Actress and football presenter Amanda Manku comes from a family that loves the game of football and even her siblings are playing the sport, for Kaizer Chiefs and Wits University.
Soccer Laduma caught up with the Skeem Saam actress to talk about where her love for the game began.
Which PSL club do you support?
There is a team that I support, but I am not going to disclose because of the job I do. I support changes every season because you see teams change, so every season I kind of have a new team that I am looking out for or I am enjoying how they are playing. From last season, I've enjoyed watching Pirates play. I also think it's because they had a few struggles in previous seasons and they have managed to find themselves. I don't know what exactly coach Jose (Riveiro) is doing, but something is working for them. I also enjoy watching Sundowns, but I think right now I am in a position where I am hoping we can find teams that make it tough for them. I feel like it's becoming so easy (for Sundowns). The season has just started, but whenever Sundowns play, you always just feel that they will win.
Where did your background with football start?
I grew up in a football loving family. My father loves football, as well as my siblings. My younger brother now plays in the (DStv) Diski Challenge. I have been taking him to training since he was seven, so as the eldest one taking your young siblings to soccer practice, you eventually get into the sport. My family is a big Kaizer Chiefs lover, so we would go to the stadium. Whenever they would play at FNB Stadium or stadiums that were closer to us, we would always have tickets to go. I found myself in it. I can't really pinpoint a moment or a time where I can say this is when I fell in love with the sport because I just grew up in it.
What team does your brother play for?
He plays for Kaizer Chiefs. His name is Prince Manku. He is a defender for the Diski Challenge side. And then my younger sister, Princess, plays for Wits. We are just that family. I couldn't be a player because I have two left feet, ha, ha. I talk more about the sport than play it. We are a footballing family. I can promise you that if I went home and the TV was on now, the channel would be on the sporting channels.
So, how did you get into the space of being a touchline presenter on SuperSport?
I am not at SuperSport anymore. When Covid hit, that's when I stopped with SuperSport. Funny enough, when I got into it, I wanted to work with KCTV (Kaizer Chiefs TV). I missed the auditions for them and then the auditions for SuperSport came and I was like 'let me give it a try'. I am not a sports journalist. The way I speak about football is more from a fan perspective, rather than a journalistic perspective. But I was like 'let me give it a try and see where we go with it'. I went there and they liked the fact that I knew what I was talking about, so that's how I got into it.
Do you miss it?
I do miss it. Given the opportunity, I would definitely go back. I enjoyed what I was doing and I would get back into it.
Who do you think will win the DStv Premiership this season?
I feel like it's so predictable and it's so frustrating. Golden Arrows have been doing well, but I don't know how the changes there will affect them. I enjoy watching Golden Arrows. I am hoping this season Kaizer Chiefs can come up with something. I feel like they need it. I don't know what they need as a club. Maybe they will get a cup or something. I am looking forward to seeing Swallows, with all the changes they have brought to the team.
Who are your favourite footballers?
I love the way Paseka Mako plays. Dynamites come in small packages. Some of the players I need to mention are from Banyana Banyana, especially after the World Cup. They did very well at the World Cup. I am a huge Thembi Kgatlana fan. I also like (Amanda) Dlamini, although she did not play. I love seeing her play for Mamelodi Sundowns (Ladies Team). I also love watching (Refiloe) Jane. I was also a huge Hlompho Kekana fan when he was playing. He is one of the most decorated players in South Africa and he is a true definition of legend.
