Avatar photo

By Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

Football Journalist


Banyana star and Liga donate 1,000 balls to schools

The donation is part of Liga’s partnership with the annual KwaMahlobo Festive Games which take place in December.


Fresh from representing the country at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in France Banyana Banyana striker Thembi Kgatlana in conjunction with La Liga donated 1 000 balls to schools around Soweto on Wednesday.

On the day, Kgatlana shared her experiences and life-story with the primary school pupils. The striker said it was heartwarming to see the kids being excited about the balls and their emotions caught her eyes.

“It was heartwarming to see the kids of Sivelile Primary come out in numbers on a chilly morning to welcome LaLiga and its partners to their school. The excitement on their faces was what really caught my emotions, as my career also started with a single ball shared amongst friends,” said the Banyana star.

“These kids are privileged to get soccer balls, which they will use all year round, keeping them away from streets… It is a great initiative by LaLiga and its partners to bring development and privileges to the kids of Soweto.”

This is not the first time Kgatlana and LaLiga have donated soccer balls. Earlier this year, 200 balls were donated to Kgatlana’s former High school AB Phokompe in Mohlakeng, Rand-West.

At the World Cup, Banyana got knocked out of the group stages after losing all their games, with the team only managing to score one goal courtesy of Kgatlana in their 3-1 loss against Spain.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.

Read more on these topics

banyana banyana Thembi Kgatlana

Access premium news and stories

Access to the top content, vouchers and other member only benefits