Lady in charge on the soccer field

In communities where soccer is still considered a sport for men, when a girl shows interest everyone’s eyebrows go up.

The 35-year-old Smangele Nkabinde from Groutville said there is nothing wrong with a girl who wants to play soccer.

During the week, Nkabinde is a street vendor, selling sunglasses and handbags on Chief Albert Luthuli Street in KwaDukuza. Come the weekend, she is one of the few female soccer referees in the Ilembe region, a job she has been doing for the past 15 years. She is the proud holder of a South African Football Association level four refereeing certificate.

Most people tend to believe that a girl who plays soccer is or will turn into be a tomboy, she says, therefore most parents in the townships will not allow their girl children to play soccer.

She used to play for Umziyathi Girls United before she decided to be a referee which she described as a very challenging but enjoyable job.

“I am not a tomboy and I love what I do. So if your child wants to play soccer, let her go and enjoy herself,” said Nkabinde.

While she was nervous at first, she has grown in confidence and today is a referee in the SAB league and SAFA in Ilembe region and Sasol league.

“I refereed my first game when I went to the University of KwaZulu-Natal to be an assistant referee, but the referee did not arrive. So I was told to take the match,” said Nkabinde.

Female referees can get a hard time from fans, but she shrugs this off. She had originally wanted to be a nurse but could not afford to attend nursing school.

Although her job keeps her busy at weekends, Nkabinde says she always finds time to spend with her 11-year-old son.

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