MLS Preview: Top 10 Must Watch Players Of African Descent - #9 Bill Hamid

The homegrown record-breaker can help lead DC United to glory this season.

Bill Hamid #28 of DC United reacts during a game against the Philadelphia Union at RFK Stadium on August 19, 2012 in Washington, DC.

(Aug. 18, 2012 - Source: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images North America)

The 28-year-old goalkeeper is a man who need no introduction. Bilal “Bill”Abdul Hamid is undisputedly one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS and we believe he will be key for his boyhood club, D.C United in the 2019 season.Bill has just one year left on his one and a half loan contract from Danish Superliga club, FC Midtjylland where he fell out favor upon moving to Denmark. This year in particular, he will even be eager to play for his career with his future still a subject of speculation and there may be no better time to do it than now. Upon the arrival of former English captain and Manchester United forward, half-way through the season, the “Black and Red” received a major boost even reaching the knockout round of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Rooney ended the season as the club’s top goal scorer with 12 to his name, many will be eager to see how much he can give in a full season and Hamid will be the goal minder in the spotlight as the 4 time MLS Cup winners embark on a new mission.

As previously elaborated, Bill Hamid in itself is no small name. He became the first D.C United Academy Player to sign for the first team in 2009 also becoming the youngest goalkeeper to win an MLS match back in 2010 as a 19-year-old, surpassing the record of the legendary Tim Howard. Hamid, whose parents are from Sierra Leone, helped the U.S Men’s National Team to the 2013 and 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Individually, he won the 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of The Year Award and will perhaps remind everyone just how good he is in the 2019 campaign.

For those still wondering who this guy is, you may remember him as the man who pioneered one of the D.C fans’ chants after a video of him pounding his chest and passionately declaring, “you can’t hold us back!” circulated on the internet. This was after Hamid was red carded in the 2012 playoffs against New York Red Bulls. The goalkeeper with a record 88 saves in MLS season is available and we couldn’t be more excited to see what he has to offer this time around.

Mbwana Samatta is carrying Tanzania's torch in Europe

“He is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 to his name and a crucial member of the title-chasing Genk setup who are ten points ahead of second-placed Club Brugge. The Tanzanian captain also bagged 3 UEFA Europa League goals in 5 matches as Genk reached the last 32 where they will now play Czech Republic’s Slavia Praha in February 2019.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

He might not be a Didier Drogba but the 26-year-old Tanzanian’s style of play does remind us of the Chelsea legend and his stats are starting to look a lot like those of the retired Ivorian. Mbwana Samatta is a man who is currently unleashing fire from his boots, hot enough to grill whatever it is that can’t be easily grilled. With 16 goals to his name in only 19 league appearances, Mbwana is crafting the stuff of a legend. That’s almost a goal every match! He won our attention and we know no better way to celebrate him than following through the career of the first ever Tanzanian to play European football.

Dar Es Salaam streets

Mbwana Ally Samatta was born and bred in Tanzania, started following his football dream in the dusty streets of Dar Es Salaam before he was in the books of Tanzanian Premier League side, Africa Lyon as a 16-year-old. He has never been a late bloomer and by 2010, when he was 18, Samatta became a professional footballer and made his senior debut with Simba SC, one of the biggest football clubs in the East African nation. He amazingly scored 13 goals in 25 appearances for the club, inevitably attracting one of the big boys of African football. It’s not everyday that you come across an incredibly good East African in the football circles and this I say with utmost respect. They are just uniquely endowed in many other ways, but Samatta is one of the outliers. It became evident when he transferred to one of Africa’s most successful clubs.

Mbwana Samatta of TP Mazembe in action during the FIFA Club World Cup fifth place match between Club America and TP Mazembe at Osaka Nagai Stadium on December 16, 2015 in Osaka, Japan.

(Dec. 15, 2015 - Source: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images AsiaPac)

TP Mazembe came calling and the second most successful club in the CAF Champions league with five titles, got their man. Samatta wasted no time at the DR Congo outfit, scoring 60 goals in 103 appearances between 2011-16. In that time period, he won the Linafoot, DR Congo’s top flight league title, four times and two other domestic cups. Perhaps the highlight was 2015, when he helped Mazembe to their latest CAF Champions League title after defeating USM Alger of Algeria by 4 -1 on aggregate. The Tanzanian finished the tournament as the top goal scorer with a total of 7 to his name and his crowning moment came that particular year. He won the 2015 CAF African Player Of The Year Award (Based In Africa) ahead of teammate and the “donkey dance” goalkeeper, Robert Kidiaba as well as Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah. Once more, there he was, on the move.

