Former SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Mame Niang has admitted that having sex for the first time in South Africa helped improve his form during his memorable spell with Moroka Swallows.
The retired Senegalese striker made a big impact after joining Swallows in 2005, but he endured a difficult start to life in South Africa.
His then-coach Gavin Hunt shared a hilarious story about how Niang struggled to find the back of the net in his opening matches. Hunt revealed that he arranged a date for the striker, and things quickly changed afterwards.
“In his first game, second game, third game, and fourth game, he failed to score,” Hunt told iDiski Dine last year.
“My owner then said, ‘Ah, you signed this guy.’ I thought there was something wrong with Niang, but I knew what he needed; he needed punani (sex).
“I noticed a girl who was always talking to him, so I said to her, ‘Listen, do me a favour. This guy is new here; can you take him on a date?’ She agreed, and I gave her a couple of hundred rand,” Hunt explained.
Mame Niang was PSL top scorer in 2005
The former SuperSport United coach suggested that Niang and the woman became intimate, with the encounter seemingly helping the striker rediscover his confidence.
“After that, Niang walked into training confidently, smiling, and in the next game, he scored four goals. He was lighter on his feet, heading the ball like a pro, and ultimately became the league’s top goalscorer.
“The following season, we sold him to VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga,” Hunt recalled while laughing.
Speaking to iDiski Dine, Mame Niang confirmed that Hunt’s bizarre story was indeed true.
“It’s a true story. The thing is, I had started scoring, then I stopped for like five games. Then the coach called me and said, ‘My friend, do you have a girlfriend?’
“I said no. I said my girlfriend is in Senegal, so he said there’s a girl that’s always at the gym when you’re there.
“In my culture, if you take someone on a date, you bring the lady back home. She came with me and said she wanted to spend the night. I said, ‘Okay, I will take the couch.’ Then I said I won’t take the couch and we slept together and had a nice time.
“It was the first time having sex in South Africa, after eight months.”
Niang revealed that he felt relieved after the encounter and immediately rediscovered his goalscoring touch.
“I felt very relieved in a way. I think we played Free State Stars away and we beat them 4-2 and I scored all four goals. So the story is true,” he said.
Despite the dramatic turnaround, Niang joked that he had no intention of repeating the experience.
“After that Gavin said, ‘Tomorrow you’re getting it again.’ I was like, ‘No way, I’m done. I’m feeling light.’”
Niang went on to enjoy a memorable spell in South Africa, with his performances eventually earning him a move to German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
