From Pienaar's armband to Madigage's hat: Gordon Igesund's masterplan to restore South Africa's pride

He's the boss: Gordon Igesund and I in Sandton this morning

FROM Steven Pienaar’s armband to Thomas Madigage’s hat, Gordon Igesund laid bare his Bafana Bafana master plan yesterday.

And there is every suggestion central defender Morgan Gould, who moved from SuperSport United to Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last season, could Gordon’s guiding light.

In a series of conversations before, during and after The New Age’s Business Briefing at the Sandton Convention Centre, the 58-year-old revealed how he plans to raise South Africa’s national football team from the depths of despair to the heights where they belong.

Igesund, a winner of four PSL titles with a record four different clubs, got the nod as Bafana coach ahead of Steve Komphela less than a fraught fortnight ago.

But the man who should have been appointed national boss ahead of Trott Moloto 10 years ago has his plans in place. Quiet excitement and huge enthusiasm underpin his every sentence.

The central plank in the Igesund philosophy will be communication as the once-prolific striker attempts to make every PSL coach in the country feel like stakeholders in Bafana’s brave new future.

Giving me the steely-eyed stare which scares middle-aged journalists as effectively as it will under-performing footballers, Igesund growls: “In 10 years, I have never been contacted by a Bafana manager. The last one to actually call me and ask about my players was Stuart Baxter, when I was in charge at Ajax in Cape Town.

“As an example, when Pitso Mosimane called up Siyabonga Nomvethe for the Ethiopia game, nobody called me. I could have told them Siya is a quiet, Zulu lad, he does whatever you ask him but he doesn’t like being the centre of attention at Moroka Swallows. I could have told them not to play him on the right up front, he’s a central strike, a goal-sniffer. He was the PSL’s top scorer last season for God’s sake.

“Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to visit every Premier League club in South Africa. I will discuss their feelings about national call-ups, their views on the players they deal with day-in, day-out.

“In the end, I want them to feel they are part of the Bafana project. They can call me any time, they get to participate in the national team.”

As Igesund was daubed in make-up before his appearance in front of 120 amateur and professional football exports live on SABC2, he showed a surprisingly bashful side, bouncing ideas for his speech off me.

“Neal, do you think they’ll laugh at this? I’ve got Brazil in my first game on September 7. Still… at least it’s not Ethiopia! Or Botswana! Is that too much?

“How do you say Maracana? Let me write that down. What’s the capacity there now? Have they rebuilt the stadium – it’s in Rio de Janeiro isn’t it?

“And I’ll have four days to prepare for my first game. Against Brazil. Sheez. And two of those days will be spent travelling. I guess I’ll have to get around to all the clubs before that to give the players an idea of what I expect from them.

“If everyone gets  behind us, we can to this. We fulfil the two objectives I’ve been set: to reach the semi-finals of AFCON13 here in February – and then to qualify for Brazil 2014. We can top the group, then we have to take our chances in the play-off.

“My job is to help players remember what they are. Footballers. Forget all the other stuff. And I don’t for a moment think Bafana players lack passion. When you pull on that national jersey, how can you not want to do your best?”
While SAFA CEO Robin Petersen outlined a further objective – a rise from 15^th to “consistently top 3” in Africa and a place in the world’s top 20, Igesund shows no fear. He may shy away from the public speaking (“I’d much rather be out on the training pitch”) but he insists: “Look, in 2009 we took that great Spain team with all their stars to 2-2 in the Confederations Cup. We were only beaten in extra-time. Those players haven’t disappeared. They haven’t become bad players overnight.

“I will instill a new confidence in my squad. They’re tired of being told they’re rubbish. They aren’t. We will play attacking football, use wide players… with African flair… and it’s a style we must stick with for 20 years, long after I’m gone.

“South Africa has players who can do more with the ball than so many other countries. We need to build on that. And we will, believe me.”

In the complex area of leadership, changes are also afoot. SuperSport United No2 Thomas Madigage has been wrenched away from Gavin Hunt and Igesund grins: “Gavin’s an old friend. He knew I would come after Thomas. He’s the most successful assistant coach in the country, he’s used to working with winners.

“The day I got the job I told three people I wanted Madigage. And we got him. Nobody knew. They were all talking about my supposed technical team, Fani Madida, Doc Khumalo, but I knew who I wanted.

