Celebrating the rise of women in Sport who have flown and continue to fly the South African flag high both on domestic and international stages! Featured here is Linda Motlhalo
Linda Motlhalo always shows her passion and commitment when she wears the Banyana Banyana jersey. She wants to be a role model for the younger players who will come after her.
Motlhalo (25) has become a favourite among fans of Banyana Banyana because of her amazing skills. She has dazzled defenders, scored important goals, and displayed graceful dance moves on the field.
She was born in a place called Badirile, Brandvlei, in Randfontein, Gauteng and her family has a strong connection to football. Her father, Johannes Motlhalo, dreamt of becoming a professional football player, and her uncle, Joseph Motlhalo, was a goalkeeper for Kaizer Chiefs from 1970 to 1985. Growing up in a family that loved football, Linda developed a passion for the sport from a very young age.
She went to TuksSport High School, where her talent for football began to shine. During her time there, she was part of the South African High-Performance Centre in Pretoria. This centre played a big role in developing her skills and preparing her for her future in football.
Because of her amazing work, dribbling, and playmaking abilities, people gave her the nickname ‘Randfontein Ronaldinho,’ after the famous Brazilian.
Everything I need to do I need to give glory to God.@CAFwomen pic.twitter.com/kjY4O37Ses
— Linda_motlhalo10 (@MaserameLinda) July 31, 2022
In 2019, Motlhalo started a new journey and joined Beijing BG Phoenix F.C. in China’s Women’s Super League. She played an important role in the team as a versatile midfielder. Thanks to her contribution, Beijing reached the semifinals in the Chinese Women’s Championship, and she left a good impression during her time there.
She went to join the Swedish side Djurgårdens IF in 2020 on a two-year deal where she made an impressive move by scoring two goals as a substitute in a Stockholm Derby victory over AIK. Motlhalo proved to be a valuable asset to the team and was voted as the Newcomer of the Year.
In January 2023, Motlhalo joined the Glasgow City football club on a permanent contract. She again proved her value by giving an important pass in the 92nd minute during a match against Rangers. This helped Glasgow City win the SWPL title. Because of her excellent performance, she was rightly named the Player of the Match.
CHAMPION!!!
— Prince Sobayeni Sports (@PrinceSobayeni1) May 21, 2023
Banyana Banyana midfielder Linda Motlhalo was instrumental as Glasgow City defeated Glasgow Rangers 1-0 to win the Scottish title.
Linda assisted the only goal of the match as City reclaimed the title from their rivals.#MzansiBallerz🇿🇦pic.twitter.com/tsKAOzdi3T
Not only does Linda play for her club, but she also represents her country in international tournaments. In the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations held in Ghana, she played exceptionally well. She was a standout player, starting in all five games and scoring one goal. She was awarded the Player of the Match during the semifinal against Mali. Despite facing an injury, she had the honour of representing South Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In September 2021, Motlhalo made a big impact by scoring an important goal in a 4–2 victory over Nigeria. This helped Banyana Banyana win the first Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos. She proved herself as a key player for the national team by being the top scorer in the qualification matches for the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations.
This is actually Linda Motlalo's best game since the game against Nigeria in the Aisha Buhari Cup last year. Her work rate was at different intensity and she took a lot of offensive responsibility👌
— 4Points4Banyana🏳️🌈 (@MakwenaManaka) September 2, 2022
She has proven her skills against some of the best players in the world. Linda’s journey from a small town to becoming an international soccer star inspires many young players. She is not only talented but also humble and hardworking.
Off the field, Linda continues to inspire kids around South Africa. With her incredible talent and determination, she is making her mark on the world of soccer and inspiring others to chase their dreams.
