NEWS
A selection of FirstTouch's best football writing, brought to you by emerging journalists, collaborators, and fans.
City may be on the rise, but Mahrez's yet to find his place in Pep's side
Algerian playmaker is Manchester City’s record signing of all time. Even though he is boasting of impressive stats such as 4 assists and a goal in 3 Champions League matches and 5 goals in 10 EPL appearances, more is expected - if he to become a regular in Pep’s side.
Blessed are they living in the days of Pep Guardiola. To say the Spaniard is one of best football managers in our time is simply an understatement. They are so many sides of the 48-year-old that has made it so difficult to describe him nor his football philosophy in words. He wowed the universe at Barcelona, overseeing a tiki-taka style of play that seemed impossible to contend with at Barcelona, implemented a totally different style at Bayern Munich and now changes formations, players and approaches almost every other match at City. A few things remain constant, his sides dominate possession, they fight and play like possessed men always wanting more despite the scoreline and they win. Dominantly overcoming Arsenal 3-1, Everton 2-0 and Chelsea 6-0 in a space of 7 days is beyond remarkable. But this piece is not about Pep and his masterclass, there is enough about that already.
“Even more, his style of play of running down the wing, cutting inside and shooting at goal is yet to fully come alive at the Etihad. He has never been that tough tackling player who tracks down opponents or rushes for the press, attributes that have become consistent in all of Pep’s most favored players and overall philosophy. Does he have to adapt or will Pep adapt to the Algerian’s default attributes?”
Not quite there
Algerian playmaker, Riyad Mahrez, arrived at the blue side of Manchester last summer, in a record £60 million deal for the club. After a failed attempt to get the 27-year-old in January of 2018, Pep Guardiola finally got his man a few months after and indeed a welcome move for Mahrez and all the neutrals. Many had seen him chop and nutmeg premier league professionals, more so in Leicester City’s record breaking season and began to wonder how much more he could produce if surrounded by players of the calibre of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane. Even though Mahrez has 5 premier league goals and 2 assists to his name in only 10 appearances, on top of 4 assists and a goal in 3 champions league matches, he is still far from his best. It’s difficult not to recognise his discomfort and grind to cement his place in Guardiola’ setup, one that a record signing is expected to.
Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City looks dejected after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on October 7, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)
Really?
It’s no surprise that the winger has been less pronounced in conversations featuring Africa’s current best batch. Names such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah have been thrown in that hat and serve as a testament that one needs to be scoring goals and getting regular game time for whatever club they play for inorder to fit the description. It’s true that Pep switches up his players quite a lot, but equally rewards the most outstanding performers with regular minutes as well. Riyad came on as a substitute in City’s 6-0 thrashing of Chelsea and half-completed passes, lost possession and tame shots at goal revealed the forward’s confidence levels and current status. Even more, his style of play of running down the wing, cutting inside and shooting at goal is yet to fully come alive at the Etihad. He has never been that tough tackling player who tracks down opponents or rushes for the press, attributes that have become consistent in all of Pep’s most favored players and overall philosophy. Does he have to adapt or will Pep adapt to the Algerian’s default attributes?
More than a glimmer of hope
It seems as though Pep has the touch of the ancient Greek king, Midas. Whatever he touches turns into gold. It’s difficult to find a player especially recruited by the Spaniard who hasn’t improved over time. When he has no plans with one, he makes that abundantly clear and ships them out as he did with Ivorian legend, Yaya Toure. The fact that he signed Riyad for so much money means he knows when and how the playmaker will aid the team’s progress. Looking at Bernardo Silva for example, the 24-year-old looked a misfit for the better part of the 2017/18 season but is now almost an indispensable member of the team, with the gaffer remarking that his team is made up of Bernardo and ten other players.
The start to life at City hasn’t been great for Riyad but it will most certainly get only better from here.
African Stars: Pick of the weekend's action
It’s all here, Belfodil’s quick brace that stunned league leaders, Dortmund; Zaha’s return to the scoresheet, En-Nesyri’s hat-trick, Alex Iwobi, Liverpool, and much more of the weekend’s action from all over the world.
Gerard Pique of FC Barcelona duels for the ball with Youssef En-Nesyri of Malaga during the La Liga match between Malaga and Barcelona at Estadio La Rosaleda on March 10, 2018 in Malaga, spain.
(March 9, 2018 - Source: Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images Europe)
The weekend came and didn’t disappoint. From the mauling of Chelsea by Pep’s 6-star Manchester City, a dramatic Soweto derby stalemate and Benfica’s historic 10-0 dismantling of Nacional - it’s fair to say we were thoroughly entertained. Even more interesting is the growing number of African footballers grabbing headlines and superheroing the show for their sides. Here are the selected highlights involving such players.
En-Nesyri scores the first La Liga hatrick for Leganes
The 21-year-old Moroccan was perhaps the biggest winner of the weekend as he led Leganes to a 3-0 victory over sixth placed Real Betis. Youssef En-Nesyri made it 2-0 at the halfway mark of the match before adding a third after the restart, becoming the first ever player to score a Spanish La Liga hatrick in the club’s history. The youngster has since scored 7 times in his last 5 league matches for the side and is fast becoming a priceless gift for both club and country. It’s becoming clear that his 2018 FIFA world cup substitute strike in Lions of the Atlas’ 2-2 draw against Spain was not a fluke, he may be that goal getter that the North African country has been in need of. It’s actually turning out to be an interesting build up to the June 2019 AFCON finals.
Liverpool’s realise their African dream
Fans during the Carling Black Label Champion Cup match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on July 29, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. At least two people have been reported to have been killed and several injured in a crush during the game at South Africa's biggest stadium.
(July 28, 2017 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)
Jurgen Klopp’s title chasing Liverpool regained top spot in the premier league for at least a few hours before Manchester City’s “rude” bashing of Chelsea and all of Matip, Keita, Mane and Salah made a telling contribution to the result. Cameroonian defender, Joel Matip partnered with the Reds’ chief of defence, Virgil Van Dijk to deliver yet another clean sheet, a league high of 14 for the Merseysiders. Naby Keita was central to a renewed Liverpool midfield which had been almost non-existent in recent weeks, holding onto the ball, sliding passes and going out at opponents in super sonic speed. The Guinea national team captain enjoyed his best game yet for Liverpool and is starting to justify the price attached to his services. As for the forwards, Mane headed Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute for his 12th premier league goal of the season, making it 4 consecutive league goals for the first time in the Senegalese’s career. The Egyptian king wrapped up the scoring in the 48th minute, adding to Gini Wijnaldum’s cool finish and making it 3 goals and 3 points for Liverpool on the day.
Soweto still belongs to The Ghost
Sol Bamba of Cardiff City wins a header over Denis Odoi of Fulham during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Fulham FC at Cardiff City Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)
One of the most anticipated club football matches on the continent ended in a 1-1 stalemate as Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs gave in everything to claim bragging rights over Johannesburg’s Soweto township. For Chiefs in particular, it sure tasted like a defeat as they are yet to beat the Buccaneers in the last 12 meetings between the two sides. Quite fairly, Amakhosi sure looked like the side with a score to settle as their troubled Amabhakabhaka in the opening stages, with Khama Billiat and Bernard Parker spearheading that attack.Their efforts were eventually rewarded in the 53rd minute as Billiat won a penalty which Daniel Cardoso calmly converted. They could have gotten a second moments later as Billiat latched onto a quick overhead pass, only for his effort to skew inches wide of the goal. As the long awaited victory seemed assured for the Lords, heartbreak came in the 80th minute as Thembinkosi Lorch was sent through on goal, expertly rounding off the goalkeeper to extend Pirates’ unbeaten run against their bitter rivals to a record 12.