“And I’ve told Thomas, he has to ditch the hat. I know it’s his lucky hat, but I’ve made it clear, Bafana is inclusive, we represent all religions, not just the ZCC. I love the hat, I love the Zionists… but Thomas and I have agreed: No hat on the bench for international games.

“I’ve also put together a panel of advisors – Clive Barker, Shakes Mashaba and Jomo Sono – great men who I have so much respect for. When difficult decisions need to be taken, I’ll be able to turn to them. And Lucas Radebe? I know he’s interested in getting back into football, he’s spoken to Robin – but we’ll have to see what happens there.

“On the field we have so many leaders in this country. Steve Pienaar was made captain, but I have to sit him down and ask him if he wants the captaincy. Perhaps he’s one of those lads who doesn’t need the captain’s armband to know he’s the best player in the side.

“I’ve got Morgan Gould, who’s just moved to Kaizer Chiefs, and Siya Sangweni at Orlando Pirates. They are leaders too. Morgan is just one of those pillars, it’s natural for people to follow him.

“But nothing is decided on the captaincy yet. I know people will talk. They will say things. There is a long time to go before Brazil in September. I know what I want. I know, with everybody’s backing, we can do this.

“If I thought guiding Bafana to their rightful place in world football was an impossible task, I would never have taken the job.”

Given what happened at Dobsonville last season – Igesund lifted Swallows from relegation fodder to title contenders in barely a year – no mission appears to be impossible. South Africa’s footballing future is in safe hands.

And as he left the building yesterday, a final word: “I know exactly what I’ve taken on here. And I’m ready for it.”

My question: Pakistan cricketers get jail for spot-fixing. English Premier League players don't. WHY?

Sinning Saints: Matt Le Tissier and Claus Lundekvam

IT was way back in May, 1997, I witnessed my first clear case of spot fixing in sport. Not in a county cricket game watched by a few dozen hardy fans, but in a Premier League football match between Manchester United and West Ham.

The game at Old Trafford was just two seconds old when West Ham’s Paul Kitson received the ball and, inexplicably, launched it over the touch-line for a throw-in.

The Hammers manager that night as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat? A certain Harry Redknapp, surprisingly overlooked for the England job and ejected from the Spurs hot-seat last month.

At the time Redknapp, found innocent on tax evasion charges last year, said: "I must admit it was a bit of a poxy kick- off. We were supposed to hit Iain Dowie but Paul hit it straight into the stand.

"It's a very dodgy bet and I suppose it could be open to manipulation. But having said that, what if the other side kicks off?"

Well, now we know. According to The Sun in London this morning, the clubs would have agreed all that before the start.

Claus Lundekvam, who played for Southampton from 1996 to 2008 and won 40 Norway caps, reveals: “We would make a deal with the opposing captain about betting on, say, the first throw or first corner. It’s not something I’m proud of. But for a while we did it almost every week.”

Lundekvam, now 39, admitted that such bets could also involve yellow cards – and even penalties.

Yet he insists: “Results were never on the agenda. That is something I would never have done. We were professional competitors. Even though what we did, of course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing.”

Yes, just a bit of fun for some of the most highly paid sportsmen in the world.

But tell that to the now-infamous band of Pakistan cricketers captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. All three were jailed last year for what has become known as “spot fixing” when they bowled no balls to order against England at Lord’s in 2010.

Those Pakistan players were on a fraction of a Premier League star’s salary – but no doubt football will just sneer: “It was a while ago, no problem, the lads were just having a laugh” and carry serenely on without sanction. And all that despite Wayne Rooney’s father and uncle being arrested last year over a similar scandal during a Scottish Premier League match and rumours surrounding Joey Barton’ ridiculous sending off for QPR against Manchester City on the last day of last season.

Apparently it’s fine to jail Pakistanis for spot-fixing, but English Premier League players are exempt, even if they admit fixing.

But how does it work? Why put the ball out of play after just two seconds? It’s simple. At the time, spread betting was a new phenomenon. Originally invented for bored stock market traders, sport was the obvious growth market for the new form of gambling. City Index sponsored my trip to South Africa for the 1997 Lions rugby tour, and at the time, it looked like good harmless commercial symbiosis to have have their logo on my columns in the Sunday Mirror.

But by the time I returned from that tour, match fixing was becoming a dirty word in sport. And the full depths of in-game gambling were emerging. Wally Pyrah of Sporting Index confessed that there had been "concerns" about the United-West Ham match, “because there were a lot of rumours".