Touch-down Europe

Samatta’s exploits in the year 2015 meant that Belgian Professional League side, K.R.C Genk gave in to the temptation of bringing the Tanzanian to Europe. Up to this day, they have lived not to regret that decision as Samatta already has 31 goals in 73 appearances since joining the three time Belgian First Division A champions in 2016. He is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 to his name and a crucial member of the title chasing Genk setup who are ten points ahead of second placed Club Brugge. The Tanzanian captain also bagged 3 UEFA Europa League goals in 5 matches as Genk reached the last 32 where they will now play Czech Republic’s Slavia Praha in February 2019. With a further 17 goals for the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, Samatta is becoming a national icon and could help his nation to a rare AFCON finals appearance in June 2019 if they can win their final qualifiers match at home, against group leaders Uganda. Also in the Genk squad are African stars, Joseph Aidoo and Joseph Paintsil of Ghana together with DR Congo’s Dieumerci Ndongala.

Make no mistake about it, Samatta has become one of Europe’s most lethal strikers with simplicity marking his style of play. He is not your super skillful footballer but a goal poacher always prying in the box ready to hurt the opponent at all costs. No wonder Premier League side, Cardiff City were interested in bringing him to England in the January transfer window. They are desperately in need of goals and goals is what he can give to them, on a silver platter

Callum Hudson-Odoi: Demanding a seat at the table

Often times than not, it is said that one man’s loss is another man’s treasure. Perhaps this idiom might be true for Callum Hudson-Odoi. The young Chelsea winger has been making headlines of late.

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea controls the ball against Dino Djulbic and Scott Neville of the Glory during the international friendly between Chelsea FC and Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on July 23, 2018 in Perth, Australia.

(July 22, 2018 - Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Odoi is one player whose talent cannot be questioned. In the few games he’s played thus far, he’s certainly proven that he’s one for the future. Possessing immense skill that can rival the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Rashford, capped with eccentric pace that can make Kyle Walker think twice about overlapping, this young lad with African roots is surely kicking it.

Family background

Odoi comes from a footballing family. His father, Bismark Odoi who was born in Ghana, played for top Ghanaian side Hearts of Oak before becoming his son's agent. Furthermore, Odoi’s elder brother Bradley, was once part of Fulham's academy and at present, he plays for non-league side Wealdstone.

What the future looks like for Odoi

Recently, news broke that FIFA have imposed a transfer ban on Chelsea for a breach related to the signing of under-aged players. This means the team will be prohibited from buying any players until the summer of 2020. As such, whilst this might be somewhat seen as a setback for the London side’s quest to beef up its squad, it might just be the right tonic for Odoi on the other hand. The 18-year old has been restricted to limited game time this season, with four substitute league appearances thus far. On the flip side, Odoi has been hitting the ground running in cup competitions, where most of his game time has been coming from. Widely considered as the jewel in Chelsea’s academy crown, the English youngster has shown glimpses of the hype that has surrounded the player in recent times.

“Odoi is one player whose talent cannot be questioned. In the few games he’s played thus far, he’s certainly proven that he’s one for the future. Possessing immense skill that can rival the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Rashford, capped with eccentric pace that can make Kyle Walker think twice about overlapping...”

— SIphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Also worth mentioning is how Odoi’s talent has even caught the eye of German giants Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga giants made four separate offers for the player during the January transfer window, showing how highly-regarded the England youth international is. Nonetheless, with the likes of Pedro and Willian being above 30 years of age, coupled with Chelsea’s transfer ban, perhaps this might be the right combination of events that might enable Callum Hudson-Odoi to be on the brink of earning a placing in the Blues’ starting eleven more regularly.

Perhaps a bitter pill to swallow for African fans is the fact that Odoi might be another of the many talents with African descent that have chosen to represent European national teams. Nonetheless, many are excited about the potential that Odoi possesses and one can’t help but wonder how far he can go in his football career.

This may be Iwobi's best chance to build a legacy at Arsenal. Can he seize it?

“The young forward is at a point in his career where he could either grow to be one of the team’s crucial players or slip at it and gets to be shipped off to some mid-table or less popular European club like many of the academy’s graduates. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

The once mighty Arsenal, most infamous for the legendary invincibles season where they finished the 2003-04 Premier League season unbeaten and clinched the English top flight’s ultimate prize, find themselves in a rebuilding phase.