Other matches
Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi was on the score sheet as Arsenal saw off relegation threatened, Huddersfield Town to keep their top four hopes alive. Senegal’s M’baye Niang also grabbed a goal for Rennes who beat St Etienne 3-0 to move within a point of the league’s top 4 teams. It was a night to forget for Achraf Hakimi and Dortmund who blew away a 3 nil lead with only 25 minutes to go as they finished 3-3 against Hoffenheim whose Algerian striker, Ishak Belfodil struck twice to secure a point for the visitors. Wilfried Zaha returned to the score sheet as he grabbed an equalizer for Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw against West Ham and so did Ivory Coast’s Sol Bamba who added a goal for Cardiff as they sealed an emotional win since learning of the demise of Emiliano Sala.
Africans on the move and what they bring to their respective clubs
The 2019 January transfer window is now history. African players were once again on the move, from the Premier League, Turkish Super League, La Liga only to mention a few. In this piece you will find three of them as well as what their impact could be at their new clubs.
Oumar Niasse of Everton arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on May 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England.
(May 4, 2018 - Source: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)
The winter transfer window is known for being an opportunity for the stranded to make-up on their weaknesses and bolster their squads in a bid to save their campaign with 6 months left before the end of the season for most football leagues across the globe. January came and passed, and it is no surprise that Africans dominated the headlines of players on the move to different leagues. Let’s briefly look into those that made the loudest buzz.
Niasse – Everton to Cardiff
With the unexpected disappearance of Emiliano Sala, Cardiff City were left stranded without a striker. In Sala, they had found the answer to their problems further up the pitch. Cardiff needed goals to get out of the relegation places and turned their attention to Everton forward Oumar Niasse.
Niasse was once again struggling for game-time this season, under Marco Silva. He was limited to just 5 substitute appearances since the beginning of the campaign. In contrast, Niasse has already started 3 matches under Neil Warnock at Cardiff although he is yet to repay the boss’ faith in bringing him to the struggling team in this difficult time.
What to expect: Niasse is not the prolific goalscorer that a club like Cardiff wish they had but he is guaranteed to put in a performance and chip in with an odd goal when it matters the most.
Victor Moses of Chelsea looks on during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England.
(Aug. 4, 2018 - Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)
Victor Moses – Chelsea to Fenerbahce
This is a weird one. You would have thought the former Nigerian international would have a chance to show his true potential in a wide forward role at a big club after announcing his retirement from international football. Maurizio Sarri had other plans. There were early signs that most of us ignored. Callum Hudson-Odoi was handed a start against Arsenal in pre-season ahead of the experienced Victor Moses. The situation did not get better for him as he could only manage 26 minutes in the English Premier League.
However, he has since sought greener pastures after deciding to move to Fenerbahce on an 18-month loan deal. The move is positive for the African player as it presents him an opportunity to start afresh at a relatively competitive side that often play UEFA Champions League football. Victor Moses will look to make the right flank his own in the Turkish League and once again prove how deadly he can be with the backing of his manager.
Angel Martin Correa (R) of Atletico de Madrid competes for the ball with Yohan Benalouane (L) of Leicester City FC during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Leicester City at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 12, 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
(April 11, 2017 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)
What to expect: Moses has long been criticized for his goalscoring stats and it does not look like he would change that anytime soon with the player well in his 20s. But, he could breathe a new life in terms of creativity for the legendary club and regenerate his career like Gervinho who happens to be steamrolling the Italian Serie A.
Yohan Benalouane – Leicester to Nottingham Forest
It was only a matter of time before the 31-year old left the King Power Stadium. His colleagues have been gradually freezed out of the first team fold because of their age and Claude Puel has preferred Harry Maguire who is owning the centre back spot and not looking back. Moving away from Leicester City was the only logical thing for the Tunisian international if he wished to increase the number of minutes he was getting.
Nottingham Forest came in for the experienced defender. Their ambition is to make it to the play-off places as they currently lie 5 points adrift of 6th placed Bristol City. The club have been in great need of a player to protect the backline and they have got one in Yohan.
What to expect: Yohan Benalouane might be a bit rusty which explains the 3 yellow cards and 1 red card he has already received in the Championship. However, they will soon enjoy the presence of the towering defender who bullies strikers for fun and shrugs off anyone who comes his way.
UCL Preview: Will record breaking Marega resume form as Porto visit Roma?
One of the most competitive UCL round of 16 matches pits Roma against FC Porto in a matchup of experience vs form. Our money is on Marega bringing it home for the Primeira Liga champions through, you guessed it, more goals.
Cengiz Under (C) with his teammates of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2018 in Rome, Italy.
(April 17, 2018 - Source: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Europe)
The last time Mousa “The Beast” Marega appeared in the UEFA Champions League, he went all Beast Mode! The Malian forward made history in the group stages as he became the first African to score in 5 consecutive UCL matches.Consequently he is tied on third place with the likes of Neymar and Dybala on the current top scorers of the 2018/19 campaign.
Heading into the tournament, the 27-year-old was only but filling the shoes of the injured Cameroonian international, Vincent Aboubakar in the Primeira Liga champions’ setup and boy did he do it with so much grace! FC Porto finished the group stages unbeaten with the highest points tally of 16 amongst all the 2018/19 participants and that was after going toe to toe with experienced sides such as Schalke and Galatasaray. Marega is expected to continue leading the Portuguese’ club frontline heading into the knockout stages beginning with the challenge of last year’s semi-finalists in AS Roma. Quite frankly, Roma doesn’t look like the side they were when they achieved that feat back in 2018. The Giallorossi did just enough to secure a knock-out spot in the round of 16 and their domestic performances need a lot to be desired. Recently, they were humiliated 7-1 by Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia quarter-final and currently sit 6th on the Italian Serie A league table, very much at the extreme end of a crowded race for the champions league places. On the other hand, Porto are actually on top of the world. They are perhaps fancying themselves to grab a consecutive Portuguese Primeira League title, sitting pretty at the top of the standings ahead of Europa League bound, Benfica.
Moussa Marega celebrates with Yacine Brahimi of FC Porto after scores the second goal during the Primeira Liga match between FC Porto and Feirense at Estadio do Dragao on May 6, 2018 in Porto, Portugal.
(May 5, 2018 - Source: Octavio Passos/Getty Images Europe)
Players to look out of
Marega who is currently on 7 goals and 5 assists in the Portuguese league is expected to continue linking up with Algerian international, Yacine Brahimi, the physically built playmaker/winger with technical abilities of rare quality. He provided 2 assists in the group stages and remains a force to reckon with, both on and off the ball. In case you are wondering, Chancel Mbemba of DR Congo is also an option for FC Porto in the defensive backline and will be hoping to get a run-in after finding game minutes hard to come by in recent weeks. As for AS Roma, their only arsenal heading into the fixture is their experience. Despite being gifted with the talents of Cengiz Under, Edin Dzeko, Kostas Manolas and Steven Nzonzi - their current form has done little to explain such quality.
The good thing is that, this happens to be the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where the stakes are obviously higher and teams give in more than they got. It’s obviously unfortunate for Roma that they have to welcome the Portuguese champions on Tuesday night, 13th of February 2018, an incredibly confident and organized side threatening to go all the way. But hey, it’s great news for all of us fans, we have a great spectacle on our hands.
My Prediction: Marega and Brahimi will rise to the occasion and send FC Porto through to the quarter-finals.
