Publications
Partners
In the spirit of Christmas, it is only proper to give kudos to those who made us football lovers proud.
Unlike other years when we have given bouquets to top achievers while throwing bricks at those who fumbled through the year, this time around I’m in good spirits (not those famous waters of mortality) and will sing only praises.
Top of the pile should surely and deservedly be our senior women football national team, Banyana Banyana.
Under coach Desiree Ellis, they lost to Nigeria in the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations, having already qualified for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup to be held in France, by virtue of finishing in the top three.
It is not amazing that Ellis is a contender for the Women’s Coach of the Year award at the Confederation of African Football Awards Gala Dinner that is going to be held in Dakar, capital of Senegal, on January 8.
She is the only woman nominee in this category, where she is up against Joseph Brian Ndoko of Cameroon and Thomas Dennerby of Nigeria.
Two of her players, Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana and skipper Janine Van Wyk, who both play for Houston Dash in the US, are on the list of 11 players contesting the Women’s African player of the Year award.
Banyana Banyana have been nominated for the Women’s National Team of the Year, with Cameroon and Nigeria.
Should they win, it will be the second year running, as they collected the same accolade the last time around.
One other individual who deserves a pat in the back is former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Percy Tau. The player – who is now plying his trade in Europe – has not disappointed on any of the times he has been called for Bafana Bafana.
His work ethic on the pitch, let alone scoring goals, has been outstanding and he has displayed true professionalism and commitment to the game. There are also glimpses of maturity.
In the domestic league – the Absa Premiership – Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has brought back some big smiles to the former “Happy People”, as Orlando Pirates fans used to refer to themselves.
With the help of his technical team that includes former Sundowns assistant coach, Rulani Mokwena, they have managed to turn things around beautifully at the Buccaneers.
One can easily say, with no fear of contradiction, that Pirates are currently playing the best football in the PSL.
The kind of game they play is very easy on the eye.
Even in the recent Telkom Knockout Cup, which they lost to Baroka FC, the players on the field put up a brave fight and never diverted from their attractive style of play.
Which brings me to another point.
Wedson Nyirenda has done wonders to Bakgaga.
In that particular final, mentioned above, Baroka matched The Sea Robbers pound for pound – to borrow from boxing parlance.
Their players looked so relaxed and comfortable on the ball that a stranger would have disagreed with you if you told her/him that this was their first cup final in the elite league.
And this is the approach they have adopted in their matches: they don’t seem to panic or lose shape easily, even when under tremendous pressure.
Despite his team now lying at position seven on the 16-team log, Steve Komphela had an amazing start to the season. His boys went for several matches unbeaten and were perched at the top of the standings for quite some time.
During that period, they also played such beautiful football that some of the jokes in the football circles became that Kaizer Chiefs nearly destroyed Komphela.
This, a reference to his three-year tenure at the former “Phefeni Glamour Boys” which ended without any silverware.
When sending Christmas cards (not sure whether they still exist in this modern world of digital media), spare a though for Cavin Johnson and send some congratulatory notes his way.
After working hard at the beginning of the season, his club was docked six points by Fifa for an infringement. This saw them move to the bottom of the log.
From propping up the table, and a time when even players’ shoulders drooped, Johnson has managed to lift them to number 11.
Well done!
.smseleku@citypress.co.za
Follow me on Twitter @Sbu_Mseleku
