Football dreams and reality are vastly different
Young players have to understand that only a select few will make it big and earn decent money for a reasonable amount of time. But how do they resist the lure of short-term gain?
Stories by: Leonard Solms
Irfan Kawri, the man of many talents
His making the rounds of several English clubs in a great variety of roles has turned him into the ideal mentor to impart his knowledge to others at the elite level of the country’s football.
The road to Arsenal runs through the community
Nico Manduzio’s path to working with the English giants took him from Europe to Africa and back again, all along discovering his passion for developing players on and off the field.
Unlike father, unlike son: Costa and Ivan Gazidis
Former Arsenal football executive Ivan Gazidis was born in South Africa, where his father Costa’s anti-apartheid activities forced the family to the UK, which nurtured Ivan’s abilities.
Nathan Paulse is reshaping SA’s football narrative
Starting XI Revolution offers professional and amateur footballers peer-to-peer mentoring to deal with off-field challenges and help them avoid the pitfalls of the lifestyle.
Egoli Squash rerouting former colonial sport
The non-profit organisation is growing the sport in areas where squash hasn’t been at the top of the list when it comes to sporting activities. It improves players on and off the court.
Off-field politics hurt Namibian footballers
The suspension of the southern African nation’s football league has stunted the growth of players who were already not making much from the beautiful game.
Sintu Manjezi takes the Bulls by the horns
After a tug of war between the Cheetahs and the Bulls for his services, the lock-cum-flanker decided on a move to Pretoria, the latest step on an injury-strewn road to stardom.
Can Chipolopolo rise from the ashes?
Zambia produced one of sport’s most heartwarming stories when they triumphed in Gabon, a country in which their golden generation perished 19 years earlier. Then it all went downhill.