“Marega who is currently on 7 goals and 5 assists in the Portuguese league is expected to continue linking up with Algerian international, Yacine Brahimi, the physically built playmaker/winger with technical abilities of rare quality. He provided 2 assists in the group stages and remains a force to reckon with, both on and off the ball.”
Sports and soccer betting banned in Uganda, hit or miss?
Yes, soccer betting is now a no-go for Ugandans. What are the implications for the country? Here’s our take.
“As far as the President is concerned, the dilemma that young people are facing is choosing between hard work and betting, so much that removing one will inevitably work for the other.”
When the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni tweeted that Uganda will be banning sports betting by not issuing new licenses for betting companies nor renewing old ones, he got a “Praise the Lord” from religious leaders and skepticism from economists. According to the President, there are a couple of justifications for this directive and we cannot dispute that. However, the effect of an action is not always as noble as the intention of it. Will this decision yield the anticipated results?
Why was it done?
The directive seemingly stemmed from the President’s best interest for the youth. According to him, sports betting is the reason why most people are diverted from the core value of hard work and lie around idle. As far as the President is concerned, the dilemma that young people are facing is choosing between hard work and betting, so much that removing one will inevitably work for the other. Such an incredible dichotomy of choices! Even more importantly, the President touched on how most of these companies are foreign owned. After all the betting that takes place, they take most of the profits outside of the country which drains the economy. This is a common phenomenon amongst African states and it really does need to be curbed.
Hit or Miss?
Uganda supporters cheer ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Egypt and Uganda in Port-Gentil on January 21, 2017. / AFP / Justin TALLIS
(Jan. 20, 2017 - Source: AFP)
The government of Uganda is estimated to lose about Ush50 billion (about U$13.6M) yearly from these companies if they go ahead with implementing this ban. This is probably way less than what these companies then take out of Uganda annually, but it sure does contribute to the welfare of some Ugandans. Should government then let go of it under a ban? Mr Albert Baine, a tax expert from Global Taxation Services Ltd, said that in as much as government should care about the social impact of activities that happen inside the country, it should also ensure that does not come at a financial loss. This then proves that if the outcome is to satisfy both criteria, then a ban is probably not the best way to go about it. There is a way through which regulation could be crafted such that financial and social impact are maximised.
Betting is also one other way that adds excitement and commitment to sports, especially football. When people do not just associate a team with colours, but with their money, they are most likely going to attend the soccer matches or stream the game. They will be religiously following the team that they have sided with during a bet. This is the kind of support and attention that sports especially in Africa need. However, we agree that interest should not come at the expense of other things like academics and work. This then means that people need to be sensitised on the dangers of gambling addiction, which is something that companies can take up as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Because a ban comes with a blanket wipe out, even of things that might be beneficial, like commitment to sports, it maybe a miss in some cases.
Mr Paul Lakuma, a researcher at the Economic Policy Research Centre also raised a point about how this ban could lead to the eruption of a gambling black market. If it is surely an addiction, people will not be stopped by legislation from practising it. Instead, they will find means to do it outside of the government’s eyes. This will even lead to a higher economic drain as government cannot account for this underground money and possibly lose tax from it.
Conclusion
What then shall I say, I am of the opinion that the President’s concerns are genuine and should be taken seriously. However, a ban seems to be quite a drastic approach. There are softer ways to deal with all the problems that he has rightly identified.
Celebrating the people's champion, Thembi Kgatlana
Grand, glorious, and just getting started, we took some time to look at the 2018 African Woman Player of The Year’s career so far. The 2018 CAF Goal of The Year winner may be a household name for years to come.
Thembi Kgatlana is the CAF 2018 African Woman Player of the Year, she’s a powerful player on the pitch and has become a football sensation. Thembi Kgatlana might be young, but she is cementing her status among the list of the most elite African players. Thembi is currently one of the most exciting footballers to watch on the continent.
The journey so far
Kgatlana is a dynamic player with an impressive pace with which she dashes past defenders with ease. The 22-year-old has been instrumental in scoring winners for South Africa in their biggest tests. She put one past the Nigerian defence to secure a remarkable win for South Africa in their first group stage encounter and again in the semi-final win against Mali in Ghana. AWCON 2018 was an especially important moment in her career and has solidified her as one of Africa’s top talents. Kgatlana netted 5 (the most goals for a player in the tournament) crucial goals that saw Banyana Banyana qualify for the world cup for the first time after coming close on many occasions. Nigeria took the AWCON title this year, but the top player of the tournament was definitely Kgatlana and she rightly took home the player of the tournament nod.
Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa runs with the ball during the Women's Group E first round match between South Africa and China PR on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Aug. 5, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images South America)
Thembi began playing football at the age of seven. Her mother admitted that she was reluctant about her playing the game, but Kgatlana was convinced that she would be able to make something of herself in the game. Female players on the continent have to struggle with the added pressure of defying social norms that generally associate playing football as a masculine activity. There aren’t as many opportunities for female players in South Africa, Kgatlana herself pinned most of her hopes for a professional career in foreign leagues.
Fast forward to February 2018, after admittedly a long wait, Kgatlana signed her first professional contract with the Texas National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) outfit, the Houston Dash from the University of Western Cape. She joined fellow Banyana teammates Linda Motlhalo and captain Janine van Wyk. In her first season in the NWSL, Kgatlana scored two goals in 16 appearances.
Upward and forwad, she goes
CAF Awards happen to be the biggest night for African football, celebrating the best of the best every year. Kgatlana was a big winner on the night, taking home Woman Player of the year as well as Goal of the Year awards. Considering the competition she was up against, including the 2017 winner Asisat Oshoala, it’s abundantly clear that Thembi Kgatlana owned 2018, both in terms of her AWCON performance and her first big professional move to the Houston Dash. She dedicated the award to women playing football in South Africa, also taking to Instagram to express her gratitude to “ every single one of you who has supported me through my highs and lows”.
After the big wins for Kgatlana, the spotlight is on the young woman from Mohlakeng, Randfontein, who became the second South African after Noko Matlou in 2008 to win CAF Player of the Year. Off the pitch, like any other superstar athlete, she has a brand endorsement with Nike. We should expect much more to come from the Houston Dash Player both on and off the pitch. She will play a massive role when Banyana embark on their maiden World Cup campaign in France this July.
“Female players on the continent have to struggle with the added pressure of defying social norms that generally associate playing football as a masculine activity. There aren’t as many opportunities for female players in South Africa, Kgatlana herself pinned most of her hopes for a professional career in foreign leagues. ”
What has gone wrong at Kaizer Chiefs?
With injuries and coaching turnover, Soweto Derby losses may be the least of ABSA Premiership side, Kaizer Chiefs worries. The Amakhosi have seemingly fallen from grace and it looks like a long way back to the top.
Chiefs fans celebrate as their team scores a goal during the Absa Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and Vasco da Gama at FNB Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Soweto, South Africa
(Nov. 26, 2010 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Often times than not, when a club is not performing well, the coach is the one who is primarily blamed for the bad results. As such, when things get bad, he is the first one to be shown the door rather than the players. This is no different for the so-called big teams in various leagues around the world. The expectations are always high for coaches overseeing these big clubs and poor performances are not necessarily tolerated.
The year 2018 will certainly go down as one of the worst years in Kaizer Chiefs’ 48-year rich history. The thought of having three different coaches taking charge of the club in a space of a year is a reflection of the challenges faced by the club. Worse, the thought of going nearly four full seasons without a trophy further puts more question marks regarding the situation at the club.
