The top-billing and raving reviews from esteemed journalists and high profilers have underlined the fact that Ahmed Gora Ebrahim’s book ”No Regrets” has exceeded all expectations – including his own.
The book – a collection of memoirs that highlight Ebrahim’s challenges during the apartheid struggle and his devotion to his family, community and football – is set to be unveiled (10:00) at the Peak Cafe in the coastal town of Fish Hoek, Cape Town next week Saturday (16 November).
The launch will also coincide with the multi-skilled radio personality, advisor and trainer Robin Sewlal’s “My Radio Memory: Listening to the Listener” initiative
This will be Ebrahim’s first engagement with the public of Cape Town with regards to his book following launches and roadshows up north in places like Vereniging, and Johannesburg.
The 58-year-old former Orlando Pirates player, who also has a passion for literature and education, has revealed some of his inner thoughts as to what the catalyst behind his venture was – which he deliberately omitted.
Ebrahim explained to No Bones with Jones: “I started writing this book as an apology for the incident that happened in Thohoyandou where everybody threw me under the bus and I was labelled this and that and all sorts of things, you know. (Ebrahim dedicated chapter 8 to this).
“So I started to write it as an apology and then I gave pre-context and sub-context to what I was writing and it evolved into a book. I also needed to explain who I was and then I realised that there’s so much to speak about. I eventually wrote so much that I had to cut.
For context, this is where Ebrahim ‘lost it’ after being substituted by Rabali Blackpool coach Walter Rautmann in a televised league match against Mthatha Bush Bucks in August 1995. Ebrahim lashed out in the direction of the coach.
Rabali was fighting relegation, and Ebrahim, also the captain at that time played alongside the likes of Cyril Nzama and Andrew Rabutla.
“I made my way off the field. I remember Cyril Nzama putting his hand on my arm for the captain’s armband. It was humiliating and I felt slighted, disappointed and shamed and all at once upset and angry,” Ebrahim wrote in chapter 8 of his book. This is but one of the experiences put down in writing by this former soccer stalwart.
