Just over a year ago (10 July 2022), Thembi Kgatlana’s Banyana Banyana took to the field to face Botswana in the second match of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
It would end in tears for the Randfontein-born forward as an injury brought her tournament to an abrupt end late in the second half.
It is now history that youngster Nthabiseng Majiya took her place in the match and scored the winning goal for the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, while Kgatlana had to return home to start the recovery process.
Days before she got injured, she had put pen to paper with Racing Louisville FC in the USA, which would see her making a return to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) after her stint with Houston Dash in 2018, where she played alongside compatriots Janine van Wyk and Linda Motlhalo.
Fast forward to 2023 and Kgatlana joined her new teammates while still on the mend.
So focused and determined was she that on May 6 – exactly 10 months after her injury, Kgatlana made her debut for Racing Louisville as they took on Orlando Pride, a match they lost 0-1.
She came on with four minutes left on the clock, but what was key was that her journey to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand had started.
“If you had to unpack it, coming to the NWSL was the best decision for me because (the World Cup) is during the season. A lot of other players are out of their seasons. I’m playing and getting more minutes. If I was in Europe, it wouldn’t be the case because I would still be coming back from my injury. The NWSL is in season, so I have momentum going into the World Cup,” Kgatlana told her club’s Media Department.
“The most important thing was for me to be healthy. I’m very grateful that Louisville took care of me and made sure I came back healthy and that I’m playing and being the player I was. Now it’s going into the national team and seeing what I can do coming back from injury.”
She missed all six Banyana Banyana World Cup preparation matches, as well as the three fixtures at the 2022 WAFCON.
But with her name included in the final squad of 23 players to represent South Africa at the global women’s football showpiece, the forward can’t wait to don the green and gold again since that fateful July 2022 evening in North Africa.
She will get a chance to do just that – even before the start of competition – as Desiree Ellis’ charges have lined up an international friendly match against World-Cup bound Costa Rica in New Zealand on Saturday (15 July) as part of their final preparations for the World Cup.
“It’s amazing to play in the World Cup. It is worth the wait,” added Kgatlana.
The tournament also brings back great memories for her.
Four years ago in France Kgatlana made history when she scored Banyana Banyana’s first ever – and only – World Cup goal in a 3-1 defeat to European powerhouse Spain.
“For me it will always be a great memory, but it also reminds me of the standard of playing at the World Cup. I keep that in the back of my mind. It’s something that will always motivate me going into any other game because I know that I want to score and be a player who helps the team get points,” she said.
In 10 appearances for her club, Kgatlana has scored one goal with one assist.
At the World Cup, Banyana Banyana open their campaign against Sweden on Sunday, 23 July, followed by a meeting with Argentina on Friday, 28 July while Italy lies in wait on Wednesday, 2 August.
The South Africans will be captained by Refiloe Jane, with Kgatlana and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini named as vice captains.
She is one of the players in the current South African Senior Women’s National team – alongside Jermaine Seoposenwe, Linda Motlhalo and Refiloe Jane – not to have played in the Hollywoodbets Super League, which was formed after they secured contracts overseas directly from the Sasol League.
Kgatlana is also one 60 players from the NWSL who will be at the FIFA Women’s World Cup – and among six representing Racing Louisville: Savannah DeMelo (USA), Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria), Ary Borges (Brazil), Wang Shuang (China) and Alex Chidiac (Australia).
They even have a billboard put in their honour in Louisville.
By Matlhomola Morake