This was evident when the club decided to sack Steve Komphela due to a series of poor results by the mighty Amakhosi. Now, out came Bra Steve and in came little known Italian coach Giovanni Solinas, who was tasked with bringing back the club’s glory days. The first few months were not too bad for Solinas as Amakhosi slowly gained momentum and started picking up points in the ABSA premier league. However, inconsistency crept in once more and Amakhosi were back to square one, miles behind the top of the league table and dumped out of some of the league’s cup tournaments such as the MTN 8 and the Telkom Knockout. It was no surprise when fans began to call for Solinas’ head as Chiefs were quickly becoming a laughing stock in the league and the two consecutive losses to sworn rivals Orlando Pirates put the last nail in the coffin, prompting the club authorities to act and ultimately sack Solinas after just 22 games at the helm. Thereafter, the club made an unpopular choice in hiring former coach Ernst Middendorp to lead the team.
Middendorp’s start to life has also been somewhat lukewarm from my own observation. Although there have been some improvements in the team’s performances, particularly in the league, it is still not enough for one to confidently say the cracks at the club have been fixed. It will take some time. Take for instance the club’s latest setback, being eliminated from the CAF Confederations tournament by Zambian side Zesco United during the playoffs. The recent loss has further drilled down the holes of vulnerability, lingering around the club at the moment. Furthermore, the club’s misfortunes have also been worsened by the injury to captain and number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune whose absence has been greatly felt.
“The thought of having three different coaches taking charge of the club in a space of a year is a reflection of the challenges faced by the club. Worse, the thought of going nearly four full seasons without a trophy further puts more question marks regarding the situation at the club.”
Now, with Chiefs being seven points behind log leaders Bidvest Wits who also have a game in hand, it seems it might all but be another trophyless season for the Amakhosi, unless they go all the way in the Nedbank Cup. However, one cannot help but acknowledge the fact that not all is well in the Amakhosi camp. Whilst coach Midderndorp has tried to improve the team’s performances, it remains evident that there are challenges in the club that need to be resolved as soon as possible. What’s more, the injuries to a number of key players like Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, George Maluleka and others, have hugely affected the team and at times exposed the depth (or lack of) in the team. At present, Kaizer Chiefs do not look anything like title contenders and if they want to challenge for the league, then big decisions need to be made. Also, one can argue that the team needs someone who has a strong reputation of winning trophies to lead the team and perhaps only then can the team really fancy their chances against the other big teams in the league. What are your thoughts on the current problems at Amakhosi?
Auba has been clutch, but can his goals bring CL football back to the Emirates?
Aubameyang’s legend is growing quickly in London, as Arsenal’s official club website have already labelled him, “a man for all seasons.” In the midst of the issues enveloping the club, the Gabonese international cannot just stop scoring. But will his and Lacazette’s goals be enough to secure a Top 4 finish in the Premier League?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team's fifth goal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)
The Gabonese captain was once again in on the act at the Emirates as Arsenal exited the FA Cup fourth round at the hands of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United. The Arsenal started off brightly, taking the game to the visitors but injuries on centre back pair, Sokratis and Koscielny proved detrimental to their winning efforts as Lukaku grew wings on the left-hand side of the United front three. The latter setting up two goals for Sanchez and Lingard in just two minutes. Arsenal’s top scorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back before half time after Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi and Aaron Ramsey combined beautifully on the left-flank to set up, yet another tap in for the marksman. The game eventually ended 3-1 in favor of the Red Devils but a familiar feeling at the Emirates stadium bracketed the night. Even with one of the world’s inform strikers in Aubameyang, a meticulous Head Coach in Unai Emery with a proven track record of winning trophies and notable top quality players in their squad, its difficult to separate the “new Arsenal” with that which was presided over by Arsene Wenger over the past 22 years.
The player(s) they have always needed
Since Robin Van Persie, the London club had always been in search of a top quality striker to provide the goals and names such as Olivier Giroud, Yaya Sanogo, Nicklas Bendtner and Danny Welbeck auditioned for the role with little success. The arrival of Alexandre Lacazette in the summer of 201, further cemented by that of the African star, Aubameyang, completely obliterated the striker issue. In fact, the latter became an instant hit breaking some notable records for the club such as being on course to become the fastest player to reach 25 Premier League goals for the club, even ahead of legends such as Thierry Henry and Ian Wright. The 2015 African Player Of The Year also became the first Arsenal player to score on every day of the week coupled by his notable habit of scoring on competition debuts as he did against United in the Emirates FA Cup. Arsenal have in fact seldom struggled with scoring goals this campaign as they currently have the sixth most goals scored in Europe’s top five leagues, even ahead of the likes of high flying Dortmund, Liverpool or Bayern Munich. The club’s website actually labelled the Gabonese a man for all seasons (and days) as the club continues to falter between the lines of rejuvenation and stagnation. Seemingly, even the pair of Premier League’s second top goal scorer and the Uruguayan international, Lucas Torreira (“the defensive midfielder they have always needed”), are just not enough for the Gunners.
“Even with one of the world’s inform strikers in Aubameyang, a meticulous Head Coach in Unai Emery with a proven track record of winning trophies and notable top quality players in their squad, its difficult to separate the “new Arsenal” with that which was presided over by Arsene Wenger over the past 22 years.”
Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
(Oct. 21, 2018 - Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe)
The “perfect” manager
As Arsene Wenger’s time drew to a close at Arsenal, there was an increasingly growing unrest with the bulk of the fan base criticising the French man for being too laid back, non-adventurous and stingy to spend on transfers. In Emery, Arsenal got a “perfect” replacement for the resigned Wenger. The guy who won three consecutive Europa League trophies with Sevilla, five cups with PSG in two years and oversaw the development of players such as David Silva, David Villa and Ever Banega. Emery became that demanding Coach who pacies the touchline for the whole ninety, shouting instructions and unafraid to drop big names such as Mesut Ozil from the matchday squad. It’s undeniable that there has been some progress since the arrival of the Spaniard but the new Arsenal still has resemblances of the old, marked by frequent defensive catastrophes that saw them ship in 5 goals at Liverpool, painfully hit on the counter as with United on Friday or huffing and puffing at goal as was the case in their 1-0 loss to West Ham United. After being knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup, playing in the Europa League and lying 5th on the Premier League table, almost the same position and points they had last campaign after 20 matches with Arsene Wenger - you would understand one who confuses Emery’s Arsenal with that of Wenger.
What’s really the issue then?
It’s almost unrealistic to cover all that is going on at Arsenal in this piece but a few events that we have noticed in recent times do give hints and leave everything to one’s own judgment. The highly rated head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat who worked with Dortmund and helped bring in Aubameyang, Matteo Guendouzi, Torreira and Mkhitaryan left the club, just a little over a year after joining it, leaving more questions than answers into the Arsenal situation. Former Chief Executive, Ivan Gazidis who presided over the Wenger regime also left the club after ushering in “a new era” for the club when he brought in Unai Emery in the May of 2018 and so did co-owner Alisher Usmanov who sold his stake to the sole ownership of unpopular multiple sports business tycoon, Stan Kroenke. The general feeling amongst the Arsenal fans worldwide is that Kroenke is taking them for a ride by investing less than required into the development of the club. Just recently, we learnt that Arsenal were not going to buy any players in the January transfer window but would seek loans which may be difficult to understand when done by the ninth richest football club in the world as of 2019.
What do you think it’s going to take for the Gunners to start shooting again, unhindered?
Banyana Banyana striker makes big move to Spain
The wheels keep spinning for the 2018 Africa Cup Of Nations finalists, Banyana Banyana. One of their own will be joining Malaga, actually pioneering the move to Spain for future generations of South African women footballers.
