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Ghetto Ninja: The Junior Khanye Story
‘Junior is sure that this is the last car ride of his life. His tear-stained cheeks shine in the morning sun through the car window. He sniffs heavily and thinks about his mother, he wonders if she will ever find out what happened to him. The car stops. Junior reaches for the handle but a firm hand on his shoulder tells him to stop.’
Daveyton-born Junior Khanye always dreamt of making it big in football. Scouted to Kaizer Chiefs at just 17, his dream seemed within reach. With his dribbling and goal scoring prowess, Junior was the darling of the nation.
But then his self-destructive behaviour sees him kicked off the team … Trying to pick himself up, Junior cycled between poverty and prosperity, sometimes getting it right, but often deeply disappointing those who loved him most.
This book, with its wealth of stories from both on and of the pitch, tells of the making of a soccer sensation. Junior shares his experience of poverty, the death of his brother, soccer stardom, alcoholism, the murder of his father, and raising children, with great honesty. Much more than a sports biography, Ghetto Ninja is Junior Khanye’s tragic, yet triumphant story. It is impossible to put down.
‘He crushed his dream only to resurrect himself. What a man, and what a book!’ Robert Marawa
Daveyton-born Junior Khanye always dreamt of making it big in football. Scouted to Kaizer Chiefs at just 17, his dream seemed within reach. With his dribbling and goal scoring prowess, Junior was the darling of the nation.
But then his self-destructive behaviour sees him kicked off the team … Trying to pick himself up, Junior cycled between poverty and prosperity, sometimes getting it right, but often deeply disappointing those who loved him most.
This book, with its wealth of stories from both on and of the pitch, tells of the making of a soccer sensation. Junior shares his experience of poverty, the death of his brother, soccer stardom, alcoholism, the murder of his father, and raising children, with great honesty. Much more than a sports biography, Ghetto Ninja is Junior Khanye’s tragic, yet triumphant story. It is impossible to put down.
‘He crushed his dream only to resurrect himself. What a man, and what a book!’ Robert Marawa
250 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
About the author
Nikolaos Kirkinis
5 books14 followersNikolaos Kirkinis is the author of The Curse of Teko Modise, a well-celebrated title. His second book, Strike a Rock - The Thembi Kgatlana Story was selected for the 2021 Exclusive Books Homebru promotion. He has an honors degree in International Studies. Kirkinis has worked as a freelance writer for Soccer Laduma. He lives in Johannesburg.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 29, 2022
Junior's story transcends soccer.
Get a copy for the youth in your life because the life lessons in there, will propel any young person to make good choices.
Talent alone can only get you so far, but discipline will ensure that you stay the course.
Get a copy for the youth in your life because the life lessons in there, will propel any young person to make good choices.
Talent alone can only get you so far, but discipline will ensure that you stay the course.
March 2, 2022
Simple story behind a great character but the execution could have been better.
The book felt like a recap of all of Junior’s previous media interviews. I also understand that he must have wanted to share most of his greatest career highlights but that approach left me feeling like we could have been given a bit more. I mean, Junior is a character with great wisdom and depth, with a life story filled with great wisdom of transforming his failures to successes. So, I would have appreciated if the author shared details around Junior’s personal life and successes off the field of play to a larger extent.
Otherwise, overall Junior is a true pantsula and this is evident in everything that he continues to achieve beyond what we see infront of our screens. Finally, well done and keep on keeping on Mr Khanye. You are a true inspiration.
The book felt like a recap of all of Junior’s previous media interviews. I also understand that he must have wanted to share most of his greatest career highlights but that approach left me feeling like we could have been given a bit more. I mean, Junior is a character with great wisdom and depth, with a life story filled with great wisdom of transforming his failures to successes. So, I would have appreciated if the author shared details around Junior’s personal life and successes off the field of play to a larger extent.
Otherwise, overall Junior is a true pantsula and this is evident in everything that he continues to achieve beyond what we see infront of our screens. Finally, well done and keep on keeping on Mr Khanye. You are a true inspiration.
September 22, 2023
Firstly, I think it is difficult to document a life that is also not documented well. Junior’s upbringing seems like one that did not include photos before fame. I also understand that sequencing was an issue here. What is lacking is colour for me. The story is in black and white but not enough colour.
Honestly, it felt like separate interviews that were not concisely put together (adding colour to the story). Nevertheless, the book is readable with emerging themes-I enjoyed this. Junior was arrogant and that made me not enjoy the main character. He only grew from his mistakes because life punished him harshly. He was never moved by intuition until things got tough. In the process, he hurt those that loved him. It is a shame.
Honestly, it felt like separate interviews that were not concisely put together (adding colour to the story). Nevertheless, the book is readable with emerging themes-I enjoyed this. Junior was arrogant and that made me not enjoy the main character. He only grew from his mistakes because life punished him harshly. He was never moved by intuition until things got tough. In the process, he hurt those that loved him. It is a shame.
September 25, 2022
I haven't been able to substantiate the marvels of Junior as a soccer player by googling, possibly because the events happened in the early days of Internet in South Africa and old media reports never got republished on the Internet.
Fact or myth, the book is one entertaining read and serves perfectly as a precautionary tale to all African soccer players aspiring to turn professional one day because they can easily relate to similar challenges and temptation in their environment.
Fact or myth, the book is one entertaining read and serves perfectly as a precautionary tale to all African soccer players aspiring to turn professional one day because they can easily relate to similar challenges and temptation in their environment.
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June 2, 2022my favourite
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews