Soccer Stars on Isidingo

Soapie viewers are in for a treat tomorrow evening [Friday] as soccer greats Lucas Radebe, Edward Motale, Kennedy Makara and Steve Lekoelea make a cameo appearance on SABC soapie, Isidingo.

The former soccer stars’ acting stint comes as Skhumbuzo’s character – played by hunky Sisa Hewana – marks his return to TV with a launch at The Rec.

While the character’s comeback is not about redemption, there was no other way to launch his show than with some of the country’s most adored soccer stars.

Lekoelea, a former Orlando Pirates player, was excited at his first attempt at acting.

“It was very difficult to adjust. There is a lot happening on set, but actors like Sisa made it easy for us.”

The former midfielder, who has been off the pitch since 2009 after 15 years in the game, was eager to do more acting.

“I’ve learned that acting is not as easy as kicking a ball on the pitch and wish they could call us again, as I would like to gain more experience,” he said.

Lekoelea, affectionately known as Chippa, now travels around the country with other former stars, giving motivational speeches to the youth.

Executive producer Pumla Hopa said the stars brought excitement to the set and accommodated the shooting process.

“The actors and crew were very excited. Both stars of different mediums were very respectful and in awe of each other,” said Hopa.

Former Orlando Pirates captain Motale said he found the experience fun, especially when the director yelled "cut" after actors missed their lines.

“The only challenge I had was time management – going from cameraman to make-up artists and other crew members.”

Motale – nicknamed ‘Magents’ – joined Sonke Gender Justice in 2011, where he works on the gender-based violence programme, and also as a facilitator in prisons.

Bloemfontein Celtic's Makara found similarities between soccer coaches and directors.

“Just as with soccer, there are a lot of preparations before real action and both the coach and director do not compromise on perfection.

He also pointed out the differences.

“When a player is offside in a real soccer match, there are no "action and cut" stoppages just because Benjamin kept forgetting his lines in the script,” he laughed.

Overall, Makara said of his experience: “It was awesome rubbing shoulders with Mama Agnes, Skhumbuzo, Benjamin, Prada and Calvin. It was also fun pretenting you are sipping whisky, when it is actually cold tea like the healing ZCC tea."

Catch the episode on Friday, 18 October at 7:30pm on SABC 3.