South Africa line up prior to to the Women's Group E first round match between South Africa and China PR on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Aug. 5, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images South America)
Banyana players continue to move abroad as women's football in the country appears to be heading in the right direction. Just when one thought the South African women’s team has done well for themselves after their recent exploits in the 2018 Women’s AFCON tourney, more and more good news keep coming in for the National team players. Banyana Banyana striker Ode Fulutudilu has pulled off a great surprise and went on to sign for Spanish side Malaga, becoming the first ever South African woman to play in Spain. The little known 28-year-old forward joins Malaga from Finnish side Naisten Liiga where she had a season high of 15 goals from 23 matches, showing her prowess in front of goal. Her good run in Finland eventually caught the attention of coach Desiree Ellis and earned her a call up to the Banyana Banyana setup for an international friendly against Chile. Fulutudilu’s origins can be traced back to DR Congo where she was born before moving to South Africa.
While in Mzansi, she went on to play in the Sasol Women’s League where she shone so much that she attracted interest from overseas clubs and eventually settled at Finnish club Oulu Nice. Unfortunately, Fulutudilu missed out on a place in the Banyana Banyana team that impressively went all the way to the finals of the recent 2018 Women’s AFCON tournament. However, Fulutudilu will be hoping to do well in order to be considered by coach Desiree Ellis for the Women’s FIFA world cup taking place in France later this year. Speaking on her move to Malaga, Ode said "I am so extremely excited about this next chapter. I hope to fly the South African flag high and take it to places that have never seen our talent before". That said, eyes will be on Ode to impress at her new club and lift the South African flag high. She will also be eyeing a place in South Africa's squad for June's World Cup in France.
Nigeria's Ngozi Ebere signs a one-year contract with top Norwegian Club
Another day, another Nigerian international on the move in European football. The 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champs will stop at nothing in dominating the global football arena.
“Nigerian players are highly sought after, abroad and history has shown that foreign-based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. ”
Norwegian club Arna Bjornar has signed Super Falcons defender and the 2018 AWCON champion, Ngozi Ebere. Ebere’s career began in the Nigerian Women’s League where she won six titles with former club River Angles. The three-time CAF woman of the year has signed the year-long contract with Arna Bjornar after a one-year stay at Barcelona FA.
Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.
(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)
In 2015, Ebere made a major career move to PSG from the Nigerian Women’s League on a two-year contract. The year 2017 saw her leave PSG and the French Ligue unsatisfied, immediately moving to Cypriot side, Barcelona FA. The latest transfer to Norway has been highly praised with the 27-year-old defender touting the move to the Topperserian side as a fresh new challenge. The former PSG player told the media that joining the highly competitive Norwegian league offers the Nigerian an opportunity to grow as a player and added that, "As a professional, you want to keep testing yourself among the best, right now I am prepared for that."
Ebere has played for the Nigerian U-20 and appeared 20 times for the Super Falcons. In 2015, she was an integral part of the Super Falcons’ World Cup campaign and brings her experience to one of Europe’s top flight Leagues in Norway, where she will be a great asset for Arna Bjornar.
Nigerian players are highly sought after abroad and history has shown that foreign based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. The Super Falcons currently have a big pool of foreign-based players including former Arsenal Women player Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Onome Obi just to mention a few. Currently having a sorority of foreign-based players is best practice for the top teams on the continent.
The Norwegian league resumes in March. Ebere will join her new club for the pre-season training camp in Turkey in preparation for the fresh challenge in the Scandinavia.
Egypt's talented Ramadan Sobhi faces an uphill task back to the limelight
After an impressive start to his professional career with record CAF Champions League winners, Ah Ahly, Sobhi found himself in the English Premier League. First with Stoke City and now with Huddersfield Town until he had to return where it all started in a loan move. What does the future hold for the 22-year-old?
Contrary to popular assumption, Mohamed Salah is not the only Egyptian that knows how to run up and down the wing. The 22-year-old Ramadan Sobhi is a top prospect for the North African nation as well as current and future clubs, lucky enough to borrow his services. However, just like Salah, his growth journey has been by no means smooth and is still very much on his way to the very top. The 2018 African Player Of The Year, Salah, had to grow through Egypt’s El Mokawloon, FC Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina and AS Roma, before he became a global phenomenon at Liverpool. It’s not clear how long it will take for Sobhi, that is if he manages to go the distance, what’s however clear is he will have to fight tooth and nail for it.
Ramadan Sobhi of Huddersfield Town looks on during a pre-season friendly match between Huddersfield Town and Olympique Lyonnais at John Smith's Stadium on July 25, 2018 in Huddersfield, England.
(July 24, 2018 - Source: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Europe)
The beginning
Sobhi started off his football career in the youth setup of Africa’s most successful club football, with a record 8 CAF Champions League titles, Cairo based Al Ahly. At only,17 years of age in the 2013/14 season, Sobhi made his professional debut in the Egyptian Premier League, helping the Red Devils win the league title in that campaign and the subsequent one. He instantly cemented his place in Mohamed Youssef’s starting XI and became a crowd favorite, showboating at will with the confidence of a seasoned professional. At the time, top European clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Roma, RB Leipzig, Sampdoria and Udinese stopped at nothing to learn about the Egyptian sensation who then debuted for his country at 17, the second youngest player to do so after the infamous Mido. At home, he became popular for sparking controversy after standing on the ball twice, against rivals Zamalek in a showboating move that enraged those of the opposite side. Such was the boldness of the youngster. Upon leaving Ah Ahly, Ramadan Sobhi had won 2 Egyptian Premier League titles, 2 Egyptian Super Cups and the CAF Confederation Cup in just two years, scoring 11 times in 55 appearances. It was at Stoke City that he would then first taste European football.
Bright false start
Mark Hughes handed the Egyptian teenager an English Premier League debut in the August of 2016 against Manchester City after securing his services for a fee of £5 million from Al Ahly. Even becoming the first teenager to start a league game for Stoke City in nine years. Sobhi’s talent became impossible not to notice as he gave opponents all sorts of problems running at them from either wings.Upon returning from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Sobhi became a regular in Mark Hughes’ side as he then appeared a total of 19 times for the club as they finished 13th in the 2016/17 Premier League season. The following season would then be a bitter pill for Sobhi and the Potters who were relegated to the EFL Championship. The Egyptian international had appeared a total 41 times for the club over 2 years and scored 2 goals, not a bad record for Premier League strugglers who became good at shipping in goals than they were scoring them. Fellow Premier League side, Huddersfield Town wouldn’t let Sobhi go the Championship with Stoke, and acquired him in June of 2018 for a fee believed to be £5.7 million.
“At home, he became popular for sparking controversy after standing on the ball twice, against rivals Zamalek in a showboating move that enraged those of the opposite side. Such was the boldness of the youngster. Upon leaving Ah Ahly, Ramadan Sobhi had won 2 Egyptian Premier League titles, 2 Egyptian Super Cups and the CAF Confederation Cup in just two years, scoring 11 times in 55 appearances. ”
Restart
Now, the Terriers spell has been quite not as expected for Sobhi. The 22-year-old has already managed a total of 4 appearances since joining the club in the summer, extremely painful for a growing player used to getting regular game time throughout his professional career. In December of 2018, Huddersfield actually made the decision to loan Sobhi to his former club, Ah Ahly, until June of 2019. The versatile attacker, dubbed to be the reincarnation of Egyptian legend, Mohamed Aboutrika, seems fallen from grace only that at 22 years of age, he has loads of time to turn it all around. It will take a whole lot more of his eagle like vision for goal, slick feet and pace to reach higher levels. More so now that his parent club, Huddersfield Town is in real danger of facing the chop that axed Stoke City from the Premier League, otherwise known as the axe that chucks teams away from relevance.
