Thomas and I have five kids. I know. Don’t faint. But that man is so fricken fertile for his age and he has made me birth two more sons for him. We have our two girls and three boys now. We have our Rofhiwa – our superstar. She’s doing her third year in her BCom degree. She works under Mthunzi in the financial services division, but she also dabbles in marketing and brand with me from time to time. She works on a part time basis because she is in school. We pay her a salary because she actually does good work. She works the most with Mfundo and we have given her more work with the soccer team – the NFR Legends. She is the Corporate Business Partner alongside a senior Corporate Business Partner for the team. We hear she’s dating one of those soccer boys, but no one has really addressed it yet. We just spotted it on the newspapers some time ago and Thomas decided to dismiss it as a rumour. I think he’s just not ready to address it or have the conversation about her dating. I asked her about it and she promised that we would do lunch together and she would tell me all about it.
Rofhiwa still lives at home and travels. She travels to school and to work. Then during recess, she’s in Tholoana Kingdom full time with the NFR Legends team. Mfundo joins her most of the time. However, we need him in our NIR (the actual company) financial space because he is a beast with numbers.

My gorgeous Khanyisa is in grade ten. She wanted to go to a boarding school because most of her friends were going to one, but I wasn’t ready to let go. Thomas and Sibongiseni judged me. But I’m not even ready to let Rofhiwa go. I couldn’t let her live in res or an apartment. How was I supposed to let Khanyisa go? She takes a golf cart to school. Her school is a fifteen-minute golf cart drive from our house. She’s in a big and brilliant private school that’s within our estate. She’s warmed up to it very nicely. We bought Rofhiwa a Mercedes Benz for her twenty-first birthday. Rofhiwa and Khanyisa are close and I love it. Thomas keeps giving me boys. Imagine if my girls left me with all these boys?
My parents are still alive… yes, God has blessed me greatly. We all thought it would be best if they lived with us because our estate actually has activities and recreational programmes for the elderly. They also have their own golf carts that they move around with in the estate. They gym, play tennis with other elderly people and are able to get their own things as and when they need it. They are happy here. They live in a cottage outside. They chose to. Thomas didn’t like the idea, but my parents said they still want to enjoy having sex and I’m just no longer interested in this debate.
Sibongiseni and Latifah have two children together and no, I don’t live with them. Sibongiseni, Latifah, their son and their daughter live at my parents’ house. Sibongiseni renovated it and I must say, it’s stunning. Noni and Neli tried to move back into the house, pulling the “It’s our parents’ house” card, but my parents and Sibongiseni showed them flames. So they live where they live. They don’t talk to me AT ALL. Both of them. They also don’t talk to Sibongiseni either. They hate how I don’t do anything for their kids and I’m tired of explaining and apologizing. Sibongiseni is tired of defending me too, so we just live together and they live together. Neli resigned from our company. So, I don’t know what they do and how they keep their kids going.

Then my boys…
Ranwedzi is ten. Gundo is eight and Rendani is six. All spitting images of Thomas and Rofhiwa: mixed-race and charming. They are so naughty! I’ve had to take two years off work just to raise them. Having three todlers became A LOT. Koena had another baby and I know she stopped working at some point and just focused on the kids. But we are back at work now that the kids are in school and grown.

