"Gideon Mzembe was front page of the C-M Sports section and rated the new Wendell." - XXXX Cap.
It was ridiculous of the paper to put him on the cover with the heading, "Is he the next Wendell?", but the story wasn't written that way at all:
GIDEON Mzembe still has vivid memories of his turbulent early childhood in southern Africa.
The rookie Broncos winger -- who showed plenty of promise in Saturday night's trial against South Sydney in Bundaberg, which the Broncos won 46-12 -- was born and raised in Malawi, a small landlocked nation bordering Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania where 10 per cent of the population has AIDS.
Mzembe said it was hell.
``I remember there being lots of trouble,'' the 19-year-old says. ``There was always fighting between two tribes -- the army and the rebels. I don't think I ever felt safe. We left for Australia when I was six to escape it. I try not to think about it any more . . . I'd rather move on.''
Mzembe, the oldest of three children of a Namibian-born university lecturer and Malawian nurse, has certainly done that. After living in Adelaide for two years, the former junior soccer star switched to rugby league at the age of 11 when his family moved to Pine Rivers, north of Brisbane.
``I attended Kallangur State School and the coach there invited me to join the team after watching me sprint 100 metres,'' he says. ``In my first game, I ran the wrong way because I thought if I ran in the same direction as the defence, I'd beat them to the tryline.''
Mzembe proved a quick learner and a year later was selected in the Queensland Primary Schools side.
His performances at the national carnival gained him a scholarship to Ipswich Grammar, where he quickly excelled -- representing Queensland Schoolboys in rugby union and helping the school to several GPS track and field titles.
But, despite his all-round talents, his love affair with league never waned and after leaving school, he joined the Ipswich Jets.
He credits former Bronco and present Wallaby Wendell Sailor for inspiring him to continue with the 13-man game.
``Del is probably one of the main reasons why I played league,'' he says. ``I looked up to him big time, but when he switched to union I didn't like that. Don't get me wrong -- union is a good sport -- but league is more exciting and the hits are bigger.''
In his first season of Queensland Cup last year, Mzembe impressed enough to attract the attention of Broncos talent scout Cyril Connell, who offered him a place at the club for 2005.
While he will probably cut his teeth with feeder teams the Toowoomba Clydesdales or Wests Panthers this season, Mzembe -- who recently started work as a personal trainer -- is determined to achieve his goal of playing one NRL match for the Broncos.
``It would mean the world to me,'' he says.
With his Hollywood good looks and natural charisma, it's little surprise the dreadlocked Mzembe is also keen to pursue an acting career.
``I did drama at school and really enjoyed it,'' he says. ``My brother is at NIDA and if I had more time to become an actor, I would.''
Mzembe wants to tackle other challenges as well -- on and off the field.
``I've come this far,'' he says. ``Sometimes I look back and wonder, `How did I get here after all that?' But it's all for a reason. One day, if I'm able to, I'd like to go back to Malawi and help rebuild the village.''
With Gideon Mzembe, it seems anything is possible.
.....as you can see, whoever is responsible for coming up with the sports cover design at the CM has jumped on one reference to Wendell Sailor being his hero and combined it with a picture which shows he looks like him.
