How a Coach helped his striker got his striker a girlfriend to end a long Goal drought
Former Moroka Swallows coach Gavin Hunt once came up with an unusual way of helping Senegalese striker Mame Niang regain his confidence after a frustrating spell without goals.
Niang, who joined Moroka Swallows in 2005, initially struggled to make an impact in South Africa. Despite his physical presence and reputation as a promising striker, he went through a difficult period in front of goal, leaving questions about whether he could adapt to the Premier Soccer League.
According to Hunt, the striker had failed to score in several consecutive matches, prompting the coach to look beyond conventional football solutions to understand what was affecting his player.
Hunt noticed that Niang appeared to be lacking confidence and asked him whether he had a girlfriend. When Niang explained that his girlfriend was in Senegal, the coach reportedly suggested that he spend some time with a woman he knew from the gym.
The unusual intervention reportedly resulted in Niang going on a date with the woman. Years later, Niang confirmed that Hunt’s story was largely true and explained that the experience helped him feel more relaxed and relieved.
The change in the striker’s mood was quickly followed by a remarkable performance on the football pitch.
In Swallows’ next match against Free State Stars, Niang produced one of the most memorable performances of his career by scoring all four goals in a 4–2 victory. Contemporary reports confirm that the towering Senegalese striker scored four times in the match, turning what had been a difficult period into an extraordinary personal breakthrough.
Niang later said that he felt relieved after the experience and believed it had helped him regain his confidence. He also joked that when Hunt suggested repeating the experience, he was not interested, saying he already felt ready to continue playing.
The remarkable four-goal performance became a turning point in Niang’s career at Moroka Swallows. He went on to become one of the standout strikers in the league and finished the 2005/06 season as the Premier Soccer League’s leading goalscorer with 14 goals.
His performances also attracted attention outside South Africa. Niang eventually moved to German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg, giving him an opportunity to continue his career in Europe.
Hunt’s unconventional intervention has since become one of the more unusual stories associated with South African football. While the incident is often told humorously, Niang’s subsequent performances demonstrated how important confidence and mental well-being can be for a footballer struggling for form.
The striker’s story also highlights the different ways coaches sometimes attempt to understand and motivate their players. In Niang’s case, Hunt believed that helping him settle into his new surroundings could have an impact on his confidence on the pitch.
Ultimately, whatever the reason behind the turnaround, the results were undeniable. Niang went from struggling to score to finding the net four times in a single match, before establishing himself as one of the league’s leading scorers.
His extraordinary spell at Moroka Swallows remains a memorable chapter in South African football, while Hunt’s unusual approach continues to generate discussion years after the events took place.
Watch the conversation below:
A Player in the South African League didn’t score in 5 games, so his Coach got him a girlfriend to cheer him up.
He scored 4 goals in their next game.
The Player, Mame Diang 🇸🇳 became the Top Scorer with 14 goals that seazon, and joined German club, Wolfsburg.
🎥 iDiski Dine. pic.twitter.com/E1szmhiXy1
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) August 18, 2026
Source: Thepressradio.com
