For many, swimming in Mozambique remains a secondary sport. But for Gerúsio Matonse, it was the starting point of a journey that would take him across continents, build cultural bridges, and make him, even without an official title, a true “ambassador” of Mozambique in the diaspora. Now residing in New Zealand, he works as a swimming coach and is an active voice on the role of Mozambicans abroad.
A Start Influenced by Family
It all began under the influence of his parents. Concerned about their children’s safety, they enrolled them in swimming lessons at the Clube Ferroviário de Maputo. As a child, Gerúsio dove in for the first time, unaware that this innocent act would lead to a life dedicated to sports. While his brother also swam, Gerúsio was the one to turn the pastime into a mission.
The Beginning of a Swimming Life
Life in Maputo was balanced, according to the athlete. He studied in the morning and trained in the afternoon—or vice versa, depending on school schedules. Swimming became more than physical exercise; it was a school of discipline. Gerúsio learned to manage his time from a young age, a skill that would stay with him for life. “It was nothing out of the ordinary,” he recalls naturally. He joined Ferroviário de Maputo in 1992 and later, between 2007 and 2008, the Clube Tubarões. While the first club focused on personal athletic growth, the second allowed him to mentor younger swimmers. “At Tubarões, I was the oldest.” His competitive peak spanned from the mid-1990s to 2006, a memorable period for Mozambican swimming.
Moving to New Zealand
In 2016, at age 31, Gerúsio took a new step and emigrated to New Zealand, motivated by a qualified job offer. He had previously studied in South Africa and the UK, earning a Master’s in International Sports Management from Northumbria University in Newcastle, which eased his adaptation. The move was a shared dream with his wife. In New Zealand, the challenge was not language or culture, but a constant effort to improve. He was selected as a coach at Otumoetai Club (now Evolution Aquatics), working with youth teams.
Today, Matonse is the head coach at a club in Wellington, working with both youth and adult teams, committed to excellence.
A Context of Discipline and Dedication
“All pools are indoor and heated, and training continues regardless of weather. The calendar is strictly followed. There are no cancellations due to lack of funds or sponsorships,” he explains. What impresses him most is the volunteer-driven model. “Swimming thrives because passionate people donate their time: parents, former athletes, community members. No one is paid in federations or clubs. It’s another level of involvement.”
Connecting the Diaspora
Despite his life abroad, Gerúsio has never severed ties with Mozambique. At one point, he offered to collaborate remotely with the Mozambican Swimming Federation, sharing his experience and supporting delegations traveling for tournaments, but never received a response. “There was a lack of will to utilize those abroad.”
From this frustration came an idea: what if he could meet other Mozambicans in the diaspora? This led to the “Mozambicans in the Diaspora” podcast, launched in 2018, where he interviewed compatriots worldwide. The stories were diverse, human, and sometimes surprising. “Each person brings a perspective. I learned from all of them,” he says.
Although new episodes haven’t been recorded for two years, the page remains online as a valuable archive. Gerúsio believes such initiatives strengthen diaspora ties.
Representing Mozambique Worldwide
Being Mozambican abroad “means being an ambassador. It means feeling responsible for speaking about the country, promoting Mozambique, especially when many people have never heard of it,” he says.
If given the chance, he would create swimming schools across provinces. In a coastal country, the fact that drowning still occurs due to lack of basic training is “unacceptable.” He has also contributed to other sports in New Zealand, including cricket, futsal, and football, but swimming remains his passion.
Gerúsio has over 15 years of experience coaching competitive swimming across age groups, preparing athletes who represented their countries at events such as the Commonwealth Games (Manchester 2002, UK), the Athens Olympics (2004), Islamic Games, and FINA World Cups in Durban (2005, 2006) and Rome (2009). He has also trained coaching teams and teachers, always emphasizing improvement: “Do better than us. Every time the new generation surpasses the previous, it is progress.”
Advice for Aspiring Emigrants
After seven years abroad, Gerúsio returned to Maputo in 2023, revisiting his childhood neighborhood. For those dreaming of emigrating, he advises: “Get informed. Find people already living there, ask questions, reach out. I wish I had someone to talk to before going to New Zealand, but nowadays it’s easier. There’s always someone who knows someone.”
Text: Germano Ndlovo
