At 40, Elias Domingues Pelembe, the captain of Mozambique’s national team, defies expectations with his continued presence at the top level.
He shines under the spotlight as the oldest player at the ongoing AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
After carving his legacy in South Africa for 16 years, the legendary playmaker returned to his Mozambican roots with UD Songo. His stints with SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits, Polokwane City, and Royal AM earned him recognition as one of the most influential foreign players in the country’s history.
But here’s the astonishing part: Pelembe, sporting 101 senior national team caps, leads the Mambas into the Ivorian AFCON with no signs of slowing down.
“It’s the passion I have for soccer. It’s in my blood,” Pelembe declared during a press conference in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. “This passion keeps me going, you know, like what you eat, what you do when you’re not playing.”
He delves into his secrets for longevity: “I try to rest as much as possible, and diet is crucial. I don’t just eat anything; I’d say it’s all about the passion that fuels my drive.”
On Sunday, Mozambique faces North African giants Egypt at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan (5 pm), with Pelembe’s passion-fueled determination undoubtedly playing a pivotal role.
WHAT FEIZAL SIDAT SAID ABOUT ELIAS PELEMBE
“We’ve constantly been bringing in players who have their roots in Mozambique, where one parent is Mozambican but they were born overseas.
“After one or two years, maybe Elias will consider his future. After this AFCON, maybe you need some players to take over from him. It’s not easy. We all know what Elias Pelembe has achieved for himself and the country. We have boys coming up who are younger,” Sidat said.
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He believes “it’s important to bring players from overseas” who have had exposure in leagues like Portugal and Belgium.
“The boys who play in our [domestic] league can learn from them when we bring them [foreign-based players] to the national team. The world is becoming a global village; we’ve seen examples from Germany and many other countries. Cape Verde players – 98% are from naturalisation.”