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.

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.

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.

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