Ladies’ soccer star heads to Denmark
Naledi Thage (15) from Eastfield in Vosloorus made the team of 20 players who were selected to represent Janine van Wyk (JVW) Football Club in Denmark.
JVW Football Club in Bedfordview, of which Naledi plays for, will represent Ekurhuleni and South Africa in the world’s third largest youth soccer tournament, the Dana Cup, in Hjorring, Denmark.
Naledi and her teammates will leave on July 21 and will return on July 30.
Four teams namely Bjard IL (NOR), Lillehammer FB (NOR), Viking KF and JVW FC are going to take part in this prestigious tournament.
The first game will see JVW FC locking horns with Bjard IL (NOR) on July 24 at 8.30am while the team from South Africa will play against Lillehammer FB (NOR) in the second game later on the day at 6.30pm, South African time.
Viking FK and JVW FC will play against each other the following day at 4.30pm.
An excited Naledi told Kathorus MAIL how the opportunity came about.
“Our coach Janine van Wyk told us about the opportunity and that she was going to select a team strong enough to compete against the bests in the world. She told us that she wants players who are hard-working and those who are fit physically and mentally, who have a high level of concentration. All of us who have been selected met all the requirements,” said the left wing.
She said she is very excited about the opportunity as she is going to get an opportunity to rub shoulders with the world’s best players.
Sammy Thage, proud father and former Orlando Pirates player, said he thought Naledi’s older brother Atlegile Thage would be the one to enjoy this kind of success.
“Atlegile is a soccer player as well. Naledi used to accompany us to training at Vosloorus Stadium. The training was meant for me and my son because I wanted him to be a soccer star like me. It was not for Naledi. One day Naledi wanted to train as well,” said Sammy.
He said he was not sure if he was doing a good thing by allowing a girl to play soccer.
“But to my surprise, she became better and better each day until she was recruited by van Wyk to play for her club,” said Sammy.
“Naledi started to play for JVW FC’s u-14 team and from there she never looked back,” Sammy said.
He concluded by saying he is over the moon for his daughter.
Naledi said this will be a good pre-season preparation for them.
