Nomvula Kgoale has represented South Africa at the highest level of competition in women’s football – the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Just recently (July/August 2023) she was part of history with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana when they progressed to the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand – the first South African national team to achieve that feat.
The TS Galaxy Queens midfielder in the Hollywoodbets Super League also helped her country win their maiden gold at the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in a hard-fought 2-1 win in the final against the hosts.
She has played college football in the USA over a six year period, running in the colours of Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders (Columbia, Kentucky), Tyler Apaches (Texas) and Louisiana Tech Ladies Techsters (Louisiana).
Kgoale has called Cacereno Femenino and CD Parquesol (both in Spain) home before returning to South Africa to join TS Galaxy Queens.
The 28-year old is one of the three remaining survivors from the 2010 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup that was held in Trinidad and Tobago under the watchful eye of coach Solly Luvhengo. The other pair is Mexico-based forward Jermaine Seoposenwe and goalkeeper Kaylin Swart – the latter runs out for JVW in the South African elite women’s football league.
The trio is currently in Abuja as part of the South African Senior Women’s National team preparing for the ‘Clash of the Titans’ against hosts Nigeria in the two-legged 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers.
The winners will secure a ticket to the global event as one of two African representatives.
Zambia and Morocco are vying for the other spot.
The African Champions will face Nigeria on Friday, 5 April 2024 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium at 18h00 South African time, a match Kgoale describes as massive.
“Indeed, this is massive, and I think this one is going to boil down to whoever is good on the day because we know both teams are really good – we have outstanding players and so do they. In recent times when we met them, we came out with positive results, so we are looking to kind of go with the momentum and see where that takes us, but the ultimate goal is to qualify for the Olympics,” said a beaming Kgoale.
This is perhaps one of the biggest matches in women’s football in Africa – after all it’s the number one on the continent taking on the number two. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Kgoale and most of her current teammates haven’t been to the Olympic Games.
In fact, only seven players in the team to face Nigeria have been to the Olympics:
- Noko Matlou (London 2012 & Rio 2016)
- Refiloe Jane (London 2012 & Rio 2016)
- Lebohang Ramalepe (Rio 2016)
- Linda Motlhalo (Rio 2016)
- Bambanani Mbane (Rio 2016)
- Jermaine Seoposenwe (Rio 2016)
- Thembi Kgatlana (Rio 2016)
“To be honest I think I’m not going to need any motivation, and neither will my teammates because it’s what I really want, it’s what we want. We just want to get on to the field to get the job done and go to Paris. We are playing Nigeria for a ticket to the Olympics, what more motivation does one need – this is one of the biggest fixtures in women’s football on the African continent. Make no mistake, it’s not going to be easy,” added Kgoale.
“Playing away is going to be difficult, Nigeria is extremely hot first of all, but we have to make sure that when we run onto the field we come back with a positive result, that’s what we have to do.”
Lipsticklady, as she is commonly referred to in football circles, is confident of success and says the team is looking and feeling good owing to the fact that they have been hard at work in the Hollywoodbets Super League which is in now in full swing.
In February they faced Tanzania in the third round of the Olympic qualifiers, but at the time they were deep into pre-season. Now, after five weeks of fixtures, things are looking different.
“Fitness wise, I have no doubt that they are more than ready because we played so many games, I really do feel like in terms of fitness we’ve got really nothing to worry about, more than anything it’s going to be a tactical battle. All we need to do is just manage our bodies to make sure that when the day comes where we have to play Nigeria, we are more than ready,” said the Limpopo-born player.
The return leg will be played on Tuesday, 9 April 2024 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
Kickoff is at 19h30 and tickets are already on sale.
By Matlhomola Morake
