FT Hidden Gems Series: Daddy-Ajala Moses Simon

Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur holds off Moses Simon of Gent during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and KAA Gent at Wembley Stadium on February 23, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

(Feb. 22, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

It is that time again where we dive into those African talents that seldom meets the eye. Yes, we are talking about the FirstTouch Africa’s Hidden Gems. We profiled players like Adama Traore, Ademola Lookman, Tinotenda Kadewere, among others and we identified the attributes that make them unique. Africa still has a lot more to offer in with talents like these that are often overlooked by the limelight. As we continue with the series, we focus our attention on Moses Simon, the Nigerian forward who plays for Levante in the Spanish La Liga.

Last appearance

Moses Daddy-Ajala Simon was a 73rd minute substitute in Levante’s match against Sevilla at Estadi Ciutat de València on the 23rd of September, 2018. The home team fell to a disappointing 6-2 defeat in front of their own fans and the African player on the rise was nowhere to be found on the pitch. He was demoted to the bench and could also not help his team early on in the match in their last outing in the Spanish La Liga. However, his late cameo managed to add pressure to the Seville club as they claimed an own goal that was conceded by Kjaer. Initially, it was thought to be Daddy Simon’s goal as he shot from the left side of the box with his left foot but it was later announced that it was an own goal. His impact was too little too late for a comeback.

“Although he was adamant that he could play, the coaching staff decided to leave him out of the Nigerian squad as he was not 100% fit. That’s how the forward missed out on the action in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Injuries

Moses Simon of Nigeria looks on during the International Friendly match between Nigeria and Senegal at The Hive on March 23, 2017 in Barnet, England.

(March 22, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

Levante’s match against Sevilla was Moses Simon’s debut for the season after he had picked up a hamstring injury back in August. This type of injury is common among pacy athletes and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is a prime example of a star player who struggled with these type of injuries since joining the club. The Nigerian international fought back to make it to the bench on Sunday before coming on for the club that just recently acquired him on a five-year deal from KAA Gent.

Furthermore, the Nigerian’s hopes of a world cup dream was dashed as he was ruled out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia squad of the Super Eagles due to a hip injury. Although he was adamant that he could play, the coaching staff decided to leave him out of the Nigerian squad as he was not 100% fit. That's how the forward missed out on the action in the world cup that was eventually lifted by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Samuel Umtiti and Benjamin Mendy.

Style of play

Although the 23-year old’s debut was enough to show that the African player is a goal threat,

17 minutes on the field of play were too brief to comprehend all his attributes. The pacy forward is aggressive in the final third which is probably the reason why Levante invested £4.5million to bring him to their club.

Also, Moses Simon can play as a stand in winger. Most African players playing in Europe have been deployed in various positions which aren't their best but they still do the job. Daddy is no different. He can play on either wings and his pace is a deadly threat. He however, has to compete with the likes of the resurged Iwobi and the newcomer, Ademola Lookman for a place in the starting lineup for his national side, the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Final note

Previous links to transfer to the likes of Liverpool before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia just shows why Moses is such a top quality player who could be on the move to a bigger club in the near future.

English Premier League Round Up: Matchday 5

Cardiff City vs Manchester City (Saturday, 22 September 2018)

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Manchester City at Cardiff City Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 21, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)

Pep Guardiola’s men thumped the home team by five goals to nil and the Algerian international made a mark in this game. Mahrez scored two goals on the day which are his first goals for the Premier League champions.

Manchester United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (Saturday, 22 September 2018)

Ivorian centre back Eric Bailly’s struggles continued as he was benched again on Saturday when the Manchester club played Wolves. The defender was not available to help his team who were disappointing in front of their fans at the “Theater of Dreams”. It was also Sir Alex Ferguson’s first appearance back at the club since being discharged from the hospital. United drew 0-0 with Wolves.

Liverpool vs Southampton (Saturday, 22 September 2018)

It was the Cameroonian international, Joel Matip’s debut for the season as his club took on the Saints. He marked his return to the first team with a goal on the 21st minute courtesy of a brilliantly taken corner kick by Trent Alexander Arnold.

Also, another African player made it on the scoresheet for Liverpool. English Premier League top goal scorer for the 2017/18 season, Mohamed Salah, scored Liverpool’s third in a 3-0 victory against Van Dijk’s old club. This result means that Liverpool maintain their perfect start to the season with five straight victories in the league. Watch out for the African connection at this club!

Joel Matip of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on September 22, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 21, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

Brighton vs Tottenham (Saturday, 22 September 2018)

Tottenham grinded out a 2-1 win away from home. The main highlight from this match for us was the fact that Vincent Wanyama did not play yet again. The African player seems to have fallen out of favor at the London club which raises questions about his future. The Kenyan midfielder is too talented to be wasted on the bench at any club having been denied the opportunity to get some game time in the UEFA Champions League opener against Inter Milan.

Lucas Moura and VIctor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur FC play around while visting Venice Beach on July 24, 2018 in Venice, California.

(July 23, 2018 - Source: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America)

West Ham vs Chelsea (Sunday, 23 September 2018)

We were keen to see two African players in action, with DR Congo international, Masuaku playing in his preferred left back role for West Ham United as well as Victor Moses being preferred on the right hand side of an attacking three for Chelsea. It was unfortunate to see Sari rotating that position bringing on William ahead of the Nigerian international who recently announced his retirement with an intention to focus on his career with Chelsea. Both teams had little to separate them as the game ended in another goalless draw.

Arsenal vs Everton (Sunday, 23 September 2018)

Gabonese international striker, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang continued his goal scoring form for Arsenal as he scored the second goal for the club in a 2-0 victory against Everton. The first was scored by fellow striker, Alexandre Lacazette who has formed a bromance with the former Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan striker. Nigerian midfielder, Alex Iwobi could only come off the bench for Aubameyang after his stellar performances in mid week where he was by far the man of the Match for Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava.

FT Hidden Gem Series: On the rise, Senegal's Ismaila Sarr

“Sarr’s fast. He’s Mane fast. It must be a Senegalese thing. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Remember the world cup star boy? The name that people were looking forward to behold when Senegal played ought to be the Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane, but the African team had much more to offer in terms of depth with the young winger, Ismaila Sarr, stealing the show. The young forward was a surprise starter in the team ahead of the highly rated Keita Balde Diao and he never disappointed. His work-rate on the right flank warranted him a special mention in FirstTouch’s Hidden Gem Series. In this one, we catch up with what the player has been up to as well as making mention of the things that you might not have known about the player before his bow at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

UEFA Europa League Stunner

Metz' Senegalese midfielder Ismaila Sarr (R) vies for the ball with Caen's French midfielder Julien Feret during the French L1 football match between Metz (FCM) and Caen (SMC) on April 15, 2017 at Saint Symphorien stadium in Longeville-Les-Metz, eastern France. . / AFP PHOTO / Jean Christophe VERHAEGEN

(April 14, 2017 - Source: AFP)

On Thursday, 20th of September, Ismaila star made the headlines for scoring a stunner in a UEFA Europa League match between his club, Stade Rennais and FK Jablonec. He received the ball on the left wing before playing a one two with a player in front of the arch before rifling in a short from 25 yards out which landed in the top right corner. There was only so much the keeper could do to stop Sarr’s opener. His club went on to win the match 2-1 thanks to another goal scored by Hartem Ben Arfa, another French player with African roots.

His start to the 2018/19 season

Sarr’s star has not been shy of goals having already scored 2 in the French Ligue 1 in just four starts. That’s an average of a goal in every 180 minutes. That is not actually a bad return for a 20-year old player still trying to find his feet at a new club which he moved to a little over a year ago. The Senegalese international is set to take Europe by storm having seen how other young players like Kylian Mbappe have developed their skills in the same league and have gone on to join Paris Saint Germain in a record breaking deal for a teenager. This should serve as enough motivation to up his game and impress Europe’s bigger sisters who can take his game to the next level. The player, however, looks happy and settled in Sabri Lamouchi’s team which is a positive for the club if they are to bring the best out of the African. The UEFA Europa League fixtures for Stade Rennais will be a priceless opportunity to see the young talent as he fares against some better opponents from across Europe. Fingers crossed that he won’t get any bad injuries which tend to slow most players’ progress.

Sarr’s Roots

Ismaila Sarr of Senegal and Juan Quintero of Colombia in action during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Senegal and Colombia at Samara Arena on June 28, 2018 in Samara, Russia.

(June 27, 2018 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Europe)

You must be curious to find out how these amazing talents are identified, developed, and scouted to play for such teams. Ismaila Sarr was born in Saint-Louis, Senegal. He started his career at Generation Foot, a Senegalese football club in 2009. The player then signed for FC Metz, a French team in Ligue 2 on 13 July 2016. The skills he possessed in his locker could not allow him to respect his 5-year contract with the club as Stade Rennais came calling for his services just a year later. He has been with the club ever since.

What you need to know about him?