Alex Iwobi of Arsenal runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Qarabag FK and Arsenal at on October 4, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

(Oct. 3, 2018 - Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images Europe)

Central to that process is the Spanish coach, Unai Emery who came in and got the boys running a little bit harder, literally. As the serial Europa League trophy winner, three times with Sevilla, seeks to implement his methods at the Emirates - he finds himself in a position where he has to wait for the necessary funding to acquire his preferred players and temporarily make do with what and who’s available. One such player is the 22-year-old Arsenal Academy Graduate, who won 190 million hearts by choosing to represent Nigeria when he could have played for England’s Three Lions. The young forward is at a point in his career where he could either grow to be one of the team’s crucial players or slip at it and gets to be shipped off to some mid-table or less popular European club like many of the academy’s graduates. He first broke into the first team at the age of 18 in 2015 and has since scored 12 goals and served up 17 assists in 110 appearances for the club. During Arsene Wenger’s tenure, the Nigerian international was limited to playing first substitute to the world cup winner, Mesut Ozil and at times deployed on either wings to fill in for injured players or for the purposes of rotating the squad. Even then, his potential was palpable to all and had everyone keep their fingers crossed that the kid gets more chances to write his story, perhaps even follow or surpass the milestones reached by other Nigerians before him, I am talking about Arsenal’s Nwankwo Kanu and his uncle, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha. The latter, who was so good that the Leeds fans found his talent as an explanation for him to be named twice.

In Unai Emery’s first season, Iwobi has already scored as much league goals as any of his past three Arsenal seasons with 3 goals and 4 assists in the league. More importantly, he is already just 3 more appearances shy of the highest total of 26 he got under Wenger for the past two seasons, with more than 10 matches left. Contextually, his 15 starts are actually one more than those of the talisman, Mesut Ozil. It’s all largely due to the fact that Emery’s game plan hinges on having pacey, pressing and direct wingers who can run up and down the pitch, which the club doesn’t have in abundance. Iwobi possesses the required attributes but still struggles in getting the final ball right or clinically finishing chances. Unai has had to be more patient with the forward who played as a striker or an attacking midfielder for the better part of his young career. The Nigerian is likely to continue getting more chances at least until the Spanish manager gets his needed players which gives ample time for the forward to prove he belongs and that he can become a club legend. If he does it right, Emery will probably use the funds to strengthen other areas, especially the almost transparent defence wall, and we will be looking at probably 4 years in his current Arsenal contract of pure domination and Nigerian flair.

The chance obviously has an expiry date and it’s up to Iwobi to beat the clock and claim his place. Will he?

Mali’s road to 2019 U-20 AFCON Glory

How did Mali make U-20 AFCON their tournament?

Mali’s claimed continental glory in the U-20 AFCON finals against Senegal, beating the Senegalese (3-2) on penalties. The road to victory was modest but nonetheless entertaining and well orchestrated. This is how they became the champions of Africa!

Mohamed Diallo of Mali in action during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Round of 16 match between Ghana and Mali at Wellington Regional Stadium on June 10, 2015 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(June 9, 2015 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Road to the Finals

Senegal   v Mali

Senegal was the stronger of the two teams in the encounter, dismissing Mali 2-0.  Mali’s opener fell short of the team’s potential; they failed to create chances. The lack of defensive rigor in the match led to Senegal netting two late goals.

Mali   v Burkina Faso

Mali needed a win against Burkina Faso to keep them in the running for the title. A 52nd-minute goal from Mamadou Traore gave Mali a narrow 1-0 victory. Burkina Faso went on to lose 5-1 to Senegal, finishing last in group B.

Mali   v Ghana

The final group match for Mali was played at Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey. Mali humbled Ghana to a 1-0 defeat, to qualify for the semi-finals. Hadji Drame scored in the second-half, dashing Ghana’s hopes of qualifying for the U-20 FiFA World Cup.

Semi-Finals (Nigeria v Mali)

Mali’s battle against the Flying Eagles of Nigeria promised to be tightly contended. Nigeria won group A with seven points ahead of South Africa. The game was played to a 1:1 stalemate, taking the game to extra time and the dreaded penalties. Mali won the ensuing penalties (3-4) sending the Flying Eagles packing, setting up a final with three-time runner ups Senegal.

It was that simple yet, how Mali managed to upstage the seven other teams in this tournament might be elusive to some.

The secret behind Mali’s success

Defence tactics

The strategy of Mali’s head coach was to play a defensive game. This style of play worked for Mali when it was needed the most.  Although there are strong critics who argue that Mali’s play is too defensive, the national coach, Mamoutou Kané "Mourlé" found a strategy that delivered the championship.

Returning champions

Mali’s squad had eight players from the squad that won the U-17 AFCON in 2017. The dynamics of having more than two-thirds of experienced tournament winners who had already worked successfully as a team was an added advantage. A standout player who was part of the U17 AFCON winning team, Red Bull Salzburg forward Sekou Koita was the one of the more experienced in Mamoutou Kané’s squad.

Mali, along with Senegal, Nigeria and South Africa, will play in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Poland, commencing on the 23rd of May all through to 15th of June. Mali has proven that they have what it takes to win tournaments on the continent, the challenge will be to replicate their success on the world stage. Fingers crossed they continue to make history.

Time for Gueye to depart consistently average Everton?

Oumar Niasse of Everton celebrates scoring his side's second goal with Idrissa Gueye and Gylfi Sigurdsson during the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on February 10, 2018 in Liverpool, England.

