I Did It for the Badge

“I Did It for the Badge”:

Massie’s Journey from the Eastern Cape to the Global Stage with Mamelodi Sundowns

Author: NJ Hove

In every great football Club, there are stories that statistics can’t touch. Stories not etched in match reports or silverware lists, stories that unfold not on the pitch, but in the heart.

This is one of them.

The game of football has witnessed several talented youngsters who grew up in poor, rural and challenging conditions and still became successful professional footballers It begins in the Eastern Cape, where the rhythms of township life beat to the sounds of ambition, struggle, and Saturday afternoon football, when it could be found. Long before the hashtag, before the trophies multiplied, there was Massie.

The Mamelodi Sundowns Digital Magazine team caught up with Thomas “Massie” Ntontela shortly after his return from the FIFA Club World Cup to reflect on a journey that reached far beyond the pitch. A journey that began in the dusty streets of the Eastern Cape and led him to packed stadiums in Cincinnati and sunlit avenues in Miami. As a proud member of the Yellow Nation East London Branch, Massie carried his club’s colours, coupled with hopes of a generation of fans who have long dreamed of seeing South African football on the world stage.

“I’ve been a proud Mamelodi Sundowns fan for over 20 years,” Massie begins. “But growing up in the township, even watching the game on TV was a privilege.” Like many, he supported the Club from afar, learning its rhythms through radio commentaries, televised highlights, and the passionate debates of elders who knew the names of Sundowns legends like hymns. The idea of seeing his beloved Club live felt as distant as the stars.

That changed in the 2009/10 season.

“My first live match was at Super Stadium (Lucas Moripe Stadium) against Orlando Pirates. We won 2–0. I’ll never forget that day - 25 November 2009. Luvhengo Mungomeni and Benedict Vilakazi scored in that game and I remember that the stadium was electric, the vuvuzelas were blaring, and the chants were loud. As the second goal hit the back of the net, something clicked in me, you know! I had found my identity in football.”

Fast forward to 2025, and that boy from Eastern Cape, once glued to grainy broadcasts, and now a family man, found himself halfway across the world, wearing the same colours in the United States of America.

“Travelling with Mamelodi Sundowns to the United States was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an honour I’ll never forget. The moment we boarded the plane in South Africa, I could already feel the pride and responsibility of being part of something historic.”

In a world where football is increasingly a spectacle for the privileged, this journey came at a cost. Massie was not sponsored. He was not invited as a celebrity or flown out as a VIP. He chose to go. He sacrificed to go.

“I took time off work, left my family behind for a while, and made real financial sacrifices to be part of this journey. But I did it for the badge, for the love of the game, and for a Club that has shaped so much of my life.”

Traveling to the United States is quite expensive due to the visa applications, travel logistics, accommodation and food.

“This experience reminded me that being a supporter is more than just about attending games, it’s about showing heart, loyalty, and pride, no matter the distance.”

And when he arrived in the United States of America, the colours of home greeted him. Sundowns flags fluttering in foreign winds. The melodies of Mzansi echoing through the streets. Fans, players, and strangers coming together for something bigger than football.

“One of the most unforgettable moments was walking into the stadium in Cincinnati and seeing Sundowns colours proudly displayed in a foreign country. It felt like home away from home.”

“Being part of the supporters singing, dancing, and waving the South African flag in the streets of Miami made me realise just how powerful football is in uniting people across cultures and continents.”

The world noticed. American fans approached them with curiosity and warmth. Players and media recognised Sundowns not as some obscure African outfit, but as a continental powerhouse with global intentions.

“I was truly surprised by how many people in the United States already knew about Mamelodi Sundowns. They didn’t just see us as ‘a team from Africa’, they saw us as serious contenders with world-class structure, talent, and ambition.”

“This experience changed my perception completely… we’re no longer just South Africa’s top Club because we have evolved into a global football brand.”

Still, through all the elevation and exposure, Sundowns remained Sundowns. Shoe Shine and Piano originators and custodians. The beauty of rhythm, precision, and flair. An identity not up for trade, no matter the opponent.

“Absolutely we held our own, and then some! Watching Sundowns play against top-tier international teams and still sticking to our playing philosophy was incredibly satisfying as a supporter. You can’t explain the pride you feel. We didn’t abandon who we are, we played the game the Sundowns way. Shoe Shine and Piano without fear”st them, and eventually became successful in the game they love so much.

The players, too, did not place themselves on pedestals. They stood among the fans, humble, grounded, present.

“Coach Miguel Cardoso and Coach Steve Komphela, in particular, took time to greet the fans, check on us, and even thank us for our presence. That humility left a lasting impression on me. It reminded me of our philosophy of Ubuntu – Botho. It’s about people, community, and shared passion. The players didn’t act like celebrities, they acted like brothers.”

The tour, to Massie, was not a commercial exercise. It was a cultural reckoning, an emotional rethreading of the bonds that tie supporters to their Club. He takes this as a valuable learning experience.

“We connected with the African diaspora, we exposed the team to new environments, and we showed the world the pride of South African and African football. The fans, supporters, players, and technical staff became one family… We became more than a Club, a united front representing an entire continent.”
Massie Nontela returned home fulfilled, and transformed.

“Without a doubt, the USA experience strengthened my bond with Sundowns. I came back home feeling more connected, more invested, and more proud to wear the yellow jersey.”

And to the fans still watching from the outside, still believing from afar, Massie offers a message, forged in faith and delivered with clarity:
“To other fans and supporters, I would say: if you ever get the chance to travel with the team, take it. It’s not just about football. It’s about being part of a family and waving our flag on the global stage.

“Sundowns is building something special, something more than just a football legacy. We are building a movement. And as fans, we are the soul of that movement. Together, we can take this club to heights never imagined.”

From the townships of the Eastern Cape to the world stage, Massie’s story reminds us of the powerful, often unseen role that supporters play in the making of a great Club. Through loyalty, sacrifice, and love, they carry the legacy forward, one yellow jersey at a time. Proof of what football and this club can mean. Proof that at Mamelodi Sundowns, dreams don’t expire. They grow.

Because when the badge is worn with heart, sky’s not the limit, it’s just the beginning.

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