Rulani Mokwena: Marinated in pressure, mastering the art of failing forward
As a young, strapping lad, Rulani Mokwena grew up in Orlando West, where love for Orlando Pirates reigned supreme. Living within earshot of the iconic…
From the catwalk to the goalposts: Jessica Williams’ many transformations
Before she regaled fans with her shot-stopping skills or made the world stop and wonder by scoring free kicks from near the centre circle, Jessica Williams…
Peter Shalulile: The man who worships God with his feet
To Peter Shalulile, the football field is more than a patch of grass marked with white lines. It is a pulpit. Of course, he sees the opponents, the 11 men…
From ‘playing for fun’ to pro football: How Katekani Mhlongo was discovered
Every professional footballer’s journey features someone who paved the way for their success. For newly signed TS Galaxy defender Katekani Mhlongo, that key…
Zion Suzuki: Japan’s first black goalkeeper redefining Samurai Blue’s World Cup hopes
When Japan walked onto the field against the Netherlands in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F clash in North Texas, one of the most fascinating stories in…
Papi Zothwane’s love affair with the ball that never faded
Papi Zothwane played football like a man solving puzzles before anyone else had seen the pieces. No wonder Teko Modise says the man nicknamed ‘Ginger’ was…
Brandon Petersen: The Elsies River boy who refused to break
Elsies River – the gritty Cape Flats community that shaped Brandon Petersen – lies just 7km from Cape Town International Airport and 18km from the heart of…
Born in struggle, crowned in glory: Farook Kadodia’s football revolution
On a crisp Saturday evening, as confetti rained down and jubilant players lifted the Nedbank Cup high into the South African sky, Farook Kadodia stood at the…
Nicolas Zakhem: The engineer behind Gaborone’s red dreams
A modest engineer from the Middle East – Nicolas Zakhem – is proving that sometimes, the best things in life are born from what, on the surface, appears to…
Forged in Alex, shining in Orlando: The rise of Lebone Seema
For Lebone Seema, the noise has never truly mattered. Like everyone else, he has heard the whispers of those who claim that he is not South African. He has…
Part 2: Benjani Mwaruwari’s whirlwind journey to European football
Benjani Mwaruwari recalls Erwin Zogg shedding tears as he tried to persuade him to persevere with AJ Auxerre. Were it not for Zogg’s tears, Mwaruwari’s…