(Feb. 9, 2018 - Source: Mark Robinson/Getty Images Europe)

Everton football club has recently been such a club seeking to go up the ranks in the ever competitive English Premier League. It’s been a journey that seems to be going in circular motion. What is it that they haven’t tried? Splashing big money on players, hiring and firing managers, but their last top 4 finish dates back to the 2004-05 season. As to what direction the club who currently sits in 11th position takes next, only time will time. One thing is for sure though, one of their most prized assets, Idrissa Gueye, has seemingly given a lot for the club and gotten not so much in return.

It’s worth noting that the 29-year-old Senegalese tough tackling midfielder has consistently been the best defensive midfielder in the EPL ever since signing for the Merseyside club in 2016. Gueye has registered the highest number of tackles by a single player, twice in the four seasons and finished second in the other two. He has matched and beaten the likes of N’golo Kante and Nemanja Matic, stat to stat and yet remains without any silverware, very much on top of the list of many other unsung heroes in global football. In fact, on all occasions that Matic and Kante have been on the list, they won the league title with their teams, Matic in 2014/15 season with Chelsea and Kante with Leicester and Chelsea in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 season respectively. The midfield tackling role is central to a team’s success and has proven to be the backbone of any side but Gueye hasn’t had his efforts complimented with similar input by his Everton teammates. His record doesn’t only make him England’s finest but puts him in the bracket of the best defensive midfielders in the world if not the best because if he fits in the Kante category, who else comes before them? After all, Gueye may perhaps get a bigger stage for more wins and trophies in his so far impressive career.

“Gueye has registered the highest number of tackles by a single player, twice in the four seasons and finished second in the other two. He has matched and beaten the likes of N’golo Kante and Nemanja Matic, stat to stat and yet remains without any silverware, very much on top of the list of many other unsung heroes in global football. ”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

French Ligue 1 side, PSG reportedly came close to acquiring the Senegalese in a £30 million deal in the 2019 January transfer window. The table topping Parisians who are on a quest to win their first ever UEFA Champions League trophy will unlikely rest until they get their man and the deal could be on this summer. PSG have few super talented and expensive players in their squad that includes Mbappe, Neymar and quite a handful of youngsters to complement them. Gueye could be one of the experienced talents to come in and work with the likes of Marco Verrati in the midfield as the French club continues to builds itself up to be one of Europe’s most dominant forces.

Essam El Hadary, El Maestro

“The Ismaily goalkeeper has enjoyed an illustrious career with over 768 and counting appearances for 10 different clubs in mainly Egypt and partly Sudan, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. Essam El Hadary nicknamed the “High Dam,” remains a guiding light to all of Africa, that playing in Europe is wonderful but one can be as good a success in any part of the world.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

My earliest memory of the legend dates back to 2008, I had been just introduced to the beautiful game of football and there he was, sitting on top of the goal post with his arms waving like a flag. Egypt had just won a second consecutive Africa Cup Of Nations title, I was told. Essam El Hadary was obviously leading the celebrations and even as an amateur in the game, I could tell that form of celebrating was unconventional - the same I would later on learn about the player and indeed the rest of the world. At the age of 45 years and 161 days, the Egypt international became the oldest player to participate in a FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia 2018. It’s not just about the age, that statistic paves way to explore the peculiarity of the goalkeeper, which happens to be something to behold.

The early years

Essam was never meant to be a professional footballer, at least his parents thought so. Being born and raised in the home of a craftsman who owned his own furniture shop, El Hadary was almost expected to follow suit but rebelled even from an early age. He would play football behind his parents’ back and wash the muddy clothes in a local river after every training session to keep his secret safe and secure. However his talent and dedication outgrew the secret and got signed by a Second Division Club from his hometown, Damietta at the age of 17. He did it the not so easy way, running 7 km to training every single day and having to initially keep without gloves because they were a strange accessory to the teenager who had never worn a pair in his entire life. As they say, the rest is history. Those small habits of resilience, passion and commitment ingrained in that young boy would be enough to light up the path that led him to a world record-breaking career

The club years

Essam El Hadary of Egypt reacts during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Saudia Arabia and Egypt at Volgograd Arena on June 25, 2018 in Volgograd, Russia.

(June 24, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe)

The Ismaily goalkeeper has enjoyed an illustrious career with over 768 and counting appearances for 10 different clubs in mainly Egypt and partly Sudan, Sweden and Saudi Arabia. Essam El Hadary nicknamed the “High Dam,” remains a guiding light to all of Africa, that playing in Europe is wonderful but one can be as good a success in any part of the world. In that period, he has won 8 Egyptian Premier League titles, 4 Egypt Cups and Super Cups, 4 CAF Champions League titles and 3 CAF Super Cups, all with Al Ahly, the most successful football club on the African continent. The High Dam also left the foreign lands with some silverware to his name and happens to be one of the most decorated footballers on the continent, of all time!

