Kick off turns 15 with Dr Khumalo

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Khumalo, playing for Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana when Kick Off was first published in early 1994, gives an interview to assistant editor, Zola Doda, recalling how, back then, he never dreamed of going to the World Cup with South Africa, thinking it “was not meant for Africans...it was for the Europeans.”

He recalls the moment, in 1992, that changed his career, and moves on to current action, explaining why he rates SuperSport United as the best team in the league; and he berates referees for not protecting Teko Modise from rough tacklers, describing the Orlando Pirates midfielder as “a national asset.”

Other features in the collector's edition include a look back at the career of Andre Arendse, the 41-year-old goalkeeper who won championship medals with four different clubs during Kick Off's lifetime.

Editor Neil Greig finds the first intake of players at the School of Excellence, which opened in 1994. He finds some still active, some down and out, and some on the verge of trouble, like Lucky Maselesele, who is currently in hot water following a drug bust.

Editorial director Richard Maguire believes the success of Kick Off is due to passion of supporters, readers and staff. “I cannot think of having a better job than running Kick Off magazine,” says Maguire, who has been at the helm of the title since 1996, the year the magazine converted from a monthly to fortnightly.

The collectors addition is on sale from 16 February 2009.