Thusi: That's Why They Signed Me
By Malose Wa Ga Lamola
Bongiwe Thusi in her debut match for JVW (Cred: Twitter @BongiweThusi6)
Bongiwe Thusi celebrates winning the Hollywoodbets Super League title with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Read: It Never Crossed Mind
With the regularity of a drum beat from the grand stands. The Brazilians yellow shirts of the rising sun and blue shorts of sky, something, they deem the limit in Tshwane are now things of her unforgettable memories. Through Thusi's main stay at Sundowns, plying her trade in the domestic league under several franchises from Sasol to the current sponsor's Hollywoodbets Super League, Banyana Ba Style continued to cling to power. Though, Thusi has since swapped Blue and Yellow of The Brazilians for all white of Malabo Kings, but the Durban born star found similarities in standards of both leagues. "From the videos I’ve seen it’s almost the same with Hollywoodbets, truth be told, African league' standards need a lot of hard work to match those of the Europeans." Thusi compared.
Also Read: They Had To Beat Falcons Again
Not the one to burn bridges. Thusi is currently contracted to Malabo Kings, but with her sight glued to a move to the Arabians or European leagues. With all the possibilities and probabilities, Thusi's main focus is playing her football and leave all negotiations to her representatives. “I am a goal-driven individual. Currently I’m honouring my contract with Malabo Kings. The ambition from there, my agent is working towards an opportunity to cross to Arabian states. Honestly, here at home it's easy to adjust because most of the players we know each other and some of them I played with them in the National team.” Thusi told ShakingInk.
Related Piece: If Not Now, Then When?
Taking a penalty is never an easy task in football. If it is, either you are Bongiwe Thusi or have a fair share of a lion heart. It is barely 50 meters, but it is truly a terrible journey, right through the heart of your fear. A journey crammed with violent emotions. With his head bowed in utter devotion, Italian legend Andrea Pirlo, lifted. It up seeking intervention from the heavens because he says, "If God existed, He is not French.” These, are the words of Pirlo, or more brilliantly his description of a fifty-meter tale from the centre circle to take a penalty. Pirlo was describing his moment of glory when the Azzurri's stunned. France' star-studded side in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
With the calmness of a priest, she didn't stutter or took a pause, as she relays her aspiration. Malabo Kings president is eyeing the bigger fish to fry. The club has played in the maiden Women's Caf Champions League and are now aiming for the ultimate prize. Kings wants to conquer the continent. All the investment the president is putting into the side is testament to the club's ambition of one day clinching the most prestigious accolade in football on the continent. “Yes, the main aim for them to sign me was to bolster their squad for Champions League. As you can see, 80% of our squad is made up of international players with experience from different countries. We have players from South America and around Africa. The club president is very ambitious and investing everything to lift that cup.” Thusi continued.
Bongiwe Thusi announced as the new Malabo Kings player.
To keep the pot boiling, Thusi is willing to burn as much of the midnight oil as possible, to ensure she equip herself, with all tools necessary to help future generations to become better footballers than her generation. “To cut things short I’m still driven to play another few seasons overseas, then after that I can come back home to transfer the experience and knowledge to younger ones. I’d like to make an impact to the upcoming girls to be good leaders. And sharing all the experience and knowledge that I’ve gathered over the years to make them believe that there’s life in football.” Thusi concluded.
@Lamola_Herold
Coming into the final six months of your contract is the most frustrating phase of any professional footballer. It is an old tale, one that is full of peril. Athletes are never at ease as worries threaten to come crowding in. The pressure seems to be escalating to explosions. Like any other footballer, Bongiwe Thusi, found herself in a similar situation when her contract with Mamelodi Sundowns was coming to an end. Little did she know Equatorial Guinea giants, Malabo Kings, were keeping tabs on her situation at Chloorkop and were keen on bringing her on board. Slender Clutched her bags and waved goodbye to her teammates.
That brought down an iron curtain. Joining Kings was a royal beginning. As every word tunnels into the pages of ShakingInk, Slender, speaks of her stay at Sundowns and why joining Malabo Kings was a sort of task she wanted to sink her teeth into. With her contract with Malabo Kings still intact, Thusi, saw it befitting to join Janine Van Wyk Football Club For girls as she awaits the season to start midyear in the west African nation. Thusi's move to Malabo is the divine right of Kings, but JVW is ripe for her football revolution. JVW is not prising Thusi out of Kings grasp. She is an epitome of a princess. Kings' princess.
Thusi has spent over a decade with The Brazilians, and Chloorkop was the only home she knew. Adapting and settling in Equatorial Guinea brings a new challenge altogether. With culture and language barrier in mind. Equatorial Guinea' hospitality was the polar opposite of what 'Slender' had anticipated. Caught up in a tangle of emotions too complicated for words. The west African nation welcomed Thusi with not only warm hands but wide opened arms like Christ the redeemer statue stationed in Rio de Janeiro. “My contract with Mamelodi Sundowns came to an end, and the opportunity came knocking, then I had to go. Not as expected, they surprised me with the hospitality and the warm welcoming. We have a team translator. Most of the players are foreigners from Brazil, Ghana, Cameroon, and Colombia. The league starts very late that side June/July, so I decided to stay and play here at home.” Said Thusi.
Thusi has spent over a decade with The Brazilians, and Chloorkop was the only home she knew. Adapting and settling in Equatorial Guinea brings a new challenge altogether. With culture and language barrier in mind. Equatorial Guinea' hospitality was the polar opposite of what 'Slender' had anticipated. Caught up in a tangle of emotions too complicated for words. The west African nation welcomed Thusi with not only warm hands but wide opened arms like Christ the redeemer statue stationed in Rio de Janeiro. “My contract with Mamelodi Sundowns came to an end, and the opportunity came knocking, then I had to go. Not as expected, they surprised me with the hospitality and the warm welcoming. We have a team translator. Most of the players are foreigners from Brazil, Ghana, Cameroon, and Colombia. The league starts very late that side June/July, so I decided to stay and play here at home.” Said Thusi.
Read: It Never Crossed Mind
With the regularity of a drum beat from the grand stands. The Brazilians yellow shirts of the rising sun and blue shorts of sky, something, they deem the limit in Tshwane are now things of her unforgettable memories. Through Thusi's main stay at Sundowns, plying her trade in the domestic league under several franchises from Sasol to the current sponsor's Hollywoodbets Super League, Banyana Ba Style continued to cling to power. Though, Thusi has since swapped Blue and Yellow of The Brazilians for all white of Malabo Kings, but the Durban born star found similarities in standards of both leagues. "From the videos I’ve seen it’s almost the same with Hollywoodbets, truth be told, African league' standards need a lot of hard work to match those of the Europeans." Thusi compared.
Also Read: They Had To Beat Falcons Again
Not the one to burn bridges. Thusi is currently contracted to Malabo Kings, but with her sight glued to a move to the Arabians or European leagues. With all the possibilities and probabilities, Thusi's main focus is playing her football and leave all negotiations to her representatives. “I am a goal-driven individual. Currently I’m honouring my contract with Malabo Kings. The ambition from there, my agent is working towards an opportunity to cross to Arabian states. Honestly, here at home it's easy to adjust because most of the players we know each other and some of them I played with them in the National team.” Thusi told ShakingInk.
Related Piece: If Not Now, Then When?
Taking a penalty is never an easy task in football. If it is, either you are Bongiwe Thusi or have a fair share of a lion heart. It is barely 50 meters, but it is truly a terrible journey, right through the heart of your fear. A journey crammed with violent emotions. With his head bowed in utter devotion, Italian legend Andrea Pirlo, lifted. It up seeking intervention from the heavens because he says, "If God existed, He is not French.” These, are the words of Pirlo, or more brilliantly his description of a fifty-meter tale from the centre circle to take a penalty. Pirlo was describing his moment of glory when the Azzurri's stunned. France' star-studded side in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
Though, there are similarities to what Pirlo went through in the 2006 to Thusi's own mini heart attack, but Thusi had to take her penalty first in the maiden Women's Caf Champions League semi-finals in 2021 before locking her eyes to the skies above. “Honestly, they never easy. Everyone wants to win the competition. (Laughs) I was not nervous because I was the one who said I’m going to take that penalty. Players were panicking. Some crying. I had to be brave and step-up. After everything, that’s when it clicked in my mind that I took a crucial penalty and I got emotional, asking myself questions like, what if I had missed that penalty?” Said Thusi.
With the calmness of a priest, she didn't stutter or took a pause, as she relays her aspiration. Malabo Kings president is eyeing the bigger fish to fry. The club has played in the maiden Women's Caf Champions League and are now aiming for the ultimate prize. Kings wants to conquer the continent. All the investment the president is putting into the side is testament to the club's ambition of one day clinching the most prestigious accolade in football on the continent. “Yes, the main aim for them to sign me was to bolster their squad for Champions League. As you can see, 80% of our squad is made up of international players with experience from different countries. We have players from South America and around Africa. The club president is very ambitious and investing everything to lift that cup.” Thusi continued.
To keep the pot boiling, Thusi is willing to burn as much of the midnight oil as possible, to ensure she equip herself, with all tools necessary to help future generations to become better footballers than her generation. “To cut things short I’m still driven to play another few seasons overseas, then after that I can come back home to transfer the experience and knowledge to younger ones. I’d like to make an impact to the upcoming girls to be good leaders. And sharing all the experience and knowledge that I’ve gathered over the years to make them believe that there’s life in football.” Thusi concluded.
@Lamola_Herold
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