The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is taking place in Morocco this year and Banyana Banyana are playing their first match in the competition against Tanzania tonight. South Africa won the Cup only once – in 2022. One of the women who lifted the trophy that year was Janine van Wyk. In 185: The Janine van Wyk Story as told to Firdose Moonda, you can read all about the successful campaign and Janine’s path to record-breaking glory as well as the incredible background story of South Africa’s women footballers’ quest to compete on the African continent and beyond, and to be counted among the best! Janine and Firdose will be in Johannesburg to celebrate the launch of the book – fittingly during the women’s month of August – and we hope to see you all at Love Books on 11 August for the occasion. Janine and Firdose will be in conversation with speaker, broadcaster and host of The Enhanced Pod, Leigh-Ann Paulick. Not to be missed!
FIRDOSE MOONDA is a sports journalist and writer whose main role is as the Senior Correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket at Cricinfo but her first published stories were about football. While studying her Journalism Honours degree, Firdose covered the university’s football team, Bidvest Wits, who were in South Africa’s Premier League. She went on to report on the 2010 Football World Cup but with a packed sporting calendar, eventually had cricket chosen for her. She returned to football writing in 2023, inspired by the Women’s World Cup. Firdose is interested in sport as a socio-cultural phenomenon and her stories often come from beyond the boundary. Her writing portfolio includes short stories published in Karavan Press anthologies and chapters in academic books and journals. When she is not writing, Firdose is a yoga scholar and teacher trainer.
From kicking a ball in the backyard with her cousins, to being the only girl in a boys’ team, JANINE VAN WYK rose to become the most-capped footballer in Africa and is among the most decorated players in the global game. This book charts her journey alongside the growth of the women’s game and the changing landscape of South African sport. Hop on a bus in Mozambique, bathe in a river in Nigeria and feel the fury of fans in Equatorial Guinea as Janine and her teammates chase continental glory. Experience the thrills of the Olympic Games and the World Cups and the progression to professionalism as Janine earns contracts abroad. What never leaves her is her commitment to developing and contributing to the game at home. Alongside her quest to break the record for most appearances for an African national side, Janine navigates co-owning a football club, the Covid-19 crisis, and changing team and relationship dynamics. This is not just a story about sport; it is a story about dreams, determination and a deep desire to be the best one can be.
About the author:
FIRDOSE MOONDA is a sports journalist and writer whose main role is as the Senior Correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket at Cricinfo but her first published stories were about football. While studying her Journalism Honours degree, Firdose covered the university’s football team, Bidvest Wits, who were in South Africa’s Premier League. She went on to report on the 2010 Football World Cup but with a packed sporting calendar, eventually had cricket chosen for her. She returned to football writing in 2023, inspired by the Women’s World Cup. Firdose is interested in sport as a socio-cultural phenomenon and her stories often come from beyond the boundary. Her writing portfolio includes short stories published in Karavan Press anthologies and chapters in academic books and journals. When she is not writing, Firdose is a yoga scholar and teacher trainer.
SECRETS is the result of the Karavan Stories Workshop & Anthology project, now in its third year.
All the contributors gathered for a writing workshop at the end of April. Together, we discussed the intricacies of the short story, went through several writing exercises, decided on a theme for our anthology and began exploring ideas for individual stories. In the following months, we kept in touch, drafting and redrafting, until the book you are holding in your hands took shape. We chose the theme for the anthology – secrets – within the group. Contributors could work with it in any way they wished, either reimagine it, see it as a springboard or a metaphor, or let their imaginations soar. The stories which emerged interpret ‘secrets’ in wonderfully intriguing ways, inviting us to turn the pages with curiosity, anticipation and, occasionally, with a sinking feeling of dread. I would like to thank all contributing authors for embarking on this journey with Karavan Press: your stories confirm something about local authors that has never really been a secret – you rock! A big thank you to Monique Cleghorn and Stephen Symons for the stunning design of our anthology. To our readers: enjoy!
Karina M. Szczurek Cape Town, December 2025
Contributors: Lucienne Argent, Zubayr Charles, Christine Coates, Máire Fisher, Nina Geraghty, Rob Glenister, Merle Levin, Michelle A. Meyer, Firdose Moonda, Helen Nevin, Joëlle Searle, Jana van Niekerk
Temperature is the result of the Karavan Stories Workshop & Anthology project, now in its second year.
Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
All the contributors gathered for a writing workshop at the end of April. Together, we discussed the intricacies of the short story, went through several writing exercises, decided on a theme for our anthology and began exploring ideas for individual stories. In the following months, we kept in touch, drafting and redrafting, until the book took shape.
The theme – temperature – was inspired by global and intimate, personal developments. Climate change continues to dominate our weather and news cycles. Heated international debates require cool and collected thinking for the sake of all our futures around the world. It has been an exceptionally difficult year for many – what allows us to survive, and thrive, is the warmth and kindness of our connections. Temperature is testimony to this simple truth.
Contributors could work with the theme in any way they wished, either reimagine it, see it as a springboard or a metaphor, or let their imaginations soar. The stories which emerged interpret ‘temperature’ in the most innovative ways, but they have one thing in common: hot off the press, they inspire reflections on interdependence – between individuals, communities and continents, as well as between humanity and our environment.
I would like to thank all contributing authors for embarking on this journey with Karavan Press: your stories are a cooling balm for a scorching reality. A big thank you to Monique Cleghorn for the exquisite design of our anthology. To our readers: enjoy!
Karina M. Szczurek Cape Town, December 2024
Contributors: Sue Brown, Christine Coates, Gail Gilbride, Kerry Hammerton, Karen Horn, Karin Lijnes, Ciaran R. Maidwell, Firdose Moonda, Consuelo Roland, Anne Schlebusch, Joëlle Searle, Philisiwe Twijnstra, Alexandra Wood
Cover artwork: Hannes Meiring
Publisher: Karavan Press
Publication date: December 2024
ISBN: 978-1-0672224-3-7
The book will be available in all good bookshops in the new year.Please contact Karavan Press directly if you would like to get copies of the book earlier.
karavanpress.com 