As it happened, the “spread” on a first throw-in at the average football game – when it normally happens – is between 70 and 85 seconds. But Kitson’s action meant United took the first throw-in after just seven seconds, meaning that anyone 'selling' at 70-85 seconds would have won 63 times his stake – 63 seconds at, say a fiver a second. That’s not a bad return.

Since then of course, all “novelty” wagers and bets on throw-ins have been abolished with City Index spokesman Paul Austin saying:  “The clear inference is that they were desperate to strike a bet.”

 Of course they were striking a bet! In his biography “Taking Le Tiss”, Southampton’s only superstar Matthew Le Tissier recalls a game against Wimbledon in 1995 when he and friends stood to make 10,000 for an early throw in. He says: “Spread betting had just started to be popular. I’d never have done anything that might have affected the outcome of the match, but I couldn’t see a problem with making a few quid on the first throw-in.

“The problem was Neil Shipperley knew nothing about the bet and when I tried to put the ball out, he headed it back. I charged around desperately trying to kick the ball out. We stood to lose a lot if it went much longer than 75 seconds.

“I had visions of guys coming to kneecap me. Eventually we got the ball out on 70 seconds. The neutral time meant we had neither won nor lost. I have never tried spread betting since.”

He might not have, but clearly other footballers carried on doing it for years, even after the Football Association banned all players from gambling in late 1997. Ludekvam admits: “There were often several players who put money in the pot — several hundred pounds each, sometimes a thousand each.

“We would then give the money to one of the staff who would put the money on for us, so we didn’t have to do it ourselves and so create suspicion.”

So for those who point the finger at Pakistan cricketers and shadowy middle-eastern betting syndicates, think again. Back in 2008, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger called for life-time bans for footballers caught fixing, saying: "It's the English culture. It's an addiction. Some players become crazy and are ready to sell their wife, their furniture."

He’s right of course. English football has been hit by betting scandals repeatedly since 1965 when Sheffield Wednesday trio Tony Kay, Peter Swann and David Layne came out to play in South Africa after being caught match-fixing.

So will the FA do anything about this morning’s revelations in The Sun? I wouldn’t bet on it.

Roger and out: Murray lost the war with Federer, but did Andy win the battle for English hearts?

The Crying Scotsman: Andy Murray after his defeat yesterday

ANDY MURRAY may not quite have ended the 78-year British hunt for a Wimbledon champion. But he certainly ended the churlish “he’s just a dour Scot” attitude of the very average home counties English tennis fan.

After taking the first set with some panache, Murray was simply unable to stop the master Roger Federer from taking the next three as he equalled Pete Sampras’s record of SEVEN men’s singles’ titles with a rain-interupted 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Murray, with both Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish first minister Alex Salmond watching beneath the Centre Court roof – which should have been closed from the start to avoid the rain break – was a man under extreme pressure. Even David Beckham and the missus turned up. Now THAT is pressure.

Widely disliked for his off-hand attitude and his droll humour, Murray produced the best for last… with a tear-stained post-match interview at the hands of a sympathetic Mrs Tennis, Sue Barker.

For a few seconds he was fine: “I’m getting closer!” he japed, to rapturous applause from inside the stadium and the soacked masses on Murray Mount.

Then: “Firstly I’d like to congratulate Roger. After I won my semi-final I thought: ‘This is my best chance’. Roger’s not bad for a 30-year-old with a bad back! He’s still got a lot of fight left and he deserved it.”

But then Britain’s first finalist since Bunny Austin in 1938 (we won’t mention Fred Perry, our last winner in 1936) finally cracked: “I’m going to try this but it’s going to be difficult.”

Between racking sobs and flurries of tears to match the monsoon-like British summer, he said: “I’m going to try not to look at them because I’ll start crying again. But everyone in that corner who supported me through this tournament did a great job, so thank you.”

So Murray has now lost FOUR Grand Slam finals. One in New York two years ago, two on the trot in Melbourne… and an historic tilt at Wimbledon which might just have come off had he claimed one of several break points at 2-2 and 5-5 in the second set.

Federer’s mastery – he has been responsible for three of those four major defeats - became apparent at the end of the second when, having grabbed a break-point for the first time at 6-5, he grabbed the levelling set with two superb drop shots.

