SIDIQUE SATACA – The man in the middle

Discipline is a life motto for Sidique Sataca, 30, central defender for União Desportiva of Songo (UDS) since 2020.

It was by observing discipline as a way of being that he followed the advice of his father, Ismel Mussagi, a late player for Maxaquene and also for the Mozambique national side, that Sidique accepted to be part of the “tricolours'” training hordes, in 2006, where his father was already a coach.

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Born into a family of football players, he always had the support of his father and also of his brother, Sataca Jr., who currently plays for Ferroviário de Maputo. His mother, who dreamed of seeing Sidique become perhaps a doctor or an economist, had to contain her wishes and accept her fate.

In Maxaquene’s training bases, Sidique tried out different positions, but, as time went on, he realized that he didn’t have the skills to be a striker, a goal scorer. He was more incisive, aggressive and strong in blocking his opponents’ intentions. He decided then that he was going to invest his time perfecting techniques and skills to be a centre-back. And it worked.

A year after starting with the “tricolours”, the club’s training school moved to Matola. Sidique, looking for alternatives, gained recognition from Abel Matusse, a former talent scout at Desportivo de Maputo. It was a time of glory for Desportivo, which had names like Zainadine, Mexer, Nelinho, Josué, Marcelino. “Players who motivated us, watched our training sessions and gave us hope”, he recalls. In 2011, he moved to the club’s seniors, although his debut in the main team came only a year later. The youngster faced Ferroviário de Nampula, after coming on to replace the right-back. He knew he couldn’t complain, not least because at the time the white-and-blacks had high performing centre-backs with extensive experience: Carlos Baúte and Zainadine.

His career only took off with the arrival of Artur Semedo to replace Matine in the technical command of Desportivo, in 2012. “Desportivo is the club of my heart”, he confesses.

But, as in life, great loves don’t last forever. In the 2017/18 season, he went to play for Ferroviário de Maputo. In the first season, he spent more time on the substitutes’ bench than on the field. In the second, he played more. He was vice-champion of Moçambola. But he knew he had to go back to Desportivo to regain confidence. And that’s what happened until, in 2020, he got an offer from UDS, where he still plays today. “Changing clubs is hard. We have to get used to everything that is new”, he reflects.

He was champion for UDS, runner-up in the Mário Coluna Super Cup, and now he dreams of the Mozambique Cup, as well as reaching the group stage of the African Champions League and competing in the CAN. He already has 25 caps under his belt. “Dreams take time, but with persistence, discipline, dedication and love for what you do, we get there”, he says.

Football is played under a ticking clock, careers are short and injuries are fatal. Sidique already suffered one, in 2013, which left him out for five months. “A nerve on the side of the knee was stretched. At the time, I thought about giving up football, it was my brother who insisted that I continue”, he tells us.

He has already seen Desportivo relegated from the division, he often sees his colleagues downcast, in the changing room, after a defeat, and he has to remain firm in the pursuit of his dreams. He never steps out of line, because he knows that football has its ups and downs. “One day you win, another you lose. That’s how it goes…”.

Edição 77 Jan/Fev| Download.