Talented goalkeeper tests her soccer skills in Spain

Thabile Malambe is part of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) ladies soccer team, who have been taking part in a tournament against some of the top Spanish Primera Division women’s teams since Monday.

Their plane touched down in Barcelona last Sunday and the tournament, held in Villarreal, ended yesterday.

Malambe grew up in Schoemansdal and is currently in the final year of her national diploma for cost and management accounting at the TUT’s GaRankuwa Campus.

She started playing soccer for the NV Gunners in her grade 10 year at Mahlatsi High School in 2010. In 2013 and 2014, she played for Francis Ladies, who won the Mbombela Mayoral Cup. She was also crowned goalkeeper of the tournament.

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In 2016 and 2017, she was part of Super Strikers Ladies FC and the team were the champions of the Nkomazi Mayoral Cup.

Malambe said she also celebrated several victories at TUT. “I was at my post when the team won the national Varsity Cup tournament four consecutive times between 2014 and 2017. I was crowned goalkeeper of the tournament in 2016. I played 90 minutes with great saves when the team won University Sport South Africa in 2017,” she said.

Malambe explained that they are expecting “standard football with high pace and great passes”. They trained as much as they could to ensure their fitness is on par with teams from other countries.

“With positivity we will make sure to bring the cup home with us. I salute my coaches Siboniso Simelane and Tebogo Mokae. They played a big role in helping me grow in football and brought me confidence, made me know football in a way that I can play with no doubts and high tempo,” she said.

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The star player said she’d love to play football full-time as a career but she has to look at the economic reality.

“Once I finish school, I need to get a job. I love football but we are not getting paid where I am playing now. My background does not allow me to play for free full-time as I have a lot of responsibilities back home. But I will keep on working hard, as opportunities can pop up from nowhere. I am praying that I can play for the national team one day, Banyana Banyana. From there, I know everything will be settled.”