How Tusker defender defied his mother to become a footballer

Celebrated football legend Ronaldo Nazario had to defy the wishes of his mother, Sonia dos Santos Barata to achieve his dream. The retired Brazilian who is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time didn't enjoy the support from his mum in his formative years. 

Instead, she wanted him to concentrate on his studies but his love for the game had the last laugh after signing his first professional contract at the age of seventeen and the rest is history. 

Liverpool star and the 2019 African Player of the year Sadio Mane, retired Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and retired Cameroon luminary Samuel Eto’o are other football icons who share a similar story.

Back home, the majority of players who have made themselves a name either in the top flight or abroad have faced a similar scenario at the start of their careers. 

The script is not different for budding Tusker center-back Jimmy Mbugua who in an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, revealed how he had to challenge the desires of his mother Eunice Ndungi out of his passion for sports, precisely football. 

 Mbugua's mum wanted the youngster to focus on his studies and religiously attend Sunday School and other church-related activities. 

 With school occupying a large chunk of time on the weekdays, Mbugua opted to quench his thirst for football by skipping church on Sunday to train at the Gachie Soccer team grounds. 

Occasionally, his defiance would procure him battering from his mum who insisted that education was the only sure bet to success. 

 However, he never looked back despite the admonition and canning from his mum as well as the temptation from other disciplines notably, Volleyball and badminton. 

 "It took my mum almost six years to accept that I was probably created to play football. She wanted me to concentrate on studies and church activities. I never skipped class but once in a while, I would miss church just to catch my teammates in training. She realized I loved football and when I joined Tusker, she changed her perception towards sports and supports me," he narrated.

 Mbugua who was born in Gachie in a family of three realized his talent while a pupil at the Kihara Primary School where he served as the games captain from standard six. 

 He kept the fire burning at the Kihara Secondary School captaining their team from form three. 

 The urge to embrace Volleyball was high in secondary school but interestingly, it is the inspiration and counsel from his father Peter Ndungi that proved to be the tiebreaker.

 "I loved Volleyball but my dad encouraged me to swap it with football after wrapping my high school studies. He was a player in his youthful years and advised me to cling to it as I stood to prosper and become a great player," he revealed.

 Every player has his mentor and Mbugua regards himself as lucky to have been shaped by Sofapaka's left-back Titus Achesa back in Gachie during and after high school. 

 Coming from a region that seldom produces football stars, Mbugua, a staunch Arsenal fan believes him alongside Achesa are living testimonies that there are a handful of untapped talents from all quarters of the country. 

 "We come from the same hood. He used to coach us when he was a player at Nakuru All Stars and Posta Rangers. He is a down-to-earth player who encouraged me to take football as a career and I am forever indebted to him. I know Gachie isn't known for football but I hope my story can inspire other players from the region to follow and do what they like most," he revealed.

 For a player to transition from a grassroots club to an outfit of Tusker's caliber and to win the admiration from coach Robert Matano, a tactician who has a penchant for experienced players, he has to be exceptionally good.

 Mbugua, was forced to cut the long journey of joining his favorite club in the league by making a stop first in the youth team which he joined in 2018 and would be named the skipper the following year.

The club's policy of promoting outstanding rookies to the senior team came in handy in November last year when he was elevated to rub shoulders with the big boys and consequently signed a two-year-long deal. 

 He made his debut during their 9-0 demolition of Mihuu United in an FKF Shield Cup round of 64 match played last month. 

 "Putting pen to paper was a dream come true. I am privileged to learn from the senior defenders at the club and I believe at some point, I will play consistently in the league matches. I am patient and learning every day from them," 

With age still on his side, Mbugua who looks up to the battle-hardened Eugene Asike dreams of donning the national U23, Emerging Stars and the Harambee Stars shirts in the near future.

Bio 

Name - Jimmy Mbugua Ndungi

Place of birth - Gachie, Kiambu county

Year of Birth - 1998

Parents- Peter and Eunice Ndungi

Siblings - Alice Wanjiru and Sophia Njeri

Education 

Kihara Primary School - 2005 to 2012

Kihara Secondary School - 2013 to 2016

Clubs

Gachie Soccer - 2015 to 2018 (joined while in school) 

Tusker Youth - 2018 to 2020

Tusker Senior team - November 2020 to date

Role Model - Eugene Asike

Favorite dish -Chapati and beans

Best clubs in Africa -Tusker and Mamelodi Sundowns 

Favorite club in the EPL- Arsenal