A ‘Minister of Defence’… the gospel according to Isheanesu Mauchi
When translated into English, the name Isheanesu means “God is with us.” Watching the tall, gangly defender Isheanesu Mauchi on the football field, it…
Mbekezeli Mbokazi: Born on sand, unearthed by a police officer
Located on a peninsula at the northern end of Lake St Lucia, KwaNibela, a village in rural KwaZulu-Natal that Mbekezeli Mbokazi calls home, can seem like a…
Guy Bukasa: The Economist who plotted Orlando Pirates’ demise
When Guy Bukasa guided Saint-Éloi Lupopo to face Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League last month, few imagined a Congolese upset. Lupopo had never in…
Dr Xanti Pupuma: The gynaecologist who embarrassed Chiefs
In February 2024, Richards Bay-based gynaecologist Dr Xanti Pupuma thrust himself into the spotlight after guiding Milford FC to pull one of the biggest…
The second coming of Mahlambi: Seluleko’s quest to rise above Phakamani’s shadow
When he started eyeing a professional career, Seluleko Mahlambi’s father told him that the reputation his brother had acquired over the years would always…
Innocent Maela and the magic of dreaming with a pen
The scientific and anecdotal evidence supporting the practice of writing down goals is quite compelling, at least in theory, for many. However, Innocent…
Tshepang Moremi: From the athletics tracks of Sharpeville to Orlando Pirates
A quick Google search of Sharpeville can be quite unsettling because of the old archive footage it brings up. If you’ve looked into the history of the…
Siphesihle Ndlovu: The rose that grew from Ashdown concrete
Siphesihle Ndlovu’s mother, Fisani Gracious Ndlovu, wants a cupboard from Teko Modise. This is not because the woman who gave birth to the newly signed…
From a squatter camp to Scotland…Aphelele Teto’s rags to fame tale
When Carlos Mtshamba met Aphelele Teto, it only took five minutes to realise that he had a star on his hands. Mtshamba, then a bright-eyed developmental…
James Chamanga: The good man who thinks generationally
James Chamanga is that canonical good man who thinks generationally. He has not just prepared for his children’s future but also the generation after his own…
From teacher to coach: Miguel Cardoso’s long walk to glory
Many years ago, before he embarked on his football coaching journey, Miguel Cardoso was a teacher in his homeland, Portugal. Now, on the brink of etching his…
