Mama Joy on World Cup: ‘It was wonderful’
Superfan Mama Joy shares her World Cup journey, how she funded the trip, and life with her husband, 'Papa Joy', after meeting him in France.
LIMPOPO – Superfan Joy ‘Mama Joy’ Chauke says she thoroughly enjoyed her experience at the 2026 Fifa Soccer World Cup in North America.
The Malamulele-born supporter described Bafana Bafana’s qualification among the tournament’s 32 teams as the highlight of the World Cup. She also said she was delighted to reunite with fellow football superfans from around the world, many of whom she had met at previous Fifa World Cup events.
A whirlwind journey
Mama Joy arrived in Mexico a few days before South Africa’s opening group stage match against hosts Mexico, where Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-0 defeat. She then travelled to Atlanta in the United States to watch South Africa’s second match against Czechia at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
From there, she returned to Mexico for Bafana Bafana’s third group match against South Korea at Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, where South Africa secured a 1-0 victory.
Her final stop was in California, where Bafana Bafana lost 1-0 to Canada, a result that ended their World Cup campaign.
How she funded the trip
Mama Joy’s appearance at the tournament surprised many, particularly after Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie announced that the government would not sponsor her trip. McKenzie had previously stated that approximately R800 000 had been spent on supporting her attendance at the previous Fifa World Cup.
Despite this setback, the passionate sports fan remained determined to attend the tournament. She raised money to finance the trip and was frequently seen with Lesley Bumba Nkuna of the Masingita Group of Companies, which owns Masingita Mall shopping centres and several other businesses. This led to speculation that the company may have helped sponsor her journey.
During the World Cup, Mama Joy was also photographed smiling alongside McKenzie. However, when asked whether the two had reconciled, she said they were not friends.
Love across borders
Away from football, Mama Joy’s personal life has also attracted public interest. She met her husband, Nicolas Pitaud, affectionately known as “Papa Joy”, in France during the 2024 Rugby World Cup.
The couple dated for some time before Mama Joy visited his family in France. Pitaud later travelled to Malamulele to pay lobola in 2025 and has since been visiting South Africa every few months.