I’m gently attacked by a hug coming from behind me and kissing on my neck. I know it’s my charming husband.
“Hello father of five”, I say.
He bursts into laughter.
I laugh too.
I love my husband. I love to see him happy. I love to see myself make him so happy. Two of his brothers have passed away. It has been extremely difficult for him. We support the nephews and nieces as much as we can.
“Papa! Am I sleeping with you guys today?” That would be Rendani.
This kid left our bed when he was five. Ranwedzi left at the age of two and Gundo left at the age of two as well. This one is just a typical last born.
“No!” Thomas says, not letting go of me. Thomas doesn’t even care about displaying affection in front of him anymore because Rendani thinks he runs our lives.
“But papa-
“I said no. It’s just my wife and I in this room today”, Thomas.
Rendani looks like he wants to cry.
“Rendani. Yini?” Me.
Ja, we speak isiZulu in this house too. All these kids speak tshiVenda and I’m always in the dark. I’ve learned a few phrases here and there… but my revenge is making them speak isiZulu too.
“I want to sleep here with you guys. I’ll sleep on the floor”, he says.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because I want to.” He says.
“Well, the answer is no. You have a nice bedroom where you can sleep.” I say.
Gundo and Ranwedzi come running in here too.
Ja no, my closet used to be my peace. My husband and I could come in here and even have sex without being bothered. We don’t even have that anymore.
Even Thomas is on his phone now. He’s probably just as annoyed. These boys are running around here and driving us both crazy.
“Thomas, they are your kids. Give them a panado or something so they sleep and give us peace for a few hours.” I say.
He looks up from his phone and starts laughing.
I know he loves being a dad. He finds joy in the noise and the madness. It’s weird, but it’s his happy place.
“Guys, what are the rules about coming into this room?” Thomas.
“There are no rules”, Gundo. He’s the menace of the three.
“There are rules, but we are allowed to break them”, Ranwedzi, the ringleader.
“Thomas!” I’m losing my cool now.
“Rendani, what are the rules?” Thomas asks Rendani.
Rendani laughs and starts jumping on my couch that’s in my closet.
Vok mahn!
“Ey nina! Vokof mahn! Phumani la egumbini lami! Get out!” I yell at them and they look scared.
“You are still here?!” Me.
They sprint out of the room and we even hear the door slam shut.
Thomas and I look at each other. Then we laugh.
“I’m too old for this. This is what happens when you have kids after thirty.” I say.
“At least we were ready for them and didn’t have to struggle with and for them. Now, they just drive us crazy. But I think we are doing just fine.” He says.
I smile at him.
“What time is Kenneth getting here?” I ask him.
Kenneth is his only surviving brother. The others passed, so now it’s Thomas and Kenneth. Kenneth is the eldest brother – the pest. His wife is still annoying and we do still fight. A LOT. But for the sake of the brothers, we stomach each other. The brothers are trying to build. They’ll get there. The kids are at least quite close and we are all quite happy about that.
“I think he said around 5pm. He said he has a few meetings today.” He says.
Kenneth, his wife and their kids have moved to Pretoria from Venda. The Ramaru Holdings head offices are in GP, so with Thomas completely resigned from the company, Kenneth had to relocate and take over as CEO. The business had to scale down because of the financial loss they’ve suffered over the years. Now they just have a construction pillar – all the other pillars closed down. Kenneth believes that Venda and its excruciating heat is the best place on Earth, so moving to Gauteng was not his happiest moment. The cousins then came in and launched their attack. The Ramaru business was run very tightly by Thomas and his three brothers because their father was the Thomas of his brothers and he led the success of the company, while his brothers took the lead from him. The cousins have always felt that they also had a right to the business, but Thomas was good at keeping them as silent shareholders and away from operations. With Thomas gone, the cousins started their power-hungry party. They insisted that it was their fathers too that started the business. So, Kenneth is the CEO, and the other cousins are directors. Yoh, it’s chaos over there. I’m so glad Thomas got out. Ramaru Holdings is our client though and there are things that we use them for as well. Small things though. They are extremely unreliable, and their service is not great. They are no longer a listed company as they were under Thomas.
It breaks Thomas’ heart shame because he gave his all to that company. But he’s also glad that we have our own thing going now and we are doing well.

It’s Saturday today. We are going to the Msomi’s house to watch our boys play. They are playing in Cape Town today. The hype has started and the game is already trending on Twitter. But it’s only two hours away. We usually watch it at the Msomis because they have a cinema in their house and we watch in there with their family and ours. Rofhiwa is in Cape Town with the players and she took Khanyisa with her this time because Khanyisa is on midterm break. Sibongiseni is also there. I don’t know why. But shame, Sbo works hard and akazincishi with the things he can get as the head of our logistics division. But Latifah and their two kids will be joining us at the Msomis. Sibongiseni bought her a stunning Audi Q7 for her and their kids. She is very mobile and happy. They are not married – I must just let you know. And I know that Sibongiseni has a side-chick or two. But Latifah is marinating in the benefits of being a stay-at-home mom, living in a mansion (couldn’t care less that it’s in a township), driving her flashy cars and just being with what Sibongiseni has become: quite the catch! But shame Sbo is so simple: He drives a very nice Golf 7R, still manages taxis with my dad and heads our logistics department. He is still a kasi guy and he puts his friends on where he can – like he hires them to drive taxis for him and pays them. He is still a good guy and my best friend. He just likes girls now. But Latifah doesn’t care. She’s the “Oksalayo, I’m the main and I boldly marinate in the benefits.” I guess they have their understanding.

