Founder of Flamingo FC parts ways with team after 24 years
The team was not immune to challenges, lack of sponsorship, proper soccer fields, a clubhouse and general support towards women's football were some of the challenges encountered.
Regina ‘Mama Fish’ Mokoena is one of the province’s true soccer legends.
Mpumalanga News sat down with her as she journeyed back to where it all started. Mokoena said her journey was characterised with challenges and victories. She recently parted ways with her pride and joy of more than 24 years, Flamingo Ladies FC, due to health reasons. She voluntarily handed the club to its former coach, Patrick Ndlazi.
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“In view of my long serving and contribution to football, I felt it was time for me to pass the baton to the younger generation. “At the end of the previous season, I offered the team to the senior players to take over. They initially showed interest and excitement, but as time went by the plan never materialised and as a result I opened it up to the Mbombela community. This resulted to the former coach, Patrick Ndlazi taking over,” she said.
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“My journey has been both challenging and rewarding at a same time. To grow and develop I had to go through this. Being a founder and manager of Flamingo FC was not a child’s play,” added Mokoena. Talking about challenges she encountered while running the team, Mokoena said, “The team was not immune to challenges. Lack of sponsorship, proper soccer fields, a clubhouse and general support towards women’s football were some of the challenges I encountered.” Mokoena produced a number of excellent players who went as far as representing the province in interprovincial games and even abroad. Under her leadership skills, her team won a number of trophies, including being the champions of the South African Football Association (Safa) Ehlanzeni Golden Pry’s in 2001, and the Safa autumn challenge in 2006 and 2007.
The team was the first women’s team to be established in Ehlanzeni District. They won the Mbombela Mayoral Festive tourney for a number of years including in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. Mokoena has successfully coached and won monetary prizes, trophies and soccer gear for a number of schools where she had taught in the Ehlanzeni district. She also served on Safa boards where she played a vital role in the development of referees in the province.
“Three of the referees are still officiating in Safa leagues. One of them is a Fifa accredited referee officiating international and PSL matches,” she pointed out. Mokoena also coordinated the Mamas and Gogos soccer tournaments to promote healthy lifestyles among elders. Last year she coordinated soccer trials for gogos above 60 years to compete against other provinces. This saw two grannies from Ehlanzeni being selected as part of the gogos’ teams which represented the country in France.