The Swiss darling of Wimbledon – with a mum from Kempton Park, Johannesburg – kept the post-match applause alive when he said: “Andy’s done so well over the years, he’s been so consistent. To me it shows he cares so much. I’m sure will win at least one Grand Slam.”

With this win taking him back to the world No1 spot ahead of Novak Djokovic, the man he beat in the semi-final on Friday, Federer said: “I played some of my best tennis in these last two games. That’s why I love Wimbledon.”

And SW19 loves Roger Federer. And, from this moment forth, the Crying Scotsman, St Andrew Murray.

Murray v Federer: Expect no logic from long-suffering Wimbledon fans

Hot Scot: Murray complete with Saltire cross

TOMORROW in and around the London postcode of SW19, life will not be normal. It hasn’t been normal for years of course. This time, we are talking extraordinary conditions during the gloomiest of British summers with black market tickets selling for 15,000 pounds.

Amidst record-breaking rainfall and bank-breaking recession, the long-suffering locals have a British player to follow for the first time since Bunny Austin got to the Wimbledon men’s final in 1938.

Reading through the social networks as the kilted Andrew Murray saw off popular Congolese Frenchman Jo Wilfried Tsonga in his historic semi-final win on Friday, it’s clear foreigners just don’t get it.

For the last week of June and the first week of July, people in the Southfields area generally rent their houses out for vastly inflated prices when the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club bring their championships to the borough of Merton as they have since 1877.

Crowds gather, from dawn till dusk. They camp overnight, come rain or (occasional) shine. And ever since the second World War, they have NEVER had a local to cheer.

The women used to do okay. Anne Jones and, as “recently” as 1977, Virginia Wade have won the ladies’ event. But even Ginny learned to play the game in South Africa, where she lived until the age of 15 when her dad was Archdeacon of Durban. The accented twang aside, she was British when she won in Jubilee year.

But it’s the five-set thrillers of the men’s game which really draws the crowds to the now-roofed, rain-proof, night-defying Centre Court.

And the pain of post-war Wimbledon has been acute. Through my early years, the Aussie dominated 60s, the Bjorn Borg/John McEnroe/Jimmy Connors led 70s and 80s – when South African-Americans Johan Kriek and Kevin Curran went close – and on to the early 90s, Britain were lucky to get a competititor beyond the first week of action. Andrew Castle once took Mats Wilander to five sets in the first round. He lost of course, but lived on that "success" for years, converting it into a television presenters' job.

Jeremy Bates produced a couple of miraculous quarter-final appearances, the Swede Stefan Edberg lived in nearby Fulham, Boris Becker became a sort of honorary Brit, dozens of young English hopefuls came and went.

And then Tim Henman emerged. His grandmother was the first to serve overhand in the women’s game. His grandfather was the first to wear short trousers on court. He was born with a raquet in his hand in the land which gave birth to tennis (and football, cricket, rugby, golf etc etc) and again, with Canadian Greg Rusedski changing flags, we had a man (or two) in week two on a regular basis.

But for all the squeaky roars of “Come on Tim” and the Jokeresque smile of Greg, Centre Court on the second Sunday eluded the British. Inexplicably, tennis belonged to the hairy Greek American Pete Sampras or the hairless Italian American Andre Agassi.

Then came Murray. Dour, skinny, unquestionably Scottish. His intimidating mother Judy, the curious tale of the Dunblane shootings, that brief early outburst when Andy told us he hoped England’s football team got stuffed (he was just saying what all Scots really think) didn’t really lead to a warm relationship between the home-counties Wimbledon faithful.

And even when he saw off Tsonga on Friday, the critics were at it. Murray, asked if he thought of the pressure his parents were going through in the stands, said: “I’m not really bothered, it’s tougher for me.” Asked if he would explain the finger he pointed at the sky, he grumbled: “No,that’s private.”

And the tweeters got stuck in to our Scottish hero, the latest in a long line which goes back to William Wallace, Bonnie Prince Charlie and erm… Graeme Souness, Gordon Brown, Billy Connolly and Rod Stewart.

For those born outside the sceptred isles, it’s hard to understand the antipathy between the English and the Celts. Ireland, Scotland and Wales are British, but never English. For years, the English loved to bully their neighbours. What Oliver Cromwell did to the Irish, wiping out nearly a quarter of the population, can never been forgotten. What various English armies did north of Hadrian’s wall, banning the kilt and imprisoning the locals, rankles too.