He definitely has the talent, and the right inspiration in Mohamed Salah to go all the way. The question is, will he?
Did Seri cut himself short by joining Premier League strugglers, Fulham?
Fulham are very much caught up in the relegation battle and face and uphill task to safety as far as the Premier League is concerned. Seri who could have been playing Champions League football or chasing some big European league title if he had only made the choice to, finds himself in the Whites’ predicament. Any regrets for the Ivorian?
You know someone is a big a deal when the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal are repeatedly reported to be casting in their bids in hope of landing the player’s signature. Such was the predicament of Jean Michel Seri, who was once upon a time tipped to be “Xavi’s replacement” at Barcelona, or fill the shoes of Santi Cazorla at Arsenal. The Ivorian international was honestly spoiled for choice and a choice he did make, but an unpopular one.
“...But the dynamic Seri we were used to, the one who ran at players, created something out of nothing and meandered through the midfield players like the first rain on desert rocks, may slowly be reaching extinction. ”
In the summer of 2018, Fulham FC who had just been promoted to the English top flight announced the signing of the box to box midfielder for a record club fee believed to be in the region of £25 million. The ingenious midfielder whom we came to know as Jean Michel Seri had already made a name for himself, growing up in the streets of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. They all nicknamed him, “Galla” after Marcelo Gallardo, the former Monaco and PSG midfielder he looked up to. What really made him a real prospect were the OGC Nice years. Playing with the likes of Mario Balotelli upfront, Seri lighted up the French Ligue 1. Over three years, he recorded a remarkable 21 assists and scored 12 goals from a deep-lying midfield position, not an attacking one. During that time when Naby Keita was running the show at RB Leipzig, Seri was doing the same if not better at Nice. He won the Marc Vivien Foe Award for the best African Player in the Ligue 1 for the year 2017, became the 2017 OGC Nice Player of the Year and was included in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year in that remarkable 2017 for the Ivorian. He looked ready and sure first XI player for any of Europe’s big clubs but chose the promoted Fulham instead. Speaking to the media on the strange move, Seri highlighted that Fulham were the most serious side in their pursuit for his signature henceforth settling for the Craven Cottagers. His move was largely labelled as a “steal” for Fulham by many of the top football analysts, players and media houses. In other terms, he really seemed too good for the Whites.
Andre Schurrle and Jean Michael Seri of Fulham during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Arsenal FC at Craven Cottage on October 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
(Oct. 6, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)
And now, Fulham is one of the sides fighting a tough relegation battle, currently seated at the second bottom position on the Premier League standings. The 27-year-old Seri has only managed a solitary goal and 2 assists in 19 premier league matches. Most of his playing time at the club is now devoted to stopping opponents’ fires instead of creating one for the opposition. He has had to learn to sit back and defend more at Fulham than at any point of his career. Of course he has had one or two special moments that include winning the Premier League Goal of the Month for August 2018, but the dynamic Seri we were used to, the one who ran at players, created something out of nothing and meandered through the midfield players like the first rain on desert rocks, may slowly be reaching extinction. Even at the prime age of his career where according to many, he should be winning all the major trophies and building a concrete legacy like those of compatriots such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure.
This leaves one to question on whether or not Seri short-changed himself by signing for a relegation threatened side when he had the choice of playing UEFA Champions League football. However, career choices usually implicate more than the perceived and it’s up to the owner of the career anywhere.
One fact still stands, whether he has the chance to manifest it or not, Seri remains one special footballer, a joy to behold when he finds himself in his element.
Giant slayer & African studded Leicester take aim at Liverpool
With more than 6 African players available for selection in Liverpool and Leicester’s Premier League meeting, we could be treated to an AFCON 2019 ‘warm up match’ away from the continent.
The English Premier League enters matchday 24 from Tuesday all through Thursday, the 30th of January 2019. As usual, they are a couple of scintillating fixtures available to the lovers of the game but one stand out matchup should be that which has the Foxes of Leicester City visiting those “who will never walk alone,” the Reds of Anfield.
The narrative
Eden Hazard of Chelsea speaks to Mohamed Salah of Liverpool ahead of the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on September 26, 2018 in Liverpool, England.
(Sept. 25, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)
Liverpool enter this fixture sitting pretty at the top of the league, four points ahead of champions, Manchester City and have an opportunity to extend their lead to seven clear points. After a thoroughly entertaining and dominant first half of the season that saw the Reds complete 20 matches unbeaten, conceding only 8 goals and scoring the league’s second highest tally of 48 goals, they have had to recently learn how to grind results. Liverpool’s most recent 3 premier league matches have been far from convincing but have the word champions written all over them. After losing to Manchester City 2-1, Jurgen Klopp’s men had to dig deep at Brighton as they secured a precious 1-0 victory courtesy of the Egyptian, Mohamed Salah’s goal. They once again showed character and grit to narrowly see off Crystal Palace 4-3 at home, with Salah getting a brace to go top of the scoring charts ahead of African counterpart, Aubameyang. It won’t be any easier for the Reds who welcome struggling Leicester who have an impressive record of humbling the top sides of English football.
The Foxes have lost 4 of their last 5 matches in all competitions and pressure may be once again mounting for their gaffer, Claude Puel. The last time Puel got under pressure of being sacked is when he pulled off the miracle of beating Chelsea 1-0 away from home and Manchester City, 2-1 in the following fixture. Now, they also have Manchester United and Tottenham waiting in line after the Liverpool game and won’t be letting all of the 3 pass by without securing at least a point.
“ The 22-year-old Nigerian is as consistent as they come and remains one of the EPL’s top tackling midfielders with a total of 72 tackles so far in this campaign. Only Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye has had more in the midfield position at 83 tackles and defenders, Ricardo Pereira and Wan Bissaka completing the top four tacklers list with 82 and 80 respectively. ”
Their arsenal
Wilfried Ndidi of Leicester in action during the pre-season friendly match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Molineux on July 29, 2017 in Wolverhampton, England.
(July 28, 2017 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)
In recent weeks, tenth placed Leicester have had to rely heavily on the Nigerian international, Wilfried Ndidi in central midfield, who has been guiding relatively newcomers, Nampalys Mendy and Hamza Choudhury in that position. The 22-year-old Nigerian is as consistent as they come and remains one of the EPL’s top tackling midfielders with a total of 72 tackles so far in this campaign. Only Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye has had more in the midfield position at 83 tackles and defenders, Ricardo Pereira and Wan Bissaka completing the top four tacklers list with 82 and 80 respectively. Going up front, Leicester’s conservative approach that saw them register wins against Chelsea and City relied on the counter attacking pace of Jamie Vardy who has scored in all of his last 5 premier league appearances against Liverpool. Algerian, Rachid Ghezzal also provides width and commendable technical ability to the front line that is also supported by English international, James Maddison. Nigerian forward, Kelechi Iheanacho has always been a great backup plan to Vardy or an excellent supporting forward when asked to play with the former having already contributed 1 goal and 3 assists in 9 starts this campaign
Liverpool’s star studded squad needs no extra commendation, what they have achieved so far is reason enough not to doubt their devastating abilities. The Reds faithfuls will be happy to hear that Virgil Van Dijk and Wijnaldum could be available for selection after they had missed out training because of sickness and a knee problem. Mohamed Salah will be seeking more as he is now just 2 goals shy of becoming the fastest Liverpool player to reach 50 premier league goals, surpassing Fernando Torres who did it in 72 appearances. Salah has only played 49 matches, so far.
Why you should watch this one?
