Kagisho Dikgacoi

Kagisho Evidence Dikgacoi /diːˈxʌʃwɑː/[1] (born 24 November 1984) is a retired [2] South African professional footballer who is currently the manager of Witbank Spurs.[3]. He represented South Africa at international level.

Kagisho Dikgacoi
Dikgacoi warming-up for Cardiff City in 2015
Personal information
Full name Kagisho Evidence Dikgacoi
Date of birth (1984-11-24) 24 November 1984
Place of birth Brandfort, South Africa
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder, Central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Witbank Spurs (Manager)
Youth career
Cardiff Spurs
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Bloemfontein Young Tigers 10 (0)
2005–2009 Golden Arrows 82 (8)
2009–2011 Fulham 14 (0)
2011 → Crystal Palace (loan) 13 (1)
2011–2014 Crystal Palace 92 (6)
2014–2016 Cardiff City 25 (0)
2016–2017 Golden Arrows 10 (1)
National team
2007–2013 South Africa 54 (2)
Teams managed
2018 Royal Eagles (assistant)
2019– Witbank Spurs
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He made his international debut in 2007, and since then has earned 54 caps, scoring twice. He played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 and 2013, and at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Dikgacoi began his career at local club Cardiff Spurs, before moving to Golden Arrows in 2005 as a little-known holding midfielder from lower league side Bloemfontein Young Tigers. At Arrows, he developed into one of the country's best players in his position and was subsequently rewarded with the captain's armband.

Fulham

On 4 August 2009, Dikgacoi announced that he had reached an agreement with Fulham after a successful trial at the club. The deal was only finalised on 26 August after a work permit was granted. Dikgacoi had trained with his former club Golden Arrows while the work permit process took place in order to maintain fitness.[4][5] He made his debut on 4 October, but was sent off in the 41st minute for slapping Scott Parker.[6]

Crystal Palace

After appearing only once for Fulham under Mark Hughes in the 2010–11 season, Dikgacoi was allowed to drop down a division and join Crystal Palace in February on a loan deal until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for Crystal Palace against Cardiff on 8 March 2011, before moving permanently to the Eagles on 4 July 2011 for a fee of £600,000.[7]

Cardiff City

On 12 June 2014, Dikgacoi signed a 3-year deal with Cardiff City after refusing a new deal with Crystal Palace.[8] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, coming on for Aron Gunnarsson on 23 August.[9] His full debut came 3 days later in the League Cup, where Cardiff beat Port Vale.[10] Following a series of niggling of injuries, Dikgacoi was ruled out for four months with a knee injury in November.[11]

Dikgacoi did not return until the following season, where he started on the opening day against Fulham.[12] He made 25 appearances during the season as Cardiff missed out on the play-offs, before his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 26 August.[13]

Golden Arrows

In October 2016, Dikgacoi signed a short-term deal with Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. after training with the team following his release from Cardiff City. As a result of injuries and weight issues, he played in just 10 matches and failed to complete a match. The Golden Arrows announced in June 2017 that he would not return for the following season.[14]

International career

Dikgacoi made his international debut on 27 May 2007, in a COSAFA Cup match against Mauritius. He scored his first two goals on 7 June 2008, in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea, which ended 4–1. He was part of Bafana Bafana's 2008 African Nations Cup squad and was also a participant at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2013 African Cup of Nations, held in his home country.

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 June 2008Atteridgeville, South Africa Equatorial Guinea1–04–12010 WCQ
2.7 June 2008Atteridgeville, South Africa Equatorial Guinea4–14–12010 WCQ

Post-playing career

Following his release from Golden Arrows, Dikgacoi retired from playing football and entered the business arena alongside his business partner Tieho Benny Mokhalinyane. In 2018, his apparel company International Sports Apparel Design Institute concluded a deal with the Football Association of Malawi for the supply of kits, tracksuits, and golf shirts.[15]

Career statistics
As of match played 9 May 2016
Dikgacoi warming up before his debut game with Fulham in 2009
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Golden Arrows2006–07ABSA Premiership2500000250
2007–082340000234
2008–092540000254
Total 7380000738
Fulham2009–10Premier League1202010150
2010–1110000010
Total 1302010160
Crystal Palace2010–11Championship1310000131
2011–122724000312
2012–134240011435
2013–14Premier League2601000270
Total 108750111148
Cardiff City 2014–15 Championship 20001030
2015–16 2301010250
Total 2501020280
Career Total 21915804123116

References
  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jq90NaDXsM 0:46
  2. Kagisho Dikgacoi retires‚ sport24.co.za, 12 June 2018
  3. https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/local/categories/south-africa/kagisho-dikgacoi-confirms-new-role-after-retirement/298068
  4. "Fulham's Dikgacoi gets UK permit". BBC News. 26 August 2009.
  5. "BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | F | Fulham | Midfielder Dikgacoi joins Fulham". newsimg.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  6. "West Ham 2–2 Fulham". BBC News. 4 October 2009.
  7. "Eagles to complete £600,000 purchase of Kagisho Dikgacoi". This is Croydon Today. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  8. "Cardiff City sign Crystal Palace's Kagisho Dikgacoi". BBC News. 12 June 2014.
  9. "Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014.
  10. "Port Vale 2–3 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 26 August 2014.
  11. "Kagisho Dikgacoi: Cardiff midfielder sidelined for four months". BBC Sport. 3 November 2014.
  12. "Cardiff City 1–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015.
  13. "Club statement: Kagisho Dikgacoi". Cardiff City Football Club. 26 August 2016.
  14. www.realnet.co.uk. "Kagisho Dikgacoi leaves Golden Arrows". Kick Off. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  15. Wa Ka Mabasa, Tiyani (18 March 2018). "Kagisho Dikgacoi goes into business". Sowetab Live. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
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