But today the United Kingdom will be united by a scrawny Scot with a tennis racquet. We can go back to John "Evert" Lloyd in 1977 in Australia and Greg Rusedski in 1997 in New York for previous Grand Slam finalists.

But this will be Murray’s fourth shot, after a US Open final and Aussie Open finals in 2010 and 2011. All failures, but not bad going for a lad who was asked, at 15, to join Rangers Football Club. Bet he’s glad he opted for smaller balls now.

Murray goes in to the final against the much-decorated Swiss giant Roger Federer, the darling of Centre Court for more than a decade, insisting: "It's a great challenge, one where I'm probably not expected to win the match, but one that, if I play well, I'm capable of winning.

"If you look at his record here over the past 10 years or so, it's been incredible. So the pressure that I would be feeling, if it was against somebody else, I guess it would be different. There will be less on me on Sunday because of who he is."

Murray mania: tomorrow's Independent

Federer, heading inexorably for a seventh Wimbledon title after his brilliant semi-final triumph over World No1 Novak Djokovic, says: "Britain reminds me a bit of Australia because you don't have the amount of players they have in France or America, so the focus is more on one player, maybe a couple.

"I think what is so particular about this country is that there's so much attention on that one player, which is Andy Murray. Let's be happy that he's such a great player that he lets that sort of hype last. He will only get better.”

But when the Fed Express with the mum from Kempton Park, South Africa takes on the Dunblane survivor and Henman Hill/Rusedski Ridge/Murray Mount starts cheering in the rain, remember his: There will be no logic behind the British passion for Andy. Just 78 years of history. And I haven’t even mentioned Fred Perry.

New-look Chiefs in action on July 21: that could mean EIGHT new faces

Threedom: Jessica and the No3 shirt last week

KAIZER CHIEFS will roll out their newly-acquired masterpieces – and their colourful new coach – for the first time in a competitive match at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on July 21 - against Moroka Swallows in an experimental one-day, four-team tournament.

The Amakhosi’s vast array of new signings – presumably including the elusive Mulomowandau “Tower” Mathoho – have been drawn to play against Moroka Swallows in the Gauteng Sports Challenge, a multi-sports event set up by the provincial department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Chiefs today announced they are NOT chasing talented midfielder Erwin Isaacs or top scorer Eleazar Rodgers from relegated Santos but they should be able to show off Morgan Gould, Mathoho, Siboniso Gaxa, Kgotso Moleko, Brilliant Khuzwayo, Sakhile Hlongwa, Kingston Nkatha and Siyabonga Nkosi with new boss Stuart Baxter at the helm.

That means they could field as many as EIGHT new signings against Swallows if Nkatha is fit and goalkeeper Khuzwayo gets the No1 jersey ahead of Bafana’s Itumeleng Khune. Their new-look defence, featuring Gould, Mathoho and Belgium-honed Gaxa has to be among the best in the country right now.

It promises to be an eventful day at the stadium named after the legendary Masterpieces Moripe – PSL rivals SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits open proceedings at 10am before Chiefs take on Soweto rivals Swallows – also under new management following Gordon Igesund’s appointment as the new Bafana Bafana coach - at high noon. The two winners will play in the final at 5.15pm. Chiefs will face arch-rivals and champions Orlando Pirates in the Carlin Cup a week later.

Former Bafana boss Baxter, who has much to prove after controversy over his CV since his time in South Africa ten years ago, said: “I don't think there's anyone at Naturena who says we don't want to win.

"And we want very, very badly, very passionately to go on and lift the PSL title. That is something everyone associated with Kaizer Chiefs will tell you with all of their heart. No one can promise we will win the league. What we can promise is that the boys and the technical staff and supporters will give their back teeth to win the league.

"So, we will do everything that we can.  We CAN promise every drop of blood in our body and every drop of sweat we can muster will go towards winning every game.

"And I'm not telling anybody they have to wait. There's no time like the present."

With general manager Bobby Motaung still mourning the loss of brother Thabo – he was buried last Saturday – it was sister Jessica who fronted the latest Chiefs press conference once more, just as she did last week when she famously unveiled six new signings and Tower’s No3 shirt.

Since then, two of the new signings – goalkeeper Khuzwayo and midfielder Nkatha – have turned out competitively for other teams and Tower himself remains unveiled.

Jessica failed to address injury concerns over Nkatha – he went off injured during Black Leopard’s CAF Confederations Cup clash in Sudan last Saturday – and exactly why we haven’t seen Tower in his No3 shirt yet.

