOTUPA & MASUKU MBESUMA REVERSE AGE-CHEAT COMES CLEAN! Page 14 MAYAMBELA WHY I HAD TO LEAVE CHIPPA Page 18 KAMO WHY AM I IGNORED? Page 60

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EDS LETTER KICK OFF, PO Box 16368, Vlaeberg 8018 Tel: (021) 408 3525 Fax: (021) 408 3917 Email: forum@kickoff.com Website: www.kickoff.com Mobile: kickoff.

3 EDS LETTER KICK OFF, PO Box 16368, Vlaeberg 8018 Tel: (021) Fax: (021) Website: Mobile: kickoff.com/mobile Facebook: Kick Off Magazine KICK OFF TEAM EDITOR Richard Maguire DIGITAL EDITOR Ryan Cooper MANAGING EDITOR Ian Williams AUDIENCE DEVELOPER Themba Mntambo SENIOR WRITER Zola Doda REPORTERS Fabio De Dominicis, Chad Klate, Lovemore Moyo DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCERS Stephen Kihn, Mark Herman SENIOR DESIGNER Monique Petersen PRODUCTION MANAGER Kerry Nash CONTRIBUTORS: Katherine Clulow, Ernest Fakude, Neil Greig, Maher Mezahi, Sipho Mlotha, Akho Ntshanga, Nick Said, Colin Udoh, Tiyani wa ka Mabasa, Andrew Young, Makhosonke Zuma FOUNDING EDITOR Mark Gleeson PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS & PUBLISHING GENERAL MANAGER, LIFESTYLE: Charlene Beukes MEDIA24 LIFESTYLE CFO: Raj Lalbahadur GENERAL MANAGER, LEISURE: Louise Meny-Gibert KICK OFF ADVERTISING SALES: BOXSMART MEDIA: Ulric Hargreaves Bryan Barnett FIVE-TWELVE MEDIA BROKERAGE: Paul Goddard ADVERTISING HEAD OF ADVERTISING SALES: Yvonne Shaff HEAD OF SALES SECTORS: Craig Nicholson CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS HEAD OF CIRCULATION: Gadija Gamaldien CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riaan Weyers SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER: Jenny Marinus ENQUIRIES AND RENEWALS: Outside of South Africa 27 (21) (tel) 27 (21) (fax) Our operating hours are: 08:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday Website: ALL SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENTS TO: Kick Off, PO Box 16428, Vlaeberg month subscription: R256 (incl. postage and VAT) PRINTING Paarl Media Cape DISTRIBUTION On The Dot, 2 Herb Street, Nieu Doornfontein, 2094 Copyright 1994 Touchline Media (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission. FORM vs CLASS OPEN THE DEBATE W elcome back to club action after a month-and-ahalf that felt like a PSL drought. This issue kicks off with a bang or at very least the players we feature in the issue are. Cover star George Lebese is leading the goal-scoring charts for Kaizer Chiefs; read about the players who inspire him and his goals for 2016 on page 6. We dig deep with goalscoring chart-topper Collins Mbesuma who gives us a startling revelation about his real age get the full scoop on page 14! On page 30 we bring you exciting rising stars Gift Motupa, Menzi Masuku and Phakamani Mahlambi. Our centre-spread is the first installment of our Sedgwicks Top 100 Footballers collection. We know that football is a team game, but there is nothing like the brilliance of an individual to set a pitch and our hearts on fire. Over the next few months you will be able to collect our Top 100 footballers in the world including Africa s top 20 based on their form since the start of 2015, taking into account the permanence of class versus the sometimes fleeting nature of form. Some names may surprise you, many will ignite argument as the selection criteria appear to sideline some legends of the game.take for example Andrea Pirlo, whose sublime art is rendered less persuasive in a weaker league; or John Terry, whose physicality no longer Class is permanent Collins Mbesuma storms down the line against Bidvest Wits. The veteran striker scores twice on the night to take his senior career tally to 100 goals matches his tactical brilliance. You ll find some unfamiliar names too we urge you to take an open-minded approach towards these players, who are showing that their form is not just a flash-in-the-pan. Don t make the mistake of writing a player off just because he is not famous in Mzansi! And, talking of great players, we salute the heroes of the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, and recall the spirit of Madiba as we remember Bafana Bafana s greatest triumph on page 64. We also pose a question around Europe s two powerhouse clubs Barcelona versus Bayern Munich which is better? It s an edition that should inspire you to question, recall, learn and start debating! Richard Maguire, Editor COMPETITION AND GIVEAWAY RULES 1. The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 2. The prizes are not transferable and may not be converted to cash. 3.Multiple entries will not be considered. 4. If possible, please supply a residential rather than a PO Box address, as entries sent by registered post will not be collected. 5. Staff members of Media24 (Ltd.), as well as their advertising agencies and immediate family members may not enter. 6. Winners indemnify and hold KICK OFF and Media24 (Ltd.) harmless against any liability, claim, damage or loss resulting from participation and winning of prizes. 7. By entering you agree to receive further communications and direct marketing materials from Media24 (Ltd.). 8. Letter of the month is chosen at the editor s discretion and the winner will be notified telephonically or via . news on your phone: kickoff.com/mobile FEBRUARY

