31-year-old soccer player turned actor and television presenter, Eric Macheru has become a household name to Mzansi television lovers across the country.
The actor, now famously known for playing Leeto Maputla on SABC 1’s Skeem Saam burst onto the scene a little over five years ago when he was cast on the Mzansi Magic telenovela, iNkaba in the role of Rick.
However, before fame knocked on Eric’s doorstep, he was a super star of a different sort.
Eric was once a soccer player and in 2005, he won the SABC 1 competition, Soccer Kings, which awarded him the opportunity to train with English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur, a one-year contract with Highlands Cape Town and a sports management contract.
He has also played for Ajax Cape Town.
In a recent interview with the Daily Sun, Eric let slip that “the acting part was never part of the plan”.
But unfortunately, his soccer career was cut short when he got an injury that could not heal.
The multi-talented young man at the time decided to pursue his other passion, which was media.
“I studied at AFDA; I studied media, directing and writing in the arts. So I’m guessing that acting, within all of these things, was around my way,” he said.
Eric has also presented on Vuzu’s celebrity lifestyle show, V Entertainment.
Now he has happily settled in at Skeem Saam where his popularity continues to grow.
Eric says that he has no intention of leaving the show anytime soon.
“I might just pull a Karabo Moroka on the show,” he joked.
Watch as Eric shares what his journey with Skeem Saam has been like.
