S. Sudan king of mixed martial arts now takes prowess to Europe
Alhassan Mossiala, a young passionate mixed martial artist, through tutelage of the Dutch- South Sudanese Lofogo Soro, have won all the fights in the region, and now head to Russia for more
By Liam Josh
It may be a new sport in South Sudan, not as common and familiar as football, or basketball, but in the western world and Europe, it is a sport to behold, with common faces like football star Cristiano Ronaldo, rap master Eminem and a host of UAE prince dominating the fanbase.
Now, one man- Alhassan Mossiala, has literally taken East Africa by storm, painting light to a sport that was hitherto profiled by heavy weights across the globe, with names such as Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya conquering West Africa, Cameroon’s Francis Nganou carrying the Central African flag and now, Alhassan Mosiala, flying the South Sudan and East African flag to the global stage.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contacting fighting based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In ancient China, combat sport appeared in the form Leitai, a no-holds-barred mixed combat that combined Chinese mixed martial arts, boxing and wrestling.
MMA is among the lucrative and interesting sports that has taken centre-stage in the world, unfortunately, it has not been the attention it deserves by African governments.
However, Alhassan Mossiala and his trusted team, took up the challenge to take the battle to the doorstep of the sport’s colossus. Mossiala, grew up in the suburbs of Khartoum, from very humble beginnings. He studied in the country, growing through the bitter fruits of education to the higher levels, whereupon he took up a course in Architectural Engineering.
Unfortunately, just before he could graduate, war erupted in Sudan, and he had to seek for refuge in South Sudan, his motherland.
It was here that lady-luck knocked. Even though he had started training as a mixed martial artist while still in the University in Khartoum, it wasn’t until he met a professional MMA coach Mohamed Munir, that his star and interest picked. He would be inspired by the coach to attend training regularly at the Mukuachi training center.
Then, another steppingstone, was a meeting with another professional coach and trainer, the Dutch- South Sudanese Lofogo Soro, a renowned professional fighter and acting coach for team South Sudan, who jumpstarted Mossiala’s talent into professional Mixed Martial Arts Career.
With regular training, coaching and mentorship, Mossiala has grown to become a pro in the game; and won massive titles in the region.
As his coach Mr. Lofogo refers confidently to his mentee:
“He is not only good in MMA; he is quite versatile and can do many other things. He is also a very good boxer.”
In the heydays, Mossiala was challenged in the ring and successfully fought two MMA fights, which, he emerged victorious. Over the years, he has won all the matches he has been challenged in, including a much-anticipated meeting with a Ugandan boxer, who he knocked out in the first round.
“I have not found a major challenge, honestly. All the fights I have engaged in I have won, mostly in the first round,” he says.
“I have so far had five MMA fights and I have never lost any of them,” he adds.
Probably, it is this win mentality that has sparked his interest to feature at the global stage in Europe, in Russia, where he is set to perform amongst other figures from across the globe.
And, intriguingly, as he speaks to The City Review Sports Desk, he is unshaken, ready to prove to the world his innate talent. For the first time in history, South Sudan will have a face at the global Mixed Martial Arts competition, thanks to Alhassan Mossiala.
The MMA World Championship will be taking place on November 22, at Kanty-Mansiyk in Russia. Without any sponsorship, save for Mossiala’s confidence, and a support system from the coach, the team will debut for the world championship, hoping to give a name to the country, and scale to the international stage.
All hope will be on this team, as they take up the challenge- to coin a name and that of the country in the history books of the World Mixed Martial Arts.
