ON SALE EVERY TUESDAY 13 JULY 2021 PRICE: R3.50 I WON’T GIVE CHIEFS THE STAR FOR FREE THE GAME FAVOURS NO ONE WHAT AMAKHOSI WHAT AFRICA CHIEFS HAVE DR KHOZA WAS MUST DO BEEN TOLD ME NEVER A TO BEAT TRACKING AFTER PRIORITY PITSO & ME SINCE BUCS FOR AL AHLY 2019 MOVE CHIEFS www.idiskitimes.co.za @idiskitimes facebook.com/iDiskiTV youtube.com/c/iDiskiTV Table of Contents Argentina Lift Messi Cup, he led Argentina to a third-place finish at the 2019 Copa America. But In the early hours of Sunday morning, he wanted more, he wasn’t finished. South African time, Argentina won a He wanted that one international In this edition of football match against Brazil. It was trophy in senior football - remember a game like many others. A game of he already won the 2005 FIFA U20 90 minutes, 22 players on the pitch World Cup and the 2008 Olympics. officiated by a match official, two He wanted that monkey off his iDiski Times: coaches shouting from the sidelines, back, of people telling him he is not 3 - Junior vs Tso one ball, two penalty boxes… And among the greatest players in history yet, it was a game like no other! It because he never won a trophy with was the game that many football fans Argentina. He gave it his all, he scored 4 - In the news around the world and in history will four goals and assisted five more in remember for Lionel Messi. It was the Argentina’s run to this year’s final. 5 - Austin Dube game many will remember for Messi’s But in the final, something different teammates racing off to their national happened. It wasn’t Messi, who 6 to 7 - Pitso Mosimane captain, who had fallen down on his carried Argentina and his teammates, knees, overwhelmed by emotions it was the other way around. His 8 to 9 - Fixtures after the final whistle. Teammates teammates fought bravely for 90 racing off to Messi to celebrate with minutes and more. They tackled, 10 to 11 - Monnapule Saleng him, to hug him in this moment of they fouled, they prevented Brazil pure joy and in this moment where so from getting into their stride and 12 to 13 - Stanton Fredericks much weight and pain had fallen off they scored. They scored that one his shoulders. Teammates, who sang goal that ensured Lionel Messi will 14 to 15 - Farouk Khan Messi’s name, teammates who lifted not retire without an international him. Teammates who celebrated trophy - a superb lob from Angel Di 16 - Arthur Zwane what they had just achieved more for Maria following a fine long ball from Messi than themselves. Teammates Rodrigo De Paul. Messi, meanwhile, who had won the Copa America final didn’t have a great game, it wasn’t for Messi. poor by any means, but he just wasn’t in the game and even missed a What you may have missed Over the past 16 years since his brilliant chance to make 2-0. Argentina debut, Messi had tried to carry his nation, try to live up to But Argentina lifted Messi! His expectations of his home country, teammate, Emiliano Martinez, who who desperately wanted another had saved three penalties in the hero like Diego Maradona. Messi semi-final shootout victory against had helped Argentina to reach four Colombia, explained the mood within major finals: the 2007 Copa America, the Albiceleste camp perfectly, saying the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as “I said that I preferred that we win the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas, it (for Messi) before me. Today we but fallen short at the final hurdle could give it to him. It was what he all those four times. It hurt Messi wanted most in his life.” more than anyone, it hurt him so much that he had even announced his international retirement from Argentina after the 2016 final, the fourth one he had lost. However, he came back. He helped a visibly struggling Argentine team to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Chiefs Announce New Chippa United Bring In Signings Hunt Football Didn’t Come Home into old habits, when they showed - Again! more fear than courage, when they After being unable to sign players last Gavin Hunt is back. After being just focussed on defending. But their season due to their FIFA transfer ban, sacked at the end of May by Kaizer Football didn’t come home, instead it defence was breached and it almost Kaizer Chiefs began to announce their Chiefs, the four time league winning went to Rome. Meanwhile, England’s seemed like their spirits were broken. new signings ahead of the 2021/2022 coach was unveiled as the new head 55 years of hurt and pain without a Yes, the game still continued until season. Many names were expected, coach of Chippa United last week. major