'Shoes' performances debunk an age-old theory
By Nkareng Matshe
John "Shoes" Moshoeu's heroic showing in the Soweto derby last weekend was just the tonic to cap a remarkable season for Kaizer Chiefs' veteran midfielder.
His splendid display, in which he revived a drab match by setting up Chiefs' victory over arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, was the cherry on the top for the former Bafana Bafana linkman, who seems to just get better with age.
"I wanted to prove a few individuals wrong," a relieved Moshoeu told national television after deservedly winning the man-of-the-match honours last Saturday.
"There have been some people hitting me for a while now and I have finally proven them wrong."
Since his return to the Naturena side at the beginning of this season, Moshoeu (37) has, on a number of occasions, won games for Chiefs with performances reminiscent of his golden days. It is at Bafana where he formed a deadly midfield combination with Doctor Khumalo, now his coach at Chiefs.
"He has dispelled the myth that age is key in football," said Khumalo in an earlier interview with the Saturday Star in which he heaped praise on Moshoeu.
"In South Africa, when you reach 30 years, you're written off as old, and Shoes has proven that wrong."
Khumalo was obviously speaking from personal experience, having been forced into early retirement himself because he was, as the self-styled experts put it, "too old". Not so for the enigmatic Shoes, however.
He has returned to the gold and black outfit with a bang, scoring six goals already this season.
It should be pointed out that on those six occasions he scored, Amakhosi ran out winners in all but one. When he's on form, Chiefs just click - simple as that.
It was not for the first time last weekend that Moshoeu single-handedly turned a seemingly directionless game on its head.
Chiefs were playing against Santos at Olympia Stadium in Rustenburg when Moshoeu came on as a substitute.
The game had been too dull for the capacity crowd and some were heading home in the last minutes when Moshoeu made a darting run in the Santos box to connect Thabo Mooki's measured pass. He chest-trapped it with unerring composure before slotting past Andre Arendse - and Chiefs were the winners!
He has also performed above average in clashes against Dynamos, Sundowns, and SuperSport United. But it had to take last weekend's brilliant showing for sceptics to finally believe that Moshoeu can still deliver.
The cynics who had prematurely written his football obituary have now been made to eat humble pie. How could they have got it so wrong?
John Moshoeu fact file
Full name: John Lesiba Moshoeu
Nickname: Shoes
Date of birth: December 18, 1966
International caps: 63 (six goals)