JVW FC and Banyana Banyana defender Erin Herz addressed a group of youngsters at the 2022 FNB Football First Festival Under-15 tournament that took place at the Nike Football Training Center in Soweto.
Like several other Banyana Banyana stars, the Wits University student is living proof that football and academics can go hand in hand.
She’s had to brave through a series of disappointments of not getting called up into the South African Senior Women’s National Team’s training camps but was overjoyed when the opportunity finally came her way last month.
This was for the 2022 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship held in Gqeberha where a youthful Banyana Banyana squad lost 1-0 to champions Zambia in the final, earning themselves silver at the first time of asking for many of them.
In her address to the young players, the Herz stressed the significance of not giving up on their dreams and academics, as the two go hand in hand.
“I’ve always wanted to get called up into the Banyana Banyana squad and each time it didn’t happen, I didn’t sulk,” Herz said. “I just said to myself: ‘Okay let’s keep working harder.’ Whether it’s academics or sports, I always make sure that my discipline overrides my feelings because, let’s be honest, no one gets to be a 100% motivated all the time. But it is the discipline that gets you through, even through the hardest of times.
“FNB has established a very strong initiative with this Under-15 tournament and my wish is to see these kids making it in life, both in their football and academics as well.”
