UJ player in SA’s U20
JOBURG – Katlego Mabuza, a star for the University of Johannesburg (UJ) during the Varsity Women's Football tournament, is bent on continuing her good form for the junior national team.
Katlego Mabuza, a star for the University of Johannesburg (UJ) during the Varsity Women’s Football tournament, is bent on continuing her good form for the junior national team.
The national side has moved into the second round of qualifiers for the Fifa U20 Women’s World Cup in France next year, after beating Namibia 5–0 at home, and then 4–0 away on 1 October. The team’s next assignment is a first leg away encounter to Burundi on 3 November.
The diminutive 19-year-old midfielder showed why selectors chose her for U20 national duty at the varsity tournament. In the semi-final match against the University of Cape Town, Mabuza scored the opener and was instrumental in creating three chances to hand the Western Cape outfit an embarrassing 4–0 defeat.
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However, after booking their spot in the final and with Mabuza out due to a shin splint injury, her side suffered a heavy 4–0 thumping at the hands of three-time defending Varsity Women’s Football champions, Tshwane University of Technology.
“The UJ physio has been very helpful in assisting with the shin splints. I spent entire days with her trying to get me okay for the semis, but after the game against UCT, I’ve been fine and could play, and have been to [national] camp for a week.
“It’s really an honour to play for the national team because as a young footballer, it’s always been my goal to play for the national team.”
