Former Moroka Swallows striker Mame Niang has confirmed the bizarre story once told by coach Gavin Hunt about how an unexpected night out helped him rediscover his goalscoring form in South Africa.
Niang arrived at Swallows in 2005 and initially struggled to find the net. According to Hunt, the Senegalese forward had gone four matches without scoring, prompting the coach to look for an unusual solution to the striker’s slump.
Hunt later revealed that he noticed a woman regularly speaking to Niang and encouraged her to take the player on a date. He even gave her some money for the outing.
What happened next became one of the more unusual stories in South African football.
Niang: “It’s a true story”
Speaking to iDiski Dine, Niang confirmed that Hunt’s account was essentially accurate.
The striker explained that he had already started scoring before suffering a prolonged dry spell. Hunt eventually asked whether he had a girlfriend and suggested that he spend time with a woman he knew from the gym.
Niang said the woman accompanied him home after their date, and the two eventually became intimate. It was, he explained, his first sexual experience since arriving in South Africa eight months earlier.
The former striker believes the encounter helped him mentally reset.
“I felt very relieved in a way.”
The result was remarkable. In Swallows’ next match, away against Free State Stars, Niang scored all four goals in a 4–2 victory, immediately putting an end to his goal drought.
From Swallows star to Bundesliga move
Niang went on to become one of the PSL’s leading scorers during his Swallows spell. His performances attracted international attention and eventually earned him a transfer to VfL Wolfsburg in Germany.
Looking back at Hunt’s unusual intervention, Niang joked that he wasn’t interested in making it a regular part of his preparation.
When Hunt suggested the experience should happen again, Niang’s response was reportedly simple: “No way, I’m done. I’m feeling light.”
Whether it was coincidence, confidence or simply a good night that lifted his spirits, Niang’s four-goal performance ensured the story became a memorable chapter in South African football folklore.
