‘DUIF du TOIT CAPTURED BEST PICTURES OF OUR SPORTING HISTORY’

South African Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, has described the late Duif du Toit as master photographer in sport.

Mbalula was reacting to the recent death of du Toit who died at the age of 57, in a Johannesburg hospital earlier today due to short sickness. Du Toit is regarded by many people as one of the best sport photographers to ever grace the South African soil.

“Some of the best pictures that captured our sporting history were captured by Duif du Toit, it is very sad to learn about his passing,” said Mbalula on his twitter account.

Since the news broke up earlier this morning, the sporting world has been buzzing with words of condolences and appreciation for the role played by du Toit in South African sport.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, believes that du Toit was a legendary figure on the touchline and boundary ropes of South African sport throughout the post-isolation.

He added that the work of du Toit “with no doubt” was of international standards.

“He was a consumable professional and the quality of his work measured up to the best international standards,” said Lorgat.

Lorgat revealed that many of du Toit pictures will feature in the collectors’ item book of South African Cricket that will be published next year to commemorate CSA’s 25th Anniversary.

Official DHL Stormers and Sunshine Tour photographer, Carl Fourie, in his twitter account described du Toit as the Mohammad Ali of photography.

du Toit was working as a sport photographer for Gallo Images. He was with Gallo Images for eight years. His illustrious sport photography career began at The Star newspaper as a rugby photographer, he later got involved into variety of sports like cricket and rugby.

HAZARD TURNS OUT TO BE HOPELESS FOR CHELSEA THIS SEASON, WHILE IVANOVIC IS VANISHING .

Where is Eden Hazard? , Hazard where are you?, What happened to Hazard?

These are the questions that have been asked by Chelsea fans this season. Hazard was in fine form last season for the Chelsea FC. He was voted as the best player in the Premier League, his last season form was the talk of town, but the big question is what happening with Hazard. Is he suffering from the hangover of the awards that he won last season. No, maybe he is a season wonder.

Remember Excellent Walaza from Orlando Pirates. What happened to him. The 2007/2008 season was an "Excellent" season for Walaza.

It has been 10 games since we last saw the Belgian scoring a goal for Chelsea. Will he come back? only time will tell, but it has to be said that best players in the world always come strong. Cristiano Ronaldo and lionel Messi have both proved that.

Maybe Mourinho statement of saying Hazard is the best player in the world has an influence in Hazard's poor form. I recall a  situation in South Africa where Papi "Ginger" Zothwane was in hot form. He was  a wanted man abroad. But a terrible match against Zambia  in 2007 for African cup of Nation qualifiers messed a possibility of an overseas move for him.

With 5 games already played in the start of the season, Chelsea looks like a team that will find it difficult to defend their Premier League title, unless Hazard become the Hazard of last season, the Hazard that was once linked with a move to Real Madrid.

May be it time to put fresh blood in the mix. Loftus-Cheek and Kennedy looked like a real deal against Crystal Palace.

As for Ivanovic we all know that he is a quality football, but it has to be said the Serbian has not been himself this season. He has been the weakest link in the Chelsea setup. He is every wingers target. He is the target man for the oppositions.

MY LOVE FOR FOOTBALL

I believe that football is a global language. It is a sport followed by billions of people across the globe, but I sometime ask my self what makes football this famous to people?,   Is it special from any other sport?
The answers to these questions are very simple. Football bring a sense of connection between football players and fans. How many time have we seen football fans getting into the soccer field asking for signatures from their beloved soccer role models? Brazilian football legend, Pele, once defined football as his life, a sport that allows him to travel the world and explore different philosophies.

While we love football, over the years we have seen some tragic accidents happening inside the stadiums. Who could forget the death of 43 soccer fans at Ellis Park stadium in April 2001. Who could forget the recent death of soccer fan in a between Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It is believed that he tried to take a fire arm from a policeman and the police killed him.

Still in South Africa, who could ever forget the 2010 Fifa world cup hosted by an African country.
Football is a universal language that unites people from different countries with different cultures and religion.
It a sport that entertains, a sport that brings emotions, a sport that keep the world to a stand still.
Over the year we have seen huge growth in terms of development of football in Africa. Africa as continent to more than 54 countries has export a fairly number of player to European clubs. Football legend like George Weah from Liberia, Abedi Pele from Ghana, Nwankwo Kanu, Augustine "Jay Jay" Okocha  both from Nigeria are some of the African players that paved way for African Football.

We as South African also have our own internationally recognised football legends. Lucas "Rhoo" Radebe, Sibusiso "The Puma" Zuma, Benedict  Saul McCarthy falls under that category. Earlier last year Radebe was named in the top 100 best  players to ever play in the English premier league.

McCarthy remains the only South African to win the Uefa Champions League. He won it in 2004 with FC Porto which was coached by current Chelsea coach Jose " the special one" Mourinho, while Zuma was honored by FC Copenhage in Denmark. In 2013 Zuma was invited in Denmark. His bicycle kick that  he scored against bitter rivalries Brondby IF in 2001 in Danish superliga was crowned as the greatest goal in the club history.

Now off to European football who could forget the dramatic 2005 Uefa Champions league final between Liverpool of England and AC Milan of Italy. The final was held in Athens Greece. I have to admit I was still a child then I was nine years , but I remember it as if it something that happened yesterday. It is in that day where I realized that in football comebacks do happen. It was the combination of Hernan Crespo and Andriy Shevchenko that was causing all sort of troubles for Liverpool. If it was not for Jerzy Dudek miracles during the penalty shootout I doubt if Liverpool would have won that Final. But the fans also need to be given credit when it is due. The atmosphere  was  brilliant you could sense watching from a television screen that the fans believed that a come back was possible. For me that final still remains one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
                                         'YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE'