By Mbangwa Xaba
Football is a sport that fiercely puts to the test the wits and physiques of even its greatest players. It delivers scores of lessons about the significance of diligence, perseverance and hard work.
Whatever hurdle comes up along their way, on and off the field, they are always prepared to jump over it… and this is what separates legends from regular players.
The aforementioned aptly describes former Bafana Bafana coach and the country’s all-time football great, Ephraim Matsilele Sono, better known as Jomo, who has added yet another feather to a colourful swarm of accolades.
Sono was recognised as a legend amongst men who have distinguished themselves as positive male role models in service to their communities and the broader society. He was bestowed with the prestigious Legend Award at the 2022 South African (SA) Men of the Year Awards now called the 365 Men of the Year Awards in Newtown, Johannesburg at the end of November.
He is the joint winner of the 2022 Legends Award with clergy Dr Elijah Maswangayi an ambassador for peace and development work that is recognised by the United Nations, Martin Sweet the founder of Take A Girl Child To Work and a producer of What About The Boys movie and Apostle Nix Sithole a humble man of God, who rose from being a gangster to a shining star known for empowering men and boys to be responsible spiritual beings.
This quartet joins a noble list of upright South Africans who are holders of the Legend Award including liberation icons such as Ahmed Kathrada and Andrew Mlangeni, civil rights lawyer Adv George Bizos, businessman Dr Richard Maponya, sports icon Bruce Fordyce, entertainment greats Babsy Mlangeni, Linda Twala, Peter Mokoena and Condry Ziqubu.
The awards are an initiative of the Gauteng Men’s Forum under the auspices of the Gauteng Department of Social Development and MEC Mbali Hlophe presented this year’s Legends Awards.
They commenced in 2015 and have gained great success since. They have attracted immense public support with more than 1000 men being nominated and close to half a million people participating as voters in various categories.
The awards are held each year at the end of November which is International Men’s Day and the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign.
This symbolism resides well with Sono who is at home with matters of community development and role model to young men. He is credited for having produced many South African soccer giants like the Philemon “Chippa” Masinga, Sizwe Motaung, John “Shoes” Moshoe as well as Hellman “Midnight Express” Mkhelele and Mark Fish to name just a few.
It is this feat that made him known in football cycles as “Bra J” because he is seen as South African football’s greatest mentor. Sono is no stranger to both great recognition and world football. In 2016, he received two doctorates from the University of London and the University of Dubai for his contribution to football and business.
Sono was born in Queenstown, in what is now the Eastern Cape. When he was just eight years old, he lost his father Eric Bhamuza Sono who was a great footballer too. Bhamuza, like Jomo, was a middle fielder for Orlando Pirates in the early 1960s. Sono’s football career had an unusual beginning; during a match that he attended one of the Orlando Pirates’ regular players was absent and Sono was requested to stand in for him. He soon gained fame for his all-round ability, dribbling and accurate passing skills.
It was during this time that he was given the nickname of Jomo (which means “burning spear”) by an Orlando Pirates fan, who saw in him the same leadership qualities as those of Jomo Kenyatta, the then president of Kenya.
In 1998, Sono was appointed as caretaker coach of the Bafana Bafana just before the African Cup of Nations tournament in Burkina Faso in the place of Clive Barker, who had been sacked just before the event. Under Sono, the team reached the final of the tournament, where they lost to Egypt. Taking the short time that he had to prepare with the team into account, it was considered a remarkable feat.
After a disappointing performance by the South African national squad during the 2002 African Cup of Nations Cup in Mali, Sono was again appointed a technical director to the team. However, the head coach of the team at that time, Carlos Queiroz, felt that his position was being undermined by this appointment and resigned. Sono was again appointed as caretaker coach, this time for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
During the World Cup, the South African squad did not progress beyond the first round; however, they did score five goals and achieved one win, one draw and a 3–2 loss against pre-tournament favourites Spain.
The South African captain, Lucas Radebe, credited Sono with much of the team’s performance, saying that he had instilled a good spirit within the team and that he had ensured a very positive atmosphere among the squad.
Sono is the longest-serving coach in the South African Premier League and also sits on the board of the Premier Soccer League. He has also built up a reputation as a successful businessman; in addition to making a substantial profit by developing players and selling them to European teams. He also owns several businesses and is a chairman of numerous companies.
