Kaiser Chiefs Soccer Club, a South African football team, traces its beginnings in Soweto, Johannesburg. The club was founded on January 7, 1970 by former soccer player Kaiser Motaung.
The team, also known as Amakhosi or Lords/Chiefs, plays its home yalla shoot games at Ellis Park Stadium or FNB Stadium. They have a tough rivalry with the Mamelodi Sundowns and the Orlando Pirates in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) as well as the local league.
The Local League
Kaiser “Chincha Guluva” Motaung, the club’s founder, is a former player for the Orlando Pirates which is also a Soweto team. He also played in the United States as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer Leagueor the NASL.
The said punishment however will be lifted in 2009.
Adored by their followers, the Kaiser Chiefs Soccer team was one of the very first local teams to turn professional. The club has achieved a remarkable record of 80 titles in 36 years. It has also set unprecedented local sponsorship standards.
Mandela Cup
The Team’s best feat was probably the 2001-2002 seasons. During that time, they won four major championships in four months. The said trophies were the Vodacom Challenge, BP Top Eight, Coca-Cola Cup, and the CAF Cup Winners Cup (Mandela Cup).
Kaiser Chiefs, a British Indies/pop band, got its name from the soccer club.
Tags: Kaiser Chief’s soccer club, South African Football, Confederation of African Football
Ask for more than that?
The 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa will have opened up many eyes to the soccer revolution in the States. The team known as “The Stars and Stripes” topped their first round group, finishing ahead of the much fancied England after an opening match draw against said fancied team, a second draw against Slovenia and a late win when faced with Algeria. Undefeated qualification and top of the group, can you ask for more than that?
Quarterfinal Appearance At The 2002
The United States do have some World Cup pedigree. At the inaugural tournament held in 1930, the Stars and Stripes finished a creditable third.The change in fortunes came when the USA hosted the 1994 World Cup. Spirited performances in that tournament in front of large crowds began the rebirth of North American soccer. That rebirth did not take to come to fruition with a fourth place finish at Copa America in 1995, a quarterfinal appearance at the 2002 World Cup and significantly a 2009 Confederations Cup final appearance. On top of this the USA can boast four successes from their ten ventures in the Concacaf Gold Cup, a record bettered only by Mexico.
Their 2010 Group Stage Success
Detractors may point to the relatively poor standard of the USA’s major soccer league (Major League Soccer). However, other nations suffer from poor domestic competition such as the African nations but they succeed because their players represent clubs who appear in strong competitions. Seven of the States squad ply their trade in the English Premier League, three in Italy’s Series A and one in the Spanish Primera League. It is experience such as this plus an abundance of confidence running through the squad than points to the reasons behind their 2010 group stage success.
At the time of writing the USA are awaiting their second round match against Ghana, surely they have a great chance of progressing to the quarter finals and then from there who knows?
Chijioke Ejiogu: Complete Profile of Arugo Monkey
Goalkeeper Chijioke Ejiogu is the number one goal tender for Double CAF Champions league winners- Enyimba Football club of Aba. He is one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Nigeria Premier league. His dexterity between the goalpost while playing for amateur side- Arugo F.C in the late 1990’s during the F.A Cup Competition have earned him the nickname- Arugo Monkey.
While Starring For Arugo F.C
Monkeys are one of the most acrobatic animals in the jungle, and they have the ability to jump from one tree to the other with so much ease and skill. These were the exact qualities that Chijioke Ejiogu displayed during the F.A Cup competition more than 15 years ago while starring for Arugo F.C.
The Strong Points Of Chijioke Ejiogu
The confidence he displays in organizing his defence line is quite amazing, considering the fact that football has become so competitive and tactical. One of the qualities that distinguish a good goalkeeper from a bad one is the ability to anticipate and deal with aerial balls and this is one of the strong points of Chijioke Ejiogu.
He has been invited to the national senior team on several occasions during the reign of Coach Christian Chukwu as Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, but on each occasion, luck has not been on his side. The desire to excel in the local league to enhance future call-ups has always been his main motivation, and this has seen him emerging as one of the stars in the star-studded Enyimba Football club.
The Best Local League Players
Arugo Monkey has become a veteran of sort in the Nigeria Premier league and with each passing season, he has shown more maturity and better composure between the posts to the admiration of his fans all over the country. His acrobatic saves and daring maneuvers in front of strikers have earned him a place among the best Local league players.
