Editor's Blog

I am a Liverpool supporter and have been for 22 years. My love affair with the Reds began in 1995 after a match between the Merseyside club and Manchester United. Liverpool lost the fixture, but they dominated and deserved the win, and the injustice I felt after that match was so strong that it was settled there and then – I was a Red.   I've seen many managers take their place in the Anfield hot seat: Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rodgers; some of them successful, others less so. None of them won the Premier League title with the club. However, I have high hopes for the latest incumbent: Jurgen Klopp.   Fast-forward to two weeks ago. I was browsing through Twitter when something caught my eye. It was a graphic promoting a charity event, called An Evening with Jurgen Klopp. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I immediately sent an email to the boss, saying: "This is a great opportunity for an interview, and whatever happens, I MUST BE THERE!"    Over the next few hours, it was confirmed that it was not a hoax, as many suspected, and that Klopp would indeed be coming to Cape Town… It was there and then that I decided I was going to get myself a Klopp Hug. For those who don't know, the coach has a habit of giving each of his players a big hug out on the pitch after most matches. Now, I am big on hugs, so this side of him has always appealed to me. As such, Operation GetKloppHug began in earnest!   First, though, I had to get entry to the event itself. The tickets were expensive; I simply could not afford one. My hopes lay in Soccer Laduma being invited in some capacity. Luckily, two days before the event, it was confirmed we had received three tickets, and I was one of the lucky trio going. The next 48 hours went by in a blur until it was time to make my way to Hout Bay in my bid to make Operation GetKloppHug a success.   I was joined at the event by my colleagues, Rossella Marrai-Ricco and Shaistah Kader – the latter, a fellow Kloppite, need I add. It took about 20 minutes to get into the venue, and then about another hour before the proceedings began, with a band playing some Jamaican tunes to set the tone while we waited for latecomers, and Jurgen, to arrive. There were speeches from the venue owner, as well as the head of Hout Bay United Football Community, for whom the funds were being raised to help them continue the good work they do in and around Hout Bay.   A raffle also took place, with numbers being drawn by former PSL and Bafana Bafana stars in Dominic Isaacs, Bradley August and Hans Vonk. Would you believe it… my number was drawn as the winner of a Klopp shirt! More importantly, I had found my opportunity to get that Klopp Hug. Some even call it destiny…   Then the moment arrived: Jurgen Klopp was in the building! As he made his way to the stage through the middle of the venue, Liverpool fans began singing the famous "Liverpool… Liverpool…" chant you hear on match days. Loud and proud, I joined them as the goosebumps on my arms multiplied and the hairs on the back of my neck tingled. What. A. Moment! The MC had to wait for us to stop singing before he could begin talking to Jurgen, and I beamed with pride at how myself and the rest of our supporters there had effectively introduced ourselves to Klopp, as if to say, "This is for you, the manager of our club, and we are so happy to have you here in Cape Town."   The interview followed, as Klopp answered question after question, providing great insight, humour, considered thought and sharp wit in the most relaxed of ways. He touched on a number of topics, from football, management and past clubs to family and religion, and we were hooked on every word. He was honest, endearing, passionate and genuine. He was Klopp to a tee.   One example of this was when Jurgen, a famous lager lover, received a bottle of water to stay hydrated. Little to nothing was made of this, but then five minutes later, someone from the audience stood up and gave him a pint of lager, and his reaction was priceless: "Now we're talking!" How can you not love this guy?   Jurgen answered questions for about an hour-and-a-half before it was time for the winners from the raffle to claim their prizes. This was it – Operation GetKloppHug was either about to fall flat on its face, or be a resounding success.  I was the second of three winners to win a Klopp shirt, but the first person took his time making his way to the stage to receive his shirt while I was already there, impatiently waiting. So I thought: "Screw it… I'm going in!"   I made my way up the steps to the looming, smiling figure that was Jurgen. When I finally got to him, he stuck out his hand for a handshake… and I pushed it away. I could see the smile on his face drop as he (probably) wondered, "What the hell is going on here?!" I looked at him and spread my arms, indicating that I was here for a Klopp Hug and nothing less, and he burst out laughing as he embraced me. SUCCESS!    "Thank you for deciding to manage the best club in the world," I said to him as we posed for a photo afterwards. "Thank you for your support!" he answered. That was it. It was fleeting, but it was a moment that will stay with me forever.   Click through the gallery above to see the hug as it took place.   An auction followed, and then it was time for Jurgen to leave. I left the venue on a high (and did not go to sleep until after 2am the next morning), marvelling at how lucky I was to be able to get up close and personal with the manager of the football club I love dearly, and feeling privileged that we, as Liverpool supporters, get to call this man our manager.    And, of course, revelling in the fact that Operation GetKloppHug was a huge success!   Cheers, Daniel (International Sub-editor)