Doting dad and soccer star Linda Mntambo has opened up about how his first child turned his life around after living a life of crime. During a Sasko Siyazama Community Initiative at a school in Soweto — where he is from — the Sekhukhune United footballer revealed that he has previously been behind bars for committing various crimes that he is not proud of, Zimoja reports.
The initiative aims to build, restore and upgrade 1000 playgrounds throughout Mzansi in 2023, Mntambo — affectionately known as Figo — revealed that he joined the initiative because he believes it is his responsibility to give back because he was raised by a single mother who was assisted by the community.
“I am a product of ‘It takes a village to raise a kid. I was raised by a single mother who was assisted by the community of Soweto,” he was quoted as saying.
Mnambo continued: “I had father figures from where I come from who helped her reprimand me when I was going down the wrong path. They would provide me with advice, buy me soccer boots, use their petrol to take me to soccer and for trials. However, the former Orlando Pirates player says that he was a very troublesome child and was arrested a couple of times.
“I have been arrested countless times. I did crazy crimes. I was out of order for shoplifting, GBH, and abuse of alcohol and drugs. I did so many things that I am not proud of. But they are a part of my life. Maybe the friends I had at the time were a bad influence and not having a father was the contributing factor but I take full responsibility for my actions,” Mntambo explained.
It wasn’t until his first child was born in 2010 that he decided to change. He is now a married man with two children and another on the way.
“My kids were the blessing I never knew I needed. I was playing amateur and started playing professionally in 2013 after my daughter was born. Before that I was working at a packaging firm and earning R5000 a week which I would blow on alcohol, gambling, and drugs,” he said.
Earlier this month, the soccer star surprised fans when he shared images of his nappy shower where he rocked a pink mini skirt. Mntambo rocked the skirt with pink sweater over his fake pregnancy bump, a black and pink Mini Mouse headband and Adidas sneakers. He also wore a blue sash with the words “dad to be”.
Source: thesouthafrican
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