But the glamorous Marketing Director, flanked by her new communications manager Vina Maphosa, said: “We are very excited to be participating in the Gauteng Sports Challenge in 2012. We are also happy to be supporting Gauteng. The tournament gives us an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season.

“We are also happy to be meeting Moroka Swallows, one of the in-form teams last season. Games between the two sides have always been thrilling affairs and this upcoming one is not going to be any different.”

Speaking for the first time since his brother Thabo’s death, Bobby confirmed the Amakhosi will NOT be splashing out on Isaacs or Rodgers saying from Naturena today: "The coach wanted 28 players and he has 28 players. If we buy more players it means we must then move others.”

Treble-winning Pirates are now first in the queue for Rodgers, who scored 15 goals last season for lowly Santos.

New Swallows boss Zeca Marques, who steps up from No2 following Igesund’s call-up to national service, said: “People think a coach can just come in and wave a magic wand and “voila”, things happen. I know that is not the case.         

 “I was schooled in Portugal, so for me it’s all about creativity, flair and playing to win. That is the philosophy I will bring to the job.

“I know there will be great expectations, but the players realise that too and their ambition is the same as mine, to go out there and win trophies.

“Gordon had a very similar outlook last season and we shared ideas about how the team should play, that was brought out in the type of players we signed, guys like David Mathebula and Joseph Makhanya.

“We were always bouncing ideas between us and I had quite a bit of input. We shared the same vision and my vision for the team now has not changed much.”

Tickets for the Gauteng Challenge will go on sale at R50. 00 for adults and R20.00 for children under 12 years, from Monday at Computicket nationwide.

SAFA's master-stroke: Lucas Radebe returns as Bafana team manager

Top Bloke: Lucas Radebe and me last year

LUCAS RADEBE is back. Seven years after his retirement from football, South Africa's most successful player returns to the game - as Bafana Bafana's new team manager.

Less than 48 hours after naming Moroka Swallows boss Gordon Igesund as the nation's 15th new coach, the South African Football Association produced their 43-year-old master-stroke.

With president Kirsten Nemetandani presiding and Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khosa prompting, former Buccaneer boss Igesund now finds himself with a bullet-proof protector in Radebe, the man who played 200 games for Leeds United from 1994-2005, winning 70 Bafana caps and helping to lift the 1996 AFCON crown.

The trick with Radebe is that the factions in SAFA - and in the PSL - cannot touch South Africa's answer to David "Golden Balls" Beckham.

While Igesund, sharp and to the point, may put a few noses out of joint even before his opening friendly against (gulp) Brazil in September, Radebe will be there to offer advice, motivate the squad and deflect criticism.

During the selection process for the new coach, Radebe dropped obvious hints about his future role, telling Football411: "Firstly, it was not a bad idea to sack Pitso Mosimane because we need new ideas for the team and I'm sure Pitso accepts that we needed a change because we were not getting the results.

“Secondly, I think it was a good idea to shortlist local coaches, because I don't think we need somebody from overseas. It is best to get someone with a better understanding of our football."

Tellingly, he added: "I think the new coach will need a big technical team to help him with the selection of players, a motivator because players need that and so on to make sure they've got all angles covered.

"It won't be a bad idea to involve former coaches such as Clive Barker, but the bottom line is they must put together a technical team that will cover basically everything."
Following Igesund's appointment, Radebe told kickoff.com: "Gordon has a great track record, we all have to support him. There are a lot of expectations, if things go wrong the public will be on his back.
"But Gordon showed at Swallows he can lead players, motivate them. We need a leader, we need confidence. He will bring that back to Bafana. We have to support him all the way."

SAFA remain coy on Radebe’s role – and the appointment of former Kaizer Chiefs stars Fani Madida and Doc Khumalo as assistant coaches. Chief Operations Officer Dennis Mumble said as the story grew around the football-speaking world: "We have no problem with speculation about those three, but it cannot be said that Safa has decided on them – that would be unfair to Gordon as he still has to discuss his preferences with us.”

Igesund himself told KickOff.com: "I still have to discuss this with Safa. I will tell them who I believe should be my assistants."
You only have to meet Lucas Valeriu Radebe (born 12 April 1969) to know the role he will play on his long-awaited return to the game. I met him with agent Glyn Binkin in 2010 at the Moses Madhiba Stadium just before the World Cup and again last year with Robert Marawa when I was working in Abu Dhabi at the Laureus Sports Awards (see picture).

