Lazola Maku: The relentless rise of a Bafana Bafana prospect
When a 14-year-old kid stepped onto the pitch to make his ABC Motsepe League Western Cape full debut for Ubuntu Football Academy against FC Battalions in…
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…