Pharaohs skipper

The Pharaohs of Egypt are the most successful football nation in Africa and the legendary High Dam is a significant part of that story. The West-African nations of Ghana, Cameroon and Ivory Coast all know him too well as they took turns to be denied of the AFCON gold by the man between the sticks in the period running from 2006-2010. Egypt won 3 consecutive Africa Cup Of Nations trophies in that time stretching their record to 7 titles. Hadary was named goalkeeper of the tournament on all three occasions and can boast of a total of 4 AFCON titles to his name throughout his career. Having previously retired from international football, the goalie returned to the Pharaohs goal in 2014 against Bosnia, even going ahead to lead Egypt to the 2017 AFCON finals after saving two semi-final penalties, in typical El Hadary fashion. In Egypt’s closing match at the 2018 world cup finals against Saudi Arabia, El Hadary made the much awaited debut as he played his first and monumental world cup match at 45 years of age. With the composure of a veteran, superman-like reflexes and legs difficult to tire, one could visibly see the traits that sustained such a beautiful career as he expertly saved one penalty before conceding a second one later on in the match.

With a total of 159 appearances, the High Dam became Egypt’s third most capped player of all time and hung his Pharaohs gloves in August 2018. He is now 46-years-old and still plays professional football in Egypt’s top flight league for Ismaily.

El Hadary, El Maestro, will forever be a player etched in the books of history and our hearts as one of the greatest footballers the continent of Africa has ever seen.

South Africa's Lerato Chabangu: A bittersweet story

“The paradoxical nature of Chabangu’s touching story sheds some life lessons that particularly football players can all adopt or be mindful of. On one hand, it is the perfect epitome of the serious challenges faced by players with regards to various aspects such as financial education.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Former Bafana Bafana player Lerato Chabangu feels that he can get back on to the football pitch and play professionally once more. The former SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United striker, who has also played for Bafana Bafana in his career, has recently been signed by Baberwa FC in the ABC Motsepe League. Chabangu penned down a six-month deal with the side and is hoping he can revive his career.

Chabangu’s resurgence comes after a long spell off the field that was characterized by a plethora of struggles the player went through. These included excessive indulgence in alcohol, as well as uncontrollable reckless financial spending. Speaking in an interview in late 2018, Chabangu confessed saying, “I do feel like I’m depressed. I comfort myself by watching TV. I disappointed lots of people. I was found in a wrong space, most of my friends were living in the township. I could say that I have destroyed myself, I can’t really blame others. If you are at the wrong space, the negative things will catch you.”

Lerato Chabangu of Tshwane XI and Gennaro Gattuso of Italy during the friendly match between Italy and Tshwane XI at Super Stadium on June 12, 2009 in Atteridgeville, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images) * Local Caption * Gennaro Gattuso;Lerato Chabangu

(June 12, 2009 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

But perhaps what is more interesting is how Chabangu rose to stardom and made him one of the greatest players South Africa has ever seen. At some point he was even linked with heavy interest from European teams. However, lack of financial discipline and professional discipline proved to be a setback in Chabangu’s once glamourous career. Then he hit rock bottom. The stories that broke thereafter were rather sad considering the immense talent this player possesses. Chabangu conceded that reckless spending and lack of financial discipline got him into many problems such as booze and spending money on women.

The paradoxical nature of Chabangu’s touching story sheds some life lessons that particularly football players can all adopt or be mindful of. On one hand it is the perfect epitome of the serious challenges faced by players with regards to various aspects such as financial education. Often times than not, teams only pay salaries to their players and distance themselves from what happens to the players when they reach retirement. This means that the onus is on the players to take charge of their finances after retirement, but, especially from an African context, one finds that footballers lack knowledge and expertise on how best they can get the most of their money whilst they are still playing.

Stories like Chabangu’s therefore pose a challenge to players as well as clubs themselves to do more with regards to collaboration and helping players plan for life after football as early as when they start playing. By so doing, this will help avoid situations whereby players struggle and eventually enter dire situations like Chabangu did. What’s your take on financial discipline in footballers? Should clubs do more?

Al Ahly: The road to continental dominance

“Al Ahly was founded in 1907 as a way to unite young people from across high schools in Egypt who had become very instrumental in the fight against colonialism.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

The hardest part about excellence is not attaining it, but it is sustaining it. To be continuously at the top, you do not need to take a chance at excellence, but it has to be in your DNA. That has been the case with Al Ahly and they were crowned as not just the Club of the Year, but the Club of the Century by the Confederation of African Football in 2000. They are arguably one of the most successful clubs in the world.

Beautiful History

Al Ahly was founded in 1907 as a way to unite young people from across high schools in Egypt who had become very instrumental in the fight against colonialism. Such intentional beginnings are ones that First Touch Africa celebrates as they are core to the reason why we celebrate football. We appreciate football for its ability to unite people from different walks of life towards a common goal. Even though the club was in Egypt, its first President was Mitchel Ince who was a British man.  The club went on to unite 50 million fans outside of Egypt.

