With Namibian star Peter Shalulile inching closer to making history by becoming South African top-flight's most prolific marksman, his mother has now revealed that the Mamelodi Sundowns striker quit school in Grade 10 to pursue football.
Shalulile currently boasts an impressive 127 goals under his belt in the PSL, which is just two goals shy of the all-time record of 129 goals held by former Bafana Bafana star Siyabonga Nomvethe.
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Nomvethe's top-flight career drew to an end in 2019 after a spell at AmaZulu, and since then, no striker has been as prolific as Shalulile.
The now 31-year-old joined Sundowns from Highlands Park in 2020, and he has since gone on to score a century of goals for the reigning South African champions, as per Transfermarkt.
With history beckoning, Shalulile's mother, Menetie, has now shed light on how her son's overwhelming journey to the top began, according to the newspaper New Era Namibia.
"I am very proud of him. I heard about the record, and he's doing what he loves and benefiting from it," said Shalulile's mother.
"He started playing football in the streets of Golgotha (Katutura), and in Grade 10, he decided to quit school to play football.
"I tried to force him back into school, but he refused. He joined Tura Magic and then started travelling to South Africa.
"I realised this is what he wanted to do. Parents should not stop their children from playing sports, as not all are good academically."
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Shalulile's sister, Hilya, added, "From the very beginning, he showed an unwavering determination to follow his dreams. He knew, without a doubt, that football was his calling. It was all he ate, dreamt and spoke about, day in and day out.
"Interestingly, Peter didn't always focus solely on football. He initially played hockey in school before making the transition to football. Once he chose football, there was no turning back.
"I remember one particular moment in the TV room when the Brave Warriors were playing. Peter was still in primary school then. He looked at my mum and boldly declared, 'One day, I'll play for the national team. Just wait and see.' And here we are today.
"We are incredibly proud of him. His consistency, discipline, hard work, humility, and most importantly, his faith and devotion to Christ have been the pillars of his journey.
"It is Christ, along with countless prayers from family and friends, who has led him to become the remarkable person he is today."
By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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