1. Sarr’s fast. He’s Mane fast. It must be a Senegalese thing.

2. The youngster is hard working. He has the energy to drop back and help out the defenders when out of possession.

3. He’s unorthodox. Sarr is unpredictable sometimes when in possession but that does not take away his quality contribution to the team.

4. He’s young which means there is a lot more to come from him.

FirstTouch sheds the light on the African players that seem to be under the radar. Sarr’s the latest. Follow him in his career as he plays for Stade Rennais and the Senegalese national team.

Reminiscing the globetrotting career of Kevin Prince-Boateng

“After playing for ten European clubs across the Bundesliga, English Premier League ,and the Italian Serie A, he is still going and doesn’t look like he will hang his boots anytime soon.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

There is so much to talk about when it comes to the career of the peculiar Ghanaian, Kevin Prince Boateng. Who does not remember his days at AC Milan when he played with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and crew or his heroic efforts at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa where Ghana proudly carried the weight of the entire continent on its shoulders. The half-brother to the German footballer, Jerome Boateng, has enjoyed an illustrious career but it was not all rainbows and unicorns. The player came from humble beginnings and faced many setbacks to be where he is today. This is the untold story of an African child and star, Kevin Prince Boateng.

Humble Beginnings

Kevin-Prince Boateng of AC Milan wears th jersey against racism during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AC Siena at San Siro Stadium on January 6, 2013 in Milan, Italy.

(Jan. 5, 2013 - Source: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe)

The Ghanaian international was born in Germany and started his career at Hertha Berlin. He was not quite an early bloomer as he made his first team debut at the age of 20. He later moved to Tottenham in a deal reported to be worth £5.4million. His success at the club was limited and got loaned to Borussia Dortmund in 2009 where he had a decent showing in front of the Dortmund fans. Financial constraints meant that the club could not secure his services on a permanent basis which later saw him moving to Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Days

It was at Portsmouth that he started showing signs of a potential World Cup player despite his issues with anger management. Although he led his club to the FA Cup final, he also went on to injure Michael Ballack’s ankle in retaliation to a slap that he claimed to have received from German international who was at Chelsea at the time. That is the incident that made him unpopular among the German fans. Kevin Prince-Boateng then moved to Genoa in 2010 who immediately loaned him to AC Milan who made it permanent a year later.

The Big Move

The move to Milan is what brought attention to an attacking prodigy that had been flying under the radar. In the past decade, not many Africans were being trusted in that Number 10 role that players like Mesut Ozil have made a name for themselves in. It's quite difficult to remember one who played in that position aside from Kevin Prince. Since then, only Younes Belhanda and Ziyech are the notable Africans who have played as an attacking midfielder in Europe. Boateng  became a highlight reel at the club where he won the Italian Serie A in the 2010/11 season before following that up with the Super Coppa Italiana later that year.

Fight against Racism

Kevin Prince Boateng and Jonathan Mensah of Ghana challenge Jozy Altidore of the United States during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Round of Sixteen match between USA and Ghana at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 26, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa.

(June 25, 2010 - Source: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images Europe)

Several Milan players were the targets of racial chants from a section of the Pro Patria crowd in a friendly match back in 2013. The former Ghanaian international reacted by kicking the ball into the stands before leaving the pitch, and his teammates followed him off.

Life after Milan

Boateng has always been on the move as he has played for FC Schalke, Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sassuolo since his departure from Milan in 2013. He, however, had a brief spell when he returned to the Italian club in 2016 but it was short lived as his contract was canceled by the club by mutual consent. Kevin is still pretty much an active footballer wearing the Sassuolo colors and turned 31 in March. After playing for ten European clubs across the Bundesliga, English Premier League and Italian Serie A, he is still going and doesn’t look like he will hang his boots soon.

What’s your favorite memory of Kevin Prince-Boateng?

Ghezzal and Seri, two match winners to watch out for this Premier League weekend

“It’s all about building up that confidence and getting some look good statistics next to their names now and forever. This weekend is one such opportunity, will the sons of the African soil in Ghezzal and Seri seize the opportunity...”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Confidence is just as important or even more important than talent in football. It’s almost the singular attribute that is directly correlated to superior performance. For instance, Arsenal’s Iwobi is looking a different player under Unai Emery even though we had always known the Nigerian is a top talent. Confidence is paying off huge dividends. Leicester City’s replacement to Algerian Riyad Mahrez who left for Premier League champions Man City, Rachid Ghezzal is one player who can get a few more good performances under his belt and finally settle in his new EPL surroundings after arriving from Monaco in the summer. Fulham’s Jean Michel Seri is undoubtedly the conductor of their orchestra and has pulled off some interesting performances this campaign. As both Leicester City and Fulham face-off opposition outside the big six this weekend, it’s all to play for and the coronation of these playmakers with some look good stats could be in sight.

Rachid Ghezzal

Rachid Ghezzal of Leicester City (left) celebrates with team mate Vicente Iborra of Leicester City (right) after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Leicester City and Fleetwood Town at The King Power Stadium on August 28, 2018 in Leicester, England.

(Aug. 27, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Yes, the 26-year-old Algerian international is just as left-footed as Mahrez and inherited his place in the 2014/15 Premier League champions’ setup but he is his own player. Comparisons between him and Mahrez will get even louder and Ghezzal will surely be focused on one thing at this point in his career, being at his best. It did not quite work out for him with his previous employers as he managed eleven goals in 87 Lyon appearances, only two for Monaco in 26 appearances before Leicester captured him for £10 million in the summer. He is however an undisputable talent, comfortable on the ball, with a sharp left foot always enabling him to cut inside when playing on the right wing to get some goals or set up teammates. He is also more physical than Mahrez, one attribute that makes it inevitable for him to cope with the intensity of the premier league. He got his dream start to life in England with a goal against EPL leaders Liverpool in a 2-1 loss at the King Power but was just as fault as all the other Leicester players in 4-2 loss to Bournemouth last weekend. With Leicester City desperate to comeback to winning ways when they welcome 18th placed Huddersfield Town, Ghezzal will surely be instrumental if they are to get something out of the match. It’s a match they fancy themselves winning and one that Ghezzal perhaps believe will be a real confidence boost as he builds upon his manager, Claude Puel’s confidence in him as a player offering something different to the Foxes set up.

Jean Michael Seri

The Ivorian is no stranger to starring roles. He was OGC Nice’s starman from 2015 throughout to 2018 after he was signed from Portuguese side Pacos De Ferreira. He was so good in the French Ligue 1 that a proposed €40 million move to Barcelona failed by a whisker. He was widely viewed as a player to help fill the void left by Barca legend Andres Iniesta. Premier League new boys, Fulham won his signature ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham simply because the 27-year-old felt like the Craven Cottagers were more serious in their approach to land the midfielder. He is up and running early after winning the Premier League Goal of the Month for August, for a stunner he bagged in a Fulham’s 4-2 victory over Burnely and a top drawer assist for Andre Schurrle’s goal at Brighton. He was missing in the Whites last outing at Manchester City, in a performance that was headlined his error that led to City’s first goal within ninety seconds of kick-off. He has been featured as one of the hardworking midfielders currently in the English top flight and the Watford match on Saturday at home that kicks off the Premier League weekend is one he will be looking to run and quickly get back to his best. Watford have however proven to be a tricky opposition, winning four of their first five premier league matches. It will undoubtedly be an interesting battle in the midfield against the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure.

It’s all about building up that confidence and getting some look good statistics next to their names now and forever. This weekend is one such opportunity, will the sons of the African soil in Ghezzal and Seri seize the opportunity and be the match-winners they have always been yet again?

Aubameyang shows enduring class but is Iwobi the winger that Arsenal needs?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Vorskla Poltava at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 19, 2018 - Source: Henry Browne/Getty Images Europe)

Arsenal got off to a flying start in the 2018/19 Europa League campaign under the management of “Europa King” in Unai Emery who won the cup three consecutive times with La Liga side, Sevilla. The Gunners were in total control in the match against Ukrainian side, Vorskla that finished 4-2 at the Emirates courtesy of two goals from the Gabonese international, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, one from Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil also getting his name on the scoresheet for the second game running. It was a great team performance but two of the names that stood out were obviously Aubameyang and Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi.

