NFL star thought mbeva (rat) is called a deer

UNITED STATES - Zimbabwean sports star Stansly Maponga, who is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, has been forced to apologise after claiming he hunted squirrels and deer in Zimbabwe as a kid growing up.

The interview with Fox News Atlanta did not go down well with many Zimbabweans who argued the country does not have any deer. Maponga is the first ever NFL player from Zimbabwe – a point of much pride.

"Back home, kids grow up a lot quicker because you have to go look for food and stuff like that," said Maponga. "[I hunted for] mostly deer, squirrel. Also rabbits, too," he said in the interview.

But instead of focusing on his amazing journey to superstardom, many Zimbabweans hammered him for what they felt was an exaggeration of his background. On Saturday Maponga was quick to issue an apology on his instagram account.

In his apology he explained that he was not prepared for the interview and that when he said "deer" he actually meant to say mbeva (mouse). Maponga said they did not hunt animals in order to survive but that "we hunted common animals leisurely when younger."

Below is the full statement from Maponga


"Thank you so much for the support on and off the field, I've been truly blessed. I am a PROUD Zimbabwean and it is an honor to holster the name of my country on my back every time I step on the field. With that said, I would like to extend an apology to my Zimbabwean family for some of the comments I made on Fox News.

"Truthfully, I wasn't prepared for the interview for I was just getting done with practice, nether-less that's not an excuse. I wasn't acclimated to answering those questions. Let me clear a few things up, no we do not hunt to survive in Zimbabwe. We hunted common animals leisurely when younger.

"As kids, we were raised actively and we didn't stay couched up in the house all day playing video games. No, we enjoyed the outdoors and in Zimbabwean culture we're taught the essence of loving and protecting nature.

"In actuality we haunted "mbeva" which is slightly comparable to deer over here in the U.S. That's why I said deer, I didn't know the proper term to use I just wanted to paint a picture in people's heads. We also enjoyed catching small creatures resembling squirrels, but not necessarily squirrels.

Maponga Instagram"I'm repentant for those remarks. I grew up not having much, me and my brothers had to share the same pair of shoes for many years so having the opportunity to come to the U.S. and owning my own pair of shoes was a privilege but certainly not a culture shock like I state. Deeply apologize for saying that. My bad.

"Now I'm not saying everybody in Zimbabwe grows up the way I did, no. Everybody has a different upbringing, this was just mine. In no way shape or form did I want to degrade or disrespect my people, I just put words out of context during the interview.

"I love my heritage and my great country of Zimbabwe. I thank God for giving me this platform to be even in the position to inspire a whole nation. I love playing football, I'll never disown my country, I'm also proud to an American and the opportunities they have bestowed me with.

"I want to be a role model, I want kids in Zimbabwe to grow up knowing that with God and hard work nothing is impossible. Faith without works is dead, dream big, stay on your path, keep pushing. Be blessed," Maponga said.

Updated 18:22 (UK time) : Stansly Maponga has since issued a correction saying he meant "Mhembwe" not Mbeva.

"In actuality we hunted "Mhembwe" which is slightly comparable to deer over here in the U.S. . That's why I said deer, I didn't know the proper term to use I just wanted to paint a picture in people's heads.