I am now called Mohammed Sadan. I am no longer Bob Mugalia - Converted former Sofapaka star who wanted to play for Gor Mahia

 Bob Mugalia playing for Tusker, Inset new Bob now known as Mohammed

You were awarded Kenyan citizenship, but many say you didn’t deserve it. What’s your take on that?

I felt I deserved the citizenship. But I was short-changed by the national team management who failed to process my passport. I made 15 appearances for Harambee Stars and played more than 70 minutes in each match. But with no documentation to show that I am Kenyan, I was still considered a refugee. What I can say is that people are entitled to their opinions.

Do you regret changing your nationality?

It’s a 50-50 situation, but I have no regrets at all. I came to the limelight after playing for Kenya. However, I know I would have been invited to play for Congo as well.

But your performance at Tusker was not really great. What happened? 

I suffered an ankle injury just two weeks after joining Tusker. I ended up being sidelined for two months. My recovery took time.

Do you drink?

I used to occasionally to celebrate scoring a goal, or victory by my team. I was very young when I first tasted alcohol. But I have since quit drinking after converting to Islam in 2013.

Is it true that alcohol and drugs took a toll on you  when you were loaned to Tusker?

I was stressed by family issues at the time and I avoided many people. Nobody understood what I was going through and my situation was misinterpreted. In fact, I had stopped drinking by the time I joined Tusker.

Now that you are Muslim, what’s your name?

I am now called Mohammed Sadan. I am no longer Bob Mugalia.

You have been described as a stylish player and quite a hit with female fans. Is this true?

Most of my fans are women. It’s because they love my style of play, dressing and hair. But I am a principled man who knows when and where to draw the line. I know how to handle them.

But you have been spotted with different women several times at different entertainment joints?

I dated two girls at some point, but they never at any one time fought over me. Because of the stress that came with that, I decided to settle on one.

So, are you in a relationship? Who’s the lucky woman?

Yes I am. Her name is Janet Mumbe and we live together with our two-year-old son.

Do you love Congolese rhumba?

I love rhumba because it is a cultural thing for us. All schools in my country have a three-hour music lesson daily. That’s why most Congolese are artistes.

There are claims you were once robbed in Kenya...

I have been robbed twice - in 2011 and 2012. The thugs broke into my house and stole my property. My hand was fractured during one incident and I thank God that I am still alive.

Is it true that you conned Ushuru?

That’s a big lie. I trained with Ushuru for three weeks and noticed that I had been exempted from the signing fees list. I think the club took advantage of my humbleness. There’s a time we had a salary delay, but the club only paid old players. New players did get any thing since they had already been paid the signing fee. I was however not aware of these payments.

So you did not receive money after signing a two-year deal with the club as reported in a section of the media?

It’s true I had already penned a two-year deal, but I had not submitted some documents. I got bereaved just after joining the club, and sought financial help from the club since I had already used part of my money to pay rent. The club refused to help me, so I left because of these frustrations.

Sofapaka valued you at Sh10 million in 2011 and you almost joined Gor?

I wanted to move to Gor, but my boss had organised trials for me in South Africa. He later explained why he had reservations about my transfer to  K’Ogalo and I understood him. Gor was my favourite club and my dream was to don the green shirt, even if just for a month.

Is it true you impersonated AFC Leopards’ captain Martin Imbalambala?

I was shocked to learn that somebody was using my name to fleece money from a fellow player. That is the last thing I would do. It is a police case under investigation. I cannot comment further on it.

What next for you?

I have taken a few months’ sabbatical, but I am still active in football. I hope to join a KPL club in mid-season.