The story of Arsenal’s “failed” wingers

“Iwobi neatly setup Aubameyang’s first goal in a flowing Arsenal move started by Mkhitaryan, hit a powerful shot from a few yards out of the box that curled off the post, completed two crosses and created at least four chances in only seventy minutes. He was the quickest running forward, unrelenting in tracking back the few times he had too, confident in his dribbles, taking on defenders directly and simply explosive if I were to use a single word to describe his performance.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

For a while now, the North London club has been in search of an out and out winger that has become increasingly important in Unai Emery’s philosophy, the heir apparent to Arsene Wenger’s throne. The Spaniard has introduced a high pressing game at the Emirates that hinges on having an intense attacking midfielder that runs at the opponent and forces mistakes and a pacey, similarly unrelenting midfielder in pressing the opponent who also knows how to cover the defensive full-back. This has seen Emery playing Aaron Ramsey in the number 10 role in recent matches ahead of Mesut Ozil who has been deployed on either of the wings, simply because of Aaron’s pressing style and better work-rate. The 2014 world cup winner has still managed to string through a couple of excellent performances even though being played out of his favorite position including an arguably man of the match performance at Newcastle in the Premier League match-day five. However it always looks obvious on the pitch that Mesut becomes a completely different player more he goes central leaving the wing position still with no proper takers. The Armenian captain, Henrikh Mkhitaryan has also been regularly played on the right hand side of the wings which has worked just okay but still comes up short in providing defensive cover to the right back, Hector Bellerin simply because Mkhi is simply not a natural winger. The winger problem is no secret as the club was clearly on high alert for natural flankers with the likes of Bayern’s Kingsley Coman, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and RB Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg being consistently rumored to join the Gunners in the summer transfer window.

Now, Arsenal faithfuls were mostly definitely encouraged by one of Africa’s hottest young football talents on Thursday night. Perhaps they have what they have always been looking for in the 22-year old Nigerian international.

Big 17, Running up and down the wing

Alvaro Morata of Chelsea is pressured by Alex Iwobi and Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on August 18, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 17, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Iwobi has hardly put a foot wrong whenever he came on for Arsenal in this 2018/19 season and the story was no different in the Europa League. He got his first start under Unai Emery in the 3-2 loss to Chelsea at stamford bridge in an applaudable performance which they were unlucky not to get at least a point from. “Big 17” as he calls himself, was a constant menace on the left wing, getting the better of Chelsea Captain Cesar Azpilicueta, even creating Mkhitaryan first goal by pulling off some lovely dribbles before he crowned the performance by a goal of his own, finishing from close range after a great football move of 19 straight passes by the Gunners with no reply by the Blues. Most know what happened afterwards, the Nigerian shaku-shaku dance by the young forward told the story of his form and confidence.

Similarly, it was business as usual against Vorskla, his third start under Emery after the West Ham United appearance where he was substituted early into the second half for reasons Emery knows best as he had been quite decent. Iwobi neatly setup Aubameyang’s first goal in a flowing Arsenal move started by Mkhitaryan, hit a powerful shot from a few yards out of the box that curled off the post, completed two crosses and created at least four chances in only seventy minutes. He was the quickest running forward, unrelenting in tracking back the few times he had too, confident in his dribbles, taking on defenders directly and simply explosive if I were to use a single word to describe his performance. The Arsenal faithfuls seem to agree with me, calling him out as a man of the match by a mile. The official Arsenal twitter account couldn’t afford to ignore the Nigerian's performance offering plaudits for his excellent stats in 1 goal, 2 assists in only the three matches for the Gunners this campaign.

Emery may still be in the process of figuring out his best XI but Alex Iwobi looks like a name he will have a hard time ignoring.

Liverpool's FAB 3 predatory reign is just getting started

Preamble

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona celebrates with Luis Suarez and Neymar after scoring his team's 2nd goal during the La Liga match between Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Vallecas on March 3, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.

(Jan. 8, 2009 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)

Those who took the liberty to gather the spoils on Tuesday, UEFA Champions League night at Anfield will tell you that Liverpool plundered the Parisians and made their coveted and expensively assembled squad look like knock-offs from a cheap store. Okay, maybe the description is a bit exaggerated but that’s exactly what I thought, jaw dropped as the Reds ran out 3-2 victorious against PSG on Champions League Day 1 in a dominant performance decorated by the men in red but in the stands’ “you never will walk alone” spirit packaged in a song-like noises while the visitors lit flames as they tried to settle in an unfamiliar hostile Anfield environment.  What really was on my mind as the referee blew the final whistle to signal the end of the match was, “Salah and Mane are onto something special here. They could go down in history as flanks of the most devastating attack in world football”. My African blood couldn’t help but selfishly feel proud for the lads.

Great attacking trios in recent times

Well, you probably won’t exhaust the list but names that cannot be robbed of a mention include Barcelona’s MSN with Messi, Suarez and Neymar who led Barca’s capture of the Champions League, La Liga and Copa Del Rey trophies under Luis Enrique in the 2014/15 season. El Clasico rivals Real Madrid also had BBC with Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo who were regular Champions League entertainers especially in their recent three straight conquest of the competition before Ronaldo departed for Serie A giants, Juventus. PSG’s “prada” looking MEN with Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar have been bullying opponents in the French Ligue 1 but got a taste of their own medicine against part of the FAB 3, Salah, Firmino and Mane. Liverpool’s attacking trio may not have costed big money to put in place but are really claiming a stake at global dominance. Here is a number for you; in May 2017, the FAB 3 Became the highest scoring trio in a single UCL campaign with a total of 29 goals surpassing Real Madrid’s BBC who had a record 28 goals. With growth inevitable, the extent of the FAB 3’s reign is unimaginable?

“Clearly, these two can understand each other more. If they can be devastating at this level, imagine the damage they could do if the bromance improves. With Roberto Firmino being the anchor of this cutting edge trio, the slower of the two players who holds up the ball and shoves defenders for the flankers in Mane and Salah to run down the wings and inside the box - we are in for a real treat.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

26 is the magic number

Roberto Firmino of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Wembley Stadium on September 15, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 14, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Now make no mistake, Salah and Mane were far below they usual standard in the PSG contest on Tuesday night with both of them failing to find the back of the net but what we saw from the match revealed a lot about how much they can grow and win even bigger battles. In particular, Mane appeared to be too keen to score such that at times he would shoot when the best decision would have been laying off the ball to a teammate. Salah happened to be a regular victim of such decisions. There are reports that even the Egyptian fans are not happy with their starman being starved off goals because of a supposed dysfunctional relationship with the Senegalese. Clearly, these two can understand each other more. If they can be devastating at this level, imagine the damage they could do if the bromance improves. With Roberto Firmino being the anchor of this cutting edge trio, the slower of the two players who holds up the ball and shoves defenders for the flankers in Mane and Salah to run down the wings and inside the box - we are in for a real treat. To add to their ability, Liverpool’s trio still has more time to show the world what they are all about. They are all still 26, a prime age in football and relatively young compared to other trios. If the doubters thought Liverpool’s Champions League final appearance was a fluke, their recent dominance in the Premier League was infant then perhaps the Tuesday night win against one of the celebrated teams in the world in PSG showed that they are really open for business and that their attackers are not shy to shop anywhere, anytime and from anyone.

Sadio Mane of Liverpool reacts during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on September 18, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 17, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Klopp, the key orchestrator

In most cases, the challenges have always been to keep the trio, that is to ward off interest from any potential suitors seeking some members of the trio and to distribute the pressure from just the trio to the whole team.

Salah, Mane and Firmino have entertained us, maybe have even just begun and all media eyes and any other eyes are likely to narrow down to only their performances. This usually adds unnecessary pressure on the players to deliver all the time which is next to impossible. Liverpool Manager, Jurgen Klopp seem to know one or two things about managing players and expectations. With his midfield set-up also able to bang in goals in Keita, Milner and Wijnaldum and excess world class attackers in Shaqiri and Daniel Sturridge, you would really back the German to always do the right thing by taking some players off the firing line and mix up the recipe as he did against PSG to preserve the potency of the entire team.

Whether or not the Merseyside club would be able to retain the services of all three for the forseeable future is really down to the future when it arrives. Only time will tell. For now, we will just sit back, relax and enjoy Salah and Mane, African brothers who are protagonists in the world conquering trio that is FAB THREE.

FT Impact Player Series: The dynamic Mario Lemina, Gabon’s finest!

Mario Lemina of Southampton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Southampton FC at Goodison Park on August 18, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 17, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

There is a myth about players that leave the big teams in Europe in search for first team opportunities. Often times, they are regarded as players who lack confidence, the cutting edge and the hunger that the best players in the world are supposed to have. In actual fact, these players realise that their development requires them playing regular football before reaching that level in which they are considered to be great players. For example, Arjen Robben left Real Madrid for Bayern Munich, Xhaqiri left Bayern Munich for Inter Milan, and Morata left Real Madrid for Chelsea. These are just examples of renowned players who are good footballers but left the biggest teams for lesser teams in search of first team opportunities. In this piece, we shift our attention to a former Juventus player that left the club for Southampton and has been pivotal to the English Premier League side ever since his move. Gabon international, Mario Lemina, is the man in question and here’s what he brings to the table.

Composure on the Ball

Mario Lemina is one of the most composed midfielders in world of soccer right now. The Gabon international has mastered the art of reading the game before making the simple pass. Basic football they call it, but it is not so basic when you look at other players who look rushed on the ball. If you were an admirer of the former Barcelona captain, Xavi, then you will love how the African midfielder carries his team forward whenever he has the ball. Lemina makes football look simple with the way he anchors the middle of the park in at Southampton. These are some of the things that cannot be quantified by numbers or stats. The 25-year old is a joy to watch for Southampton.