It takes us about an hour and a half to get the boys ready, then it’s time for us to go. The boys see my parents and they decide to golf-cart with them. Thomas and I will use Khanyisa’s golf-cart and bring the food and drinks we promised to bring. The Msomis and us live in one estate. It is a huge estate. It takes us a twenty-five-minute golf-cart to get to their house. But we are all still in one estate.
“I think we have about three or four minutes to spare”, he says.
“When have you ever been that quick?”
We both laugh. But he still has his way because he is Thomas Ramaru – my husband and the father of my children.

As we drive to the Msomis, he asks me:
“Has he tried to contact you?”
Ever since the Mohales bought a stake in the team, Thomas has been uncomfortable and fearful that Khotso will try his luck.
“No. And he won’t. We are both married and we have moved on.” I say.
“I know… it’s just… I don’t think he’s over you.”
“That shouldn’t be something that worries you because I’m over him. I’m all into you and there’s absolutely NOTHING that will change that. I love you, Thomas Ramaru… with all that exists within me. I love you.”
We hold hands.
I’m the one driving this thing.

…

Fikile has texted me to tell me that she and Thomas are on their way, but her parents and the boys will arrive first as they left ahead of them. I’m also done preparing the food. I made garlic bread and grilled chicken and steak. Fikile is bringing salads and snacks. They are also bringing drinks and we have also bought drinks.

My husband is a CEO. He heads up the financial services pillar of NIR (Next Industrial Revolution). I’m proud of him. He’s proud of himself. He’s happy. We get to celebrate with him everyday and it’s nice.
Fikile convinced me into opening my own beauty studio. As you’ve noticed, I’m surrounded by entrepreneurs. Mthunzi funded my studio with his pay-out from Ramaru Holdings. So far, I have one physical studio, a mobile spa and an online store. I’ve developed my own beauty products with Fikile so we co-own them. I run them and she does the marketing and branding. The business is booming. We sell them on our online store and in the studio. But retail stores have also asked to sell them for us and we’ve okayed it – especially outside of Gauteng.
We are doing great. We really are.
Thingolwethu is a teenager now and a crazy one. He wears too many colours at the same time. His pants are too tight. He hoverboards everywhere – even to school. He’s in the same school with Khanyisa and we tell him to take a golf cart to school. He takes it, but apparently hoverboards all over school. He has been expelled from two schools already. As far as discipline is concerned, Mfundo was the better child. Thingo has a way of showing us flames. He’s into graphic designing and vandalizing things. So Fikile gives him projects for her division of NIR to keep him busy and excited and it seems to be working. We all suspect that he’s dating Khanyisa, but they both deny it. I guess time will tell.

Mthunzi and I had one more baby. I wish I could say that I have a baby girl, but I had another boy. His name is Zothile. He is seven years old and is also growing to be more and more like Thingo. It’s as if Zothile looks up to Thingo and I’m not sure how I feel about that. Mfundo laughs at us all the time, telling us we are too old to be raising skrrr skrrr kids. I don’t even know what the means, but I agree with him. I keep his daughter super close to me. She’s the closest I’ll ever have to having a daughter.

