Young star on the rise
Rethabile Molefe will represent South Africa in the CAF African Schools Football Championships
Duduza: Fourteen-year-old Rethabile Molefe has been selected to represent South Africa as part of the U15 schools national team for the African Schools Football Championships in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Molefe has been playing for the Springs Home Sweepers for the past two years. Her team has been playing in the Sasol League and according to their coach, Mkhonza ‘Skheshe’ Mkhonzana, not just anyone can play in that league.
“The league is intense; they play against universities all over South Africa. That should tell you how good Rethabile is, she’s a skillful player and she plays with no fear of opponents.”
The former Banyana Banyana coach revealed that Molefe’s skill level matches players who are much older than her.
“When she first joined my club, she was 12 and people would always ask me why I let such a young girl play against older players. I would tell them that when it comes to football, age is not a determining factor of excellence.”
Last year, Molefe scored 13 goals in 17 games and this year she has scored seven goals in seven games. The U15 team representing SA will depart to Zanzibar on May 19.
The games will be hosted at Amaan Stadium between May 21 and 24 and a number of African football legends will attend the finals of the 2024 edition of the competition that will feature winners from regional/ zonal qualifiers.
“We feel honoured and grateful that our team player will be representing our country.
“Our aim is to make a difference in young people’s lives and to let them know that they are destined for greatness not just in sports but in other fields of life,” Mkhonzana said.
The coach revealed that for the first time, the U15 players will be awarded caps. A soccer player earns a cap whenever they represent their country in an international match.
