Jomo has a string of nicknames including, Black Prince, Prince of soccer, King of African soccer, Troublemaker, Motopo, Kop, Scara, Heartbreaker, Banana-boy, Maestro, Truth commision, Time-bomb, Thata-machans, South African legend, Spoiler, Kans vatter, Big "J", Big "M" and many others.

Jomo was born in Orlando East in Soweto, near Johannesburg, on July 17, 1955. He lived with his lame grandmother and blind grandfather in a tiny Soweto home. His father, who died when Jomo was 8 years old had been a local soccer great and played for Orlando Pirates. His late father, Eric "Scara" Bamuza Sono, was a renowned Orlando Pirates midfielder in the 1960's.

He lost his father (Eric - "Scara" - Sono), after a fatal car crash when he was still young - eight years old and was abandoned by his mother. He met his mother for the first time when he was 34 years old, she found him through a newspaper article and they are still in contact.

"I have no idea what happened to her and why she left us". He said with an air of sadness.

Jomo adored his late grandparents, especially his grandfather, who was a priest and a community leader.

"Whenever I hear that song, 'You're my hero' (Wind beneath my wings), I think of my grandfather who meant everthing to me", he said.

Young Jomo sold peanuts and apples at soccer games and at the train station to make money to clothe himself, buy food for his grandparents, and go to school.

"I don't like talking about those days, it pains me", he said.

Today Jomo Sono is a well-known and recognised figure in the community and sport industry. He is also a proud father of four beautiful children and has a wonderful caring wife.

Jomo Sono has come a long way and has made a difference in a lot of peoples lives and it would be any ones honour to have a legend like him around to learn from and look up to.

He is truly a hero in a lot of ways and a great figure to follow and has an effect on the lives and hearts of everyone he touches for a very long time. He stands up for what is right and defeats evil.

Jomo Sono is known in soccer circles and in South Africa in the area of professional development. He is currently regarded as the number one talent scout in South Africa and was last year voted as the third best coach in Africa by an African Football magazine. In 1998 he helped the South African National Squad to the final of the Africa Nations Cup, having helped Clive Barker (as Technical Advisor) to win the cup in 1996.

Jomo has produced lots of players for the Bafana Bafana squad. The list includes:

• Mark Fish – Currently with Charlton Athletic in England and played for the national team at the World Cup in 1998
• Philemon Masinga – played at World Cup 1998
• Linda Buthelezi
• Sizwe Motaung
• Helman Mkhalele
• Mark Williams
• Maimane Phiri - Played at France 1998
• Mcdonald Mukansi – Played at World Cup 2002
• Vusi Mncuwanga
• Thomas Madigage
• Godfrey Sapula

Jomo is currently doing a lot of coaching in the rural areas without sponsorship. He is also the longest serving local coach in the Castle Premiership.

Jomo Sono was one of the few first black South Africans to play abroad. He played for a team called "New York Cosmos" in America. Jomo has always fought to expose irregularities, which polluted the administration of the game, and in 1989, Jomo Cosmos FC was expelled from the league.

Business Curriculum Vitae

* Chairman - Exel Petroleum and founder
* Chairman - Paint and Ladder
* Board member and Director - Midas Limited
* Board member - Acc-cross Holding
* Director and Shareholder - Affirmed Investment (Formula 1 Hotels)
* Shareholder in Tswarisano (Sasol BEE structure)
* Chairman - Safesky Africa
* Chairman - Jomo’s Diamond
* Chairperson - S.A. Diamex (Diamond Exchange)
* Chairman - Life Diamond
* Chairman - Jomo Cosmos FC and founder
* Chairperson - Jomo’s Properties
* Chairperson - Jomo Cosmos Academy
* Chairperson - Seasons Eco Golf Course and Development (Brits Golf Course)
* Chairperson - Kommandonek (Development Company)
* Chairperson - SONOCO
* Chairperson - Jsonocomining
* Chairperson - Jsonoco Minerals

Committee involvement (past and present)

* Executive member - Premier Soccer League
* Founder member - Premier Soccer League
* Executive member - South African Football Association (Safa)
* Member of financial committee 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)
* Technical advisor to Clive Barker for S.A national team 1996 Afcon
* Head coach - National team (Bafana Bafana) 1998 silver medalist at Burkina Faso
* Head coach - National team 2002 at the South Korea/Japan World Cup. Voted South African Footballer of the Century in 2002.