JVW midfielder Regina Mogolola says she got the surprise of her life when she heard that she was included in the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad to face Botswana and Zambia in two international friendly matches.
The fixtures, which are part of preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in July, will take place in Johannesburg on 28 May and 3 June 2025 respectively.
The call-up comes seven years after she was last in the national team set-up – this was in 2018 in Santiago, Chile where South Africa was preparing for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
With two friendly matches scheduled back then, Mogolola did not come off the bench in the first game (6 October 2018), where they lost 2-1 and was not part of the match-day squad in the 2-2 draw in the second fixture (10 October 2018), sitting in the stands alongside Jermaine Seoposenwe who had been red-carded in the first encounter.
Since then, and armed with seven caps, the Ga-Phago Village, Limpopo-born player went about her business over the years focused on her job with the University of Pretoria, Red Star Belgrade in Serbia and then later with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
Mogolola spent half a decade at the latter team, winning a treble both in 2021 and 2023 – the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League, the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier and the Hollywoodbets Super League.
The 32-year says she was hurt when she was released, unexpectedly, by Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, just after the league had started…
“I cried so bad because it was not good news for me, especially after I had submitted my registration documents. But I had to accept and move on,” said Mogolola.
But she found a home at JVW and is raving about how good things are going for her, so much so that she even got a call-up to the national team.
“It was a bit of a shock, just a little bit. You can only thank God for those opportunities,” said an excited Mogolola.
Mogolola has played all eight games since she arrived at the Bedfordview-based outfit, missing out on the first two as she was not signed yet. The midfielder has managed to help her new employers to four wins, three draws with only one loss.
She is one of five JVW players – the second-highest number of players in the Banyana Banyana squad after Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies – called up for the upcoming national team camp, which starts on Monday, 26 May 2025.
The others are Kaylin Swart, Gabriela Salgado, Bonolo Mokoma and Casey Gordon.
CentreCircle.online caught up with her after the Hollywoodbets Super League clash against the University of Pretoria (Tuks), which ended in a 1-1 draw after the Blue Diamonds had to rally back from behind to salvage a point.
Very difficult game against Tuks, what did you make of it?
First of all, we just want to thank God for the result, the sharing of points. It was not an easy game – we went to Cape Town (played 1-1 with UWC), and we gave our all. When we got there, it was raining, and we added more effort in those conditions. Today against Tuks we wanted to get the three points so bad, it didn’t go our way, but we appreciate the point, and we can do better – we just thank God for this point.
This season the league appears to be very competitive…
I like the challenge, I like the competition because it prepares your mind and body that you must not undermine anybody and you must fight for the points, you’re not going to get them easy because even the teams that are not a little bit balanced can’t be undermined.
Let’s talk about your move from Mamelodi Sundowns, what really happened?
I appreciate what Mamelodi Sundowns did for me. I want to give credit to the club for what I got there and was able to help my family back home, and I didn’t take anything for granted. When I got the first contract, I made sure that I support my mother with what I was getting, and I ensured that every opportunity I got I gave my all. Yes, it was not an easy time when I had to meet the Head of Women’s Football at Mamelodi Sundowns, and she told me that the contract was ending, and they will not renew it. I had to accept and move on. And I’m glad that I’m at JVW where I found love and I appreciate the things that I’m doing with JVW.
It appears it was an unexpected departure from the league champions…
I did pre-season training with Sundowns Ladies, and it was only when the league was about to start that I found out that I was not part of the plans. I was given the option of training with the junior team that plays in the Sasol League, or I had to decide if I wanted to continue playing because I love football.
You must have been hurt to leave Sundowns pre-maturely…
It was indeed not good news for me. I had just submitted my documents, such as ID photos and the registration letter when I heard the news that my contract has ended. The league had also just kicked off and I cried unto God so much because they (Mamelodi Sundowns) were still deciding on the next move. So, I had to accept that my contract was finished – you need to accept so that you can start looking for another team to play for.
How did you land up at JVW?
I just want to thank Janine (van Wyk – JVW Head Coach) for allowing me to join the team, I appreciate the opportunity that she gives me in every game. I give credit to the club, the love of the girls around me. They don’t take things for granted, they are willing to push one another. I also love the support that I am getting around the club – I can only say thank you to Janine for the support, thank you Janine for taking a risk on me. I didn’t know that I will play that first game when I joined against the University of Fort Hare, I was also surprised that I had just arrived and the coaches said ‘play.’ I had to step in and help their team because it’s all about teamwork at JVW and I appreciate that so much.
Speaking of game time, you have played every game since you got here
I give the coach the credit. At JVW I joined some of the players that I started with at the High-Performance Center (HPC) – the likes of Robyn Moodaly (now captain of JVW), Gabriela Salgado, Puleng Moremi and Kaylin Swart. When I got here, I told myself I’m not going to take anything for granted even if I know where I started with them, I was just willing to help the team and work hard for the team. Yes, we can be playful and all that but when it comes to time for work, it’s time for work. The high work rate that you’re seeing in the games starts at training and it is something I also had where I come from at Mamelodi Sundowns. All the coaches that I worked with were pushing me so hard.
I know it’s still early days, but what do you make of JVW’s season going forward?
Already it is very interesting and as I have been saying we shouldn’t undermine any team. We have to fight for three-points all the time – and it is what you do at training that will also help you in the games because teams are not easy. We have to work together and fight for one another to get those points because the league is not easy this year, that I have joined JVW does not mean I have arrived – there is still a lot I need to do as individual. I need to look at myself and ask if I am doing right things for the team, am I doing good things as an individual? What is it that I’m lacking that I can work on? I don’t really dwell much on that but I try to focus on improving on my strengths so I can help the team going forward. Sometimes you get points you have to appreciate, sometimes you don’t get points you have to accept that, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on and look at the errors that you have done. There are no easy teams anymore, everyone wants to win the league and everyone is competitive, so you cannot undermine anybody.
Congratulations on your Banyana Banyana call-up – do you even remember when was the last time you were in the squad?
Thank you so much for that and I really appreciate the call up, very excited about it. I just want to give credit to God, I give praise to Him for everything. This call-up also shows that there is something right I am doing, and I shouldn’t stop, I must just keep on doing that. The last game that I played for Banyana a long time ago – in 2018.
What was your reaction when you got the call-up?
It was a bit of a shock, just a little bit, But I told myself that it was because there is something you are doing right and you were not taking things for granted, and I shouldn’t be too relaxed. You can only thank God for those opportunities.
With the WAFCON coming up, your recall to the national team surely gives you hope that you could be in the final squad?
Yes, for sure it’s about working hard and having a positive mentality. It also about working together. And don’t forget the belief in yourself that you can do something that maybe the next person can’t, but the most important is working hard and having the belief and anything is possible.
Being called up into the Banyana squad after an absence of seven years – what message do you think that sends to other players who perhaps had maybe given up?
I can only say them that they must just remember that it’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. It also reminds you that you must work hard and that it’s also up to you as to what do you want. You cannot tell yourself it is done for you, you should never accept that but rather have a positive mentality. Do more individual work in your little corner in secret and you will get your reward – so don’t give up, work hard, and love football because the minute you love what you are doing you will also enjoy it.
What do you think are Banyana’s chances at the WAFCON as defending champions?
It’s not going to be easy, but we have to work hard, and I think we have a good chance of doing well and reaching the top again. We have to make it because football is about supporting one another whether you are at the WAFCON or not.
By Matlhomola Morake
