Mozambique legend Elias Domingues Pelembe who captains the national team at the age of 40 has shed light on his incredible longevity at the highest level.
The legendary playmaker, currently in his homeland with UD Songo, returned to the Mocombola after 16 years in South African football.
He represented SuperSport United, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits, Polokwane City and Royal AM and is heralded as one of the greatest foreign players to have arrived in the country.
And it’s scarcely believable that in 2024, he now leads the Mambas into AFCON in Ivory Coast with 101 senior national team caps.
“I think it’s the passion I have with soccer, it’s in my blood, this passion makes me keep going, I think it goes with what you eat neh, what you do when you are not playing soccer,” Pelembe said when asked by iDiski Times ahead of their tournament opener against Egypt.
“So I’ve been trying to rest as much as I can and I think diet is also very important, I don’t just eat anything neh – but I can say it’s more the passion that keeps me going and going.”
Mozambique face off against the North African giants tomorrow at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan (17h00).