Al Ahly's Ahmed Mohammed celebrates his winning goal during the international friendly match between AS Roma and Al Ahly on May 20, 2016 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

(May 19, 2016 - Source: Chris Whiteoak/Getty Images Europe)

Winning was never by chance

Just after its inception, the club participated in the Sultan Hussein Cup which ran from 1917 to 1938 and won that competition 7 times. When the Egyptian Premier League was initiated in 1948, Ah Ahly won the championship until 1960. In total, they scooped the cup 39 times with some of these cups coming for 8 years in a row. As a fan, it means watching your team for years and not tasting disappointment like everybody else. It is such a soothing experience. Because success is not constricted by location, it is not surprising that when they took to the continental level, they won the African Champions League in 1982 and 6 times after that. When they play their games, they are able to attract as many as 74 000 in the Cairo’s International Stadium..

Business is as clean as the football they play

Beyond the more than 100 accolades in 100 years  that the club has been able to get, Al Ahly is also well commended for the way it is able to handle its business dealings with high standards of professionalism and integrity. Sometimes, we hear about under the table dealings that happen in other clubs, but Al Ahly was even dubbed as the “club of values” by its former president Salem Salim. It is always encouraging to know that behind a team’s glory, there is also some glorious activities that enhance the reputation of the club.

Still soaring high

Presently, the club is being coached by Martin Lasarte after they sacked their former coach Patrice Carteron. This was after they fell short at the face of Tunisia’s Esperance in the CAF Champions League. This sacking is proof that excellence is a guarantee where there exists flexibility to change. As time goes, this club is all out to do well for itself in the continental sports arena.

Zambian Mwape Musonda making a point in the ABSA Premiership

Black Leopards dangerous marksman Mwape Musonda has been banging in the goals for his team, showing the local strikers how it’s done.

The 28-year-old Zambian forward has so far scored 8 goals in 15 appearances for Lidoda Duvha, as Leopards is fondly known, putting him in pole position in the race for the Absa Premiership Golden Boot award. Musonda’s resurgence has however been hardly smooth. During his first season in South Africa, he joined Soweto giants Orlando Pirates midway through the 2014/15 season and his stint at the club was confined to only two appearances under then coach Eric Tinkler.

Musonda believes the dire situation he experienced during his short-lived stay with the Bucs is what ultimately forced him to move on from The Buccaneers, but is delighted with how things have since turned out. In his own words, the striker alludes that, “circumstances didn’t allow me to reach my potential at Pirates and obviously a lot was expected of me, coming in as a so-to-say ‘top striker’ from a foreign country,” he said.

Seeing that his move to the Buccaneers was not bearing fruit, Musonda went on loan to Golden Arrows where his bad spell continued. He then went back to Pirates who eventually let him go, allowing him to find a new home at Black Leopards.

“The 28-year-old Zambian forward has so far scored 8 goals in 15 appearances for Lidoda Duvha, as Leopards is fondly known, putting him in pole position in the race for the Absa Premiership Golden Boot award. ”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

Though banging in the goals, the former Zanaco forward concedes that there is huge room for improvement and thus he is not content with the goals he’s scored so far. One could argue that Leopards is not big a team as Pirates and perhaps that might work in favour for Musonda as the expectations are somewhat lower. Nonetheless, judging from his exploits thus far, it seems the Chipolopolo striker might well be on the brink of breaking the 15-goal duck that has remained unmatched by the league’s strikers for 7 seasons now. In fact, the last time a player scored more than 15 goals in the league was when legendary striker Siyabonga Nomvethe scored 19 premier league goals for Moroka Swallows. The lack of prolific strikers in the league is quite a concern on its own, considering how big a league the ABSA premiership is. One would expect the league to not only attract top strikers, but also produce amazing strikers from the different teams in the league. However that challenge seems not to be going away anytime soon. But that’s a story for another day.

Nonetheless, if Musonda’s exploits so far are anything to go by, he might as well be on his way of not only becoming the league’s top striker, but also breaking the long-standing 15 goal barrier. It is no surprise that his heroics have become noticed, as he was recently awarded the Player of The Month Award for December-January as his goal-scoring form helped his team rise up in the league standings. At present, Mwape Musonda looks ruthless in front of goal and if he keeps his excellent form he might as well edge closer to taking the top scorer prize home. Can he go all the way?

Black Leopards are currently 12th on the ABSA Premiership table and will need the Copper Bullets forward to stay on top of his game as they seek to move further up the table.