Famous for his charitable works, he oozes charisma, makes women go weak at the knees and generally talks sense, footballing or otherwise.

Now 43, Radebe grew up in Diepkloof , not the poshest end of Soweto, before being “resettled” aged 15 in the so-called homeland of Bophuthatswana, home to Sun City and little else back then. One of 11 children, he played football to keep off the streets, beginning life as a goalkeeper.

As he developed, Radebe became a handy midfielder and started his professional career at Kaizer Chiefs. After a shooting incident and much haggling, he moved to Howard Wilkinson’s 1991 First Division champions with Philemon “Chippa” Masinga in 1994. Even then, the move was worth £250,000 (nearly R3million) to the Amakhosi.

George Graham, something of an expert on central defenders, transformed “The Chief” into one of the Premier League’s great centre-backs, while Masinga was sold, Radebe was transformed. The adoration in Yorkshire even led to the formation of popular music group Kaiser Chiefs, named by Leeds-loving musicians in honour of Radebe.

When I first twittered about Radebe’s return to the Bafana fold on Saturday, the Elland Road faithful immediately got in touch, eagerly trying to find out what their former idol is expected to do in his new role. He captained Leeds in 1998-99 and held the defence together under David O’Leary when the club enjoyed some of their most successful seasons in recent memory.

Radebe turned down Manchester United, Roma and AC Milan as Leeds, spending money like there was no tomorrow, challenged for domestic and European honours. Sir Alex Ferguson said at the time: “Every club needs a Lucas Radebe.”

Radebe has been an ambassador for FIFA’s SOS Children's Villages and received the FIFA Fair Play Award in December 2000 for his work on behalf of Africa’s impoverished.

A major mover in football’s anti-racism campaigns, he was awarded a Contribution to the Community Award by the Premier League in 2003 to celebrate their 10^th anniversary.

In 2004, he came 54th in a vote naming the Top 100 Great South Africans and is a great pal of golfer Tiger Woods, with whom he helps to raise funds for various children's causes.

It hasn’t all be plain sailing. Radebe’s wife Feziwe died of cancer in October 2008 and in December of the same year he needed treated for a heart complaint after collapsing while at the gym.

In April 2010 he won the PFA Merit Award, saying: “Football has played such a big part in lifting my community. I'm very proud.”

Previous Lucas Radebe blogs:

http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2010/05/in-just-24-hours-with-little-help-from.html

http://neal-collins.blogspot.com/2011/02/laureus-sports-awards-in-sunny-abu.html

Come in Number Three: Kaizer Chiefs unveil six-and-a-half new signings, but where's the Tower?

Two Many Chiefs: YeYe and Tower train with Bafana

Kaizer Chiefs proudly unveiled six-and-a-half new signings for the 2012-13 season when they unveiled Mulomowandau Mathoho’s No3 shirt… but not the towering Bafana Bafana centre-back himself.

While the haggling with Bloemfontein Celtic over “Tower” goes on… and on… and on… let’s take a quick look at the half-a-dozen new Chiefs currently training with new boss Stuart Baxter – who admits he played no part in helping Bobby Motuang choose his reinforcements after South Africa’s “biggest” club finished fourth in the PSL last season.

We already knew about young Amazulu goalkeeper Nhlanhla “Brilliant” Khuzwayo, who will get a replica of Itumeleng Khune’s No1 jersey and then try to make it his. Khuzwayo was not “officially unveiled” either - because he was in goal for Neil Tovey’s Thanda Royal Zulu during their devastating 3-0 defeat against Chippa United at Richard’s Bay yesterday.

Then there’s the talented No5, Siboniso Gaxa, released after a successful spell with Belgian club Lierse, and No8 Kingston Nkhatha, signed for a reputed R3m from continental crusaders Black Leopards. We also knew about their new No10, Siyabonga Nkosi returning to the club aged 30, after a spell in Europe and Durban. Was he really the sharpest of the Golden Arrows last season?

We’ve got the more modest No18, Kgotso Moleko, the right-back from Bloemfontein Celtic who impressed new boss Stuart Baxter on the first day of pre-season on Monday and signed on the spot.

Even further down the numerical pecking order, we find No28 Sakhile “Ghaba” Hlongwa, an Umlazi-born striker who spent last season at Nedbank Cup minnows Ethekwini Coastal FC. His old youth coach has been in touch, claims he’s a top goal-getter despite modest stats.

