Elias Pelembe was rejected by a Mamelodi Sundowns coach who allegedly described the twinkle-toed player as too skinny. But after they were alerted of the flying winger from Maputo, rivals SuperSport United's chairman, Khulu Sibiya, instructed CEO Stan Matthews, who was on honeymoon in London, to locate the Maputo Express. On arrival, it took coach Gavin Hunt seven minutes to realise that he had a diamond in his hands. In that year, Domingues was to terrorise local defenders and assisted Matsatsantsa to three successive league championships. Now 39, and 17 years after a successful and glittering career in Mzansi, he tells Soccer Laduma's Thomas Kwenaite in this interview that he enjoyed every minute of his time in the City of Gold. Pelembe also reveals why Hunt was his best coach as well as when he plans to hang up his boots.
Thomas Kwenaite: How many games have you played for UD Songo so far since you returned home?
Elias Pelembe: It has been very good being back home after spending 17 years playing and living in South Africa. I have played seven games so far, not to mention CAF Champions League matches. So far, we have won five, lost one and drawn one match (since my return) – not bad at all.
TK: So, why did you choose Songo on your return to Mozambique?
EP: I think their project excited me, the way they spoke to me about their vision and what they wanted to achieve. They spoke to me with passion about their ambitions and the CAF Champions League. Also, I will be closer to home. But I can say it's the project, their ambitions regarding the wish to go far in the Champions League and enhance their brand across Africa that convinced me. I'm coming here to help also.
TK: You played Green Mambas from Eswatini in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round. Now you're set to host Petro de Luanda on Sunday. A crucial game.
EP: We know how Petro has been so strong during the past few years, but it's always good to come up against big teams because then you also get stronger. It also tests your strength and helps you get better. Now that we have defeated Mambas 2-1 on aggregate, we can now focus on the Angolans. We are positive that we can get a result and advance to the group stage. We must work harder because it is not going to be easy.
TK: Few people are aware that Mamelodi Sundowns rejected you, with the then coach allegedly claiming you were too skinny and that he had Joel "Fire" Masilela anyway. Were you aware of that?
EP: Yeah, I was made aware. Okay, I was told about those comments much later, but I'm used to people commenting about my physique. I know being skinny is something that I've been since I was younger. I played with people that were much older than me, but it gave me courage. It made me think I could fit anywhere despite being skinny. It never discouraged me because I know how to play football and this motivates me to be innovative and devise ways and means of beating bigger and taller opponents. I added speed and skill to my repertoire to become the player I am. Today, football is more physical than technical, but I survived.
TK: When you arrived at SuperSport United, we're told Gavin Hunt stopped training after only 10 minutes and recommended management to sign you. How did you feel?
EP: I felt good because it had been my dream to pursue my career in South Africa. When I came here, I was confident. I knew I needed to grab the opportunity with both hands. They had arranged a friendly game against Platinum Stars and I made two assists within the first seven minutes, but I was struggling a little bit with fitness because the league in Mozambique was about to start. But I just got here and enjoyed it. The rest, as they say, is history.
TK: You went on to win the league two times with Matsatsantsa. That must have been the best times of your life in South Africa…
EP: It was good in a way because before I left Mozambique, my team Desportivo de Maputo were champions and to become a champion for two successive years on my arrival in a new environment, it was certainly the best moment in my life. These things do not happen every day and so when they do, it is cause for celebration.
TK: During that period, did you call on Tico-Tico Bucuane and Helder "Mano-Mano" Muianga and ask for advice regarding how to succeed in the PSL?
EP: They spoke to me regularly. I mean, players like Tico-Tico, Mano-Mano, Tomas Inguana, Antonio Trigo are legends in Mozambique and Tico, in particular, used to advise me regarding what to expect should I come to South Africa every time we met at national level. So, when I eventually arrived, I was prepared and I knew what I had to do. In any case, we watched a lot of DStv Premiership football on television back home and we knew all about Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
TK: Then after three years, Sundowns came calling, having rejected you earlier. What did they say to you?
EP: They approached me through third parties. I was supposed to travel to Durban for an MTN8 fixture with SuperSport, but my agent Tim Sukazi told me we must meet in Sandton and explained that we were to meet some Sundowns people. I arrived around 20h00 and I didn't know that it took such a very long time to negotiate. These talks ended up around 04h00 the next day, but a deal had been concluded. The previous day, I was supposed to travel to Durban, but suddenly I had become a Sundowns player and was required to report for training at Chloorkop. I think the coach at the time was Hristo Stoichkov and they gave me a day off training as I hardly slept the night before.
TK: There was a Nedbank Cup game which Sundowns won 24-0 against Powerlines…
EP: The coach at that time was former Dutch international Johan Neeskens. He came in the dressing room and told us that we must not slow down the tempo of the game now that we were leading by almost 10 goals against Powerlines FC. He said any player that slacked or engaged in showboating would be substituted and will not play in the next game. He stressed that if you have an opportunity to punish an opponent, you do it without disrespecting the game, and we continued with the same intensity in the second half.
TK: Well, on the flipside, you played against some really tough teams in Mzansi!