Forget the age, Gervinho is hitting top gear

“After his contribution to the evolution of Chinese football, Gervinho returned to play with Parma in the Italian Serie A. You know how eagles get revived and behave like they are young again once they hit a certain age, that is exactly Gervinho. He has scored 8 goals in the 16 games that he has played in the Serie A for promoted Parma.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Most fans’ eyes are usually drawn towards the rising stars that are hitting the football arena with glory. These are the brilliant players that are usually in their early 20s and make you question what you have been doing with your life. We seldom forget that there are stars that have shining in the sky for a while and even made it possible for the young stars to see the path. Gervinho, has been so up in the sky for a while so much that other people thought that his light was getting dim, but he has reminded us that we should forget the age and pay attention to the top gear that he is hitting.

Glorious Days

He recalls the day that he signed his Arsenal contract in 2011 like yesterday. In an interview, he said “Arsenal are the team that have left the biggest mark on me, without a doubt. I lived a dream. Any kid who starts playing can’t help but to dream to play at a club like Arsenal. The day I signed, I cried.” As an Arsenal player, he got exposed to other great players like Robin Van Persie and Santiago Cazorla. His growth was not just confined on the pitch, but he was able to also grow in his personal life as he got to be more tolerant and live outside of his home continent. Even though, he did not get win any accolades with Arsenal, he made 60 appearances. Even more importantly, playing for Arsenal had been his childhood dream so being at Arsenal meant much more to him, than anyone else. Moments of realising your dreams are what makes life worth living.

Gervinho of Parma Calcio celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Empoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 30, 2018 in Parma, Italy.

(Sept. 29, 2018 - Source: Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images Europe)

His Move to China

He left Roma in 2016 to play for Hebei CFCC in the Chinese Super League. Many speculated that he was just warming into retirement with a fat cheque that he would get from the CSL. The granted, £345,000-per-week would impress any pocket that it would land on. While he was there, he did not just play for the sake of it, but he contributed to the growth of the Chinese Super League. When talking about his growth in China, he said, “In China, you need to be strong too: you can’t feel like you are on vacation, you need to teach something to the next generations.” This statement speaks to making sure that you play with impact.

Returning With a Bang

After his contribution to the evolution of Chinese football, Gervinho returned to play with Parma in the Italian Serie A. You know how eagles get revived and behave like they are young again once they hit a certain age, that is exactly Gervinho. He has scored 8 goals in the 16 games that he has played in the Serie A for promoted Parma. He has surely become more than what he was when he left Roma for China. In Parma’s draw with Juventus, 2 out of the 3 goals were a gift from him. He has also diligently used his back-heel signature technique to leave a mark during the matches.

Conclusion

Whoever said old age should be associated with deteriorating ability and questionable talent was gravely mistaken. There is something that can only been achieved when you have been in the game for sometime. Gervinho, 31, is showing the younger kids how it’s done.

U-20 AFCON: Amajita secure an elusive world cup spot

The performance of South Africa’s national team is certainly rubbing off to the country’s other teams. Amajita, the South Africa’s men under-20 side followed in the footsteps of women’s national team and sealed their place at the FIFA under-20 World Cup for the second successive time. This comes after they triumphed over Burundi in their final group game at the ongoing AFCON under-20 championships in Niger, finishing second and ultimately sealing their world cup spot.

Amajita reached the semifinals of the Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Burundi. It is the fourth time the country has qualified for the global showpiece and a second in succession after they appeared at the last tournament in South Korea 2017. The World Cup is set to take place in Poland from the 23rd of May to 15 June this year. Having qualified from the group stages, Amajita will now face off against Senegal in the AFCON semi-finals and South African coach Thabo Senong will be looking to his troops to battle against the West Africans and edge closer to bringing home the AFCON title.

Coach Senong commenting on the team’s achievement of achieving one of their milestones alluded to the fact that the team would not be complacent with their performances but rather fight to win the AFCON title. In his words he said, “I truly believe that it can be done. I think the players will relax a bit now and play their good game because the first mission, qualifying for the World Cup, has been accomplished. Now we are gunning for gold.” With Amajita in high spirits, the team have put themselves in the running for the prized possession and one can fancy them of being serious challengers to the likes of Nigeria. Buoyed by the presence of star players such as Leicester City’s midfielder Khanya Leshabela as well as Portugal-based Kobamelo Kodisang, the team appears to have enough quality to cause problems for Senegal and go all the way and win the tournament.

More importantly is the progress that the various South African national teams have made in recent times. With Banyana Banyana having paved the way and sealed their spot in the women’s FIFA World Cup, and Bafana Bafana also somewhat in the running for a spot in the men’s AFCON tournament in Egypt later this year, Amajita’s achievement might as well be considered as an icing on the cake.It demonstrates the efforts made by the various football stakeholders in South African football which have worked hard in improving the country’s various national teams.

