From Football Fields to Competition Arenas: Mushaga bakenga Joins ‘Master of the Masters’
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Former professional footballer Mushaga Bakenga, 33, will be among the athletes competing in the 17th season of the popular Norwegian show Master of the Masters
. This year’s competition will take place in sunny Spain, marking a shift south for the program after five years in Norway. Executive producer marie Sjo of NRK announced the change in a press release, stating their readiness for a warmer climate.
A Prodigy’s Journey
Bakenga’s story is one of early promise and a career spanning multiple countries. Raised in Trondheim with parents from Congo, he quickly rose to prominence in Norwegian football, debuting for Rosenborg at just 17 years old. He was immediately recognized as a significant talent, poised for a successful career.
Mushaga Bakenga as a Rosenborg player in 2017.Photo: Jens Petter Søraa
After hanging up his boots in 2024, following stints with clubs in Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Japan, India, and cyprus – as well as several Norwegian teams including rosenborg, Ranheim, Molde, tromsø, stabæk, and Odd - Bakenga transitioned into media, becoming a football expert for TV 2. He also continues to dedicate time to social work with children and young people, both in Norway and his parents’ homeland of Congo.
Facing Challenges On and Off the Pitch
bakenga is known for his directness and willingness to speak his mind. He has publicly discussed arduous experiences during his time at Rosenborg, detailing how he felt poorly treated by key figures within the club. in his autobiography, The Dream and the Shade
, he wrote, “I felt that the list of things that annoyed me at Rosenborg got longer and longer. For me, they had become cynical like any European club, and what I had started to regard as real football was going on elsewhere. rosenborg was no longer the club in my heart.” This candidness has resonated with fans and established him as a thoughtful voice within the sport.
Mushaga Bakenga scored for Stabæk at Lerkendal in 2023 during a 1-1 draw against Rosenborg.
Photo: Richard Sagen / Say Richard
A Year of Recognition
2023 proved to be a significant year for Bakenga, as he was named “Trønder of the Year” – a prestigious award recognizing individuals who have made a ample contribution to the Trøndelag region. He has also contributed as a columnist for Adresseavisen, offering insightful commentary on the world of football.
Mushaga Bakenga during an interview with Adresseavisen after being named Trønder of the Year,while in Cyprus.
Photo: Address newspaper
A Competitive Field in Spain
Aksel Lund Svindal, the 2021 champion of Master of the Masters
, will return as the program manager this season.Svindal noted the diverse and evenly matched group of competitors, stating, “There are some profiles I know well before, and some I am very much looking forward to getting to know.It is indeed one of the fun of the Masters Master, that we get the chance to get to know athletes who are not as much in the media image in Norway. participants are more even in age then we have had in recent years. I think that can make it even more difficult to predict favorites in the various exercises.” He added, ”It’s a really cool cast.”
The 2025 Competitors
| Athlete | Sport | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Mushaga Bakenga | Football | 33 |
| Edvald Boasson-Hagen | Cycling | 38 |
| Isabell Herlovsen | Football | 37 |
| Emil Lybekk | Death | 32 |
| Isabelle Pedersen | Athletics | 33 |
| Jarl magnus Riiber | Combined | 27 |
| Marte Olsbu Røiseland | Biathlon | 34 |
| Kristin Størmer Steira | Cross-country skiing | 34 |
| Daniel-André Tande | ski Jumping | 31 |
| Ayla Ågren | Racing | 32 |
The competitors for Season 17 of ‘Master of the Masters’ preparing for the challenges in Spain. From left to right: Ayla Ågren, Daniel-André Tande, Kristin St