Defensive Duties

Playing in the English Premier League requires a little bit more than just the ability on the ball which the Gabon international has. Lemina is also a beast when it comes to defending. He averages 3.4 interceptions per 90 minutes so far in the five league games that he has played for the Saints. The young midfielder looks a steal for Southampton who prized him away from Juventus for just £18 million in 2017. Players with the ability to tackle and carefully clear the ball out of danger like Lemina are now going for around £45 million in the current transfer market, for instance Liverpool’s capture of Fabinho.

Flair & Trickery

Mario Lemina of Southampton is challenged by Jeff Hendrick of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley and Southampton at Turf Moor on February 24, 2018 in Burnley, England.

(Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images Europe)

Southampton is not one of the biggest teams in the English Premier League. The biggest teams usually have the best players and come down hard on the lesser teams. This means that the club is usually under a lot of pressure when they play teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. It is in such matches that you need a player with the ability to dance his way out of danger and deliver the ball to the attackers. Lemina does just that. The midfielder’s trickery in the middle of the park can be likened to the Spanish, Santiago Cazorla who has the confidence of taking the ball deep in his own half and beat his markers on his way forward. There is not much difference between Lemina and Paul Pogba, who also made a name for himself in the hands of Juventus, save the fact that the latter plays for France. Okay, the comparisons may be above board, but I hope you get the point. Lemina is really good!

Killer Passes

Also, the primary role of the midfielder is to dictate play for the team. This requires having players with a wide passing range. Lemina is an asset for Southampton with his long range passes. In 90 minutes, he averages about three long balls which are delivered in dangerous areas for his team. Although he has just recorded one assist in the league, his creativity is unquestionable. Mario makes key passes for the Saints and he bosses a pass completion rate of 85.3%. With no disrespect to Southampton, these are numbers that can be massively improved when playing with players of better quality in teams like the ones mentioned above.

“Lemina makes football look simple with the way he anchors the middle of the park in at Southampton. These are some of the things that cannot be quantified by numbers or stats. The 25-year old is a joy to watch for Southampton.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Question

He is still 25 years of age, that is the current prime age in soccer, do you he will probably land a bigger contract in a bigger club and make his name bigger? I think he will, Everton captured Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye at similar age and has gone to be one of the division’s best defensive midfielders.

Checkout Lemina’s style of play in the video below.

What has happened to Ivory Coast’s Bailly at United?

Eric Bailly of Manchester United and James Maddison of Leicester City battle for possession during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 10, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 9, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Jose Mourinho looked to have made a masterstroke in landing the signature of a certain Ivorian defender from Villarreal on the 8th of June, 2016. Not many teams were aware of the attributes that Eric Bailly possessed at just the age of 22 when he moved to Manchester United. The young player had a raw talent similar to that of Raphael Varane when he was brought in at the Bernabeu by Jose Mourinho when he was still the manager of Real Madrid. His pace above all else, convinced many that the defense of the new-look Manchester United team will not be easy to break down. It was all glitz and glamour for the Ivorian, but two years later, there are still issues at the back. Bailly has been in and out of the team because of one reason after another. In this piece, we explore what has happened to Bailly and why he has not yet achieved the expected success at Old Trafford.

“He also had a contusion which took his twenty-one days of training before going on his longest spell out of the side for a hundred days due to an ankle injury. In total, he missed 34 matches since joining the Manchester club. That’s about a season spent on the treatment table.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Early Success

The African player went straight into the starting lineup in Mourinho’s chosen eleven. He looked sharp, quick, calm and confident which made him a fan favorite in no time. Bailly looked the player that Manchester United longed for after losing Ferdinand and Vidic to old age. Mourinho’s job was made easier at the back as he lifted the FA Community Shield, FA League Cup and the UEFA Europa League in his first season at the club. Bailly, alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was one of the outstanding players in their quest to success. What a perfect way to start a career in England with arguably the biggest club in the world. What followed was something that no one could have guessed.

Injuries

Eric Bailly, unfortunately, started picking up injuries in his second season at Manchester United. He suffered a knee injury in October 2016 which kept him out till December. He also had a contusion which took his twenty-one days of training before going on his longest spell out of the side for a hundred days due to an ankle injury. In total, he missed 34 matches since joining the Manchester club. That’s about a season spent on the treatment table. This slowed down his development into a world class defender like all the youngsters nurtured by the Portuguese mentor. Think about the likes of  Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, Ramos, Varane, Walter Samuel, only to mention but just a few, he could have easily joined this company. With those 34 matches under his belt, the Ivorian centre back would have been on another level now.

Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United in discussion with Eric Bailly of Manchester United as he replaces Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester United at Turf Moor on September 2, 2018 in Burnley, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)

Inconsistency

When Mourinho identified him as a potential Manchester United defender, he knew he had the task to iron out inconsistencies out of Bailly’s game. This still proves to be a difficult task even for the Special One because Bailly’s performances have been unpredictable. One match, he plays like a world class defender; commanding the defence, instigating attacks with his defense-splitting pass and scoring goals on set pieces. The other, he looks uninterested in the development of play which frustrates his manager. Bailly has been demoted to the bench in the two most recent English Premier League games for Manchester United. The reason behind this is not quite clear but many allude that it is down to inconsistent performances. Bailly should work hard to come back stronger and cement his position in the starting lineup.

A few spots and wrinkles

Besides, Bailly has been culpable of some costly mistakes for Manchester United. This should not be a surprise considering his risky style of play which sees him holding the ball too much in search of open spaces for his teammates. Bailly has the confidence of holding the ball under pressure and releasing it when necessary but this has backfired on a couple of occasions. He usually covers it up with his amazing ability of intercepting passes but these errors are not easily forgotten among the Manchester United faithful. Perhaps one other growth areas for the Ivorian international would be the ability to balance passion and logic. Because he loves the game and the team so much, at times Bailly makes rush tackles even when they are not needed leading to dangerous set pieces and penalties for the opposition.

The sun has not set yet

There have been transfer rumours in recent weeks about the 24-year-old moving to the Emirates in Arsenal or their cross town rivals in Tottenham meaning he is still a prized asset in the game. Whether or not Bailly eventually moves, he still has enough time to work on his not-so strengths and become a world-class centre back. Perhaps having a more senior partner to mentor Bailly in a defensive pairing could help him a great deal. Look at Liverpool’s Joe Gomez for instance, the 21-year-old is looking like a Kalidou Koulibaly only because the more experienced Virgil Van Dyk is there to compliment him. Confidence inevitably grows as well which is something Eric Bailly could really use at this point.

UEFA Champions League: Five Young Africans To Watch

The time that we have all been waiting for has now arrived. The most enticing soccer tournament at club level, the UEFA Champions League, returns on Tuesday, 18th of September, 2018. The very best clubs in European football will once again face each other in the group stages of the elite European soccer tournament in a bid to win the UEFA Champions League trophy from defending champions Real Madrid who have won it 3 times in a row to date. The Spanish giants are one of the favorites to win the competition but the rest of the teams in the 32 team tournament have made necessary improvements with the aim to compete at the highest level. This feature is not about identifying the team with the best chances of winning the 2017/18 edition. Instead, it is an opportunity to present the five African players that you need to watch out for in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League tournament aside from the popular ones like Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Mahrez and crew.

Andre Onana

Andre Onana of Ajax clears the ball under pressure from Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden.

(May 23, 2017 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

FirstTouch brought you a short piece about the young goalkeeper who is currently plying his trade in the Netherlands for Ajax Amsterdam. He made the right noises last season when he made the number 1 spot his at the dutch club. Onana is a 22-year old Cameroonian that still has a lot to learn from the game but is already trusted at a club with so much history of developing world class players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Suarez, Christian Eriksen only to mention but just a few. Onana’s Ajax is seeded in Group E with German giants, Bayern Munich, a fairy strong team in Benfica and AEK Athens. These coming six matches will be like cup finals for the Cameroonian goalkeeper who dreams of playing for a big club after having come through Barcelona’s La Masia academy. Ajax has already kept 5 clean sheets in the 6 matches that the young African has been between the sticks. It will take a lot for him to maintain such stats when playing with stronger opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Onana will surely be out to prove a point that he is ready for his big move and should be a player on your radar as you watch the group stages of the tournament.

“He was limited to second half cameos off the bench at the FIFA World Cup 2018. They say that a wounded dog is the deadliest, and Keita must be just that. He could prove his doubters wrong in this stage of the competition. ”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco is challenged by David Silva of Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group B match between Spain and Morocco at Kaliningrad Stadium on June 25, 2018 in Kaliningrad, Russia.

