Motlhalo joins prestigious South African Century Club

Ngwana wa ko gae. A child from my home. 

A befitting phrase that Linda Motlhalo has become accustomed to especially while wearing the iconic yellow and green national colours of South Africa on national team duty. 

“I still remember when Linda first came into the national team. Small bodied, tiny-sized but a player full of skill and someone for the future. I remember watching her in the U17s and U20s and I could tell that this one is for the future,” Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane reminisces exclusively to CAFOnline. 

Jane adds with a grin on her face as she continues singing Motlhalo’s praises, “The confidence that she has on the field and the willingness to take on opponents is impressive. She is one of the penalty takers on the team and she took it upon herself to do that. She has shown a lot of courage, determination and hardwork to achieve so many things in life and in football.” 

Motlhalo has netted seven goals at the WAFCON since her debut edition in 2016 and six of them have been from the spot including the all-important goal that secured a 1-0 victory over Zambia in the 2022 semifinals that saw them book a place in the final before they edged hosts Morocco 2-1 for their first and only WAFCON title. This has earned her the African Penalty Queen title. 

Even with this in mind, Motlhalo remains humble after becoming the 13^th South African player to represent her nation 100 or more times – a truly unique feat for the midfielder. 

From Brandvlei to the world

Born in the arid small Gauteng town of Brandvlei, Motlhalo has fond memories of her childhood. Open plains and scrubland describe Brandvlei best to anyone who has never visited this part of South Africa. A few thousand people call it home and among those is Banyana Banyana’s shirt number 10 for the last decade. 

The versatile midfielder, who plays in the middle of the pack in a creative role or as a winger when need be, turned 28 this July 1. Her birth month has not only delivered a new age but also a historic achievement – joining the iconic group of now only 13 players to ever represent South Africa 100 times or more. 

But this journey started on March 25, 2016 when she made her senior national team debut against Cameroon scoring against the Indomitable Lionesses. Before then, she had featured for the U17 and U20 national teams thanks to grooming from the SAFA Girls’ Academy based at the TUKS High Performance Centre in Pretoria. 

“It has been a long journey filled with ups and downs, blessings and successes. I think the biggest thing for me was getting that first cap, that first opportunity. I think I grabbed that opportunity and I never looked back. I am grateful to all the coaches that I have worked with, all the players present and past. I am grateful that I got to meet different people in my journey and be able to share stories, be able to encourage one another. I think that is beautiful.” 

Scoring on her debut remains her biggest highlight. “I managed to score. The timing was so perfect for me,” her eyes light up as she finishes this sentence. 

WAFCON 2022 Champion, two World Cups and Rio 2016 Olympics

South Africa are one of only three countries to lift the prestigious WAFCON trophy and Motlhalo belongs to that forever respected squad that delivered the continental title to the rainbow nation. 

“Brandvlei is a very dusty village where I grew up, where I would normally play with boys. I remember, when it got dark, my Mom would come and fetch me because I didn’t even look at the time. It is such an amazing place and it is a very small place. It is a very special place because it reminds me of where I come from and who I represent.” 

“I have played in a lot of WAFCONs [this is her fifth edition] and I had the opportunity to play in two World Cups [2019 and 2023]. The chances are there. The opportunities are there. We are still going to continue working. We all have dreams. We’ve got new players in the team that have never played in the WAFCON. They have never been to the World Cup,” she gives context why she is forever grateful at what the beautiful game has given her. 

Motlhalo Family Legacy

Born into a football family with the full support of both her parents – her mother who not only encouraged her but together with her father gave her training resources as well as her uncle Joseph Motlhalo who featured as a goalkeeper for South African giants Kaizer Chiefs between 1970 and 1985. 

This football legacy stands tall at the heart of her continued success at both country and club levels. Motlhalo has played on four continents before her 30^th birthday. She signed her first professional contract as a 19-year old for Houston Dash in the NWSL before crossing the pond to Beijing BG Phoenix in China, Djurgården in Sweden, Glasgow City in Scotland and Racing Louisville stateside. 

Tribute from Dr Desiree Ellis

“I remember Linda coming into the team as a 16 or 17 year old with coach Vera because already at that time, she was already a special player. I call Refiloe Jane the conductor and I call her [Linda] – the magician. She has been excellent for us. Every time that she steps on the field, she lives you in awe. She scores crucial goals at crucial times,” South Africa head coach Ellis says with great pride. 

“She has really taken the opportunities that have come her way. I like I say about the players that have reached 100 caps, it could not have happened to a more deserving person.” 

Inside South Africa’s prestigious Century Club, only three players have scored more goals than Motlhalo in national team colours. She is in elite company with Portia Modise ahead of the pack with 101 goals in 124 appearances, 66 goals for Noko Matlou, 39 for Nompumelelo Nyandeni and currently tied with Jermaine Seoposenwe at 25 goals. All four are retired. 

Motlhalo’s focus following South Africa’s Group B opening 1-2 loss to Tanzania is to redeem her side’s chances of progressing to the knockout stages when they take on Côte d’Ivoire at the Moulay Rachid Stadium on July 31 in Casablanca at 18h00 (local time). 

List of Banyana Banyana with 100 or more caps