On Sunday, 26 November 2023, 36-year old Janine van Wyk called time on her playing career at club level – three years after JVW gained promotion into the elite Women’s League.
This was in the final match of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League season, with the festivities that followed done with smiles after a 2-1 win over the University of Johannesburg in Soweto.
But the story goes back to 2012.
After stints with Scaw Metals FC, Moroka Swallows, Springs Home Sweepers and Palace Super Falcons – winning three Sasol League titles with the latter team – she changed tune and formed her own club.
Assisted by administrator Lauren Duncan, who is also still very much involved in the team to this day, when she is not with Banyana Banyana where she is the Team Manager, they named the club JVW, from Janine’s initials.
Armed with a vision and determination, the pair turned the stand-alone women’s team into a formidable institution. They were crowned national champions in the Sasol League in 2019, earning themselves promotion into South Africa’s elite women’s football league, the Hollywoodbets Super League.
It was only in 2021 when they could taste the higher level after being hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The first team finished in fourth place in the Hollywoodbets Super League in 2021 and 2022.
JVW started with only 13 players in one division, and to date have registered around 120, spread over five divisions.
- First team – Blue Diamonds (Hollywoodbets Super League)
- Reserve Team – Sapphires (Sasol League)
- U19 Team – Rubies (Safa Ekurhuleni Regional League)
- U15 Team – Gems (Safa Gauteng GDL)
- Developing Diamonds – Development team
Accompanied by her parents, she walked through a guard of honour on the day she wore her club’s playing kit for the last time – with friends, other family members, current and former teammates, as well as fans all watching in awe and gave her a standing ovation.
It was an emotional day for those who were in attendance, with smiles trying to hide teary eyes.
In the end it was all over and she could not stick around too long as she had to dash off to join the Banyana Banyana squad ahead of their travel to Cote d’Ivoire the next day.
They will face Burkina Faso in the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the first leg away (Thursday, 30 November 2023) and the return fixture on Monday, 4 December in Atteridgeville.
This is where Van Wyk – after 18 years of service for her country – will also be honoured one last time as a player. She will hang up her boots completely at the conclusion of the two national team matches against the West Africans.
During her playing days, she also played abroad for Houston Dash (USA) – where she signed her first professional contract – Fortuna Hjorring (Denmark), Glasgow City (Scotland) – where she won the league title – as well as in Greece for Ergotelis WFC, before returning home.
CentreCircle.online caught up with Van Wyk to walk down memory lane with her…
It must have been difficult to call time on your career, or did you feel it was time?
It’s never easy to make a decision to stop playing a game that you love so much, but I felt it was time to call it a day as I am looking to transition into a new chapter for myself, and the time feels right. However, I probably could still play another year or two but I feel I have achieved all that I wanted in my career and it feels fulfilled, which is why it’s not that difficult to walk away.
You have played for some of the best teams in women’s football – among others, here at home, Springs Home Sweepers, Palace Super Falcons – what are your fondest memories?
I’ve enjoyed my football at every club I’ve represented. Each one was a stepping stone to the next. My early football days with Home Sweepers were interesting when I had to learn about the culture I was to spend most of my career in, which I feel I’ve adapted well to, hence my long career with the National Team and understanding the people I worked with.
Falcons was the first step to learn about being in a successful environment but having to remain grounded regardless of being regarded as the best.
My first professional contract abroad only came later when I turned 29 years old. This was a massive step to the level I was used to playing and I had to grind hard every day to compete with some of the best players in the world.
I returned to SA to play with my club JVW in 2019 and that was a difficult process to wear two different hats of being a football player as well as a co-owner of the club.
During Covid-19 I was picked up by Glasgow City in the Scottish League where I played in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Wolfsburg and then went on to win the Scottish League Title in 2021.
I finished my International club football in Greece at Ergotelis where I feel I’ve contributed more to helping raise the level of the team I played for, with my experience and building good relationships with players, and finally coming back to finish my football career at my own club JVW which ended on a high as we achieved what we wanted to for the season. All these different memories with each club I played with has built my career to be an empire.
You graced the field with some of the best players in the game – which names come to mind? And Why?
Locally I have played with the likes of Portia Modise, Amanda Dlamini, Mamello Makhabane and Mpumi Nyandeni. These players were players that stood out for me and changed or impacted the game when they played. It was a blessing to play with them.
Internationally I have played with USA legend Carli Lloyd at Houston Dash where I learned a lot that we are very similar people when it comes to our values as well as Rachel Daly who was demanding in every training session for high performance.