(June 24, 2018 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

His move to Dortmund was quite a shocker for us especially after being one of the best players for Morocco in the 2018 FIFA World Cup group stages before they were knocked out in Russia. We assumed that he would cement his place at least on the bench at Real Madrid ahead of Nacho who had been used sparingly as a deputy to Carvajal. Nonetheless, Real Madrid went on to buy another player in Odriozola which meant that the Moroccan international was further down the pecking order at the Los Blancos. He moved to Germany with an aim to prove a point that he is ready to play for the biggest club in the world but he has not been handed the opportunity yet as he is still yet to make his first appearance for Dortmund. If given a start, Hakimi will be doing what he does best which is defend with high intensity and overlap whenever he gets the chance. These are assets that big clubs need and he will be eager to show that he can do it on a regular basis. Achraf Hakimi will surely grab the opportunity once it is handed to him.

Victor Wanyama

Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur poses with the trophy for Carling Premier League Goal of the Month for February 2018 at on March 8, 2018 in Enfield, England.

(March 7, 2018 - Source: Paul Harding/Getty Images Europe)

Yes. Must be surprised to see the Kenyan defensive midfielder on the list of the players to look out for in the UEFA Champions League especially considering the fact that he has not been starting matches for Tottenham in the English Premier League. The 27-year old is a defensive shield that has somehow struggled to cement a first team spot in the Spurs team despite being a better tackler than the preferred Dier. The European tournament comes soon after the international break where Dier was integral to the English team which means that he stands a chance of being fatigued. Victor Wanyama might be on his way out of Tottenham if he fails to grab his opportunity this season and this should serve as the necessary motivation to play his best football when called upon in the UEFA Champions League. Victor Wanyama has a knack for scoring long range goals and Tottenham will need these especially when playing against a very much improved Inter Milan team that has so much quality throughout the pitch. They will certainly not make it easy for Pochettino’s men to play their game which requires the African’s physique to budge through players, create space for his teammates or himself and hopefully score. Wanyama will be playing for his life, his career.

Keita Balde

Balde Diao Keita of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on May 13, 2017 in Florence, Italy.

(May 12, 2017 - Source: Marco Rosi/Getty Images Europe)

The Senegalese winger must not be a surprise call on this list after his unexpected move back to Serie A with Inter Milan. The Italian club paid an estimated £4 million for loaning the 23-year old from French Ligue 1 side Monaco. The African player is still yet to score and provide an assist for his teammates this season which should be something that is on the back of his head whenever he plays. He has been handed the opportunity in Serie A already when he deputised for Icardi who was being rested for the UEFA Champions League fixtures. Balde will be looking to play in his preferred right-wing position and show the promise that Monaco saw in him when they sought his services to replace Mbappe. It is undeniable that this could prove to be a lot of pressure after he also lost his place in the first team of Senegal. He was limited to second half cameos off the bench at the FIFA World Cup 2018. They say that a wounded dog is the deadliest, and Keita must be just that. He could prove his doubters wrong in this stage of the competition.

Bertrand Traore

Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur poses with the trophy for Carling Premier League Goal of the Month for February 2018 at on March 8, 2018 in Enfield, England.

(March 7, 2018 - Source: Paul Harding/Getty Images Europe)

Finally, we have the Burkina Faso striker who currently plays for Lyon who are seeded in UEFA Champions League Group F with Manchester City, Hoffenheim and Shakhtar Donetsk. Traore will face some stiff competition in this stage and Lyon will be looking to the player to rescue them with his goals. The 23-year old left Chelsea for Lyon to save his career after cutting a frustrated figure from the endless loan spells which did not warrant a spot for the young forward in the London club’s team. He has scored two goals already and will be looking to add more to his campaign in the group stages. Probably not against Manchester City because they are in a league above the other teams in the group. Maybe against Shakhtar. Traore did not rule out a move back to Chelsea because he still wishes to play in the English Premier League. The African striker will be hungry for goals and will look to hurt the aforementioned teams when supported by players like Memphis Depay. If Lyon are to have a chance to qualify to the next round, Bertrand Traore will have to carry the team with his finishing.

Coin Toss: Will Manchester United sack Mourinho to get Zidane?

So far this season, Manchester United have accumulated only 3 points in 3 matches which is one of their slowest starts to the season since 1992. The Red Devils are at rock bottom that they were at 26 years ago, at least according to their standards.

Manager Jose Mourinho consoles Andreas Pereira #15 of Manchester United after the team lost to Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2018 at Michigan Stadium on July 28, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Liverpool defeated Manchester United 4-1.

(July 27, 2018 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

This review has led to news that Jose Mourinho may not secure his position as the Red Devils coach for a very long time. Even before we are quick to discard Jose, let us take a brief look at what he had done as a manager. He has amassed a total of 25 cups since the inception of his career in 2003. These include 8 league titles, 13 domestic cups, 2 UEFA Champions League trophies and 2 Uefa Europa League titles. In spite of all these accolades on this manager, his journey with United has not been the smoothest. He has not won any leagues at the red-half of Manchester and he has been recently caught up in a supposed rift with the world cup winner, Paul Pogba. On that, Joleon Lescott a former English professional player was quoted saying, “Man Utd need Paul Pogba more than they need Jose Mourinho, it's sad to say.” He continued to say that the 55 year old has not evolved enough to retain his relevance with young players. All these have raised the stakes for Mourinho’s possible replacement at Man United. It has increased the rumour about former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane’s possibility to succeed the Portuguese. Let’s evaluate the feasibility of these claims.

Zidane has an amazing track record that can lure a team like Man United that desperately needs to take its place at the top. He has won the Champions’ League with Madrid for 3 times in a row. From April 2016 to April 2017, the club went for 40 games without any taste of a loss. This is definitely an incredible record for any coach. It can be argued that all these Real Madrid wins cannot be accredited to Zidane because any coach can pull that when they have great players like Ronaldo in their team. However, we cannot forget that no one man can win a game on his own. It calls for a great coach to ensure that even a Ronaldo is performing at his best and in perfect sync with other players. Let us also not forget the amount of motivation that a coach needs to give for a team to win. If Zidane was able to pull that off, then definitely, he is an amazing coach that Man U is most likely going to fish.

“Zidane may not be the only coach who is most likely to be seen at the Red Devils, should they choose to part ways with the Special One, but he is currently the one at the top of the list. He seems to be the most needed refresher for the team.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Manchester City fans hold up signs supporting their manager prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on April 7, 2018 in Manchester, England.

(April 6, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Secondly, he is younger than Mourinho. He might only be 9 years younger that Mourinho but that’s about 3200 days and that difference could be the differentiator when it comes to how best a coach is able to communicate with his players. As Joleon Lescott alluded to the fact that it is important for a coach to evolve to be more suited for younger players, it is evident that a younger coach might not even need to evolve as he is more likely to be at the same level as his players.

To top it all, Zidane admitted that he wants to go back to coaching. He has declared his undying love for football and said it’s the only thing that he has done all his life and does not want to let let go off. Knowing that the person you want also wants to be in the game could be a huge motivation for United. Half of the conviction has already been done by Zidane himself.

Zidane may not be the only coach who is most likely to be seen at the Red Devils, should they choose to part ways with the Special One, but he is currently the one at the top of the list. He seems to be the most needed refresher for the team.

Is Lucas Torreira the answer to all of Arsenal’s Problems?

Ross Barkley of Chelsea and Lucas Torreira of Arsenal battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on August 18, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 17, 2018 - Source: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe)

Whenever something painful happens to him, my friend usually says, “I am used to painful things, I am an Arsenal fan.” He is not the only one, but many of Arsenal fans that have experienced the disappointment because of the humiliating losses, injuries and possibly inconsistent performances from players. But not all hope is lost, Arsenal has not only gotten a new manager, Unai Emery but they also signed Lucas Torreira in the summer transfer window of 2018. They say with new blood, comes new life. Is Lucas Torreira the new player that will bring revival to the Gunners?

After his splendid World Cup performance, it could not be doubted that the 22-year old would be an amazing addition to Arsenal.He was instrumental to leading the Uruguayan national team to quarter finals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.  He was a critical component in the Los Charruas midfield, he has the ability to pass stop advances from the opponent and immediately begin attacks while also making the relevant and intelligent distributions of the ball with his mouth open to lead teammates in following the rhythm. Such traits are what the Arsenal midfield needs, as fans have often criticised it as the main driver of their losses. They have complained about sideway and sloppy passes by the likes of Xhaka and Torreira’s forward-looking yet unpredictable style seems to be what they had been yearning for since Gilberto Silva.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is challenged by Lucas Torreira of Uruguay during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Uruguay and Portugal at Fisht Stadium on June 30, 2018 in Sochi, Russia.

(June 29, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

Isn’t it funny that his age is also the same as the number of years that Arsene Wenger spent at Arsenal. With young age comes new passion and willingness to learn as the whole career still lies ahead of the player. With all the changes happening at Arsenal as Emery attempts to elevate the team back to its initial glory, it is imperative for a player to be willing to learn. In this Daily Cannon post, the writer complained that Arsenal players play like they do not owe any respect or honour to their fans. A young player who will need the fans’ support for quite sometime is least likely to become complacent which is something that is really needed at Arsenal.