I hear Mthunzi and Mfundo talking outside. Mfundo must have arrived.
“Mama, I’m going to the studio to do my hair”, Thingo tells me.
That’s another thing. He only cuts part of his head. He has hair for days and he keeps it styled at our studio.
“Aren’t you staying for the game?” I ask him.
“Really momz? Me and soccer? Nope. I’m even going to the skate park when I’m done with my hair.” He says.
He hates soccer. His brother and father own a soccer team, but he couldn’t be bothered.
“But everyone else will be here to spend the day with us and the team is playing a big team.” I say.
“Khanyi won’t be here, so I’ll be bored.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“I should’ve gone with her and Fifi to Cape Town”, he says.
I laugh at him.
Mfundo has always called Rofhiwa “Fifi”. Now even Thingo calls her that.
“Hai mahn, Thingolwethu. How many times must I tell you to stop wearing such tight pants. One day you’ll want to have kids and you’ll forget how you killed your swimmers in these pants”, Mthunzi says and Mfundo laughs. Zothile is with them and he’s laughing too.
“Pops, I like my pants. I don’t want pants that look like they come out of yours or Bhut’Mfundo’s childhood.” Thingo fights for himself. Trust me, he has a response for everything.
“Thingo, do you really have to dress like this? Blue tight things and purple tops and red cap? Really? This is very colourful.” Mthunzi.
We both don’t understand his style.
“Pops, I let you wear your suits and weird shoes. Let me wear my things in peace.”
Then he greets Mfundo. Mfundo gives him a stack of two-hundred-rand notes.
“Hai Hai Hai!” Me.
“Moms, Bhut’Mfundo and I had a deal. There is a hoverboard he promised to get me and he hasn’t been able to get it. So, he’s letting me go get it myself. Plus, he’s paying for my hair as well.” Thingo.
“So uyakubheja?” Mthunzi.
Thingo shakes his head and decides that he’s done with us.

The Ramarus walk in and we all greet each other.
“Uncle T, why did Fifi take Khanyi to Cape Town and leave me behind?” Thingo asks Thomas.
We are all already laughing.
“I’m not sure how I feel about this question”, Thomas says.
We all laugh.
“Don’t worry chief, he won’t be impregnating her. He’s killing his balls in those pants.”
Now the guys die of laughter.
Zothile and the Ramaru boys are already running around and causing their own havoc.
“I’m out y’all. Later.” Thingo.
“Phone on at all times”, I say.
“You got my word, moms.”
“Who are you going with?” I ask.
“Chase, Bangz and Zak. Zak’s mom is driving us and they are here.”
Bangz is Thabang and Zak is Zakhele. I just thought I’d let you know.
“Okay… let me go say hi to the mom and thank her for driving you boys.” I say.
I walk Thingo out and indeed, Zak’s mother is here.
“Hi MakaZak.” Me.
“MakaThingz, how are you?” She says.
We actually laugh. I mean listen to how these kids have bastardised the names that we beautifully gave them.
“I’m good sisi. Thank you for driving them today.” I say.
They all do their hair at my studio. Even their parents.
“No problem. All the best for the game today. We will be watching from home as well. At our estate, it’s being screened at the clubhouse. We are behind the NFR boys one hundred percent”, she says. I even notice now that she’s wearing a t-shirt.
“Thank you so much. We are all crossing fingers for a win. There will be a celebration at the village tomorrow if the boys win. They’ll pass by the village before they head back to Tholoana Kingdom. I can save some tickets for you and your husband.”
“Count us in because you know those boys will make us proud!”
We talk a bit more then I finally let them go.
I notice Ranwedzi, Gundo, Rendani and Zothile standing next to me. I take all four of them inside the house with me.
We head to the cinema. Kick-off is about to happen.

As we are getting settled, we walk in on Mfundo video-calling Rofhiwa.
We all greet her as we walk in. Then they head back into their call.
“All is set?” Mfundo.
“Yeah. The boys are really nervous though. They are playing a big team”, Rofhiwa.
“They’ll be okay. Just guarantee them that there’s nothing special about that team. They are more than equipped to bring this win home.” Mfundo.
“I’ll let them know. I got the email from Kazi as well about the TV deals and the money should reflect soon.” Rofhiwa.
Kazi is Fikile, thanks to Khanyisa. All the kids call her Kazi.
“The money has reflected and the channel has confirmed that they are screening the game”, Fikile joins the meeting.
Their meeting is another fifteen minutes then Rofhiwa has to go so she can join the team talk.
“Fifi, thank you for being there with them”, Mfundo.
“No problem. Let’s connect after the game.” Rofhiwa.
“Sho.” Mfundo.

