HAIL `KING KALUSHI’, SUNDOWNS YOUNG RISING STAR

Story and photos: Nonhlanhla Kambule-Makgati

King Kalushi at "Number Two" grounds in Orlando East.

GLADNESS fills the atmosphere as 11-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns’ maestro Musawenkosi Luyanda `King Kalushi’ Njemla, climbs the soccer ladder. “This is my `Project’,” says his proud father, the 48-year-old Gladstone Kumkani, while Kalushi’s mother Gladness ‘Nununu’ Njemla was born on December 2, 1973 and sadly passed on April 12, 2013 at the age of 40. May her soul rest in peace Father-and-son-duo Kumkani and Kalushi visited Soweto WayaWaya’s temporary offices at Orlando East on June 21, 2019, true to the saying `like father, like son,’ with the son following in his father-turned-mentor’s boots.

“I was a soccer player and the coach for almost 40 years of the local club owned by Bab’ uNkabinde called The Destroyers,” says Kumkani, who was never employed since 1988, in a tale of soccer so interesting to fanatics and critics alike.

At this point, a difficult choice between the camera and-or the pen arises, and, for the first time, the pen wins. Without much further trouble, the first question to the young Kalushi was about when he started playing soccer, to which he quickly replied: “When I was four years.”

Exploding with laughter, Kumkani passionately explains: “I can now see that `Kalushi’ only remembers thus far. When his mother was expectant, even before we could go for a scan, she bought a pair of soccer boots and a ball and confidently declared: “It is a boy.” True to her words, the baby-boy Musawenkosi was born on August 21, 2007.

By the time he was about 18 months, `Kalushi’ was already fumbling around with the ball. I remember the olden days when I would take him in his pram to Orlando East `Number Two” grounds to watch soccer games.

Berries All Stars. Right back: Gladstone Kumkani.Back: Solezwe Jiba, Balungile Jumba, Kgomotso Hleza, Thabiso Moagametsi, Imange Sobhayi,Orley Letsie, Siyabonga Koza, Thato Shibambo. Front: Omphile Lebenya, Lesego Mohali, Mosa Njemla, Themba Motali, Uzile Gantsho

Who will ever forget the electronic atmosphere of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africans, with the magical sounds of the vuvuzelas heard everywhere for the duration of the games, when Kumkani says he also caught the soccer fever?

“The World Cup in 2010 inspired me to set up Berries All Stars soccer team,, and when `Kalushi’ was four, I introduced him to the Under-11 division of my team, in the Number 11 jersey ebeyifika ezinyaweni zakhe, while he would be a laughing-stock of the entire `Number Two’ grounds,” Kumkani recalls the out-sized jersey that reached the ankles of his son.

Suddenly, Kumkani is in a pensive mood, as he remembers how they coped with grief following the passing on of Gladness Njemla; his beloved partner and Kalushi’s mother.

“Throughout our mourning period, soccer was our only comfort, which gave rise to Kalushi’s mantra: `Do it for your Mom.”

King Kalushi the play maker.

Like a mini-encyclopedia, Kalushi’s memory recalls all relevant dates and events with grace and respect: ranging from 2015 as a Grade Two pupil at Lukholweni Primary School, when he played for the primary squad at the age of seven, to the time he participated in the Danone Under- 12 Nations Cup, while locally playing for Berries All Stars left wing.

Kumkani explains why the nickname `Kalushi’. “The original Kalushi Bwalya is a Zambian international captain, and a big star whose style of play I personally admire. As a result, I wished my son to emulate `King Kalushi’, which is why son is also called `King’ by those who know him well.”

At this point, the passionate Kumkani is unstoppable. “When Kalushi was five-years, I came up with the development strategy, as both a coach and father, that by the time he turned 10, he would join the Soccer academy. And, by God’s grace, as his name Musawenkosi suggests, which was given to him by his late grandmother and African National Congress stalwart Beatrice Njemla.

In 2016, at the age of 9, Berries All Stars was affiliated with Orlando Football Association (OFA) and there Kalushi took all Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 league titles and was awarded Gold Medals in July 2017.

Dreams do come true. “In 2017, we were invited to Soweto Indoor Tournament at Toby’s Garage in Diepkloof, where `Kalushi’ was spotted by Mamelodi Sundowns Development Coach; all by the grace of God.

Hail King Kalushi!

Kalushi whispers, “We also won Winter Tournament Under-11, when I was the Player of the Year 2017, and in September I was the Finalist in the Spring Tournament hosted at Mzimhlophe Park”.

`King Kalushi’ was appointed the school’s team captain in 2018, and in 2019 the school reached the Provincial Level of Danone National Cup International School Tournament, clinching the Under-11 Local League.

“I also won Under-13 Player of the Season and Top Goal Scorer of the Year awards, in addition to taking Second-Place at the FUTSAL Five-a-Side Indoor Soccer League and Player of the Season,” Kalushi proudly walks down the memory-lane.

Interrupting, Soweto WayaWaya asked if `The Project’ has ever played with players of his age-group, he responds with a smile, “Badala - all are older - always”.

Kumkani joins the conversation. “In 2018, Berries All Stars scored a total of 118 goals. `Kalushi’ scored about 40 maybe…hmn…” “No, Baba, 40 is far less. I fact, I scored more than half of 118” Kalushi sets the record straight.

King Kalushi and his Berries team mate Omphemetsi Mogomotsi(10).

Then in April 2018, came SiyaValaji Indoor Tournament, an acronym in loving memory of the late Siyabonga Mahlangu and Thabo Valaji Masemola of Berries area in Orlando East. “In the SiyaValaji Tournament I scored six goals, earning myself Gold Medals for Player of the Tournament and named Top Goal Scorer,” adds Kalushi.

Come May 2018, ` King Kalushi’ played in the Eric Slow Hand Tournament held at Number Two grounds, where he scored 8 goals, bagging another Gold Medal, Player of the Tournament for Under-11 and Under-13 squads, as well as being named Top Goal Scorer for Under-11.

A month later, in June, he played in June 16 Berries Fun Day Tournament for Under-11 squad and won yet another Gold Medal and adding extra four goals under his belt. Is there a game played in 2018 that they might have left out, Kumkani wants to know “No Baba, that is all.” Then Kumkani begins to drop names of games played and awards received in 2019 thus far, “In April 2019, `Kalushi’ played in the Sundowns Junior Runner-up Annual Tournament held at Panorama, scoring four goals and earning himself a Silver Medal. He also played in Bedford View Country Club (BCC) Tournament, scoring seven goals and collecting another Gold Medal. And in Danone National Cup’s Under-12 s, they reached the District Level”.

Kumkani tells Soweto WayaWaya if anyone thought that was all, they have to think again. “My boy started getting awards since Grade R and, having started school at the age of five and born in August, he had to do Grade R twice.” However, that never dimmed his shine.

“In Grade One, he got three awards; followed by four in Grade 2 and two in Grade Three3, most of which were for Mathematics, for which he began taking part in the Mathematics Olympiad Awards which reached Provincial Level.

“Out of 183 000 Grade Three pupils in Gauteng, `Kalushi’ came in Fifth position. In Grade Four, he reached District Level in the Finals, and came Second Place out of 280 primary schools. In Grade Five, the kasi boy competed with the likes of, among others, Verwoerd Primary School, Sandton Primary School and Benoni Primary School, taking Position Nine.”

King Kalushi, the Head-boy.

Kumkani glances passionately at his rough diamond and asks: “By the way, how many times did you get 100% in Mathematics? Without pause, `Kalushi’ begins to name one award after the other.

“I got 100% in Mathematics twice last year in grade 5 and a total of five awards in 2018. The awards are Top of the grade in National Science subjects. Top of the grade in English, Top of the grade in Mathematics, Top of the grade in Mental Maths and the last one was for Overall Achiever of Outstanding Performance”.

Kumkani chips in

“You forgot that 2018 September to November you represented the country at BRICS and got a certificate in Mathematics. Mind you, my boy never touched the computer before. He got just one week orientation, wrote online and came out position 9. ”

The jovial Kumkani adds…

“My intelligent boy only realised after writing that the calculator was welcome. He said “Aaah baba,I should had brought the calculator.”

King Kalushi with family and neighbors.

Kumkani says that currently Kalushi attends twice a week, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy in Queens Hood at Clapham High School in Pretoria. His features are also played Saturdays. Next year he is doing grade 7 and when in grade 8 he will stay permanently at the academy.

“At Mamelodi Sundowns Academy, I wear jersey number 10, known as the play Maker just like Pele and Neymar from Brazil, Messi and Maradona of Argentina, Ozil from German, Hazard of Belgium, Salar of Egypt, Modric of Croatia, Mbappe of France, Hazard of Belgium and many more” brags King.

The list of Kalushi’s achievements is endless… “I am a Chess Squad Captain at School. I am also a head boy” says Kalushi as he scrolls down his cell phone showing off photos of his many awards and events.

Kumkani is a Chess Coach at the same school Lukholweni Primary and is the School Governing Body (SGB) Chairperson for the past 9 years. He adds that… “The creation I use when developing and training him is at the Continental or shall we say at Global level. So far, so good.”

King Kalushi with some of his mathematics certificates and 46 medals.

At the end, I had to ask Kalushi what his future plans are. He happily responded.

“Ngifuna ukuya overseas nge bhola and I want to be an Electronic Engineer”

Yet another similarity emerges… “This boy is my mini-me. At high school in Bona Secondary School, I did Electronic Engineering subjects and studied at Athlone Technical in Western Cape. My highest qualification in electronics is N5.”

Kumkani has green fingers too.

“I’m also a Food Security Champion. I am a founding member of Orlando Food Security Association. I conduct workshops and do practical. Zakhele Radebe once attended my workshops. I do house hold gardening. Most house-holds in Orlando got gardening tools from me, you can ask your aunt. I do Institutional gardening which is your schools and churches and communal gardening which is open spaces. Visit my Microtological yard in Orlando which has fruit tree and vegetable garden”.

So far, King Kalushi has wrapped 45 Medals and 26 cups in soccer. At school he won 8 certificates of which 4 from District and 2 Provincial Levels. He does not care so much about more certificates he won at class level. He says,

“Hai, lezo azinandaba”. Long live King Kalushi!

Father and son. King Kalushi and his beloved dad/mentor, Gladstone Kumkani.