When listening to the right song before a match, Tuks’ Lebohang Montueli is capable of incredible feats on the football field.
The goal he scored against Wits in this year’s Varsity Football tournament, when he caught goalkeeper Giovanni Idi napping with a long-range shot, is proof of that.
The Tuks midfielder, who is doing his master’s degree in religious studies, was not surprised by what happened. On the morning of the match, and again during the team’s warmup as he listened to music, he had a feeling he was going to do something extraordinary
‘I love to listen to the lyrics of songs,’ says Montueli. ‘It gets me thinking, and it motivates me. That’s why I’m always listening to music. The song I heard before we played Wits gave me belief in my abilities as a footballer.’
When not studying or playing football, there’s nothing Montueli loves more than directing music videos and no greater satisfaction than bringing images and music together.
For now, though, what matters to Montueli is helping Tuks win the 2021 Varsity Football title, which he experienced in 2017 when Tuks beat TUT in the final.
This is the last year that the AmaTuks player is eligible to play in the tournament.
‘I was not a regular for Tuks in 2017, but to be part of the team that won Varsity Football is something I will remember for years come,’ he says.
It’s hard to believe, but the goal Montueli scored against Wits is only his second for Tuks in Varsity Football (his first came against NWU in 2019). However, football will never be about personal glory for him.
‘When I play the game, it’s as if I forget about all my problems. All that matters is the football world. You get united as a team on the field. It’s all about togetherness and fighting for each other. If one of us has an off day, it can impact the whole team. It takes a lot to get a team of 11 players to function as one. That’s what I love about football.’
Montueli considers his work ethic on the field to be his best quality as a footballer. He is also a big motivator on the field and continuously finding ways to encourage his teammates.
– Watch Montueli when Tuks resume their Varsity Football campaign against UJ on Wednesday (16:00 kick-off, SuperSport Variety 4, channel 209).
– Article courtesy TuksSport
Photo: Reg Caldecott
