On the Ball
The 18-second replay … RIP Richard Henyekane ... A new Maymabela makes his mark
IT was once hoped that Davide Somma might be the player to solve South Africa’s scoring woes, but crippling injuries have left the ex-Leeds United striker on the fringes of the game. As his 30th birthday rolled by last month, he was nowhere near scoring for Bafana Bafana or Leeds United – he was in Long Island, New York coaching an Under-11 side during a youth training camp. This seems a sad end to what was once a very promising career, but Somma takes obvious joy from working with the youngsters, perhaps now hoping to realise his footballing dreams as a coach rather than a player. KICK OFF first brought Somma to the attention of South Africans in 2009. Born in Johannesburg with dual Italian-South African nationality and having honed his skills at Edenvale FC, Somma joined Perugia (in Serie A at the time). When KICK OFF wrote about him, the striker was seeking to boost his career at Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes. After just one season in San Jose he was signed by Leeds United in England and after initial loan spells at Chesterfield and Lincoln City, he went on a hot scoring streak at Elland Road. Somma eventually made his Bafana debut as a substitute in a friendly international defeat at home to USA in November 2010. He showed promise with the national team, not just as a goal-getter but also as a creator of chances for others, and scored in his second appear- ance, a 2-0 win over Kenya. He was then a late substitute as Bafana held Egypt to a 0-0 draw in Cairo in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier. But just as he was reaching his peak, at 26, disaster struck when Somma tore the anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee during preseason training ahead of the 2011/12 season. He never fully recovered. Somma’s last appearance in a competitive match was two years ago as a late substitute for Leeds against Burnley in the English Championship. In all he scored 22 goals in 30 starts in a professional club career that was just beginning to realise its potential when he was struck down.