The Sunday News
Langalakhe Mabena
WHEN he played a character of a young footballer who mistakenly impregnated his girlfriend in the famous local movie Yellow Card, the curse of the literal charge of a ‘‘yellow card’’ in football regulations seemed to curse Leeroy Gopal’s career as for long he was reserved in playing a lead role.
However, it seems the charges which were imposed to him since 2000 (year of Yellow Card production) have been lifted as the Budiriro-bred actor is one of the lead characters in South Africa’s Mzansi Magic drama Abomama which broadcasts every Sunday at 20:00 hours.
The drama is made up of a colourful cast which includes the controversial singer and actress Khanyisile “Khanyi” Mbau who stars in the drama as Leroy’s wife, Kgosi Mongake, Nokuthula Lwedaba, Kenneth Nkosi, Joyce Skefu and the legendary Don Mlangeni Nawa and Jerry Pele.
With its setting being Soweto Township and Ferndale, the Parental Advisory Productions examines and challenges ideas of faith and sin when four close women are sucked into the criminal underworld and forced to turn their stokvel into a money-laundering scheme.
As Gopal is among the crème de la crème of Jozihood playing a lead character, it makes him believe that acting is flowing in his DNA as it is an inborn thing to him.
Speaking from Johannesburg, Gopal told Sunday Life that he feels alive in the acting music scene by playing such a big character responsible in changing the thematic concerns and developing different plots of the drama.
“As I am playing a lead role at Abomama drama series, I feel alive in the acting industry because it has been a while since I played a lead role in any production.
“I have featured in Backstage as Dumo, Home Affairs, Jacob’s Cross, Hola Mpinji and Jozi H but among these I played cameo roles, so to be back on my feet again as a lead actor shows am still in the game,” said Gopal.
It’s often said in the Bible that God helps those who help themselves and in Abomama, those who like productions which critic fake religious congregates will see how the society takes it upon itself to turn calamity into a blessing.
