Burkina Faso international Stéphane Aziz Ki has revealed the unique love story that continues to inspire his career, blending passion for football with an equally powerful connection off the pitch.
The midfielder, known for his sharp finishing and creativity, shared rare personal details about how a chance meeting changed both his life and his motivation in the game.
The story began ahead of a high-stakes African Champions League fixture against South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns — a match etched in his memory for reasons beyond football.
I met her a year and a half before the match against Mamelodi Sundowns, the one where they disallowed my goal. I didn’t know who she was, Ki recalled. The encounter, he said, unfolded in an almost light-hearted way. It started as a comedy. She wanted me to do something. Luckily, I was above it all. I played a great match, even though we didn’t qualify. It left a bitter taste.
That meeting would later lead to marriage with Hamisa Mobetto, a Tanzanian fashion entrepreneur and one of Africa’s most recognisable public figures.
Far from being a silent supporter, Mobetto has played an active role in Ki’s career, motivating him both emotionally and materially.
My wife is the most followed footballer’s wife in Africa, the 8th in the world after the wives of Cristiano, Messi and others. She supports me a lot. Often, she gives me match bonuses: like if you score today, you have a million with me. It motivates me, he explained.
For Ki, these incentives go beyond light-hearted fun.
They have formed part of a personal performance system that has helped him reach new heights.
I was top scorer, but people don’t know that I had bonuses with her for every goal scored. Every month, it was maybe three shoes or things that she knows I like, he said, smiling.
Off the pitch, the couple’s bond extends into business and personal development. Mobetto’s influence, Ki admits, has helped him grow in areas beyond football.
We’re happy. We support each other. She helps me move forward in many ways in life, even in terms of popularity and business. Basically, it’s a lot of advantages in the same package, he concluded.
In a sport where personal lives are often kept firmly in the background, Ki’s openness offers a rare glimpse into how love and partnership can fuel a player’s drive — proving that, for him, football and happiness are inseparably linked.