With all of Guinean Naby Keita, Senegalese Sadio Mane, Egyptian Mohamed Salah, Nigerian Wilfried Ndidi, Algerian Rachid Ghezzal and Super Eagles’ Kelechi Iheanacho available for selection, there is a huge prospect of witnessing an “AFCON 2019” warm up match away from the continent.
Is Mbappe, the next big “thing” after Ronaldo and Messi?
After winning the coveted world cup gold at 20 years of age, there aren’t a lot of more things to win for Kylian. Yet he is still going too strong, boasting of stats which were previously associated with only Messi and Ronaldo.
“Now, 20 games into the French Ligue 1 season, PSG remains unbeaten and Mbappe is topping the scoring charts, again from a wide position not as an outright striker. The former Monaco forward has 18 goals and 6 assists to his name in nothing but only 12 league starts. Only Messi has scored more among Europe’s top five leagues with 19 goals in 17 La Liga starts.”
For quite some time, it really has been hugely “blasphemous” to pick out a footballer in the current age, who is or could go on to be as good as the two prime GOATs(Greatest Of All Time), Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But as of now, you can almost get away by throwing Kylian Mbappe’s name in that bracket or at least as one for the future.
The world at his feet
The 20-year-old set the world ablaze at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia as he played a pivotal role in helping France win the world title. In a match that pitted him and the Argentine magician as the opposite number, the Frenchman of Cameroonian descent came out on top. We all knew it was going to be a long night for Messi and company as Mbappe slid through the South Americans at top speed from one end to another, leaving Marcos Rojo with no choice but to foul the then teenager inside the penalty area for the first goal of the contest. The match would then finish 4-3 in favor of Les Blues with young Kylian getting two of France’s goals and finishing off the match as the better number 10, ahead of Messi. As the tournament came to a close, Mbappe would then lift up the World Cup gold as a teenager, the one trophy which is still out of reach for the two GOATs in Ronaldo and Messi. Even more, Kylian became the first teenager since Pele to score in a world cup final. Of course the naysayers would say, “it’s only because the PSG forward has highly gifted players” to compliment him in the French squad, which could be true but having a teenage winger scoring 4 goals in the world cup finals is no average player’s feat.
French President Emmanuel Macron awards Kylian Mbappe of France with the FIFA Young Player Award as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, President of Russia Valdimir Putin and President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic look on following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia.
(July 14, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)
Still going on strong
At Monaco, some said he had it easy scoring 15 goals and serving up 8 assists in 17 starts as Leonardo Jardim’s men claimed the 2016/17 French Ligue 1 title. We didn’t hear their voices out loud when that teenager bagged 6 goals in his UEFA Champions league debut season in the same campaign. Again at the world cup, “ it’s only because France’s that good,” they would say and we were not too surprised as they withdrew praise when he stood on that podium with the world cup gold in his palms and the Golden Boy Award to accompany it. Now, 20 games into the French Ligue 1 season, PSG remains unbeaten and Mbappe is topping the scoring charts, again from a wide position not as an outright striker. The former Monaco forward has 18 goals and 6 assists to his name in nothing but only 12 league starts. Only Messi has scored more among Europe’s top five leagues with 19 goals in 17 La Liga starts. He also has 4 assists and 3 goals in the champions league as he seeks to increase that tally when the Parisians take on Manchester United.
Where to from here?
It’s still one of the popular arguments surrounding the world cup winner’s potential and success, that same old song of “he has had it easy playing in an uncompetitive league or with great players surrounding him.” One thing is sure though, he seems to be the only one to have played under such circumstances and managed to pull up numbers previously associated with only Messi and Ronaldo. He might have had it easy as they say and could continue doing so as he climbs up that ladder. Maybe, just maybe he is too good to have it “easy” all the way?
Vitesse, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord opening academies in Zimbabwe?
Westerhof plans to usher in a new methodology to accelerate African players’ growth to global stardom. Dutch Eredivisie’s Ajax has done it successfully with South Africa’s Ajax Cape Town club. Could Zimbabwe follow the same path?
“Ajax already has it with Ajax Cape Town and I am thinking about a partnership with either Vitesse, PSV or Feyenoord. I want to go to PSV and ask head coach Mark van Bommel and his advisor Bert van Marwijk to work with us.”
It’s of no doubt that football in Africa has been lagging behind on many aspects. The number of quality players that make it to the professional scene versus that of those that fail to find opportunities and are forced to change professions before their mid-twenties is astonishing. Many have talked about these things and some have even suggested solutions which are yet to yield impactful results. Clemens Westerhof, the former Nigeria and Zimbabwe national football coach has something brewing for Africa.
Background
Thulani Serero of Ajax in action during the pre-season friendly match between Norwich City and Ajax at Carrow Road on July 31, 2012 in Norwich, England.
(July 30, 2012 - Source: Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe)
Apart from the fact that the Dutchman has coached the national teams of Nigeria and Zimbabwe, the 78-year old football veteran has had some experience in coaching at club level in Zimbabwe. He coached one of the biggest clubs in the country, Dynamos, who have a rich history admired by many.
His plan
The Netherlands born coach, Clemens Westerhof is contemplating the possibility of coaching at a telecom club in Gweru, Zimbabwe and taking up a challenge of building an academy ground-up. The latter is the more interesting part which has been touched by some football greats like Johan Cruyff who influenced the structure and style of play at Ajax, a successful club and academy that has a rich scouting network. Westerhof admires how Ajax have setup a network in South Africa i.e. Ajax Cape Town which has developed players like Thulani Serero. This partnership has brought some developments to the country through the spread of high-quality training techniques applied in other parts of the world.
Clemens Westerhof assumed an advisory role at the Peter Mubi Academy. The football academy wants him to improve their academy and hopefully achieve what he achieved in Nigeria in the past and improve the level of football in Zimbabwe. He is looking to collaborate with Dutch football clubs. The experienced coach wants to take advantage of his network and approached PSV Eindhoven, coached by a football great in Mark Van Bommel who played for Barcelona, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. He is quoted as having said the above.
Could this be it? The breakthrough that Africa needs. Are partnerships with bigger clubs in the world the solution to Africa’s football ills?
The pursuit of justice for racial abuse on Kalidou Koulibaly continues
Arguably the best center back in the world currently, Koulibaly has more than just his career development to focus on. As a subject of racial abuse in the Italian Serie A, he faces no easy task in dealing with the emotions that come with all that. But alas, he is not alone. Friends and fans from the Premier League and Africa are all behind the Senegalese international.
We cannot not deny the impact of the efforts that have been made by the responsible authorities over the years to curb racism but still, players of color often receive this kind of abuse on and off the pitch. On the 26th of December 2018, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was a subject of racial abuse in a match with local rivals, Inter Milan. We have been made to believe that the due process to deal with such issues is to report it to the FIFPro and UEFA who will launch a probe on the matter before making a decision. However, no action has been taken so far against the disrespectful fans. Here’s a recap.
The incident
Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between SSC Napoli and Liverpool at Stadio San Paolo on October 3, 2018 in Naples, Italy.
(Oct. 2, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)
The Senegalese defender was at his job on a typical matchday Sunday in the Italian Serie A before the unfortunate incident took place. Some of the Inter Milan fans started making monkey noises directed at Kalidou Koulibaly in the match. The player was then sent off after picking up 2 yellow cards. He was suspended for two matches as punishment for sarcastically clapping off the referee after receiving marching orders. In the aftermath, Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti came out to say that they made calls to end the match after hearing the abuse but it fell on deaf ears. He was not pleased with the way the officials handled the matter in the game.
