Nkomazi soccer star helps team to third place in Spanish tournament
Local soccer star Thabile Malambe helped her team to a third place in the 2018 Vila-Real Girls Cup in Spain.
Thabile Malambe and the TUT Women’s soccer team faced some of the top teams in the Spanish Primera Division during the Vila-Real Girls Cup. The tournament was a week long and ended on June 23.
Malambe, who grew up in Schoemansdal, is a final year student at TUT’s GaRankuwe Campus and has competed in many local soccer tournaments over the past few years.
The team won their first match in the tournament against Racing Onda with 11-0.
Malambe said she learned a lot throughout the tournament and like the standard of football. “You could tell that Spanish people have football in their blood. Their passes are very good,” she remarked.
READ: Talented goalkeeper tests her soccer skills in Spain
The Nkomazi soccer player made a few great saves in their game against Villareal CF, earning them a 3-1 win.
The team’s winning streak was broken with a 3-4 loss against Discobolo Feminine. The opposing team scored their winning goal with only a few minutes left in the game.
Malambe said they need to improve their passes and do more training before any tournament. “But I have no complaints, we played very well.” She remarked that it is difficult to predict a soccer game.
Malambe’s teammate, Bontle Vitjo Mashilo was named player of the tournament.
READ: Stars behind Selati Cup get their dues at awards ceremony
“I feel blessed to have been there. I will keep on playing well and be disciplined, with the great hope that it may take me somewhere again. I got to see beautiful places, ate interesting new foods and played in big stadiums. It is something that will stay with me for life,” Malambe said.
