After weeks of pre-season training, South African defender Noko Matlou says she is ready to kick off the new season with CP Cacereño Femenino, which plays in the second division, also known as Primera Federación.
The Limpopo born player, who started off as a striker before being converted to the rearguard, says she is looking forward to an exciting campaign, more so after she scored in their final warm-up match before the start of the season.
Last weekend they faced Real Madrid Femenino B, but lost on penalties after both sides were deadlocked at two goals apiece. Matlou had scored an equaliser in the 22nd minute.
“It felt so good to be on the scoresheet, hopefully it is a sign of good things to come. We want to do very well this season and see if we can’t make the play-offs again and then gain promotion to the elite league, so the first game will be important and will indicate to us where we are and how much we need to do to improve,” said an excited Matlou from Spain.
“We lost about 10 players and brought in new ones so it has not been easy but the pre-season has helped us to gel as quickly as possible. I am confident though because we had a great pre-season training getting ready for the new campaign. So I can safely say we are ready and it will be crucial to get off on a positive note.”
In their opening match of the season, Cacereño takes on a stubborn SE AEM on Sunday (7 September 2025). The two teams have met twice before with each registering a win.
“They can be a handful, especially when playing at home, so we have to be on high alert if we want to return with all three points,” added Matlou.
The 2008 CAF Woman Player of the Year – the first South Africa to achieve that feat – has confirmed to CentreCircle.online that she will be plying her trade in Spain for another season after her contract was extended.
“I am delighted to continue my football here at this wonderful club that has really been good to me. How fitting would it be for me and my teammates to help the team gain promotion because that is the end goal. We lost out in the play-offs last season so we must go one better this time around – but we have to take it game by game and not get ahead of ourselves thinking about the end of the season when the first ball hasn’t been kicked yet,” cautioned Matlou.
The retired Banyana Banyana defender joined Cacereño a year ago, bringing with her loads of experience having played in two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments – 2019 in France and 2023 in Australasia.
She was also in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games squads under the tutelage of Joseph Mkhonza and Vera Pauw respectively.
Matlou is a gold medal winner with South Africa after helping her country lift their maiden TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022.
She retired from the national team after 174 appearances – second only to the also retired Janine van Wyk who amassed 185 caps.
By Matlhomola Morake
