Not many know it, but Nomalungelo "Lungsi" Mooi is a former Banyana Banyana coach. Even more unknown to many is the role she has played in South African football at large, including holding the SAFA Media Officer gig during the 2010 World Cup, a feather in her cap indeed. Those who have cared enough to peruse the pages of history will discover that once upon a time, the Gqeberha native also once was on the books of Bay United, the pride of the Eastern Cape long before Chippa United came into being, as general manager. Talk about a battle-scarred individual in the realm of the Beautiful Game, both as coach and administrator, but in recent years, her role has morphed into that of being a mother figure to aspirant women footballers from her home province. She is, after all, the director of Hollywoodbets Super League side City Lads Ladies FC, hoping to see some of her charges move up the ranks. As part of Women's Month celebrations, and in the first part of our Diski Women, You Rock series, Soccer Laduma's Lunga Adam sat down with Mooi as she opens up on the stuff she's most passionate about.
Lunga Adam: Sis' Lungsi, City Lads Ladies FC is the project keeping you on your toes these days. How's things going?
Nomalungelo "Lungsi" Mooi: Yho, Lunga, it's really tough, man. In fact, in anything, in any institution or in any organisation, once you are on top, it's not as easy as when you were down there, you know. You get to experience new challenges. It's not as easy as it seems. Number one, the experience versus us, the newcomers, that you encounter, the resources as well, because it requires a lot of travelling, it requires that you acquire players. As much as you had players, but you realise that eish, ja, they are good, but they are not at this level, so it means you need to beef up the team, you need to find players. You find players that are coming from outside the city, from outside the metro, from outside the province, so it means you need to house them. That is the cost. You need to feed them. And other related matters, man, that relate to finances. Ja, it's not easy, it's not easy, but you know, step by step, we are getting there, we are trying to consolidate, we are trying to make sure that we compete as well, we are not here in this league as a statistic, that we were in this league. We want to make sure that we remain in this league and also we compete.
LA: So then how do you deal with these challenges you speak of because one thing about being in a leadership position is that you have to show a brave face so that those you're leading don't see you in a state of weakness?
NM: Ja, hmmm, that is the truth wena Lunga. That's what I keep on telling my team that I work with that you know what, we need to absorb that pressure. The players should not feel it. The stress, it must be ours. We try, man, and find ways… You know, when it comes to travelling, as much as we cannot fly, as much as we cannot get into comfortable buses, but we always try to make sure that they get to where they're supposed to be, they honour the matches. And then maybe we will, sort of, cover that and maybe find them a better accommodation, a comfortable accommodation so that they don't squeeze each other, they don't sleep on the floor. At least give them a better accommodation from the long trip, at least they are able to rest well. And feed them and try and have clothes for them to wear so that they also appear as a team. The little that you have, from time to time, you, sort of… uqhekeze (share) from something, to say, "You know what, guys, I had 20c, but I'll give you this 5c. Have this 5c, it's yours."
You will be amazed (at) how players get excited. You know, I've learnt so much from this, that the little that you give them, it makes them happy. I remember this one December, I looked at the bank account and I realised that hayi (no), I mean, we are not playing, at least there's a little bit of money. We decided that let's give them a Christmas incentive. It wasn't much, Lunga. It wasn't much. It was not even a R1 000. Yho! They would send you messages, saying, "Yho, mama, you don't know what this means. At least at home we'll have a decent Christmas." You know, it melted my heart to think, to realise that this is nothing that you are giving them, but the appreciation that they are showing, man. So, ja, this is how we try to, sort of, cover up all these challenges, and we push. The grant that we get, which is not enough, we squeeze it and make sure that it covers everything. And also, I must say that, you know, our municipality, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, has been very, very helpful since our SASOL League days until now. The little that they give us, it does make a difference and we are still in talks with them, to say that, "Guys, now we are at this level, can you maybe, sort of, up what we were getting at SASOL because you must remember that was just provincial and now we are travelling national."
LA: How much is the grant?
NM: The grant depends on your… because you are paid per kilometre. You get R98 000, you get R102 000, you get R120 000. I think the most that we've got was around R120 000. And your costs… we were calculating our costs… you exceed R200 000 a month, close to R300 000, if not more.
LA: Well, with such challenges, you could just pack it in and go sit at home and be with the grandkids or relax on the beach. Why are you doing this, enduring these hardships not even for yourself but for the team?
