‘Amazing!’ Trump praises viral clip of African woman’s football skills... and gets slammed (VIDEO)
US President Donald Trump is among those to have picked up a viral video of an African woman showing off some impressive football juggling skills, hailing the clip as “amazing” – only to get pummeled for sharing the footage.
The clip of the woman, later identified as Tanzanian Hadhara Charles Mjeje, has spread across the internet in recent days after being shared by Twitter user Akin Sawyerr on February 16.
The video, which has been watched more than 9 million times, shows Hadhara demonstrating staggering ‘keepy-uppy' skills as she maneuvers the ball around her body with her feet, head and chest, much to the delight of the gathered crowd.
Talent is evenly distributed, opportunity isn’t pic.twitter.com/bWvFVLlyHN
— Akin Sawyerr (@AkinSawyerr) February 16, 2019
Sawyerr captioned the video: “Talent is evenly distributed, opportunity isn’t,” and the post has since garnered more than 390,000 ‘likes’ and over 120,000 retweets.
That includes from US President Trump, who shared it with the message “Amazing!” to his 58.4 million followers.
Amazing! https://t.co/uUNCL1hPAk
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2019
It has also been shared by prominent UK TV personality Piers Morgan, who hailed it as “brilliant.”
BRILLIANT. 👏👏 https://t.co/aRQMSuYij6
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 18, 2019
The clip was filmed in Malawi, east Africa, as Hadhara makes her way around the continent to provide money for her family.
Other social media users have shared more footage of her incredible footwork.
It's Malawi. There's she is again. pic.twitter.com/jvFwrkkm91
— Vele (@jorge_shapiro) February 18, 2019
Trump, though, has come under fire from some quarters for sharing the clip amid continued political turbulence in the US over his plans to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
We're apparently in day 3 of a national emergency, and Trump is tweeting about things he's watching on TV and random videos he found on the Internet.
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) February 19, 2019
He’s not talking about the soccer player. He’s referring to the wall in the background
— I am Corey Voss? (@HolaYoSoyFiesta) February 19, 2019
Others claimed the president clearly had too much ‘Executive Time’ on his hands.
You've reached peak Executive Time.
— Jarrett Bellini (@JarrettBellini) February 19, 2019
But for some, it was simply a welcome introduction into their Twitter feed.
My goodness...no matter what the President does someone has got to make a bad thing out of it. Give it a break!!!! Thanks for sharing Mr President!!!
— Dawn (@Davcam1216) February 19, 2019
Meanwhile, Hadhara, 29, has been tracked down, and revealed that some people even believe her talent is down to black magic.
"Some people think that I use black magic but I don't," she told Ruptly video agency.
"There is nothing in this ball. I use my talent which I have developed for six years of practice. It is pure talent, not black magic," said added.
She takes her skills around the continent, dazzling crowds in South Africa, Gabon, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya and Mozambique, and charging the equivalent of $4 (€3.55) for a two-minute performance.
"I admire players from different teams such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho," said Hadhara.
She's now gained attention to rival those greats of the game.
