Modimolle’s own Amo shines at Banyana Banyna

She was selected as a midfielder for the national women’s soccer team at the beginning of this year.

Motau, born and bred in Modimolle, started playing soccer with the neighbours’ sons at a very young age. She attended Eenheid Primary School where she participated in all sports and excelled in athletics.

She told The Post that the primary school did not have a soccer team when she attended, but she always joined in the boys’ soccer games during breaks and after school. Some of the educators realized she was a talented soccer player and encouraged her to participate in the trials for the regional leagues.

Gerda Nel, principal of Eenheid Primary School when Motau attended the school, told The Post that they stayed in contact through the years. Nel said that Motau was an exceptional athlete and worked hard to achieve her dreams.

“I have been following her soccer career ever since and was elated when her team won. We are extremely proud of her and look forward to seeing her in the 2023 FIFA World Cup.”

At age 12 Motau started competing in the South African Football Association (SAFA) Women’s regional football league as part of the Limpopo team. This regional league is significant as it acts as a feeder to the senior national team.

During this time, her talent was noticed and she received a scholarship to attend Tuks Sports High School in Gauteng where she completed Grade 12 in 2015.

She said: “When I realized I was able to compete against other girls much older than me, I began to focus on becoming a professional player.”

Motau was selected for the u.17 national team which she captained. She later on proceeded to the u.20 team which she also captained.

She played her first match for Banyana Banyana in 2016 right after she finished school. However, in 2017 she received a scholarship from an American University where she played for various clubs. Due to an injury, she returned home in 2020 — just before the Covid-19-pandemic.

During her interview with The Post, she said that she has been working hard to achieve her lifelong dream to play in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. This dream is now within reach as the top four teams from WAFCON automatically qualify to compete in next year’s World Cup.

“Banyana has reached the final of WAFCON four times before but has not yet managed to win it until this year. Winning the first match in the tournament gave our team a huge boost in confidence. We did not let the pressure get to us and played our level best in order to make our fans at home proud,” she said.

After Banyana’s spectacular victory in the finals, she posted on her Facebook page:

“What a time to be alive! All praise to the Almighty God. I repeat, dreams do come true. To my people back home in Modimolle, thank you for all the love and support.”

Motau said she intends to become involved with the development of young athletes in her hometown.

“We need to fix our local stadium and playing fields in order to give children the platform they need to develop their talent. Modimolle may be a small town, but we have immensely talented young players.”

“My message to young girls is to never stop pursuing their dreams — whether big or small. Do not allow others to limit you in terms of what you can or cannot achieve,” she said.

She continued to say that anything is possible if you consistently work hard; even when nobody is watching.

“Never let your circumstances, or where you come from, hold you back. Rather use these challenges as motivation to pursue your dreams.”