NM: Hmmm, you know, these are the questions that I also ask myself. There was a stage where I felt like, "You know what, why can't you leave this thing and enjoy yourself?" When I look back, right now I would be driving the car that I want to drive, I would be living in a mansion if it was not for football. But then again, I remind myself… I would ask myself, "Lungsi, why did you do this in the first place? Why did you start this in the first place?" And once I get to that point, then, you know, it, sort of, grounds me because for me, it was for a girl-child. Ukususa estratweni, ukuqokelela umntana oyintombazana (To get off the street and mould the girl-child), you know, and to create a platform because these opportunities, most of the time it's people from Gauteng or Western Cape or KZN who get them.
It would only be one child, that one child from the Eastern Cape who would get it. It would be your (Kholosa) Biyana once in a while, then it would be your (Sibulele) Holweni once in a while who would get this opportunity. So, I wanted to create that platform for these kids besides taking them away from the streets and helping them to do something that they love, and also to make a difference in my community. So, that was my… that's still my vision. For me, the reward is to see somebody getting successful. You know, I've got abo (the likes of) Thulani Totyi – she's a beautiful girl, she's got her own life right now, and when you see them driving cars bigger than yours, you get satisfied and you'll be like, "That's exactly the reason why, Lungsi, you started this." You see oo (the likes of) Nolusindiso Plaatjie getting successful and you say, "That's the reason why you did it. It was not for the glory, it was not for the fame, but it was for you to change the life of that girl-child."
LA: Tell us more about the club.
NM: We founded it in 1995. You must remember that City Lads has always been there since 1968 as a boys' team, and I was recruited as an administrator ngexesha loo (during the time of the likes of) Bhut' Stan (Mosia), the late Bhut' Phindile (Mxolisi "Peddies" Ngqokwe), Luvuyo "Flesher" Mini, the late "Mapayito" (Sigqibo Gxothiwe) and others. So, I was recruited as an administrator, the secretary exactly. While I was there, I realised… I think the story that inspired me was the story of… what's the name of this girl now? (Starts thinking) The Johannesburg girl. I think she was the first girl in South Africa to play football. Oh, it's Gloria Hlalele! When I saw her story on TV and also the northern areas playing girls football, I approached the leadership and I said, "Guys, how about…?" and they said, "But Lungsi, who's gonna do it?" I said, "If you give me the space to do it, (I will). Yes, we have a netball team, maybe if we can (also have a football's team)." Then they said, "Fine, go on. If you are able to do it, go for it." Then we founded it in 1995.
LA: What a journey, up until you got promoted to the Hollywoodbets Super League last year.
NM: Yes, yes. You know, sometimes God does things in His own time because we felt that we were supposed to be promoted a long time ago, but unfortunately things didn't work out. The first time Hollywoodbets was introduced (as a sponsor), we thought that ah, this is our time, we will be promoted because we've always been the champs of the Eastern Cape when Hollywoodbets was not there. But unfortunately that year, Thunderbirds (Ladies) was the first one to get promoted, and we thought okay, the next year, and we didn't even win the season (championship) and the following year we didn't win the season. Up until last year when we got promoted. And thanks to the people who work with me in the team, like coach Terry Mrwerwe, and those who laid the foundation for us to get where we are today, the likes of Monde Tyaliti and Moses Ndlela. They've helped me a lot. We wouldn't be where we are today without them. I want to believe that I may be the person who's pushing things, but there are those people who are working tirelessly behind the scenes.
LA: Personally, your journey has had its twists and turns.
NM: I think mine, it was indirectly influenced by… I keep on saying this… my brother. He was a goalkeeper for City Lads. I would go and watch him play his matches epakeni (at the park). I would be there watching as a young girl. I've never played formal football, but I was there erhangeni (in the alleyway), kicking a ball. I was boyish when I was growing up, I was, sort of, a tomboy. I remember when I was in high school, I always had boy friends, like friends who are male, and they would come to my place. A group of boys from my school coming to see me, and my mother would be saying, "And then Lungsi, which one is yours kwaba (amongst these)?" and I would be like, "No, they are my friends!" But tomboyish as I was, I've never played football formally, but I would play erhangeni with the boys using plastic and all that. Then, when I started teaching in Uitenhage, there was this group of boys, the school team, ndifike bezidlalela i (when I got there, they were just playing) soccer. There was nobody who was managing them. So, I would be there watching them and I would ask them, "But guys, who is managing you?"