And way down the order, there’s Morgan Gould, the SuperSport United and Bafana centre-back who will wear No83. Now he IS impressive. And ideally suited to taking the captaincy in a club proven to be devoid of any real leadership on the pitch last season.

Which just goes to show, numbers mean nothing. And neither do shirts. As the twitterers so forcefully point out, parading a jersey rather than the bloke himself at the swanky Thaba Ya Batswana conventon centre is laughable. Bloemfontein Celtic must be laughing… or crying.

It was left to general manager Bobby Motuang’s sister Jessica, the family business’s Marketing Director and glamorous daughter of Chief’s founder Kaizer to tell us about Tower’s No3 jersey, which wasn’t doing much explaining.

She simply stated the obvious: “I was unveiling the jersey, I was not unveiling the player. But I'm confident that Mathoho will be a Chiefs player by the start of the season.

"It is a work in progress. We are talking to Celtic, we are working 24/7 to land his signature. We have agreed terms with the player and his agent. And the player has made it clear he wants to come to Chiefs. We will make sure we come out tops on this issue and make sure that he dons the black and gold this season.

“We know Edward Manqele (the former Free State Stars top-scorer lured away by Sundowns) also said that he wanted to play for us but it didn't work but this issue is different and the club is confident we can land him by July 1."

The gorgeous Jessica also confirmed the two DKs, Doc Khumalo and Donald Khuze, will continue to support the new coach.  Khumalo, though he was barely mentioned at the press conference, said: “I’ve had a face to face with Mr Baxter, he is the right man for the job.” Great stuff, Doc.

Arthur Zwane, the third caretaker coach in the tricky triumvirate appointed after Vladimir Vermezovic’s hasty departure late last season, has “already started working with the development of players”.

Baxter, the former Bafana coach who falsified his CV when questioned by Star football writer Jonty Mark after his appointment three months ago, admits he had absolutely no part in selecting these new players (nor, presumably, Mathoho’s shirt) though he does claim he was “in constant contact” with Bobby throughout the off-season wheeler-dealing: "I was not the one who scouted all the players, but there were on-going conversations by telephone. I'm very happy with the technical team that we've got.”

On the day Sundowns presented us with a new team manager – Mike Ntombela returns to the club, replacing Michael Manzini – and Orlando Pirates promoted Simphiwe Ngwenya to “second assistant coach” after 12 years of working with Augusto Palacios, Chiefs might not have achieved quite what they set out to with the big announcement at Thaba Ya Batswana.

Jessica insisted: “We have signed players who we hope will help us achieve our goals this season. We want to win trophies.” Unfortunately Jessica, players lift silverware. You can hardly even polish a trophy with a No3 jersey.

But with Tim Sukazi, Tower’s agent, appealing to the nation’s constitution and insisting footballers are not “slave labour”, perhaps it’s not worth Sundowns getting shirty about Mathoho’s move. Celtic will have to settle for the Amakhosi’s R5m rather than the Braziliant offer of R7m plus two of their many surplus squad members. What choice do they have?

And reports that Patrice Motsepe’s hard-working Trott Moloto immediately stepped in and offered to double Mathoho’s shirt number to six are clearly just mischief making from former Fleet Street journalists who think they are oh, so clever.

The important point is this: Mulomowandau Mothoho has made a brave stand, insisting on joining Chiefs rather than adding his name to the long list of top young players who disappear at Sundowns (we can only hope Manqele is not just the latest). Bobby Motaung has clearly failed to back the 23-year-old Tower, who was rumoured to be back with his Sundowns-chasing father in Venda yesterday.

Sukazi admitted Tower was at Naturena earlier in the week but said: “He’s just there to assess the environment and he has not signed for Chiefs, I must stress that. He’s only having a look around and getting a feel for the club and the new coach. That is all."

Mathoho himself says: "I made it clear to my club that Chiefs is where I am going to. My stance is still the same. Sundowns did make an approach but I must follow my heart. The support I have been receiving from my family has helped me to deal with this."

Bobby? Kaizer? They are saying nothing. And they appear reluctant to part with any more money to recreate the national side’s centre-back pairing of Gould and Mathoho.

But for all their penny-pinching grinchery, the Amakhosi will get a man to put inside the No3 shirt. I’m almost sure of it.