…

The team is in the changing rooms and the WAGs are in the VIP box. These women do not like each other, but on game day, they come together and realize that they all have the same goal – to win the league.

Soccer is not just a game in their lives. It is not a thing that they watch in their TV rooms over the weekend. It is a career in their households. It pays for their lavish lifestyles. It allows them to be utter cows to one another. It is life for them.

Today’s game is an away game. The team and the WAGs are in Cape Town. The match is against one of their greatest rivals and the WAGs are even bigger rivals. The Cape Town WAGs sit on one side of the VIP section and Tholoana Kingdom WAGs sit on the other side. The WAGs section is tense. Every woman is nervous for her man. The changing rooms are equally tense. The time for talking strategy is over. It is now each man motivating himself. Headsets are located over each ear. Some hands have come together in a silent prayer. All eyes are closed. Each player is searching for the spirit within them to do the best that they can on that field and bring victory back home.

The stadium is rowdy! It is fuelled with excitement. Many fans have travelled from all over South Africa to support the Legends. Many fans have also come in their numbers to make sure that today’s victory stays in Cape Town.

The whistle blows and the game begins. The game is televised and narrated over multiple radio stations. The game is trending on social media platforms. No wife is smiling. No wife is laughing. Every wife is nervous. Every man on the field is playing his heart out. Each man intends to leave his heart on the field.

At 35 minutes, the score is 1-0 to the CT Victors – the Cape Town team. You would think that this would at least have some wives smiling. However, they understand the game well enough to know that this is soccer. A 1-0 lead is not safe. Coaches are on their feet. Coaches are screaming at the top of their lungs. Owners of the teams are just as nervous – a lot is riding on victory: sponsorships, bigger investments – you name it. The NFR Legends have to win. They have the best players and the best training facilities, club facilities and office space. But it’s soccer. Money and the best of everything doesn’t always guarantee you victory.

At 43 minutes, the CT Victors score another goal, giving them a 2-0 lead. Now the wives are roaring in the VIP section. The NFR Legends’ wives are not happy at all. Nevertheless, they have hope that the half time talk will bring the men back to life.

NFR – Next Football Revolution – is a team that was founded by Mfundo Msomi. It started out as a small team in Mafikeng that he created to keep his peers and the younger kids out of trouble and interested in a hobby that will help them build a lifestyle out of kicking balls around. He was a teenager himself. He wanted a team that would be playing in the league at least and he was prepared to put in money into it to ensure its growth.
His father – Mthunzi Msomi – later noticed how much the team had potential to be exactly what Mfundo wanted it to be. He started investing money in the development of the team and the players.
By the time that the team was called NFR – a pillar of NIR, Thomas and Fikile Ramaru had invested millions in the team and its brand, and a massive spotlight started shining on Mfundo’s dream. Football players – developing and professional players – started paying attention to this team and started looking at possibly joining forces with what was beginning to look like the next force in Football – as also implied in the name of the team itself. A village was built for the players… a village that consists of everything a soccer player needs in his career: training facilities, physiotherapy facilities, healing facilities, eating facilities, rehab facilities and hotel stays for players coming out of the province.
Bigger giants poured money in the team with the intention to make them an internationally competitive team. Mzwakhe Mthethwa, the Archibald giant and the Tloung brothers poured more money in the team and its development.
Tholoana Kingdom’s government took a particular interest in this team for two specific reasons:

1. It is the epitome of everything that they stand for – black excellence and black success. It is no secret that Tholoana Kingdom’s key purpose is uplifting and shining penetrating light on successful black businesses and black initiatives.
2. It was a team that Fikile Ramaru is closely affiliated with. With Khotso Mohale’s soft spot for Fikile and still feeling that he owes her because of how things turned out between them, this was one of the things he wanted to be particularly invested in.
   Tholoana Kingdom also saw this as an opportunity to develop themselves in the sports and recreation arena. They didn’t have a national team for the longest time and the one that was developed is not as hot as they should be, and they barely qualify for anything.
   So the Mohale government made a deal with NFR: move to Tholoana Kingdom and become world giants.
   Today, the team is now a Tholoana Kingdom based team competing internationally and the Tholoana Kingdom government has a deal with NFR to train the national squad. So, you can now understand why football is a lifestyle for these players and their WAGs. It’s a game – yes… but all the players matter! And when we talk players, we don’t just mean the ones in football gear playing on the field.

