Kekana’s memorable 2016

2016 has been utterly a year for Mamelodi Sundowns’ Hlompho Kekana. After a 2015/16 domestic pretension delight in May, a South African midfielder was devoted with a bar captaincy in Aug after a depart of former team-mate Ramahlwe Mphahlele.

Since donning a armband for Sundowns, some-more titles and accolades have followed for a midfield workhorse. Kekana guided Masandawana to their initial CAF Champions League prize in Oct before creation a FIFA Puskas Award’s ten-person shortlist only final month, after scoring from his possess half for Bafana Bafana opposite Cameroon behind in March.

Kekana’s noted year resolved with a 31-year-old travelling to Japan for a 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, captaining a initial South African side to take partial in a competition.

“2016 has been a good year for us as a organisation and privately I’d contend that it’s a year I’ll never forget,” Kekana told FIFA.com. “We have been vehement with a achievements this year. Lifting a Champions League was outrageous and afterwards to be personification during a Club World Cup was an even bigger step for us as a team. Competing during that turn is always special, each actor in a universe wants to take partial in a Club World Cup.

“It inspires me a lot to captain a organisation like this,” he continued. “Mamelodi Sundowns are an desirous organisation and we work tough on and off a field. I’m really absolved to work with this group. we consider we are creation a possess small bit of story and it’s critical to keep working, harsh and looking for some-more and more.”

Long-range screamer
Kekana done ubiquitous headlines behind in Mar by fasten a likes of David Beckham and Xabi Alonso in carrying a persistence and technique to fire and measure from inside his possess half. The midfielder’s fantastic long-range strike, in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier opposite Cameroon, sailed over goalkeeper N’dy Assembe’s conduct into a net though touching a belligerent to a awe of a Yaounde crowd.

Kekana’s brilliantly-executed idea saw him nominated for a ten-person FIFA Puskas Award for best idea of a year, alongside a likes of Barcelona span Neymar and Messi.    

“It was special to get approval from FIFA for a goal. we never suspicion that one day I’d be nominated for a Puskas Award by FIFA, though it happened,” pronounced Kekana, eminent in Africa for his ability to measure fantastic prolonged operation effort. “It was a special idea and one that is still unimaginable in my eyes. we still can’t trust I’m a one who scored it! 2016 was a good year for me and I’m unapproachable of my work over a years, I’m reaping a rewards now.”

The third South African to ever make a Puskas Award shortlist, Kekana followed in a footsteps of Bafana Bafana internationals Katlego Mphela and Siphiwe Tshabalala, who were nominated in 2009 and 2010 respectively. While he missed out when a contenders were whittled down to three, Kekana perceived invariable support for his goal, not only during home, though from football supporters opposite a African continent. It was a gesticulate that left a midfield ubiquitous intensely touched.

“It was a special impulse where we see a impact as footballers, how we hold people’s lives and how people can get together by sport,” he said. “It was such a pleasing knowledge and humbling to see such support and we dedicate that idea to all Africans.”

Japan journey
Kekana’s noted 2016 resolved with Mamelodi Sundowns representing Africa during a Club World Cup. While it wasn’t a finish that Pitso Mosimane’s side had in mind, losing their opening diversion to contingent finalists Kashima Antlers before pang another better in a compare for fifth place opposite Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Masandawana still done story for South African in holding partial during a contest – with Kekana carrying a honour of heading them.

“It was a really special impulse in my career,” pronounced Kekana, on donning a captain’s armband during a Club World Cup. “It was a impulse that I’ll perpetually cherish, competing with a best teams in a universe in Japan. we schooled a lot during a tournament.”

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/news/y=2016/m=12/news=kekana-s-unforgettable-2016-2862015.html