With South African soccer legend Siyabonga Nomvethe set to star on the telenovela Uzalo, here's a closer look at other television shows that had a focus on football, including Zone 14.
The story
'Bhele' will be on SABC 1 television screens very soon, as it was recently confirmed by Daily Sun that he will play a role as a soccer team coach on one of South Africa's biggest drama series Uzalo.
The former Bafana Bafana striker is by no means the first former Mzansi football star to dabble in acting, with the likes of former Chiefs star Junior Khanye and ex-goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo being the most recent example of retired baller getting acting roles.
With Nomvethe now set to play tv character closely linked with his famed profession, here's a look at some South African shows whose premise was centered around the beautiful game:
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Zone 14
The beauty about Zone 14 was that the entire plot was focused around a local soccer team. The drama series was released in 2005 and aired weekly on SABC 1 at 20:30. The famous duo of Popeye and Spinach, played by Kere Nyawo and Thufani Didi, is perhaps one of the easiest things to remember about the show, as the iconic pair provided comedic relief for viewers in a show that had its fair share of intense storylines. Ultimately, the soapie saw two influential families, the Molois and Sibiyas feuding over a local team, Tiger Boys. With a star-studded cast including Nandi Nyembe (Nandi Sibiya), Connie Chiume (Stella Moloi), Owen Sejake (Tiger Sibiya), and the late Patrick Ndlovu (Sizwe Moloi), Zone 14 is widely considered one of the best drama series of all-time on SA television. It ran for four seasons up until 2008.
Shooting Stars
With the success of Zone 14, eTV released their own soccer-based telenovela with Shooting Stars. Released between 2007 and 2010, the show had 52 hour-long episodes spread out across three seasons. The plot followed an up and coming local soccer club in their quest to make it to top-flight football, with stellar cast of Zikhona Sodlaka as Ayanda Tau, Timmy Kwebulana as Bra Vic Tau, and Dumisani Mbebe as Sechaba Makayi - to name a few.
Vula Vala
In 2020, Vula Vala hit the scene as the freshest soccer drama show. The show follows the life of Bra Rex (Sello Maake kaNcube), a retired ex-player turned club owner. Bra Rex is portrayed as a ruthless businessman, whose past shenanigans start to catch up with him while he tries to revive his team, The Warriors. The show is set in Kwa Thema Ekurhuleni and it also stars Daveyton-born ex-baller Khanye. Produced by Black Brain Pictures, Vula Vala only has one season to date.
Champions
Champions premiered for the first time on SA tv screens in February 2024, starring Joanne Reyneke as Sne Modise, a resilient and ambitious woman in a male-dominated football empire. Sne faces a raft of challenges as she battles to lead her family club Soshanguve Giants FC to success. With just one season so far, Champions boasts a stellar cast of Sello Maake kaNcube as Washington Modise, Kgomotso Christopher as Lucinda Modise, Tumisho Masha as Philemon Modise, Kwenzo Ngcobo as Zipho, and Thembinkosi Mthembu as Ferrari.
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