Anyone remember the charismatic former Kaizer Chiefs Public Relations Officer, Putco Mafani? Well, Soccer Laduma has tracked him down and he has a lot to say in his interview in the latest edition of the newspaper!
Mafani, currently a Sports presenter on Umhlobo Wenene FM, represented the last generation of club PROs as they were known, who have since been replaced by Media Officers and Communications Managers, and is best remembered as a character who brought a vibrant atmosphere to the stadiums with his famous "Kwassa kwassa" dance moves, much to the entertainment of fans, as well as coming up with nicknames for Amakhosi players and riling up the opposition camp with his pre-match comments.
The Fort Beaufort-born man is also largely credited for his handling of the events of 11 April 2001, when 43 supporters sadly perished during a midweek Soweto Derby game between Chiefs and rivals Kaizer Chiefs. Armed only with a mic in hand, Mafani's eloquence came to the fore, as he calmed the frayed nerves of the supporters as the body count of the deceased kept increasing by the minute.
In an exclusive wide-ranging, double-page interview with Soccer Laduma, Putco talks about what it truly meant for him to work for Kaizer Chiefs, how he managed to keep up with the antics of talented but wayward Jabu Pule (now Mahlangu) and what the former fan-favourite's remarkable turnaround in fortunes should teach society regarding dealing with talented but troubled stars.
"For instance, you're speaking to me now, but I don't know my biological father! Putco Mafani doesn't know his dad because he grew up with his uncles as his father-figures," offers the 57-year-old.
For more, including what he told Kaizer Motaung on the morning of his (Motaung's) birthday two months ago, get edition 1254 of Soccer Laduma, on sale now!