Torreira can also fit into the 4-2-3-1 formation which is Emery’s preferred formation. He has proven that he will complement players like Granit Xhaka in the midfield. Being a good player is one thing, but being compatible with the playing style of a team makes you a perfect fit for the team. Torreira already has this formation part taken care of and we expect to see a result of this claim in the upcoming games. We have seen glimpses when he came on as a substitute against Chelsea, West Ham United and most recently at Cardiff where he assisted Alexandre Lacazette’s first goal of the season.

However, there have been concerns that he is not tall enough to compete in the Premier League which is notorious for having tall and physical players. One thing for sure, is that we cannot extend his height but we have seen that players like N’golo Kante have shown us that height is not a prerequisite to playing well. You can still excel even when your head is not far off from the ground. The same argument stands for Torreira in Arsenal.

One man can definitely not be the absolute solution to a club’s complex problems. For Arsenal’s problems to be solved, they need a systematic approach to it, but having Torreira in the team is a step towards the right direction.

“He was a critical component in the Los Charruas midfield, he has the ability to stop advances from the opponent and immediately begin attacks while also making the relevant and intelligent distributions of the ball with his mouth open to lead teammates in following the rhythm.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Will Spurs ever win the English Premier League?

They have earned the tag of being a “cursed” team in the premier league for the wrong (or right reasons). They have done almost everything right but somehow they continue to miss out on the coveted premier league title or less still some silverware. This begs the question: what will it really take for Tottenham Hotspurs to win the league?

Tottenham Hotspur's English midfielder Dele Alli (R) celebrates with Tottenham Hotspur's English defender Kieran Trippier after scoring the opening goal of the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium in London, on November 1, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Ben STANSALL

(Oct. 31, 2017 - Source: AFP)

Most Balanced Team in the EPL?

Many would argue that they certainly are. From the last line of defence all the way to the front, Spurs seem to be covered with great quality players. In the goalkeeping department, the team is led by their world cup winning captain in Hugo Lloris thus providing little or no concern in this department. Defensively, the team is ridiculously strong, possessing fast and ball crossing wing backs such as Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose has made Tottenham more threatening going forward. Moreover, the central defensive pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld has been pivotal for the team’s disciplined play. That’s not the end, the team also boasts quality in players like Davinson Sanchez and Ivory Coast’s Serge Aurier who can also perform defensive duties to their very best and up to the accepted standard. Looking at the team’s midfield, there is also plenty of talent and experience in players such as Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko as well as Erik Lamela. These internationals possess high level quality that can breakdown any team in the premier league on any day. Not only the midfield, but the team’s attacking threat is the pick of the crop. One would think having a striker of Harry Kane’s quality coupled with the trickery of Dele Alli and Son as well as Danish ace, Christian Eriksen’s creativity would make this team unstoppable. We’ve seen these players break down a majority of the teams in the premier league with their brilliant displays yet still that hasn’t been enough to bring glory to the other half of North London.

“They have been near yet so far. With all of that, can we say the team is “cursed” and will never in the league anytime soon? Or would one be right to say that its now only a matter of time, probably a couple of seasons before the team breaks its duck and finally claim the premier league golden prize? Personally I think it’s just a matter of time.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

A seemingly good coach

Not only is Spurs an overall balanced and very strong team, but in Mauricio Pochettino they have a young coach who has shown a great deal of hunger to succeed but has fallen short now and again. Some attribute this problem to lack of experience, while some strongly believe it's just bad luck. But looking at the Argentine’s coaching record, he has not won any cup with the teams he has coached, dating from his time at Espanyol and present. This then raises the argument that maybe Tottenham need a coach with a proven record of winning titles and cups and tit is only then that the team would possibly win the premier league title.

Is it in their hands to win it?

Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his second goal and his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on August 27, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 26, 2018 - Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)

Looking beyond surface value, one could be tempted to think that perhaps it's not really what the team is (or not) doing but rather, external forces could be the cause to Spurs’ failure to win the league. In recent times, we’ve seen Tottenham forcing their way into the top four after languishing in the top eight bracket for a long time. This has been evidence of the fact that the team has been improving and growing in leaps and bounds. The fact that the team has been on an upward horizon is not up for debate. They have moved from being a top four side to landing third place as well as pushing Chelsea all the way to the end before becoming runner ups in the 2016/2017 EPL season. Such showing has made Tottenham become pat of the conversation of teams that can win the league at the start of every season, but still no one really fancies them to go all the way. A key reason for this is the team’s competitors such as Manchester City who have a squad to die for while also having a financial backing second to none. Such an advantage make it difficult for teams like Spurs who operate on a very tight budget to acquire more players that can help the team challenge for the title.

Time and time again we have witnessed Spurs’ quality on the football pitch. They have shown countless times that they can be a force to be reckoned with as they have been able to defeat a lot of the so-called big teams convincingly in some of their games. But even so, that has not delivered league glory for the team. They have continuously been able to keep a majority of their key players almost every season, showing an element of continuity and trust in the progress being made. They have been near yet so far. With all of that, can we say the team is “cursed” and will never in the league anytime soon? Or would one be right to say that its now only a matter of time, probably a couple of seasons before the team breaks its duck and finally claim the premier league golden prize? Personally I think it's just a matter of time, they have the right attributes to win it. But will they? What do you think?

FT Impact Player Series: Is Man City's Ben Mendy, Superhuman?

We always like to pause and zoom in a little on some unique talents in the game today. Today, we are crossing over to the blue-half of Manchester and think out loud about the incredible talent that is Benjamin Mendy, a French defender with African roots, Senegal to be specific. Let us briefly look at three things that Benjamin Mendy gives the Premier League champions, Manchester City. You will give a ruling at the end on whether the 24-year-old is human or an alien meant to be playing some unknown galaxy football.

Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Huddersfield Town at Etihad Stadium on August 19, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 18, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

Energy, pace and power

Mendy rose to prominence in the 2016/17 season where he was a key defensive component of the young Monaco team that won the French Ligue 1 and reached the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League. His switch to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City the following season for £52 million pounds, a then record move for a defender, was part of the infamous exodus of talent from Monaco with the likes of Bakayoko, Mbappe and Bernardo Silva also leaving for big monies. In particular, Guardiola’s acqusition of Mendy for that kind of price seemed ridiculous at the time especially given the fact he had likewise spent big on other fullbacks in the form of Kyle Walker and Danilo - but he sure had a plan and how dare we questioned the wisdom of the Spaniard. The record 100 Premier League points amassed in a title winning campaign for Manchester City was the result. Of course we did not see a lot of Mendy in this record-breaking season because of the ligament injury that sidelined him for the greater part of the season. Now that he is back, most are starting to appreciate why Pep brought him to the club. No one owns the left flank of the pitch like Ben does. He literally runs up and down that channel for the full ninety minutes without showing any signs of exhaustion. His built body allows him to shove most if not all opponents with ease and his carefree personality even shows up on the pitch in form of the risks he takes upfield. Do not be mistaken, Mendy is no dribbler or slick like “modern full-backs” such as Marcelo, Jordi Alba, Alex Sandro or Dani Alves. It’s simply raw energy, pace and power with a defined ability to make pin-point crosses into the box. Think of him as a really accurate bulldozer that does not just go through stuff senselessly.

Even though Manchester City brought only Riyad Mahrez in the summer, with Mendy back, they are looking anew. Guardiola’s tactical tweaks have seen Ben Mendy playing as hybrid and left-back /central midfielder, something we are not sure has ever existed. In his first four premier league appearances, Mendy has provided three assists, made 25 crosses into the box, created two big chances and was also heavily involved in two other goals. Yes, its no cheap talk here - Mendy is real.

“We could not demand Delph and Zinchenko to do what Benjamin Mendy does, in terms of going up and down the wing, attacking space and having his physicality because they have different physical conditions.

We saw Mendy’s quality at Monaco in France, his quality to go forward. When a player has this quality, we must use it, because it’s his ability to create problems.”

— Pep Guardiola, Manchester City Manager

A cool kid

Benjamin Mendy of France celebrates following his sides victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(July 14, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images Europe)

Besides the 2018 world cup winner’s footballing abilities, Ben Mendy is what everyone would wish for in a team’s dressing room. Within days of arriving at Guardiola’s camp, the Manchester All or nothing documentary reveals that the Frenchman was already cracking some jokes and teasing his new teammates in beginner’s English spoken with his French accent. A personality truly unique to fearless champions. He is one of the loudest guys in the dressing room, perhaps the most active football player on social media who always has one or two things to laugh about. You may remember the person in jeans who uncomfortably ran onto the pitch to celebrate Raheem Sterling’s last minute winner against Southampton in the 2017/18 EPL season, that was injured Benjamin Mendy. He even started taking selfies with Sterling afterwards in front of cameras. That’s just the way Ben is, serious and unserious at the same time. Many people like him off-the pitch and he is simply iresistable on it, how can it be? Is he human and perhaps the 21st century definition of perfection.