“Amajita reached the semifinals of the Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations on Friday with a 1-0 victory over Burundi. It is the fourth time the country has qualified for the global showpiece and a second in succession after they appeared at the last tournament in South Korea 2017. The World Cup is set to take place in Poland from the 23rd of May to 15 June this year.”

— Siphosethu Thwala, FirstTouch Africa

UCL Preview: Ziyech and Ajax target the scalp of the champions

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid CF controls the ball during the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy between Real Madrid CF and AC Milan at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on August 11, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Europe)

There is an incredible feeling of security and surety in the Real Madrid air which had become quite rare in the past few months, since the departure of the juggernaut, Cristiano Ronaldo and former boss in Zinedine Zidane. It’s worth noting now more than ever, by reason of a solid performance put in by Los Blancos to secure a 1-1 El-Clasico draw away at Barcelona on Wednesday, in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey semi-final. However, the next Wednesday presents a new challenge, one I believe to be the most revealing. The numbers 4, 21, and 22 do not sound a lot like a perfect symphony on paper but happen to be more than that on the field of play. Santiago Solari and Real Madrid will have to find a way to discord the harmony of the triad orchestra.

The Madrid context

I am talking about Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and their shirt numbers. Ajax FC booked a UEFA Champions League round of 16 slot after a thoroughly impressive campaign that saw them finish second in a group that also featured Benfica, Bayern Munich and AEK Athens. The Dutch Eredivisie club actually finished the group stages unbeaten and will by no means be a free pass for the record 13 time champions who usually come alive at this stage of the competition. Real Madrid seemingly have their feet in the water; two managerial appointments in 4 months, teenage signings in the summer transfer window and 8 points off bitter rivals Barcelona in the La Liga title race; all do not tell a story of “the Madrid way.” The most recent El Clasico draw at the Camp Nou did offer some hope of a new and more resilient Real but the champions league outing to Ajax should be the biggest test to their resolve, yet.

Not the same story

What do I think of course, Madrid have been in this position before, when they will be off the pace in the Spanish La Liga but then go beast mode and conquer the whole of Europe, in a typical water to wine fashion. That’s actually how their have been rolling in the past few years, including those in which they grabbed 3 champions league titles in a row. With no Ronaldo in their squad, the all-time UCL record scorer and Zidane, the orchestrator of the 3 title triumphs and adding an unpopular but solid setup of Ajax to the equation - it’s an entirely different story this campaign. Erik ten Hagen’s men are giving the vibes of Dortmund 2013 who unexpectedly went all the way to the final, even knocking out Real Madrid in the process. The Amsterdam club comprises of course the 22-year-old Cameroonian international goalkeeper, Andre Onana and the big number 4, Matthijs de Ligt - the teenager good enough to captain the side. De Ligt has been frequenting in the news as the likes of PSG and Barcelona are reported to toiling day and night to win the signature of the big, young center-half. Speaking of Barcelona, they recently acquired Ajax’s number 21, Frenkie de Jong for £65 million, the star ball playing midfielder who is tipped to help fill the void left by Xavi and Andres Iniesta. The 21-year-old de Jong links up with de Ligt from the back and ignites the final magic number, shirt number 22 where it gets even more interesting.

“However, the next Wednesday presents a new challenge, one I believe to be the most revealing. The numbers 4, 21, and 22 do not sound a lot like a perfect symphony on paper but happen to be more than that on the field of play. Santiago Solari and Real Madrid will have to find a way to discord the harmony of the triad orchestra.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Hakim Ziyech of Ajax is challenged by Ljubomir Fejsa of Benfica (L) and Gedson of Benfica during the Group E match of the UEFA Champions League between Ajax and SL Benfica at Johan Cruyff Arena on October 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Oct. 22, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

The Left-Hooker

We have featured the Moroccan here on FirstTouch, several times and was ofcourse one of the biggest topics of African football in the year 2018 when he appeared for Lions of the Atlas at the 2018 world cup in Russia. Regarded as currently one of the best playmakers in the world, Ziyech has been delivering the goods for Ajax since day 1 and Madrid will have to work on silencing the 25-year-old if they hope for a favorable result. His arm like left-foot remind me of my favorite childhood boxer who stung opponents with a left and earned the praise name, “Left-hooker.” After being deployed a bit further up the pitch as one of the front 3 in Erik ten Hagen’s 4-3-3 setup, Ziyech has proven worthy of the role.The Moroccan has since scored 12 goals and 8 others in 17 Eredivisie appearances. That is an astounding average of 1.2 goal involvement in every other match he has played.

I will just leave this one right there, who you got? Ajax or the serial champions, Real Madrid.

My Prediction: Ajax will go through to the quarter-finals by upsetting Los Blancos.

City may be on the rise, but Mahrez's yet to find his place 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?”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

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.

Africans on the move and what they bring to their respective 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?

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.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Sports and soccer betting banned in Uganda, hit or miss?

“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.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

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

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. ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa