Sinthumulekutama Ladies FC player joins SA u/20 squad

LIMPOPO – Parents and the coach of Sinthumulekutama Ladies FC expressed pride and excitement after 16-year-old Judy Baloyi was selected to join the South African u/20 squad for the 2024 Cosafa u/20 women’s championship.

The tournament, hosted at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus from November 19-24, saw South Africa competing against Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zambia.

This marks yet another milestone for Sinthumule High and Sinthumulekutama Ladies FC, which previously produced national-level players. In September, Maanda Ramadwa and Ambani Raphadana represented Namibia in the CAF South African School Football Championship. Judy, who plays as a central defender and left back, said the South African team earned silver medals in the tournament, with Zambia crowned champions.

Judy encouraged more women to take part in sport, saying it combats social ills such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence. “Participating in sport allows a person to live a healthy life and socialise with others rather than drinking and smoking,” she said. Judy’s passion for football started at a young age when she started playing with boys in her community, fuelling her love for the game.

She also expressed gratitude to Safa for initiating the Safa Women’s National League. Speaking about what she called disparities in support between male and female sport, she remains hopeful for change. “The government is always talking about 50/50, and I hope that will also apply in sport,” she said.