Photo by Joseph Moura

18-year-old Mansazi Fataki demonstrates a commitment to football that would rival any professional player’s. Waking at the crack of dawn, he is the first of his team mates to arrive for practice every morning. He uses the time to perfect his juggling skills and technique.

Nicknamed ‘Jogo’, which means ‘the best’, Fataki is passionate about football. He plays for a small, local team called AGB from the Funa District. Recently, the team was selected to play in the well-known Killman Championship which gives smaller sides an opportunity to qualify for the Premiership League.

Orphaned at a young age, Fataki lives with his grandmother. He shares a small room with his uncle and has little more than a football to his name. From such humble beginnings comes a young man with purpose and determination to achieve his life-long dream to play football professionally. For Fataki, and young men like him, having the FIFA World Cup 2010 hosted on their continent has encouraged them that all things are possible if they work hard to be the best they can be.

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Publication rights to this feature are available from Africa Media Online.