4 PICTURE SYDNEY MAHLANGU/ BACKPAGEPIX(1) 4 FEBRUARY 2016 visit

CONTENTS February 2016 The beautiful game Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies were crowned Sasol League National Champions after beating Cape Town Roses 5-0 in the final in Sasolburg 6 Derby days Players and

5 CONTENTS February 2016 The beautiful game Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies were crowned Sasol League National Champions after beating Cape Town Roses 5-0 in the final in Sasolburg 6 Derby days Players and fans alike are looking forward to the next big showdown 10 George Lebese Chiefs midfielder is hitting top form just when it matters 14 Collins Mbesuma How the captain s armband has spurred the striker on 18 In the Clubhouse Mayambela makes his move north from Chippa 20 On the Ball Stars pay homage to their former coach... What happened to Frank Makua? Best of the best with Shaun Bartlett 30 Rising Stars Young heroes of the Under-23s are setting the local league on fire 34 The Road to Rio Owen de Gama is upbeat about our Olympic chances 42 Komphela s Chiefs challenge How long before Steve tastes glory? 46 James Keene The well-travelled striker aims to bring extra bite to the Wits attack 50 Wayne Arendse After seasons in the doldrums, the defender is making his mark 54 Kudakwashe Mahachi Sharpening Arrows attack 56 Janine van Wyk Gearing up for Rio 58 Make a date Is it time to revert to a February-November calendar? 60 Kamo Mokotjo If you can survive in Holland, you can survive anywhere. 64 Bafana 1996 How Barker s men brought home the trophy 68 Barça v Bayern Which one is the ultimate team? 72 Fashion How to dress to have fun in the sun 74 Stuff we like We review the latest watches, music and books 76 Readers write Your views on the game s biggest talking points 79 Beat the player Test your knowledge against the stars 80 Laugh Out Loud The crazy world of footballers and fans 82 Secret Footballer Overeating in the festive season can lead to problems news on your phone: kickoff.com/mobile FEBRUARY

SARR: PLUS: BAROKA S PSL PLAN MPHELA I M NOT FINISHED! MY FAREWELL GIFT TO BUCS YEARS OF SOCCER AT ITS BEST!

SARR: PLUS: BAROKA S PSL PLAN MPHELA I M NOT FINISHED! MY FAREWELL GIFT TO BUCS YEARS OF SOCCER AT ITS BEST! July 2016 ISSUE NUMBER 471 R15.00 (VAT INCL.) R16.00 (FOREIGN COUNTRIES) NAMIBIA N$17.50 22 YEARS OF SOCCER AT ITS BEST! SARR: MY FAREWELL GIFT TO BUCS PLUS: www.kickoff.com BAROKA S PSL PLAN MPHELA I