Mamelodi Sundowns Magazine
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Mamelodi Sundowns Magazine
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She is also the only athlete ever to have won Olympic, World, World indoor, Commonwealth Games, Continental Games and Continental Championships titles in the same running event. Simply put, the Maputo Express is one of the greatest 800m runners to ever grace our planet. Incredibly, she is one of few selected athletes to have participated in six summer Olympic Games.
After hanging up her spikes at the age of 35 years old, the three-time world champion re-invented herself as a footballer and played for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (2010 – 2013), as well as captained the Mozambique Women's National Football Team at the 2011 All-Africa Games in her home town of Maputo.
Mutola also indicated that her entire life revolved around sport “Growing up as a child, I have always been drawn to sports. I was into swimming until the age of six, took up football after that, and switched to the athletics track, which brought me unparalleled success. I got back to football after retirement and I have become a coach, mentor and a big advocate of women in sports.”
At Mamelodi Sundowns, Mutola showed her class on several occasions. The track legend was part of the Ladies' team that clinched the 2013 SASOL National championships. Mutola famously slotted a 58th-minute penalty as The Brazilians registered a 2-0 win over Limpopo-based Ma-Indies Ladies in a hard-fought final.
The 800m star spoke about some of her favourite moments while playing for Banyana Ba Style as a striker, “Every second I spent with the Brazilians was exciting and memorable. Although women’s football was not so popular during my playing days, Sundowns kept on looking after its players and that is how the foundation for success was laid.”
Coach Jerry ‘Kappa’ Tshabalala spoke on Mutola’s time at Sundowns, “Mutola was a true professional who adapted quite easily to the rigours of playing football. She was great on the ball and was a ruthless weapon in the final third. Despite her legendary achievements on the track, she displayed utmost humility and professionalism while at the club.”
Mutola’s first formal coaching job came in 2011 when she was hired by mentee Caster Semenya ahead of the 2012 Olympics in London. The South African clinched gold in the event and like her mentor, went on to become a legend in the 800m discipline.
Mutola spoke on some of the attributes of Caster, “She is one of the most professional athletes I have ever come across in my lifetime. Her dedication, determination and commitment to the sport are admirable. Despite going through a lot, she has remained a fighter and I am proud to be associated with the success story of one of the greatest female athletes of all time.”
As a proud Mozambican, Maria spoke on the joy of being an African, “Africa is a unique continent thanks to our distinct cultures, a show of respect and love for humanity. Despite travelling around the world during my professional career, the continent of Africa remains my home. As Africans, we must strive to improve our continent because there is no place like home. The spirit of Ubuntu resides in Africa; that is what excites me the most.”
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Taking a Trip on the Chukwu Train: Reflecting on the Greatness of Raphael Chukwu
A constant threat in the final third, Chukwu was a man-mountain who used his guile and agility to glide past defenders with relative ease. Simply put, Chukwu was a big man for the big occasions. Nicknamed ‘Chukwu Train’, the left-footed marksman had three spells with The Brazilians and remains an iconic figure ...
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From the Stage to the Pitch: The Epic Journey of Esrom Nyandoro
The story of Esrom ‘Yellowman’ Nyandoro is a very interesting one. From travelling around the world as a performer in the theatre to sending his curriculum vitae via fax to Mamelodi Sundowns requesting a trial, the soft-spoken midfield combatant is a man of several talents. These days, the former Sundowns Captain ...