Most team’s battles are won 60% off the pitch and 40% on it, with Ben Mendy adding value both ways - France and Manchester City really have a lot to be thankful of. Just ask Olivier Giroud, a striker who was on a goal drought stretching back to the pre-world cup fixtures, Mendy came very late on for France as a substitute in their recent UEFA Nations League clash with the Netherlands and saved the day. Courtesy of a delightful Mendy cross.

“Mendy is Mendy. He is what he is. Sometimes you want to kill him. Sometimes you say ‘wow, what a player we have. Mendy has a lot of things to improve. Hopefully we can convince him to be calm and forget a bit the social media and focus on what he has to do.”

— Pep Guardiola, Manchester City Manager

FT In The Future: Asensio and Richarlison usher in the new generation for Spain and Brazil

“He is really not going to be a Neymar, showboating everywhere or rolling on the floor at times - but a vibrant, aggressive winger who will always find it hard not to be on the score-sheet. With the support of Gabriel Jesus’ goal poaching abilities upfront, Brazil’s future eleven will not be bad at all.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Even as the Les Blues party continues and features about Mbappe and his swaggy teammates rocking the World Cup gold spring up exponentially, we are eager to start exploring what is to come. Who are looking to be likely favorites to take a claim at France’s throne? Will the Germans find their feet quickly after a disappointing Russia 2018 campaign? Who are we overlooking as far as nations’ football is concerned? Now, we would love to have answers to all of the above but we don’t. Will most likely not know until we get there. That’s the beauty of football. The unpredictability of the sport. One thing is for sure though, Spain’s Marco Asensio and Brazilian’s Richarlison are looking like they will always be protagonists, wherever they will be. Here and now. Here is why?

They headlined the UEFA Nations League, but its really nothing new…

Richarlison of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton FC at Molineux on August 11, 2018 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

Brace-heart Richarlison

The 21-year-old, sure knows how to make a statement. If anyone had thought that his springboard start to life at Everton after a £50 million move from Premier League side, Watford was a fluke, I wonder what they are saying now. The young forward scored a brace against Wolves in his first game in an Everton shirt and has followed suit by doing the same thing in his full Brazilian debut against El Salvador. A beautifully curled right footed shot into the top corner in the first half and a beautifully place left-footed finesse after gathering Coutinho’s spoils in the second half helped ensure Brazil walked away as 5-0 winners. I thought the first goal was immaculate but the second one, no superlative suffices. The half-chance he utilised to make that goal hints at the quality and class of Richarlison. He is really not going to be a Neymar, showboating everywhere or rolling on the floor at times - but a vibrant, aggressive winger who will always find it hard not to be on the score-sheet. With the support of Gabriel Jesus’ goal poaching abilities upfront, Brazil’s future eleven should stay strong.

Cliche Asensio-shots

As for Asensio, not much really need to be said about the 22-year-old Real Madrid forward. It is true that he is earmarked to play a major role in Los Blancos’ attempts to fill Cristiano Ronaldo’s shoes alongside Gareth Bale and Isco, because he’s got the sauce! Asensio opened his Spanish first team account with an Asensio goal, a left-footed drive from the midfield after cheeky leg movements and assisted La Furia Roja’s three other goals in their 6-0 thrashing of the 2018 World Cup finalists, Croatia. He could have had a second, but hit the woodwork instead with a slightly similar shot that the goalkeeper deflected into his own net for an own goal. We have seen this time and time again at Madrid by Asensio and with him looking to be a key figure in the new Spanish choir with Dani Ceballos, Saul Niguez, Odriozola, Kepa and Isco - this won’t be the last time we will write awfully a lot about the Spaniard. Asensio himself is prepared to conquer:

“With Cristiano or without him I have the same aim of having a first team place and being important. So far so good, I have started the season well and I am working well.”

— Marco Asensio, Real Madrid and Spain

Starring roles fine-tune stars

Sergio Ramos of Spain celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal with Marco Asensio of Spain during the UEFA Nations League A Group four match between Spain and Croatia at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on September 11, 2018 in Elche, Spain.

(Sept. 10, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)

If there is one thing we have learned about Kylian Mbappe’s rise to stardom, it is simply that giving a young player responsibility makes all the difference. Mbappe was one of the names on the scoresheet in Leornado Jardim’s Monaco side that reached the 2017 UEFA Champions League semi-final at just eighteen. He really got a chance to make and correct a lot of mistakes while at the same time being motivated by the fact that he was doing important work for the team. Unai Emery never hesitated to play him alongside more established names of Neymar and Cavani, even choosing to bench the likes of Di Maria and Julian Draxler and so did Didier Deschamps who even handed him the symbolic number ten shirt at the world cup finals. Well, it’s no secret that Mbappe is an exceptional talent but the faith put in him were not a small matter in growing him.

The good news for Asensio and Richarlison is that even though they are not eighteen like Mbappe, Everton’s Marco Silva does not look like he is going to drop the Brazilian anytime soon and Lopetegui definitely sees Asensio as a key ingredient in his Ronaldo-less Real Madrid. These protagonist roles will inevitably unleash more of what these boys possese.

Onlookers believe

Here is what a few other people in the football world have said about these two:

On Richarlison:

“The little things that he does are a little bit like a young Ronaldo. I’m not saying he can be as good as him but he does special things on the ball that only a few people can do - he drifts past people… if the manager can polish the diamond that’s there then he’s on to something.”

— Jamie Redknapp, SkySports Pundit

On Asensio:

“I already knew him from the Under-21s. I said back in the day that he’s going to be one of the best players in the history of Spanish football and he’s showing this. He has amazing quality and I predict a great season for him.”

— Alvaro Odriozola, Real Madrid and Spanish teammate

FT Hidden Gem Series: Who is Tinotenda Kadewere?

More often than not, people focus on the players that are already known in the most famous leagues in Europe. Not many of us take time to appreciate a rare talent that continues to escape the radar. Look at Jamie Vardy for instance, he shined in England at the age of 28, but who knew about him before then? In this piece, we look at a certain talent from the country of Zimbabwe before he blows up and becomes one of your favorite African players in no time. Here’s what Tinotenda Kadewere is about.

Background

Tino Kadewere was born on the 5th of January in 1996. He started his career at Harare City in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League at the age of 18 where he scored 7 goals just halfway into his debut campaign. In 2014, he left Harare City for Djugardens on a loan deal with an obligation to buy him on a 4-year-long deal. It is at the Swedish club that he started to grow not only in terms of his technical abilities but also his physique. Two years down the line, the Zimbabwean striker was a few inches taller and staking a claim for a place in the AFCON games played in Gabon. Although he failed to make an appearance in the tournament, he was inspired by his involvement in the dressing room and he sought to use that experience to push for further success at his club, Djugardens. Tinotenda famously scored 4 goals for Djugardens in a single league match which is a record that had not been matched since 1978. This summer, French Ligue 2 side, Le Havre scooped him from the Swedish team for a fee reported to be in the region of $2.5 million.

Photo: Kenta Jönsson/Bildbryan

On his move

Tinotenda was excited to take the next step in his football career by moving to the French side in July 2018. Who wouldn’t be? This is the country where players like Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah, Didier Drogba etc. made a name for themselves. This league also worked as a stepping stone for them when they eventually made their big moves to clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Chelsea. This should be very encouraging to the young player who is hungry for success. He said, “It’s good news for me as a footballer to make another step, but it’s also bad news because I don’t know how I will live in France without all these Djurgardens people.” He was obviously emotional about leaving the club that showed faith in him when he was just a teenager and gave him the chance to play European football.

On his attributes

Tino Kadewere’s favorite position is centre forward. He is an Aubameyang-type of a striker who works best on the shoulders of the defense and can use his lethal pace to beat his markers before scoring goals. It is no surprise that he had already scored 8 goals in 12 matches this season with his pace a menace for defenders in the Swedish First Division. His physique has been growing by the years and he no longer looks like someone who could be budged off the ball like many strikers of his age.

Just like many talented players, he is also capable of playing in a number of positions on the pitch. His pace and trickery also warrants him a place on either flanks because Kadewere is confident that he can beat any defender as long as he has the ball in his feet. These attributes are the reasons why he was deployed on the flanks during his High School years. Obviously, he is no Jay Jay Okocha with the ball yet but the sky is the limit for the 22-year-old Zimbabwean. It is easy to see how this type of player can fit in the squads of the big teams around Europe. Real Madrid have one in Lucas Vazquez who comes off the bench as an impact player. Even Arsenal have that in Alex Iwobi who offers something different from the flanks. Maybe Tino could be that for a team like Chelsea in England or Atletico Madrid in Spain.

On his Injury

If you did not know, Tino Kadewere picked up an injury which was later revealed to be internal ligament damage in his left knee. He had this to say about his injury, “It is obviously boring but it is also part of the football at the same time. Now, the only thing that matters to me is to fix this and come back even stronger.” This injury did not scare off interest from Le Havre who still invested in his services despite the fact that the player was facing 8-10 weeks on the sidelines. It is quite rare to find in football that a club pays so much money for a young player let alone someone who is injured. However, they are confident in his ability and potential to become a great player for the club and rightly so. Tino is a player on the rise.

