Jason McAteer appears on Clear History on RTÉ2
5 years ago
South Africa Aaron Mokoena is a former South African international footballer, known as "Mbazo" or "The Axe" for his tough tackling skills, who transitioned from an accomplished playing career to become an assistant coach and humanitarian.
The collection also included a design by South African footballer and Non-Violence Ambassador Aaron Mokoena, reinforcing the importance of local talent and ...
Aaron Mokoena has teamed up with a local-based company Ivati to launch his own limited edition purified drinking water.
Teboho Aaron Mokoena, born on November 25, 1980, in Boipatong, South Africa, is a respected figure in football. His early career saw him move from Jomo Cosmos to European clubs like Bayer Leverkusen and Ajax, followed by loan spells at Germinal Beerschot and a transfer to KRC Genk for two years. At 24, Mokoena made a significant move to Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in January 2005, a transfer he described as a dream come true. He quickly became a regular starter, primarily as a holding midfielder, contributing to Blackburn’s improved defensive performance and helping them move away from relegation danger. Mokoena scored his first goal for Blackburn in an FA Cup match in March 2007 and a memorable second goal, which was voted goal of the season, in February 2009.
In May 2009, Mokoena joined fellow Premier League team Portsmouth on a three-year deal. He expressed his desire for this move to secure regular playing time, particularly with the 2010 World Cup in his home country approaching. He played a crucial role in Portsmouth’s FA Cup campaign, scoring his first goal for the club to secure a victory in the third-round replay in January 2010. Mokoena continued to be a vital player for Portsmouth, scoring his first league goal in September 2010 and signing a new contract in October 2010. He made 70 appearances for Portsmouth across all competitions before leaving in July 2012 to join Bidvest Wits in South Africa.
Internationally, Mokoena is celebrated as the youngest player to represent South Africa, having debuted in 1999 for the 2000 Summer Olympics qualifiers at 18. He took over the captaincy from Lucas Radebe and led the national team, known as Bafana Bafana, in major tournaments including the 2000 Olympics, the 2002, 2004, and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2009 Confederations Cup. His leadership culminated in captaining South Africa in the 2010 FIFA World Cup on home soil, where he earned his 100th cap. As of 2012, Mokoena had amassed 107 international caps, scoring one goal for his country. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into coaching, currently serving as the assistant coach for Cape Town City.
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