POLOKWANE – Noko Alice ‘Beep-Beeo’ Matlou was born on 30 September 1985 in Moletjie, outside Polokwane and currently resides in Penina Park. She became the first South African to win the African Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2008.
She has played as both a striker and defender for the women’s national team. Currently, she plays as a striker for MaIndies. For her the game began when she was in school and played with local friends, dreaming of becoming a star to represent her province and country.
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“It was never easy growing up to be a girl playing soccer, because it was believed the sport in general was something for men and boys. I refused to let go of my dream and today I am not only representing Limpopo, but also the country,” Noko says.
Beep-Beep as she is known says playing for the national Banyana-Banyana team is something that she enjoys a lot. However, when she returns after playing for the country in June, she would like to focus on developing young boys and girls from rural areas. She also wants to help in the transformation of sport, to help women get into forming and achieving their own sporting dreams.
“Something we need in this country, is to get out of old mindsets where people believe only some people can do certain things. I believe there is more support needed for local players, because they can go just as far as I did. You need to reach for your dreams and make everyday, a day to make your dreams come true,” she adds.
She is just one of the many talented soccer women in action on weekdays at the Noordelikes sport fields.
“If you believe that you can make it, you will. Never give up on your dream and don’t listen to people who try to bring you down. If you believe in yourself, there is no limit to what you can do.”
