Football is a funny old game. Aged five Bali Mumba didn’t have any interest in kicking a ball. He was fed up of being the last one picked when his mates played in yards around the north east. Fast forward to the present day and Mumba is 16, representing England at youth level and starting for our under-23s.
So what’s changed?
Here, safc.com’s Sam Lightle sits down with the youngster to find out what happened for him to catch the bug that drives so many of our fans to continue turning up week after week.
“I was in year three playing at a school tournament – that’s when I got scouted,” Mumba smiled.
“At the time I didn’t realise just how bigger opportunity it was.”
Sitting in the Academy of Light main reception after eating lunch in the refectory, Mumba is relaxed and extremely chilled for a 16-year-old. Beaming. Happy to be here and proud to wear the club’s colours each day.
“I want to repay the people who believe in me and have shown faith.
“There are a lot of people here who have given me so much, helped me develop and I just want to pay them back by doing everything that’s right like performing.
“I want pay back what they have done and for all the faith they have shown in me by performing and staying focused.
“It has been quite bumpy, but I feel as though I have dealt with all the challenges that have come my way.
“Looking back at last season to this one to where I am now I wasn’t really expecting opportunities to come so quickly.
“I feel as though I have dealt with all the pressure well and I think I have taken my chances but there’s plenty of hard work still to do.”
Still yet to start his scholarship, Mumba, who shone in the youth team over the first half of the season, made his debut for the under-23s in February when the lads faced Manchester City at Eppleton Colliery Welfare.
The midfielder, who can also play in defence, then played 45 minutes against Everton before making his first start at Old Trafford a week last Friday.
And while the result went against the lads, Mumba has unquestionably found his feet as he helped the lads to a 4-1 victory over Premier League 2 title-hopefuls Leicester City on Sunday.
“I made my first start for the under-23s at Old Trafford earlier this month. I was grateful for the chance.
“Elliott (Dickman) has put his trust me in and for him to start me and play the full game was a great feeling.
“I was very happy but of course disappointed with the performance and the result. Hopefully there is more to come but we will see where it goes.”
And why not set the bar high? With academy products Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford set to represent England at this summer’s World Cup in Russia – it will be a proud moment for the club.
For youngsters budding to emulate the success of those two, or even reach Sunderland’s first-team like George Honeyman, Lynden Gooch, Ethan Robson, Josh Maja or Joel Asoro, the pathway has never been clearer.
And while Mumba has had a taste of first-team training, his “focus” remains firmly fixed on improving and repaying those who have shown faith in.
“I was nervous before my first session with the first-team because I didn’t know what to expect or what might happen but after training with them it really shows you where you are and what step you are in your development.
“It helped show me what I needed to work on and training with them has been good.
“It has really opened up my mind and showed me what I need to work on to become a better player.”
