Zingawe Phakathi has finally broken her silence on the future of her football career following a decision to part ways with Bluebirds after demanding her clearance certificate from the club.
She told Alex News in a telephonic interview that she was not ready yet to make a statement about the path her career will take as she was busy plotting a new direction and having talks with teams keen on her services.
“I will certainly make that public once the time is ripe,” said the former Banyana Banyana international who is one of the most outstanding female football strikers to emerge from Alexandra –and judging from her performances in the Sasol League and Bluebirds, where the team plies its trade, she should be hot property waiting to be snapped up.
Rumour has it that she is destined for the Janine van Wyk Ladies Football Club in Bedfordview; but her former coach, Malvin Khumalo, said his door was still open if she finds the going tough and would like to make a U-turn.
“Zingawe was a pillar of strength for us in the past two years that we have been in the Sasol League and to lose her like this is not something we had expected, but life has to go on post her services,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo said he had laid foundations for a Bluebirds without Zingawe and the future seems bright. “I have already found a player that I feel, given time and nurturing, will be able to fill Zingawe’s big shoes.”
The coach was talking about a teenage sensation from Soshanguve who has mesmerised fans with her skills, touch of the ball and her telling runs and the ability to find and position herself in crucial spaces for potential scoring opportunities. “It is rare for players to be able to master this bit, but this girl comes ready made. We just need to guide and nurture her and ensure she gets to the level we want her to reach,” Khumalo said of the gem by the name of Tshwarelo Digauta from the High Performance Centre in Pretoria.
“She’s such a talented footballer who has just come out of the academy-like centre and already many are touting her as the new Zingawe.”
Tshwarelo has already relocated to Alex to be close to her teammates for training purposes and league games, and the Birds have secured a place for her at KwaBhekilanga Secondary School.
