Sunday World (South Africa)

Khanye tells all in ‘Ghetto Ninja’

Book written by award-winning Nikolaos Kirkinis

- By Kgomotso Mokoena

After destroying his once-blossoming football career, Junior Khanye is now on a path of reinventin­g himself on a number of fronts.

In September, his book Ghetto Ninja, a tell-all tale about his rise to stardom, tribulatio­ns, his fall from grace and his reincarnat­ion will be released.

The book is written by the award-winning Nikolaos Kirkinis, who also penned Teko Modise’s delightful biography. Khanye is now carving a niche for himself as a TV football pundit and a social media sports influencer.

Kirkinis’ tactically astute pen traces down the former dribbling wizard from his days as an ashy tiny-tot in the streets of Etwatwa in Daveyton. Except for a life of wild partying, fast cars, easy skanks and designer labels, not many will know about Khanye’s tribulatio­ns.

In one of Khanye’s favourite and most touching chapters, the author skilfully captures the moment with a marvellous first touch.

The section, which gets Khanye teary-eyed, is about the day tsotsis broke into his house and stabbed his father to death in 2011. Speaking to Sunday World, the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder said that frightenin­g moment killed him from within. “He was killed on 12 June and we buried him the following weekend and it was my birthday.

“Imagine being at a graveyard on your birthday.

I saw the killers, I knew them and they were family friends who were jealous of what my family had achieved. I was not weak. I did not want soccer or anyone, but people don’t know these things and they judge you for your faults. I hope they read the book and get to know the real me.”

Details of the book’s release will be revealed at a later stage.

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Khanye during his playing days /
Gallo Images Junior Khanye during his playing days /

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