Bafana star in the making

KICK OFF: Where did your passion for football come from?

Evidence Makgopa: As a boy growing up in the rural areas, the only sport we could play was football. That is the only sport we really had access too. There were no facilities for cricket or rugby, so everybody just played football. It is rare to find someone from a rural area who plays those other sports. So I started playing football and I just loved it.

Are you from a footballing family? There is Brandon Makgopa at Marumo Gallants, is he any relation?

No, it is just a coincidence, I am not related to Brandon. I did have family members who played the game, my uncle Colman Makgopa was a very, very talented winger but unfortunately he never got the chance to play professionally. It is sad because he was such a good player.

“HE TOLD ME I NEED TO GRAB THIS OPPORTUNITY AND SAID THAT I REMINDED HIM OF [IVORY COAST LEGEND] YAYA TOURE!”