"There was no one, so I took it upon myself and anything that they wanted, now I was that person. So, I was there with them. Until they played… there was this KFC Cup in the schools and we won that in the Eastern Cape. We were the champs of the Eastern Cape. I decided that you know what, how about doing coaching? There was a coaching clinic that was done in Uitenhage by Boebie Williams, I joined that. Then I started joining more coaching clinics, I started doing more coaching courses. There was a German guy who came to Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) to do the coaching course, I did those. I went to Cape Town and met abo (the likes of) Boebie Solomons. There was a coaching course that was done by the Dutch in Cape Town and I was there.
LA: Hmmm….
NM: So, that's how I grew in football, the forming of the team, coaching the team because I was the one now coaching the team from the training I acquired. While I was doing that, I was approached… I think they were looking for a female coach to coach Banyana Banyana, and I was approached… I was invited for interviews. So, I was interviewed and then I was hired. It was a two-year contract because we had to go to the Africa Cup of Nations for Women in Nigeria. So, that's how I started coaching Banyana Banyana in… what year was this? (Starts thinking) I think 1998, 1999. We went to Nigeria, unfortunately we lost in the group stages. Ja, after that, I felt that coaching was too stressful, maybe let me focus more on administration because I was doing both in the ladies team – coaching and administration. I said, "Let me abandon this coaching business and focus on administering this team", and so I did that. Then while doing that, I was approached by uBhut' Sipho Pityana when he bought Bay United. I was invited to be part of the board of Bay United, so I sat in the board until he said to me, "You know what, Lungsi, I want you full-time, to come and work for Bay United." It was a very difficult decision for me to make, but I was like, "You know what, life is about risk-taking. Take this risk and see where it takes you." I took that risk, that leap of faith, and I joined Bay United. I left teaching. I worked for the club up until it was sold to Mr (Johnny) Mogaladi. We stayed for a year in Port Elizabeth and then he decided to take it to Polokwane. He requested me to move with the team to Polokwane so that it finds its footing, and I agreed. So, I left with the team and I brought along one of the administrators. So, ja, that's my journey, man, in a nutshell.
LA: During the historic 2010 World Cup, you were also there in the thick of things, right?
NM: Oh yes! Before 2010, I served in the SAFA structures – in the LFA structure, in the SAFA structure as a women convenor, in SAFA Nelson Mandela Bay, in the SAFA EC Committee, I served in the SAFA national team women's sub-committee. And yes, I worked in the 2010 World Cup as a media officer. There was also an Africa Cup of Nations that we hosted after the World Cup, I also served as a media officer (during that tournament).
LA: When you look at the contribution you've made to the game over the years, don't you feel you are under-appreciated?
NM: It used to frustrate me a lot. You're right when you say that it's about passion. I'm very passionate about it. There's one thing that I keep on telling people, people think that it's easy to be in this industry, it's not easy at all. As I've said, there are so many challenges, especially as a woman. You know those challenges wena Lunga. It's not easy. There would be times where you want to give up, but you know what nhe, you push on, you endure. I used to have those moments where I would be like, "Oh, I'm not appreciated" and all that, and then I decided that, "You know what nhe, forget about other people. If what you are doing is changing the life of somebody, then continue, irrespective of whether you are given accolades or you are not given those flowers, it's not about those flowers. God will give you the reward. I keep on saying that you know what nhe, I never knew that I would be in this space right now where I am content with what I am doing and where I can feel I… hmmm, how do I say this? Where I feel that this is my purpose. I believe that this is my purpose. God gave it to me and I want to believe that He gave it to me on purpose, and there's nobody who's going to take it away from me, no matter what. Whether you give me the support or you don't, or whether you try to break me or you don't try to break me, God has given this to me. With all the products that I have… (Starts speaking in loud excitement) And I've got some great news, yho! I cannot wait! I think this one, this is what I've been waiting for all my life, to see my product. But unfortunately, I cannot reveal it, ha, ha, ha. I cannot, sorry, Lunga!
LA: Ha, ha, ha, let's end it off on that happy note, Sis' Lungsi. As Soccer Laduma, and with this being Women's Month, we celebrate you and give you your flowers for the incredible job you've done in Mzansi football.
NM: Thank you so much, Lunga. I have to make special mention of my former players who are now adding value to the team. One of them, Lumka Mjana, is an assistant coach in the senior team, while Dineo Mke and Nomaxabiso Manto are coaching the development side. They've been incredible.
