Thursday, 9 April 2009

Mafuila 'Ricky' Mavuba


Rio Mavuba

At the end of his football career, Zaire's skillful midfielder Mafuila 'Ricky' Mavuba, know as 'The Black Sorcerer' or 'The Wizard,' moved to Angola with his family. In 1984, the country's civil war forced him to flee to France, and whilst at sea his son, Rio (River), was born. Sadly, Rio's mother died when he was two; his father also passing away in 1997.


To cope with his grief, Rio threw himself into his football and currently plays for French Ligue one team, Lille, having previous played for Bordeaux and Spanish side, Villareal. In 2004 he made his French international debut and he currently has six caps for his adopted nation.


Former DR Congo coach Claude Le Roy, tried to persuade Rio to play for his father's homeland and he could also have played for Angola. However, with no nationality stated on his passport, but simply the words, 'born at sea,' Rio opted for France.


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