She arrived in Paris on September 5 and will be staying for the team’s matches. She told Herald that she is having the time of her life and that one of her favourite things to do is spend some time with the ‘braai army’ – a group of Springbok fans from all over the globe, who gather and braai.

In the last 10 months, she has attended three World Cup events, including the Fifa Soccer World Cup in Qatar and the Fifa Soccer World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where she supported Banyana Banyana in August. Although she is based in Gauteng, she was born and bred in Malamulele, outside Giyani. She became a household name as an Orlando Pirates supporter back in the day. She first grabbed the stadium’s attention with her colourful outfits and passion for football.

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She says she has since parted ways with Pirates and is now a staunch Royal AM FC supporter. Even though she has been criticised for her move to the KwaZulu-Natal team, Mama Joy says people’s opinions of her do not move her. She told the Herald that she is not just a soccer fan, but a sports fan of all South African teams and sporting events.

Two weeks ago she was named the Sports Supporter of the Year at the Momentum G Sports Awards held in Johannesburg. She says the win solidifies her as the ultimate South African Sports fan. She said she appreciates the support that South African Rugby, the Department of Sport, Mark Alexander, and Safa’s Danny Jordaan have given her.