Achievements:

1. The 22-year old guided his old club, FC Djugardens to the 2017/18 Svenska Cupen on the 10th of May, 2018. He scored four of the 14 goals by the club in the tournament. This trophy was the first title for the club since 2013.

2. Kadewere won the COSAFA Cup (a tournament organized by the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) with his nation on the 9th of June 2018 just a month after lifting a trophy with his club. The young forward scored a brace in the final against Zambia and provided one in a 4-2 victory for the Warriors of Zimbabwe.

Is Senegal's Koulibaly the best CB in Italy?

Often times soccer fans debate about the best players in the world which usually boils down to either Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo who recently joined Juventus in Italy. This is usually because these players are consistent in scoring goals and matches are won by goals. Consequently, not much recognition is given to midfielders who create those chances let alone defenders who protect the back as the team attacks. Because of that, FirstTouch makes a conscious effort to appreciate the contribution of defenders to the game. In this piece, we look at a certain Senegalese centre back by the name Kalidou Koulibaly and compare him among the best defenders in Italy and the rest of the world.

Background

“Napoli conceded only 29 goals in the 38 matches that they played and the Senegalese defender was intelligent in his play. He was tasked with stealing the ball from the strikers and stifling any threats just in front of the arch and he did just that. He only committed 8 fouls in the process which is significantly low as compared to other defenders like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus who committed 27 fouls and Bonucci with 25.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

The Napoli defender currently valued at €100m was born in France to Senegalese parents and identifies as African. He began his professional career at Metz in 2010 before joining Genk, the club that nurtured other world class talents like Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois in 2012. He pledged his allegiance to Senegal in 2015 although he had represented France at the Under-20 football level. He was eventually picked to solve the defensive situation at the Naples side, where he has been a consistent performer since 2014.

Koulibaly’s Strengths

Organizing the defense is part of the requirements when comparing the very best of defenders in Italy. The players have to be great at communication with their goalkeeper and the rest of defenders playing on the team. Kalidou Koulibaly is a leader in that Napoli team and has helped his team throughout the 2017/18 campaign. The best way to assess a defender’s ability to communicate is by looking into the individual errors committed by the player leading to a goal. Koulibaly was not culpable of such mistakes in the previous season and has started this 2018/19 season very well. He looks sharp and commanding at the backline next to Raul Albiol.

Robert Lewandowski of Poland is challenged by Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Poland and Senegal at Spartak Stadium on June 19, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.

(June 18, 2018 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Europe)

Besides, the primary role of a defender is to shield the goal and prevent the ball from going in. Koulibaly was exceptional in the 2017/18 season where he led his team to a second placed finish in the Italian Serie A. Napoli conceded only 29 goals in the 38 matches that they played and the Senegalese defender was intelligent in his play. He was tasked with stealing the ball from the strikers and stifling any threats just in front of the arch and he did just that. He only committed 8 fouls in the process which is significantly low as compared to other defenders like Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus who committed 27 fouls and Bonucci with 25. It is clear that the African defender would be the best bet among these Italian defenders because he is less likely going to put the team in trouble through committing unnecessary fouls in dangerous positions. This season as well, he leads the pack in terms of interceptions (6), blocks (2), tackles (8) and clearances (7) in just the three games that he has played. Both Chiellini and Bonucci, the so-called best defenders in the league are far behind the African star which makes us question the criteria used by the relevant authority in determining the best defender in the country.

According to Pep Guardiola, defenders in the modern era have to do more than just defending. They have to instigate the attack which means that they need to have the quality to pass the ball from the back. We also looked at this part of Koulibaly’s game comparing him to the Juventus pair. His ball playing abilities were above every other defender in the league. He made 3324 passes across all competitions compared to Chiellini’s 2196 and Bonucci’s 1951. If that is not enough, he also had the most completed passes pegged at 91%. Chiellini and Bonucci were at 87% and 86% respectively. These numbers are out of the ordinary and it is no surprise that Chelsea were rumored to have submitted a €100m bid in the summer of 2018 which was turned down by Gli Azzurri (The Blues). Kalidou Koulibaly is just quality!

Limitations

Kalidou Koulibaly of S.S.C Napoli during the international friendly game between Liverpool and Napoli at Aviva Stadium on August 4, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland.

(Aug. 3, 2018 - Source: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Europe)

The only explanation for being snubbed from the conversation of the best defenders in the world boils down to the fact that Koulibaly last won a trophy 4 years ago. Many debates about the very best include the aforementioned individual statistics as well as the accolades won collectively. His club has not done him justice and he must be disgruntled seeing players like Sergio Ramos win the UEFA Best Defender Award ahead of him when he conceded more goals than him and was nowhere near the numbers achieved by the 28-year old. Maybe if Napoli become more ambitious and stop selling their best players, he might be able to mount a challenge for the biggest titles in Europe and earn his status among the best defenders.

Also, Koulibaly has had little success so far in trying to create a formidable partnership at the back with Lamine Sane at the back. The Senegalese team looks very strong on paper but somehow, they still lack that competitive edge when it matters the most. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they were the best African team at the tournament, arguably the best team in the group but they still failed to make it past the Group Stage. A lot more is expected of him from his national side.

What’s next?

Catch Koulibaly in action this international break when his side, Senegal, plays against Madagascar in the AFCON Qualifiers. He must be disappointed by his nation’s early exit from the biggest individual sporting competition on the planet. Koulibaly will be looking to guide his team to victory against the Southern African team. Senegal currently lead Group A with 3 points after having beaten Equatorial Guinea by 3 goals to nil back in June 2017. We anticipate this to be an easy victory for Senegal.

Will Siphiwe Tshabalala succeed in Europe?

The old adage “age is nothing but a number” has been proven true now and again by some of football’s biggest stars. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock move to Juventus, then Gianluigi Buffon’s surprise switch to French giants PSG, our football stars seem far from hanging up their boots. That said, even our own African superstars have also followed suit in their hunger for more success and new challenges. South African legend Siphiwe Tshabalala has also been a focal talking point following his departure from Kaizer Chiefs to Turkish outfit Büyükşehir Belediye Erzurumspor.

Shabba’s time at Amakhosi

Siphiwe Tshabalala of South Africa scores the first goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City Stadium on June 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(June 10, 2010 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe)

Siphiwe Tshabalala joined South African giants Kaizer Chiefs back in 2007 from a first division club at the time, Free State Stars and went on to have a great deal of success with the Soweto club. At Chiefs, “Ntho tse monate”, as Shabba is known in the football circles won two ABSA premiership titles with Amakhosi as well as six domestic cups with the club. Shabba also won the coveted Kaizer Chiefs player of the season back in the 2008/2009 season after an impressive showing in the season. The 33-year-old dreadlocked winger made a total of 358 appearances for the mighty Amakhosi and also went on to score 58 goals overall.

Apart from being a popular premier league player, Tshabalala also made headlines for some moments of brilliance on the international stage. A big moment that elevated his popularity in the football circles was his outrageous long range goal that he scored for Bafana Bafana, the South African national team, back in 2010 during the opening match of the FIFA world cup against Mexico. It was an emotional moment not only for Shabba but the African continent as a whole as it was the first ever goal to be scored in a world cup hosted on African soil and it surely had the characteristics of a classic goal. As if that was enough, Shabba’s goal was nominated for the FIFA “puskas” award as a strong contender for goal of the year in 2010. Tshabalala made 91 appearances for Bafana Bafana and went on to score 12 goals of which  most of them were from set pieces as he was a dead-ball specialist with his revered left foot.

Style of play

SiphiweTshabalala (L) of the Chiefs runs with the ball during the Nedbank Cup Final between SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 25, 2013 in Durban, South Africa.

(Dec. 31, 1999 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Shabba’s style of play was loved by most South African football fanatics, especially the Kaizer Chiefs supporters. His flair and pace on the left wing, coupled with his trickery and ability to shake off a defender in one-on-one situations, made him a nuisance to many defenders. Shabba was more of a short passer and always tried to find spaces between defenders. In his later years at Chiefs, Tshabalala began playing more of a central role where he played just behind the strikers and was the one tasked with creating chances for the Amakhosi forwards. Apart from his crossing ability and his sheer pace, Shabba is widely respected for his dead-ball abilities where he has scored a sizeable number of goals from set-pieces with his deadly left foot.

International dream becomes a reality

The 2018/2019 season didn’t quite kickoff well for Shabba as he wasn’t starting much of the opening games particularly due to the arrival of the new Kaizer Chiefs coach. As such, Shabba’s role had become more of him coming on as an impact player in most games. As such, Shabba was able to get an offer from Turkish outfit Erzurumspor which provided him his long-time dream of playing in Europe. So far, "Ntho tse monate” has started one game with his new team as he is still settling in. Nonetheless, much is expected from Shabba and many believe he has the experience to take the Turkish league by storm. The question on football fanatics minds is that will Shabba succeed, or has his time passed?