trophy in international football the 90th minute and into extra-time, as they had been expected to sign continue. Many English fans had but it didn’t feel like England could last season if the ban was overturned, Chippa were coach-less after hoped that this tournament will be come back - at least not to this writer. including former Bidvest Wits players Lehlohonolo Seema had left the club different. That this young, talented In the end England stumbled into Brandon Petersen, Sifiso Hlanti, after the playoffs, to take over at and multi-cultural team had what it penalties, a huge mistake given their Phathutshedzo Nange and Kgaogelo Golden Arrows. Hunt’s appointment takes to finally lift the country’s first poor record in penalty shootouts at Sekgota. They have also signed took many by surprise, especially at ever UEFA European Championship. major tournaments. Italy, meanwhile, Njabulo Ngcobo from Swallows, a club like Chippa who have had five And it all started so brightly. Luke seemed content and believed in their while after leaving AmaZulu, Sibusiso coaching changes last season. Joining Shaw scored the fastest goal in own mental strength to overcome Mabiliso joins as a free agent. Given Hunt at Chippa is former Bidvest Wits Euro history after just 117 seconds, yet another obstacle on their path to Thibedi has also been recalled from colleague Roy Limongelli, who is the sending 58 000 fans inside a packed glory, and they did. Italy lifted their his loan at Swallows. club’s new technical director. Wembley Stadium - probably more second European crown, when many because scenes of many, many fans fans inside the stadium had long without tickets passing security left. Italy are taking the trophy to barriers and entering the stadium Rome, while England’s years of pain made the rounds - sending those continue. inside the stadium and millions country-wide into sheer eruption, But what must be highlighted is the into a party-mood they had never fact that we can debate whether experienced. Probably 80% of them or not Jadon Sancho and Marcus were not yet alive when England lifted Rashford, a 21-year-old and a the 1966 FIFA World Cup, their only 23-year-old who had just brought major trophy in football to date. on to take a spot-kick, should have taken a penalty. We can debate However, England’s party was whether Buyako Saka should have gatecrashed. Gatecrashed not just been put in a situation where a by their own fans, but also a very 19-year-old carries the weight of a resilient Italian team. An Italian team, nation, of millions of football fans on who overcame many setbacks as the his shoulders with the final penalty. tournament progressed. An Italian But what we can’t debate is the team that looked tired for large parts endless hate those three players have Pirates Unveil Players Champions Confirm Four in the semi-final against Spain as received on social platforms since New Players well as in the first 30 minutes against missing their attempts. The English Last week Orlando Pirates announced England. A team that had lost left- team has taken a knee in every game the signing of Goodman Mosele from Not to be outdone, DStv Premiership back Leonardo Spinazolla to a serious of this tournament, they have made a Baroka, Monnapule Saleng from Mamelodi Sundowns announced injury, that conceded the quickest stand against abuse and racism. Yet, Free State Stars, while the former new signings at the end of last week. opener in a Euro final and that later the very same moment these players Maritzburg United pair of Bandile In April iDiski Times broke the news also lost Federico Chiesa - arguably crack under the massive amount Shandu and Kwanda Mngonyama that Pavol Šafranko was set to join the Man of the Match in final until pressure and miss a penalty, they joined on free agents. Pirates have Masandawana from Romanian his substitution - to injury. Yet, Italy get abused, they get scapegoated. also brought in former Golden Arrows Liga I outfit Sepsi OSK SF, and his were the ones celebrating in the end. “They are English when they win, but head coach Mandla Ncikazi into their transfer as well as Divine Lunga (from Leonardo Bonucci had equalised in they are black when they lose.” It’s technical team, as the team who Golden Arrows), Neo Maema (from the 67th minute, during a spell when this mentality that needs to leave our finished third in last season’s DStv Bloemfontein Celtic), while Grant this new England generation fell back stadiums and the beautiful game as Premiership race, look to become title Kekana has joined from neighbours well as society overall.