Everson Luhanga
Discipline, faith, and dedication have helped Bishop Idah Peterside, a former professional soccer star, to keep his feet on the ground and away from the football pitch.
The bishop was once a professional goalkeeper and even ventured overseas at one point during his soccer career.
Bishop Peterside of the Christ Ambassadors Church based in Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni said he started playing in his home country of Nigeria in the 90s before he moved to Israel. He ended up in South Africa after being signed by the Tembisa Classic football team.
He later joined South African PSL clubs including Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows.
He played his last game when his team Moroka Swallows beat Ajax Cape Town 4-0 in 2002.
He paid a high price for the emphatic victory, suffering a career-ending injury towards the end of the game after being pushed by an opposition player.
“As a goalkeeper, I had huge responsibilities between the poles and keeping opponents from scoring against my team,” he said.
“The same mentality of responsibility I carried on when I decided to serve God by starting a church.”
Bishop Peterside said he knew that one day he would give up the beautiful game and honour God’s calling by preaching the Word of God. The Spirit of God kept telling him to serve His people.
“There were times when the clubs I was playing for had to use muthi. “I never participated in such a thing. I believed in God more than in muthi,” he said.
Peterside started his fellowship from the back of his house with only a few people.
He now owns one of the biggest churches in Gauteng with a congregation of about 3,000 members. He said this year the church is celebrating 20 years since its inception.
During the lockdown, his church opened a food scheme for everyone in the community.
“It was hard but we managed and went through the hardship of lockdown by the Grace of God,” he said.
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