Dineo Mke is a woman on a mission.
The former player and Media Officer of City Lads Ladies in the Hollywoodbets Super League is currently riding the crest of a wave in Sweden.
Over the last seven months she has been based in Sweden after joining Bollklubben Olympic, otherwise known as BK Olympic, as the Development Coach of the Under-8 boys’ team.
The club can be found in Lindängen, Malmö, a coastal city in southern Sweden.
Mke is one of the first players recruited to form City Lads Ladies, joining the club when it was formed back in 1995 – and has never run out in different colours except when she was studying at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), whom she played for between 2001 and 2004.
She became the City Lads Ladies Media Officer when the team gained promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League in 2021 – at the time she had stopped playing football and was busy with other interests but felt the need to assist her former team, until her departure to Sweden.
She was part of the group that helped UFH gain promotion into the then Vodacom League.
Mke hails from Gqeberha in the eastern Cape, and holds a CAF C License coaching qualification, but plans to go for the higher badge, the CAF B License, when she returns home in November this year.
In congratulating her on the move, City Lads Ladies had this to say on the socials:
“Our former player, our Media Officer and Development Coach Dineo Mke has joined B K Olympia in Sweden as one of the Development Coaches for U/8 Boys. God is working overtime. Congratulations Dineo. Continue to put our name on the map and shine and Bring that experience back home to Gunners. Let’s go!!!” said City Lads Ladies on Facebook.
CentreCircle.online spoke to Mke from her base in Sweden…
Congratulations – when and how did the move come about?
I moved to Sweden last year in September to study at the World Maritime University.
How long are you staying in Sweden – and what are your future plans?
I will be based in Sweden until November 2024. Future plans for football will be to be involved in Youth developing coaching programs, to continue to shape young minds.
What are the main differences between where you are and where you come from?
The culture is totally different, people here tend to keep to themselves, no small talks, no greeting when you go shops, in the bus no chats at all. As for the language, that is a huge barrier – or at least the part where I am based – so google translate becomes your best friend. I am currently learning basic Swedish terms to be able to communicate better with the coaches and players.
The transport system is very efficient and reliable, it shows how technologically advance they are. There’s an app for public buses and every five to 10 minutes there’s a bus to ferry commuters. In the bus there is a screen to inform you how long your journey will is or will be – that just blew my mind.
What does your in job Sweden entail?
I’m a student (Monday – Friday) – Development Coach for U/8 Boys (those born in 2016), we train two times a week, Monday & Wednesday.
We started about 2 weeks ago and the main objective is to get the players comfortable with the ball, running with the ball with smaller touches, and passing and receiving.
In terms of coaching qualifications – where are you?
I have a CAF C License Diploma and planning to enrol for a CAF B Licence in December 2024 back home.
Was it difficult to get the post?
Actually no, it wasn’t at all. I guess I was at the right place at the right time – it was by the amazing grace from God.
What advice would you give to aspiring youth and development coaches?
I would advise my coaches to forever be students of the game, by continuously learning and self-developing because encouraging young athletes requires a comprehensive approach that considers their social, mental, emotional, and physical health, and that entails lifelong learning, developing effective communication skills, cultivating a positive atmosphere, exercising patience and adaptability, setting a good example, putting safety and wellbeing first, and imparting life skills.
So my advice to coaches: “Always pursue knowledge.”
Since your arrival there, what lessons would you say you have learnt, that are helping you cope?
Since I came here to study and love football, I go to stadiums on weekends to watch games, in particular women football 80% of the time.
Speaking of coping, how’s the weather, the food?
I’m a Gqeberha girl, so I have never experienced this kind of weather. It is freezing and they say this has been the coldest winter in over 20 years. You find yourself having to wear literally 10 layers of clothing and two big Puffy jackets… ha ha ha haaaa!!
When it comes to food , I miss South African food, especially my mother’s magwinya (fat cakes).…ha ha ha ha haaa!!
Food here taste different, as they have different brand of spices from us.
What do you do in your spare time?
Weekends I prefer to be outdoors at the stadiums and watch local football leagues. FC Barcelona women’s team was in town in December for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which was an incredible experience. I also love to watch legal series and movies.
Your team, City Lads Ladies are struggling, so are the other Eastern Cape teams – Fort Hare and Thunderbirds – what advice would you give them?
They must keep on fighting, evaluate and re-evaluate team strategies, and I would like to remind them of the below quote:
“You are not defeated when you lose. You are defeated when you quit.”
― Paulo Coelho
NB:
- City Lads Ladies are currently 12th on the table and have won only one match in seven outings – losing four and drawing two. They have five points
- University of Fort Hare is 14th on the log standings with one victory, one draw and four losses. They have four points from six games.
- Thunderbirds Ladies are bottom of the table and have lost all their matches, leaving them pointless after seven rounds of fixtures.
By Matlhomola Morake
