The last defence for Bantwana College Football Club
RANDBURG – Jordyn went from being a defender to a goalkeeper for her team
The defensive players of Bantwana College Football Club can rest easy knowing that their goal is secure by one of the brightest goalkeeping talents in local soccer.
Jordyn Ramsden has solidified the team as a goalkeeper although her journey in soccer did not start out in that position. Ramsden originally started out as a defender after her mother signed her up to join one of the local clubs.
“I grew up playing soccer with my cousins in the backyard but it was not until 2015 that I joined my school’s soccer team and I enjoyed it so much that I am now the school’s goalkeeper,” said Jordyn.
A year later she joined another local soccer club which afforded her a chance to travel to Spain where she competed in the Danosti Cup.
“I first started out as a defender until in one match we had no goalkeeper and I volunteered to keep goals. It was an enjoyable experience and since then I have been improving my game,” she said.
“Playing in Spain against teams from different countries and how they played was an amazing experience. However, the hot conditions were hard to play in; it was so hot that our studs felt like they were melting. I made friends with players from different countries and we got to know each other.”
Jordyn dreams of playing for Banyana Banyana and is already working towards her dream and realises that to be the best, she will have to travel overseas so she can learn from the best. She wants to secure a scholarship at an overseas university that will allow her to pursue her dream.
“I want to be a professional player so besides travelling to Spain, I have also been selected to be part of the U17 national squad training camp last year but unfortunately I did not make the cut. This year, however, I have been selected to be in the Safa Regional Women’s team. This puts me one step closer to my goals.”
Although chances are limited in South Africa for women’s soccer, the trend is changing, with a women’s league thriving.
“The reason men’s soccer always gets attention is that it is a boys sport with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. It is unfortunate that top women players such as American soccer players Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan are not as promoted in the game because they are just as good if not better.”
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