I’ve played against many quality players but the ones that stood out and difficult to play against were Megan Rapinoe (USA), Alexandra Popp (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Christine Sinclair (Canada) Vivian Miedema Sherida Spitse (both Netherlands) and many more to add to my list.
Which was the toughest team to play against at club level?
Internationally is Portland Thorns in the USA.
Locally I would definitely say Sundowns Ladies. They are just a level above every other team in AFRICA.
You were the first to sign a professional contract in the USA with Houston Dash, how important and special was that?
It was a dream come true for me but it was a huge step to the level I was used to. I had to work hard to improve my game to keep up at training and it was a good challenge for me. Other than that it was a special moment to be the first South African to play in the NWSL.
At club level you have played overseas, played champions league – yours was a wonderful journey with good memories… what’s your take?
I definitely had a lengthy and enjoyable and successful career which I’m truly grateful for. I’ve achieved many different things and competed at many different levels. I’m honestly lucky to have played so long and achieved all I wanted. I wouldn’t change that for anything.
Going back to when you formed JVW, did you ever think you would retire at the club? And how special is that?
It was always my intention to retire from football at my own club. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It was a special moment to retire with people around me that have supported me throughout my career. The people that continued to drive the club when I was away playing abroad. These are the people that believed in me and my dreams, so I felt it was important to retire with those people around me. People I have to thank for keeping my club alive when I wasn’t around. Without them, JVW wouldn’t exist. So I’m forever grateful to them.
JVW has grown in leaps and bounds, and has become somewhat of an institution… you must be proud of the work put in by everyone. Did you dream of it being this big?
JVW was established to become a home for a female footballer to have an opportunity to grow and develop into the best possible player they can be. Any player that has played at JVW will tell you that our priority at the club is to create an environment where players can freely express themselves as players and people. Having those principles will automatically allow any environment to grow because people want to be part of a space where they feel like they belong, as each player is as important as the next. So yes I was sure that it would grow into something special as it is today.
In your view, how much has changed in club football since day one when you started playing?
Women’s football in our country has transformed drastically. There are more opportunities granted to young female players who want to partake in the sport, the game is way more recognised as before, being broadcast weekly. The players and teams are recognised in public and there is now a pathway with different levels for a female player to reach the top level, whereas before there was only one league a female player could participate in – the Sasol League. It’s been great to see the transformation happen.
There have been a lot of special times for JVW, would gaining promotion to the Hollywoodbets Super League rank among them? If not, any special time come to mind?
Of course that is one of the clubs biggest achievement to date but there have been many other achievements such as winning the Sasol League Champs in 2016 as well as seeing individual players from our development ranks getting recognition in the junior National teams.
Since formation, JVW has always provided national team players – how key is that for the success (and perhaps profile) of the club?
One of the reasons we created the football club was because of the talent that was unrecognised, and JVW wanted to be the club to expose the unseen talent out there. Today we have had many players represent the club at National level – both senior and junior – which is something very important, and one I’m personally proud of. Developing players for a purpose of becoming the next generation of National Team players has been a key point for the club. There is a certain culture that is created at JVW which brings out success each year.
Watching from the side-lines from now, what are your hopes and dreams for the club?
I would like to continue working hard on the development side of our club, enhance the standards to compete and understand the game better. Other than that I would like to see the First Team compete better and fight to win the Hollywoodbets Super League title and play in a CAF competition.
What are your hopes and dreams for women’s football?
I believe women’s football is improving by the year globally. More viewers on different broadcasting channels have increased, the supporters are filling stadiums, transfers from one club to another is available for players to enhance their player profiles, it’s all amazing to see. However, in South Africa we are still lagging behind the rest of the world, which is something I would love to see improve in the near future. South Africa needs a professional league along with cup competitions to increase the standard of football. The more you get to play, the better you become and the faster you develop.
What are your personal ambitions?
My personal ambition is to develop my coaching skills and development in order to help elevate the standard of women’s football, as well as make an impact on individual players’ careers.
What lessons can you offer to the up and coming youngsters? What do you owe to your longevity?
Nothing worth having comes easy! If you want to have longevity in your career, you have to know there is no shortcut to success. It all comes down to your hard work, the sacrifices you have to make at times, your discipline off the field and accept that failure is part of your success journey.
Where to for Janine van Wyk? Will we see your coaching badges coming to use?
I have things planned for next year but we will see, if all goes according to plan. However, I will be on the side of the pitch regardless.
By Matlhomola Morake