Indeed the second half starts with well-created substitutes. Tee-le, Yaya, Shack and Pule lead the team into the second half. All the NFR Legends’ wives now stand up. This is the infamous four. No one understands why the coach never put them in the first half to begin with.

The second half has started and the NFR Legends’ defence is airtight. There have been shots on targets, but no goals. The Legends’ fans have not lost hope. They bring in energy. The skill on the field, the chanting of the fans and the leadership of Yaya Mbatha sees the NFR Legends scoring their first goal at 52 minutes.
The wives crack a smile.
“Thuli, you better put in that work tonight”, Khosi tells Thuli.
The WAGs chuckle.
The Legends find their equalizer goal at 55 minutes scored by Yaya Mbatha yet again.
Thuli is so proud.
The hope is back.
The chanting gets louder on the grandstands. Now the NFR Legends’ WAGs start screaming and cheering their men on.
The next fifteen minutes is very difficult.
“I can’t take this anymore. I’m going to the stands”, Thuli says. The tension is getting to her. The rest of the Legends’ WAGs grab their bags and run after her. They run down the stands screaming and make it to the first row of the stands. They are loud. The people in those positions do not mind to have them there. They scream with the WAGs.
The men notice their women in the stands screaming with fans just as a corner is awarded to the Legends. The coach looks back and sees the WAGs. He smiles.
At 89 minutes, the Legends take the lead for the first time in the game from the corner kick scored by Tee-le Serame. They celebrate their third goal with the fans, running to the fans’ side of the stadium and roaring with excitement with their fans.

At 90 minutes, five minutes of extra time is announced and the chanting becomes louder. There is a cup at stake here. The game is difficult. The WAGs are not watching anymore. Their eyes are closed and they are praying for the score to be maintained.

At 90′ + 4′, Yaya Mbatha scores a hat trick. The screaming sees the CT Victors’ fans make their way out of the stadium before the game ends.
At 90′ + 5′, Shack Attack scores a penalty and the Legends win 5-2.

…

The celebrations are happening at the hotel rooms of the players. They could not go out and party because their status does not allow them to club as and when they please. The excitement and adrenaline have not died down. It is a good time for them. The WAGs are not staying in the same hotel as them. Team rules regarding away games dictate that wives cannot be sharing hotel rooms with these men.
The women decided to go clubbing though. They are back to being cliques and not liking each other. Renay, Thobi and Paula decided to stay behind at the hotel because Renay is pregnant and did not feel like going out.

The other WAGs are looking hot and are partying with the intention to be i-stocko ’till the morning comes.
In the midst of the drinking and dancing, Khosi is snapped making out with some guy and it trends instantly. The guy is the captain of the CT Victors – Thabang Sebata.
Yaya immediately phones Thuli.
“Baby”, she answers her phone.
“What the fuck is going on lapho? This is what you go on away games for?” Yaya.
“I did nothing wrong. I don’t even know where Khosi is. Why are you yelling me?” Thuli fights back.
“Thuli, get the fuck out of that club! Now!” Yaya barks and hangs up.
Thuli finds Khosi after a thirty-minute search for her. Khosi is not even moved about people being upset. Khosi and Thuli are the last to arrive at the hotel where the men and other WAGs are now waiting for them. Yaya has already packed Thuli’s bags.
“Let’s go”, Yaya says to Thuli before questions can be asked.
All women are packed up in their men’s cars.
“Where’s Tee-le guys?” Khosi asks.
“You have some nerve to be even asking that question”, Paula tells her.

Tee-le left, without Khosi. No other team player is willing to let Khosi drive with them to the airport. Thuli tries to ask Yaya, but she is responded to with silence and a cold shoulder.