Best South African soccer quotes of 2011
They said what?
Posted: 2011-12-20 14:51
From Irvin Khoza admitting to being 'scooped' by KickOff.com, to that infamous 'family business' line, 2011 has been a year of over-the-top and intriguing comments …
KickOff.com has chosen the best quotes from 2011, take a walk with us down memory lane, and have a good laugh at the same time!
Have we missed out your favourite quote from this year? Let us know in the comments, or on Team KICK OFF, Facebook or Twitter!
"I was selfish. I am asking for forgiveness from the nation" – Katlego Mphela backtracked and returned to Mamelodi Sundowns after absconding from training from January 20 to February 15, when the club needed him most.
"In my personal opinion [Andile] Jali is a far better player than Teko [Modise] will ever be. He reminds me of a player like Steven Gerrard or Roy Keane – someone who will give you 100 percent commitment and play good football at the same time." – Former Bafana Bafana defender Mark Fish strokes Jali's ego in March, suggesting that for Pirates to lose Modise to Sundowns was not a major blow.
"Maybe I'm offering the club to fire me" – Ernst Middendorp dared Maritzburg United live on TV to axe him after his side drew 2-2 with Vasco da Gama on March 5 … they did, eventually, and roped in Ian Palmer, who helped them avoid the dreaded relegation blow.
"I can't believe that someone can be injured for a game like that. As a player I will play this game with one leg." – Kaizer Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic taunting Orlando Pirates ahead of the Soweto Derby on February 26. The match finished 1-1.
"I was smoking dagga … You see my mom suffers from TB [tuberculosis] and it was stressing me. My friends came and they offered me this thing and I thought why not because it would help me relieve my stress, that's when I made a mistake." – Golden Arrows midfielder Philani Shange owned up in an interview with KICK OFF magazine, after he copped a R12 000 suspended fine for the transgression. Did we say own up?
"I don't pay bonuses for wins. I pay salaries for you to earn the prize, because the objective must not be the money. You work hard and you benefit. If I'm going to be money first, money first and money first I will be doing a disservice to your talent. The salary I give the players is enough to win the League for Orlando Pirates." – Pirates boss Dr Irvin Khoza makes it quite clear what he expects from his employees, announcing in June that his players would receive 75 percent of the approximately R25-million prize money following their Treble triumph.
"When you go to Sundowns your career goes down and I don't want to be one of the victims" – Bidvest Wits midfielder Sifiso Myeni is not afraid to speak his mind, explaining in an interview with KickOff.com in June why he turned down a move to Mamelodi Sundowns.
"We were scooped this time. I always try to minimise being scooped, but this time I was scooped by KICK OFF and how, I don't know …" – Irvin Khoza give credit where credit is due, on revealing the new Bucs coach Julio Leal on June 22, a few days after KickOff.com revealed Leal was on Bucs' radar.
"We don't know if we are going or coming … I'm confused. It is mixed feelings … If South Africa didn't qualify then it is a sad story." – Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane speaking on October 8 moments before it was officially confirmed that the team had failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. He should have checked KickOff.com on his phone.
"I can't have them arrested, because the agreement was never written down because we [sangomas] don't sign papers. We just talk and I'm willing to talk to them face-to-face. Until then Bafana will not win." – Sangoma S'bonelo Madela, from Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal, who was at loggerheads with the South African Football Association over an alleged muti deal that went sour. We are still waiting for the win that proves him wrong …
"As for those who dream that Bobby Motaung must step down, that Bobby Motaung must go, it is a dream! Bobby Motaung goes nowhere. I'm not elected here. I was not appointed by ANC or IFP… I will be here as long as this company exists." – Bobby Motaung laughs off growing calls that he must step down as Kaizer Chiefs football manager. With this, along with the infamous "family business" line, Bobby wrote himself into the history of South African soccer quotes.
"I am not Gaddafi and I hope I don't end up like him … to suggest on social networks that I am like Gaddafi, is, I am sorry, sh*t." – Vladimir Vermezovic vehemently denied that he mistreats his players, and justifiably denies he is anything like the deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
"Look, you can take a horse to the water but you can't make it drink, but I promise you we took him to the 'water' and he did get some 'water' – the R10 000" – Bidvest Wits coach Roger de Sa revealing to KICK OFF that Joseph Henyekane disappeared while owing the club quite a lot of money.
"My father [David Thidiela] is a pastor. He is one of the leaders at the church, so what business has he got putting muti on the grass?" – Black Leopards spokesperson Tendani Thidiela responding to allegations that sodium muti usage by the host teams at Peter Mokaba Stadium (including Kaizer Chiefs and Baroka FC) is destroying the pitch.
"No, no … it is not true. Jabu is not training with us. I would rather sign Jomo Sono than sign Jabu Mahlangu!" – In an interview with KickOff.com on December 6, 'Bra J' dispels the rumours that Mahlangu is joining Jomo Cosmos, although his suggestion of signing himself might not be as crazy as it seems, considering the position Cosmos find themselves in.
''You probably get paid by the kilo" – Wits coach Roger de Sa allegedly mocked Benni McCarthy during the Telkom Knockout Final on December 10.
McCarthy retorted: "If they want to get nasty, I can get very nasty … If you want to compare medals and achievements and money, then I would be glad to join in that conversation because I know I would come out right on top."
: 2011-12-20 15:59
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