Koulibaly’s support system
Not so long after, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba wore an armband in support of Kalidou Koulibaly after the incident. The player’s message was clear and directed to the perpetrators who are fighting against the game’s values of honor, tolerance and respect. He was not the only one to show much needed support to the player. Even the Inter Milan coach, Luciano Spalletti was quoted to having said, “We were with Koulibaly, as we are at the side of all those who are targeted during the games.”
Also, fellow African Faouzi Ghoulam of Napoli wore Koulibaly’s No 26 shirt in the warm up for the game against Bologna in which the defender was suspended. He was joined by the fans who held up anti-racism banners and photos of Koulibaly.
Ancelotti’s threat
Carlo Ancelotti has since threatened to lead his team off the pitch if there is a repeat of such an incident. There is no place for racism in the game of football and everywhere else. He said, “The boy was on edge, he's an educated footballer who was targeted. What happened today was bad, not only for us but also for Italian football.”
The authorities’ actions
The Italian League judge gave the verdict that Inter Milan would play the next two home matches behind closed doors. This means that their supporters would not be allowed to populate the stadiums and support their club. Also, the verdict included a partial closure for the club’s third home game.
However, the culprits who led the chants have not been punished. The Italian FA should do more and make sure that these fans are banned from the stadium for life.
2019 CAF Champions League Match Day 2: Big wins and giant killings by some debutants
Africa’s premier club competition, the CAF Champions League is back with a bang. We have already witnessed upsets, dominant wins and off the pitch drama by fans only 2 fixtures into the competition. Worry not, we have laid down the Matchday 2 summary here for you.
In the CAF Champions League, there are big wins and even bigger wins, Orlando Pirates had the biggest win of matchday 2, taking down Horoya AC 3-0 in their second group stage encounter. The win levelled the Buccaneers with defending champions Esperance de Tunis at the top of Group B, as the latter also collected three points from their 2-0 win against Zimbabwean champions, FC Platinum.
After Friday’s performance, Pirates look in form for a title chase. Speaking in the aftermath of Friday’s win, head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic expressed his desire to take the title this year, but he isn’t putting pressure on his players.
“There is a dream to put a second star here, however,...when you put weight of pressure on your players, that moment legs are locked and they are not themselves and not enjoying the football.”
It certainly looks like his players are coping well with the pressure of Africa’s biggest stage and are obviously flying high enough for any challenge.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly were held to a 1-1 draw by JS Saoura away in Algeria on Friday while Club Africain registered another win away in Egypt, beating Ismaily 2-1. Namibian striker Benson Shilongo opened the scoring Ismaily with a powerful strike inside the Club Africain box. Two penalties against Ismaily changed the trajectory of the encounter in favour of the Tunisian side. The stadium descended into chaos after the second penalty which had been initially been flagged as a free kick for a foul just outside the box. CAF is currently deciding on the fate of Ismaily after their supporters disrupted play causing the match to be abandoned.
Sahel's striker Amro Marai (L) vies for the ball with Ahly's Hisham Mohamed (R) during the CAF Champions League semi-final football match between Etoile Sahel vs Al-Ahly at the Olympic Stadium in Sousse on October 1, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SALAH HABIBI
(Sept. 30, 2017 - Source: AFP)
Congolese club AS Vita put out an impressive showing crushing their Tanzanian rivals, Simba Sports Club, 5-0. TP Mazembe however fell 3-0 to CS Constantine, which was nothing short of a surprise for the five-time champions. Despite the Mazembe goalie pulling off many saves in the first half, the Algerians’ persistence finally paid off in the 51st minute with a strike from Houcine Benayada. Debutants, CS Constantine have been a class act, securing 2 straight wins in 2 matches which leaves them at the top of Group C ahead of Club Africain and TP Mazembe.
Down South, Mamelodi Sundowns enjoyed a much better outcome for their efforts against Wydad Athletic Club. The 2-1 victory for the South Africans was crucial after a loss against Nigeria’s Lobi Stars in their first group stage encounter. Lobi Stars lost to ASEC Mimosas, with the Ivorians edging their West African counterparts, 1-0 in Abidjan.
Matchday 3 fixtures: CS Constantine taking on Ismaily and Orlando Pirates’ meeting with ES Tunis, are two fixtures that will probably have the most to look out for based on last weekend’s fixtures. FC Platinum will face off against Horoya, both teams in desperate need of a victory to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Mamelodi Sundowns will be hoping for another win when they face ASEC Mimosa on Friday as they search for an elusive second continental title.
Kevin Prince Boateng’s shocking move to Barcelona explained
After completing a shock January transfer switch to Barcelona, there is no questioning what the Ghanaian international can actually bring to the La Liga. After featuring for over 10 of Europe’s top clubs, playing in all sorts of positions - versatility and experience is what he is all about.
You know you are a liar if you say you saw this one coming! Yes, Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Ghanaian legend Kevin Prince Boateng from Sassuolo in the 2019 Winter Transfer Window. The versatile forward will be joining the club on an initial €2m loan for the remainder of the season with an option to buy mooted to be in region of €8 million. But why are we really surprised by this move?
His playing positions
Kevin-Prince Boateng of US Sassuolo pulls the ball into the goal during the serie A match between US Sassuolo and Genoa CFC at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on September 2, 2018 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.
(Sept. 1, 2018 - Source: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images Europe)
Kevin Prince Boateng is one of the most versatile players that we have seen in recent years. In the early stages of his career, he played in all of the midfield positions that you can think of. He anchored the stew in England with Portsmouth and Tottenham before being given the creative responsibilities in Italy and Germany with teams like AC Milan and Schalke FC. Just recently, he was deployed as an out and out striker at the Spanish club Las Palmas.
I do not see him adding anything to the already packed midfield of the Blaugrana who have Arthur and Coutinho taking turns to prove themselves in late cameos off the bench. Even in front, Ernesto Valverde has the experienced Luis Suarez and arguably the world’s greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi, who also plays as a forward. This would only mean that the African player will have to settle for a second fiddle role to the latter. He could be a competent substitute forward.
His age
The former Ghanaian international shined at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa with his nation. His performances left fond memories in our minds which make it surreal to even think that that was 9 years ago. On the 6th of March this year, Kevin Prince Boateng will be turning 32 years of age. The tall and aggressive all-rounder might not be past his prime yet but is close to the retirement package days which raises questions as to why he would join Barcelona now. He has lost some of his pace and will not be the ferocious threat he was at Milan under Allegri, but will have to complement it with his experience. He has been kicking the ball up and down the soccer pitch for close to 15 years now and can surely manage to do the basics in the remainder of this season.
“Kevin Prince Boateng is one of the most versatile players that we have seen in recent years. In the early stages of his career, he played in all of the midfield positions that you can think of. He anchored the stew in England with Portsmouth and Tottenham before being given the creative responsibilities in Italy and Germany with teams like AC Milan and Schalke FC.”
The Club
Kevin Prince Boateng is a well-known Real Madrid fan who once shared in an interview in 2017 that he would prefer to play for Real Madrid than Barcelona. He even went on to express his frustration that he had not gotten to the club of his dreams because he had not been hard on himself enough to improve his game to reach a level required at the Spanish club. Knowing all this, surely, the Barcelona fans would not be happy about having a Madridista on their books considering the rivalry between the two clubs. In his defense, Boateng said, “Don’t ask me about Real Madrid... is just the past! I only want to focus on Barcelona and I hope to score at Bernabéu for the next Clasico.”
We can say a lot about this transfer but there’s one fact to be acknowledged by all. Boateng has played for many clubs in Europe, now 11 to be exact, and has always delivered. It says a lot about him and the many African players who have done it before him. Make sure to follow him during his time at Barcelona.