The Southland connection to Kansas City's Super Bowl victory
There's a girl from Otautau with a pretty big smile on her face at the moment following the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory.
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They say you can find a Southland connection in almost anything. Well, in terms of Super Bowl LVII, we’ve done just that.
A late field goal delivered the Super Bowl, one of United States’ biggest sporting title’s, to the Kansas City Chiefs, with a 38-35 NFL win on Monday [NZ time].
The result also would have plastered a smile over a girl from Otautau’s face.
This is where the Southland connection comes in.
Former Central Soutland College pupil Atipa Mabonga works for the Kansas City Chiefs in a sought-after role as its influencer and culture coordinator.
Mabonga initially started with the Chiefs in a seasonal role as a social media assistant before being locked into the fulltime position.
It’s a wide-ranging role, but in short, she works to help build the players and the team’s brand, not just in the US but globally.
Her job might just have been made a little easier following Monday’s result.
“It’s an honour to be trusted with such a big part of the Chiefs brand at a young age and so early in my career,” she told The Southland Times in a 2022 interview.
Mabonga grew up in Otautau, Southland and was gun young athlete which led her to the United States.
She signed a scholarship with the Southern Methodist University [SMU] and made the move to Dallas, Texas in 2017.
The Southlander has remained in the US with her focus switching from athletics to her employment with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mabonga, who was part of the Academy Southland programme, is yet another example of the doors which sport can open in life in general.
She is also another example of a Southlander marking her mark globally.
Enjoy the celebrations Atipa. Although its seems there’s little time to relax give she is involved in with the Chiefs celebration parade, while Kansas City also will host the NFL draft.
