21 years of Soccer at its Best

It was during the same time Kaizer Chiefs thrashed Manning Rangers 9-1 during the Coca-Cola Challenge, and when Brazil came back from 2-0 down to beat Bafana Bafana 3-2 in one of the most exciting matches played at FNB Stadium. A few weeks later Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Roger de Sa had to drive his coach, Clemence Westerhof, from HM Pitjie Stadium to the police station after the team lost 4-0 to Qwaqwa Stars in the BP Top 8 semi-finals. Daniel Sekhoto hammered home a hat-trick in that match. And the prize for the Bob Save Super Bowl (now Nedbank Cup) was just R200 000. Needless to say, this was long before Google was invented and definitely long before supporting Real Madrid and Barcelona became fashionable for South African fans. I am talking about May 1996. The very first time I bought myself a copy of KICK OFF magazine. In that year, Bafana Bafana were ranked 16th in the world, and Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs bought David Modise and David Nyathi for a combined transfer fee of R300 000. It’s amazing how things have changed since then. And if someone would have told me that, 21 years after buying that edition with Doctor Khumalo on the cover, I was going to be the editor of the very same magazine, I would have declared that person ‘temporarily insane’. From a passionate reader to becoming editor … very few people can boast achieving their childhood dream. Since May 1996, South African football gone through many changes, and so KICK OFF magazine. From becoming fortnightly publication in August 1996 becoming a weekly in May to June and then a monthly magazine in … it’s been a remarkable road full ups and downs. After beginning my career as an at Soccer Laduma in March 1999, and went on to spend 17 years working for the publication. Last year September I re-joined Soccer Laduma and gained valuable experience working alongside the editor Vuyani Joni. The motto was simple: the reader is the boss. It is also no secret that the print industry as a whole is facing profound challenges that need new answers. And I come into this office with no blueprint for success, but with only one thing in mind: and that is to provide you, our loyal readers, with Soccer at its Best. In February 2018, we will be celebrating our 24th birthday, and we would like to thank you, the reader, for the great support you have given us over the years. I have spent a great deal of that time as a reader, and am now looking forward to serving you as an editor.