EP: For me, the most difficult team that I played against has always been Kaizer Chiefs. In those days, they had too much quality, but it was their supporters that made you feel the pressure, even if you were playing at home. They would urge the team on even when their cause looked lost. They provide a wonderful atmosphere but make it extremely difficult, so you have to be mentally strong to drown out the noise that they make.
TK: Talk to us about playing with Teko Modise and Surprise Moriri.
EP: It was such an honour to play in the same team with such exceptionally gifted players. I do not have to tell you about their quality. Teko was not called "The General" for nothing. He was way ahead of his time. Unfortunately, when I arrived, Moriri was nursing a long-term injury, but when he recovered… I've known and played against him while I was at SuperSport and I can assure you he was the most difficult man to play against. Now there I was, sharing the same jersey with him. It was a good experience and I learned quite a lot from them all at Sundowns. I thank God who put these people in my life for me to play with them.
TK: Who was your toughest opponent in your 17 years of PSL action?
EP: When I arrived at Super- Sport, Onismor Bhasera was, while at Chiefs, the most difficult opponent. He was very strong and tough. Then there was Innocent Mdledle – he was also tough. Lucas Thwala, who used to play at left back, he was not easy to shake off. I cannot say they prevented me from achieving my goals. I used to be too smart and always found a way. I grew up playing number 10 but was converted to a winger when I arrived in SA, so I used not just my pace but speed as well to cut inside and make it easy to create opportunities for others.
TK: How have you managed to stay on top for so many years?
EP: I am the kind of player that has always taken care of my body. I am aware that the body takes quite a beating either at training or during a full match and so, I require a lot of rest. Staying relevant and on top has nothing to do with age. I am someone who, after training, makes a beeline for home to rest and recover. I also frequent massage parlours for a full body massage.
TK: Which coach has had the most influence in your career?
EP: Artur Semedo was my first coach at the senior national team and was one of the best I have ever worked with. He is the kind of coach who, when he arrives at a club, you immediately notice the change in the team. It shouts out about his signature, about the way they play… you can tell this team is coached by Semedo. Gavin Hunt also. Perhaps I should be honest with myself and say coach Gavin and then Semedo. Coach Gavin was a hard taskmaster and was blessed with the ability to push you that little bit harder. He could easily get the best out of his players and made them believe they could conquer the world. I remember on a trip to Gqeberha years ago, we were due to play Bay United and I drove with him in a rented car from the airport and he said to me, "This game is very important! You know, Pelembe, the last two, three games you didn't perform so well, but I played you. So, today you need to play for me." I was like, "I've raised the bar and performed like crazy, creating and scoring goals, but this coach says I did nothing?" I thought maybe I needed to raise the bar even higher. That day, I performed out of my skin and had the best ever game of my life. In fact, it would be fair to say I destroyed Bay United.
TK: You have played 100 games for your country. Do you remember your first international match?
EP: I remember it like it was yesterday, it was against Lesotho at the Estadio da Machava in Maputo during the COSAFA Castle tournament back in 2003. I started on the bench, and I think my first international goal was against Madagascar at the same venue.
TK: There were reports that during 2015, you were so traumatised for missing a penalty saved by Kennedy Mweene against Zambia that you spent a night in hospital!
EP: Ha, ha, ha, no, that is not a true reflection of events. In truth, I was angry at myself for missing a penalty, so I retired to my hotel room where I cried. I remember I received more than 50 visitors – some brought me flowers and empathized with me, consoling me and telling me that these things happen in football. I was just depressed and felt I let down my country. It did not require hospitalisation at all.
TK: At 39, you obviously cannot go on forever...
EP: I am not sure whether I will continue playing, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers getting underway in November. But you see, we had a final 2023 Afcon qualifier last weekend, where we just needed a draw or outright victory to qualify. Seeing we've qualified, I would like to retire at the end of the Afcon in Cote d'Ivoire. I think my mind and body will tell when the time has come. I believe when I can no longer last 90 minutes or even 70 minutes, I will be the first to raise my hand and proclaim that it is time. But if I have my way, I'd like to do it after the Afcon.
TK: What would you like to do after retirement?
EP: Football is in my blood and it has been very good to me. I would like to be involved as an agent. But the thought of coaching youngsters and teaching them the basics from an early age, I would do that as long as I'm still somehow involved in the game. But I think I will make that decision when the time is right.
TK: Thank you and all the best, Domingues.
EP: Not to mention, the pleasure was mine.
ELIAS PELEMBE FACT FILE
Full name: Elias Gaspar Pelembe
Date of birth: 13 November 1983
Place of birth: Maputo, Mozambique
Nickname: Domingues
Position: Winger
Jersey number: 33
Club: UD Songo (Mozambique)
Previous clubs: Desportivo de Maputo (Mozambique), SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits, Polokwane City, Royal AM
Honours: 2007/08, 2008/09 League winner (with SuperSport), 2011/12 Nedbank Cup winner, 2012 Telkom Knockout winner, 2013/14 League winner (with Sundowns), 2016 MTN8 winner, 2016/17 League winner (both with Wits), 101 Mozambique national team caps
