Evergreen Pelembe’s role beyond Royal AM field of play

If you come across photographs of Elias Pelembe captured on arrival onto the fields of South Africa in the year 2007 when he inked a deal with SuperSport United, observe his body features then and now.

He still flashes that lazy smile of a baby and carries the same small frame as if he is still in his teens. If anything the only thing that changes with Pelembe’s outlook is his hair-cut—punky, short hair or spiky-haired.

In the Rainbow Nation where footballers—locals and foreigners— stumble into a diet trap of partying excess chisanyama, cheese, chips, fizzy drinks and even hard drinks, regulating your body mass index is tough.

Waking up every morning to train then play football let alone maintain speed, self-sacrifice and discipline that professional football demands, is not for lesser mortals. Of course, unless you are Pelembe.

Just like was the case 15 years ago when Pelembe arrived in South Africa to kickstart a richly rewarding career, the baby-faced winger said he has lost none of his appetite for football and discipline it requires.

That he remains in shape and fit has nothing to do with the 38-year-old ageless winger being a gym monster like hypothetical Football Elders League fellow members such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“I am not a gym person but I know how to keep my body in shape…I go for massage every week, especially when we have two games in a week. What keeps me going is passion…I am passionate about football. My passion for football is too much. Football is in my blood,” Pelembe was quoted saying.

It was for this reason that Royal AM could not resist the temptation to extend the contract for Pelembe for one more year this 2022/23 DStv Premiership season.

In Pelembe, the Durban-based club’s General Manager (GM) Richard Makhoba says they see more than a footballer, but an on-field leader without an armband.

Royal AM renewed the Mozambican’s contract due to the immense positive psychological impact he has on the playing squad on and off the field of play, Makhoba tells FARPost.

In Pelembe, up-and-coming players find an approachable oasis of wisdom. His contemporaries too regard him as a model of consistency, according to Makhoba.

“Since his arrival here, he has been a very significant addition to the team,” the GM tells FARPost.

“He is very disciplined and dedicated. He is a group player. When he is around the team, he gets everyone to laugh. In fact, the young players call him madala meaning veteran,” Makhoba said.

Off the field of play, there is also no dull moment when the Mambas’ captain is in vicinity.

“He makes them laugh; coaches also respect him too and that also goes well to management. He is a good addition to our brand and that is why even the young players in the team look up to him,” Makhoba said.

Last season, the Mambas captain made nine appearances in cup and league games for Royal AM and contributed one goal.

Former Royal AM coach John Maduka, speaking through his close associate, seemed to agree with Makhoba’s assessment of Pelembe the human being and the footballer.

The Malawian said: “He is, above everything, a very good human being. And as a player, he has high integrity. Looking at a player of his calibre and the way he carries himself, he is very humble and true professional.”

Such positive vibes coming from a coach who actually featured Pelembe sparingly last season speaks something extraordinary about this evergreen attacker.

“If it was another player, he could not be behaving like this because he was not playing regularly. He is always doing the best even if no one is watching him. Though he is in his twilight of his career, he is not jealousy of the young players. He is one of the most dedicated players that I have worked with,” the new Maritzburg United mentor observed.

Maduka, too, was a model of discipline in his career that took him to Umtata Bush Bucks, Zulu Royal and Bloemfontein Celtic, where he retired before taking the windy and gradual road into coaching.

Therefore, the Malawian is permitted to make bold predictions about players with a similar temperament to him such as Pelembe.

Maduka gives his verdict on Pelembe’s future: “…I know and believe that he will make a good coach, if he decides to take that route when he retires.”

The 38-year-old is set to go into his 15th season in the top-flight of South African football, and there are no signs of slowing down.

He arrived in South Africa in 2007 to sign for SuperSport and won back-to-back Premier Soccer League titles in the 2007-08 and 2008-9 seasons.  

The former Desportivo de Maputo winger was so good he was named PSL Player of the Year 2007-08. He went on to make 60 appearances for SuperSport, weighing in his spending performances with 14 goals.

Such eye-catching performances swayed rivals Mamelodi Sundowns who soon came with an open cheque book to sign the winger, who went on to make 21 league appearances for the Tshwane giants.

The quick-heeled player would go on to have stints with Bidvest Wits where he reunited with his former SuperSport mentor Gavin Hunt, the coach who had signed him from the Maputo club.

A stints at Polokwane City followed before he relocated to Bloemfoentein Celtic who ended up selling their Premiership status to Royal AM who also inherited most members of the playing squad, including Pelembe last season.

He is among very few Mozambicans gracing the fields of South Africa, the other recognizable face being that of compatriot being Manuel Kambala who has since left Baroka FC.

Surely, Royal AM need Pelembe’s experience when making their maiden appearance in the Confederation Cup.

Back home, the midfielder remains the driving force for the Mambas’ attack in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Most if not all his peers of the year 2007 retired long time ago and their bodies have ballooned it is difficult imagining they were once athletes. Pelembe must be belonging to a limited edition of a rare breed of footballers.

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