My love for football journey started in the early 90’s. As kids we emulated and aspired to be like the stars of that era and particularly the African stars from their respective countries who were making a mark on the global stage as well as locally. Legends like the likes of Kaizer Motaung, Jomo Sono and Ace Ntsoelengoe had been successful abroad in introducing the west to the flare, tenacity and skill of the African style of football in the 70’s. But I feel the 90’s was truly the golden era of African football. It was in this decade that the African talent in the sport became a hot commodity with all the players that exploded on the scene. 

Locally, in Zimbabwe, my home country, the nation was abuzz, as for the first time ever our national team came close to qualifying for the ’94 World Cup. The team affectionately known as the ‘Dream Team’, included talents like the trio of Ndlovu brothers, Madinda, Adam and Peter, and particularly Peter who became the first African footballer to play in the new English Premier League with Coventry city and have a fairly good run in England. The USA 94 World Cup featured the prowess and skills of the then African champions, the ‘Super Eagles’ of Nigeria which included the dribbling wizardry of Jay Jay Okocha who would go on to become a key member in the 1996 Olympic Gold winning side alongside the legendary Nwanku Kanu. In 1995 Liberian George Weah won the Ballon d’Or, the Onze d’Or, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first and, currently, only African player (by FIFA nationality) to win these awards, and second African-born player to do so after Eusébio.