Ephraim Matsilele “Jomo” Sono was born in Orlando East in Soweto. Sono was brought up by his grandparents after his father died and his mother abandoned him. He was forced to work from a young age in order to help support the family. He began selling apples and peanuts at soccer games and train stations.
His soccer career began almost by accident when he filled out for an absent player at an Orlando Pirates game. He proved to be so skilled that they decided to keep him. One of Orlando Pirates fans gave him the name Jomo, after Jomo Kenyata (former president of Kenya) and it stuck. The name means burning spear in the Kikuyu language of Kenya. Sono’s career eventually took him to the US where he played for New York Cosmos.
After spending several years in the US, Sono returned to South Africa. In 1982 he bought the soccer team Highlands Park and renamed it Jomo Cosmos after his former American team. The team has done relatively well over the years. Sono currently sits on the board of the South African Premier Soccer League.
