Pirates Tormentor Mukoko Welcomed Like a Hero by Sundowns Supporters
Saint-Eloi Lupopo defender Dieumerci Mukoko stole the spotlight at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday—even without kicking a ball.
Mukoko, currently serving a two-match CAF suspension for his explosive antics against Orlando Pirates in the previous round, travelled with the Lupopo squad for their CAF Champions League group opener against Mamelodi Sundowns. But when he arrived at the stadium, the Congolese right-back was mobbed by Sundowns supporters eager to take pictures, get autographs, and meet the man who became a social media phenomenon after tormenting Pirates.
Stewards struggled to escort him through the crowd as fans—young and old—celebrated the player whose dramatic performance contributed to Pirates’ earlier elimination.
Mukoko became infamous for going down under minimal contact, starting scuffles, attempting a headbutt, and even making a throat-slitting gesture during that fiery second preliminary round tie. While Pirates overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to level the aggregate score in Orlando, they were knocked out on penalties—with much of the chaos overshadowed by Mukoko’s behaviour. He escaped a red card that night, even as teammate Chris Sumbu was mistakenly sent off.
Despite being suspended, he travelled with the squad and watched Lupopo’s 3-1 defeat to Sundowns from the stands. His club later joked on social media that Mukoko had become “a real superstar” in South Africa, as fans swarmed him outside the stadium.
Lupopo now shift focus to their next Group C match against Al Hilal, who opened their campaign with a win over MC Alger.