In this edition of "Story Behind The Nickname, former goalkeeper Abram "Rambo" Khwenenyane shares with KickOff the origin of his unusual football nickname.
Khwenenyane enjoyed a successful football career, playing for clubs like Vaal Professional, Moroka Swallows, and Ria Stars.
"Rambo" is quite a unique nickname for a footballer. How did you come to have it?
"Rambo is a nickname I was given in school because of my physical build when I was in Standard 8. I was someone who lifted weights a lot back then; I’m tall and muscular. This name was given to me by a classmate named Aubrey Seleke. The action movie character Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, was very popular at the time, and that’s how the name stuck with me."
Did you like it?
"You know how nicknames work—at first, you might not like them, but you ultimately accept them when people keep calling you by that name. I think 'Rambo' fits well as a goalkeeper’s nickname because goalkeepers are often physically strong and have big hearts."
If you could relive it, what nickname would you have preferred?
"I would have loved to be called Fabian Barthez, the former French goalkeeper. I admired him a lot; I liked how he joked around during his games [laughs]. He never seemed overly serious."
Why are nicknames so important in South African football?
"It comes from the supporters; it’s not something you give yourself. In South Africa, if you don’t have a nickname, it means you’re not a standout player. Only stars receive nicknames. You should at least be called either Messi or Ronaldo. Mine was inspired by a movie character, just like Brian Baloyi's, who is known as 'Spiderman."
Photo Credit: Lee Warren / Gallo Images
