CAPE TOWN - Jurgen Klopp had some bad news for Bafana Bafana as they prepare to tackle Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday night.
The presence of the Liverpool manager was the highlight of a fund-raising event organised by Second Division club Hout Bay United at the Bay Harbour Market on Wednesday night.
And, of course, the main question on everybody’s lips was whether he had any advice for Bafana on how to stop Liverpool’s flying Senegal winger Sadio Mané.
“No chance,” laughed Klopp. “If I knew how you could stop him, I would tell you.”
It was a fantastic evening for the Hout Bay United Football Community, a new club on the block formed with the stated intention of uniting the disparate communities of Hout Bay through the sport of football.
“I love the idea behind this club,” said Klopp. “It’s a big honour to be here.”
Such was the attraction of the charismatic Klopp that people flew in from Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg to be part of the occasion, and forked out a hefty R2 000 entry fee to have an opportunity to interact with the popular Liverpool manager.
What an incredible night out with Jurgen Klopp. Such a great guy in person and larger than life! #HBUFC #Jurgenklopp #Aneveningwithjurgenklopp #Lfc #Capetown pic.twitter.com/xImdTyneVL
— LFC Cape Town 🇿🇦 (@LFC_CapeTown) November 8, 2017
Klopp had the audience mesmerised, often funny, supremely philosophical in his ideas about the game, and just a general all-round great guy.
Not once did he come across as a famous football manager, mostly he was just the regular guy-next-door, the bloke you just love to take out for a beer or three.
While he weighed in on many issues at the function, the one nugget he did leave behind for long-suffering Liverpool fans is: “Let me tell you that my aim is to win the league title with Liverpool.”
He didn’t say when, but he did say it would happen.
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp in Hout Bay, Cape Town on Wednesday night. Video: Rodney Reiners