Once all the lights no longer shine on a footballer when he hangs up his boots, having been used to the constant admiration and hero worshiping from fans, the media attention, and the privileges he used to receive wherever he went, this is bound to create so much fear and may even take a former footballer into depression. For a legend who had soccer boots named after him, that admiration and honour can be as good as a drug, its potency similar to opium. It’s every footballer’s fear that the fans will forget about them. Football fans suffer from a terrible case of amnesia, their memory is only good enough to remember your last game. A player who had a string of good games, once he has a bad game can face the wrath of the fans and he has to prove himself in the next one again to please them. Once you retire, it’s like you wrote your name in sand, when the wave comes to shore, it’s all washed away.
How Great Was Jomo Sono?
Having been born Ephraim Matsilele Sono in Soweto he went on to enjoy great success with Orlando Pirates. He got the nickname Jomo meaning burning spear after Jomo Kenyatta the then-president of Kenya. His iconic moment that endeared him in the hearts of the Orlando Pirates faithful came when he left his own wedding to play in a crucial match against Highlands Park for Orlando Pirates in the 1970s. He was named Sportsman of the Year 1973, after showcasing exceptional talent given that this was during the time of Apartheid it was no mean feat to have his efforts appreciated. He was so great that Orlando Pirates went on to retire his jersey number 10. He then moved to the US in the late 1970s to play for New York Cosmos where he shared the dressing room with arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Pele. It is from his time in the US that he was inspired to buy the Highlands Park Club and renamed it Jomo Cosmos in 1982.
Bra Jomo’s Contribution to South African Football and African Football
Having made his name at Orlando Pirates and in the US, he pursued club ownership and a coaching role at his team Jomo Cosmos. He led the team to significant success including winning the 1987 NSL, the Bobsave Super Bowl in 1990, the Coca Cola Cup in 2002 as well as the Super 8 in 2003. Notable players recruited by Bra Jomo include, Helman Mkhalele, Sizwe Motoung, Mark Fish, Philemon Masinga, Benjani Mwarurari, Chistopher Katongo, Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane. All these players formed the core of the Bafana Bafana and their respective national teams and went on to set the South African Premier League alight and most proceeded to play abroad with the assistance of Jomo Sono. He led Bafana Bafana to the 1998 AFCON Final as caretaker coach after being appointed to replace Clive Barker just before the tournament. In 2002 he was again appointed as caretaker coach for the 2002 FIFA World Cup however Bafana Bafana narrowly missed out on progression from the group stage despite scoring 5 goals and getting a win and a draw only losing 3-2 to Spain, spearheaded by the legendary Raul. He has developed many players and played a significant role in the formation of the current Premier Soccer League, with the likes of Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung.
Football During the Apartheid Era
Considering that Bra Jomo played in an era where some games were not televised and of those televised the footage is hard to come by, one has to dig deep in the archives to get it. So, there is now a generational gap of those who were privileged to witness Jomo’s greatness and those who just hear the tale of Jomo. Since football has evolved over the years, the younger generation believe that modern football is better than the era of Jomo based on a few videos they have come across. However, the younger generation fail to realise that the era Jomo played was during a tough Apartheid era where there was a lot of oppression and for matches to be played there were a lot of obstacles that one needed to overcome. Sports science of the time had not evolved, the training methods, recovery methods and diet were different, the soccer boots were heavier, and even the rules of the game were different especially the offside rule and back pass rule. So, for Jomo to achieve greatness despite all these obstacles and proceed to play in the US, that was no mean feat.
Does Bra Jomo Have Fear That We Will Forget About Him?
There are some childhood traumas that at times we take for granted but when they are not addressed may keep on affecting our subconscious. As a young child, Jomo lost his father in a car crash, and thereafter his mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents. So, given his recent interview where he belittled the current Orlando Pirates players that they lack the pedigree to wear his retired jersey number 10 and making the ant and elephant metaphor. One can’t help to realize that Bra Jomo fears the Orlando Pirates fans will forget about him. He fears if his jersey is taken out of retirement no one will remember that once upon a time there was Jomo Sono the King. He is scared of being abandoned he knows that the football fans have a short memory. Given that his team Jomo Cosmos is languishing in the trenches of the ABC Motsepe League the glory days of mixing with the giants in the PSL are a long distant memory, football-wise a lot is not going on well for him, but the great man needs not worry he will bounce back he has done that before. You are a legend Bra Jomo, Orlando Pirates and South Africa will always remember you. You have done a lot for football, we will not forget about you!!
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