Full name: Raymond Shere Monama
Nickname: Monte Carlo
Born: 25/8/89 in Seshego
Lovelife: Single
Previous teams: Men in Men, Inter Africa Academy (Both Ameteur), Tembisa Classic, Mpumalanga Black Aces
Car: None
Cellphone: Blackberry Torch 9800

On the Pitch
How does your current pair of boots compare to your first pair?
Do you remember the Hi-Tec boots? I had a pair of those while I also had these other black Adidas for kids. Quality-wise those boots were very bad but they got the job done back then. I am now using the Adidas F50, which is a boot they keep on improving all the time and is extremely comfortable.

As a left-footer yourself, who is the best left-footed player that you have played with or against?
Our ex-left back Tintswalo Tshabalala, has a sweet left foot. He is a natural left footer who was converted from a striker to a defender.

Not many people are aware that you played in the junior national teams…
I played for both the Under-20 and Under-23 national teams, though I didn’t play in the Under-20 World cup and the Olympic Qualifier Finals in Morocco. I was in the Amajita team with Daylon Claasen and George Maluleka that was coached by Serame Letsoaka, and also played under Shakes Mashaba.

Footballers always have fascinating tales from their younger years... what are yours?
As a youngster I once went for the Under-15 trials at the then Silver stars. However just 15 minutes into the game this coach pulled me off and said though I am small in structure, there is absolutely no way that I can be Under-15 because of the way I played. According to him I was too good or way too matured in my play to be Under-15. I was so angry that day and even told my mom, who laughed if off.

OFF the Pitch
You must have seen fascinating things while travelling on the continent with Leopards?
I was shocked by the lack of order in the Nigerian roads- there is always traffic. They don’t drive in lanes but rather haphazardly, and I don’t remember seeing a stop sign or robots. If there is an accident, other motorists don’t even bother to stop, but just pass by like nothing happened. The heat in Sudan was unbearable; it felt like we were in a furnace.

We’ve heard Julius Malema is your homeboy?
He is in Zone 1 and I am from Zone 4 in Seshego. I have him a couple of times and he is still extremely popular. Though I am not into politics, I feel he has helped make a difference in our area and I appreciate it.

Who always drives the females crazy and has the best girl at Leopards?
I haven’t seen anyone with a girl that is out of this world as yet except for Tiyani Mabunda. I think most of these guys only hang with girls who are not their partners, but mere friends- if they do have hot chicks, maybe they hang with them in hidden places!

What is the dominant language at the club?
The official language is Venda because the team is owned by Venda speakers and originally from an area of Venda people. But with a lot of the players now from Jozi, isiZulu dominates more often these days.

Article by Lovemore Moyo for Kick-Off.com