The latest Hereford recruit says “Call me Gus”. Long term pro ballers do closely control their social media. Its part of their Academy learning to shape and control output. You can see the obvious benefits given that football is not fun but a full-time job. But for biographers like me (oh yes, my new job title) glimpses into the real person and their families are pointedly absent. Few answers to questions like why were certain moves made and why so many clubs have no answer.
I must confess there is very little to add to the official club bio. Our new midfielder is called Augustus Panga Mafuta so yeah, you’d use Gus as well. He’s 30 years old and plays defensive midfield, centre midfield and occasionally on the left side. Gus is an all-rounder by his own account, bringing aggression and ball play. His stats do indicate controlled aggression with his last dismissal being back in 2018. To date, around 320 appearances in step One or Step Two with 18 goals. These have largely reduced to one per season.
Our new man has certainly been about. Colchester spotted him playing local Sunday League and added him to their Academy in 2011. Three years late, he moved to Bristol. There was a brief loan to Weston Super Mare, then to Nuneaton in 2015 where injury held him back. His next step was Gateshead and from there he moved to play in Manchester, London, Birmingham and the north-east again. It’s a strange nomadic way of earning a living. His contact book bulges… Up to this summer, Mafuta was full-time.
There’s an impressive consistency about his playing record. Up to 12 months ago, there were 25-45 appearances each season, mainly in the muck and nettles of Step One. There were some absences through injury – some are inevitable – such as 7 weeks absence at Salford after a pre-season knock. No evidence of regular absences.
In August 2024 and living in Solihull, Gus saw the writing on the wall. He was contracted with the Moors but ominously Solihull were willing to lend him out for a season to Boreham Wood. He took another job, selling life insurance for Trulife Financial. Maybe he was weary of so much travel and so much living away. A Solihull ‘baller taking a day job? Surely news must have reached the ears of Hereford management. We do train at Solihull’s training ground. Rooney lives in the town and Caddis used to.
Gus was wise to forward plan. His playing time with the Wood in 24/25 was limited to 687 minutes. Abductor and calf injuries kept him side lined for long periods. The Wood were promoted without him. They didn’t want him, neither did Solihull, so Hereford was a good bet.
What else do we know? He’s articulate as a podcast guest or a school speaker. He “supports” Man United (sigh). His family name in a Bantu word meaning fat, oil or lubrication. Not exactly flattering. Back in 2019, he was pretty close to being libelled by the Sun newspaper who claimed that Gus had jumped a barrier to confront a racist during a fraught Hartlepool v Dover game. Although our midfielder did make his opinion clear, he had done so from the edge of the pitch. The reporter – who wasn’t at the game – later apologised.
Welcome to the Street, Gus.
Moonlighter.
