"it all started at Doasho High School while playing 5 aside and this other guy named Moses Ramadumo (former Dynamos player known as Nyandoro) called me. By that time, I knew nothing about football and was just playing for fun"
Our Rising Star no: 176 made a history by becoming the first star to be interviewed under a new name “Rise Africans Newspaper”. This youngster is one of the talented players the world is waiting for. We had a luck to chat with Turfloop FC (a soccer club around Mankweng area), Elvis “Gattuso” Mothapo who is currently residing at Turfloop, Mankweng. We watched him playing in some big tournaments and was surprised with his ball control and amazing passes.
“I am so humbled for this wonderful opportunity, it all started at Doasho High School while playing 5 aside and this other guy named Moses Ramadumo (former Dynamos player known as Nyandoro) called me. By that time, I knew nothing about football and was just playing for fun. He said I should start training with him, came to my place and asked for a permission then the agreement was reached. The next thing, Pule Malahlela (Chairman of Turfloop FC) approached me and found myself as part of Turfloop FC”, he said.
Gattuso, as popularly known, appreciates the support he gets from his family and Turfloop FC President, because they still make sure that he gets everything. He once played for Orlando Pirates reserves and been with Polokwane City Rovers for a period of 4 months, but things did not go accordingly.
“It is always tough to make a breakthrough to highest level my brother, I remember my first time moving to Jozi (Gauteng Province), I saw Bidvest Wits FC players training and told this other brother of mine that those boys are not that good but hey! We played against them over the weekend and it was very tough, ha.ha.ha (he laughed). Football requires a lot of hard work, discipline, determination, and dedication. You do not just get to do as you wish because young boys look up to you, the minute you start misbehaving on social media then you are out, people always judge you based on how you post”, added Gattuso.
The talented youngster is proud to share a pitch with the likes of Thabiso Kutumela (current Mamelodi Sundowns player). He still believes in lot of practicing and is that player who comes early and leave late at training. His favourite players are Andile Jali (South African player) and Marco Verrati (Italian Footballer).
“My message to all youngsters who are talented and want to become successful is to focus on their studies, balance their talents with school, they must not be big headed, respect the game and work harder”, he concluded.
We are so proud of Gattuso and wish him all the best!
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