By Tony Ubani, Maputo
FOR her, it’s going back to her old love. But for many Africans, seeing the World’s fastest woman over 800 metres, Maria Lurdes Mutola  in soccer boots was as intriguing as it was amazing.

And the multi-talented Mozambican was not found wanting as she scored the lone goal in a 7-1 female soccer routing of Mozambique by Algeria in the ongoing All Africa Games. The defeat did not deflate her prowess. She received a rousing ovation after the game.

Mutola remains the face of Mozambique and they celebrate her using her face and her international races to promote the Games. Before quitting Athletics, the Maputo Express who turns 39 years on October 27, remains the only Mozambique athlete to have won  a gold medal at the Olympics. Her crowning glory came at the  Sydney Olympics in 2000 where she wrote her name in gold after making her debut in world athletics at the 1988 Seoul Olympics at the age of 15.

After overcoming remarkable odds to reach the zenith of her career, Maputo Express has remained humble and loyal to her people, always ever-ready to offer help and service notwithstanding her wealth. “These are my people. They made me what I am today. I’ve to give back to them especially the youths who see me as their model”, she said after playing with much younger players, some of who are in sports because she inspired them.

The only athlete who won the $1m in the 2003 Golden League, Maputo Express as she is fondly called reminds one of Nigeria’s equally talented Police woman, Chioma Ajunwa who remains the only one to have won an individual gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

“Football remains my number one sport. I was playing football when I was spotted and moved over to Athletics”, she said reminiscing the years she played with men  in the Chamanculo neighborhood before Mozambican writer, Jose Craveirinha noticed a possible athletics talent when she was only 14.

She did not disappoint. She excelled in athletics and had since quit and moved over to football where she plays for a South African  women Club side, Luso Africa.

“It’s not easy. There is nothing easy in life, though. You need to make sacrifice, be disciplined and committed to achieve your goal. Many thought I would be out of sorts in football but I have continued even scoring four goals in one match. It’s interesting for me”.

Mozambique may not win the women football gold but for Mutola, who is the fourth track & field athlete to compete at six Olympic Games in a glittering career littered with gold medals, fame and fortune,  she remains  captain fantastic for them and for the rest of Africa.