From village girl to African champion – former UKNZ captain shares her inspirational story

SOUTH AFRICA.- The Varsity Football competition is known for its prominence of producing quality footballers who come from the ranks of their universities and end up shining at the highest level. The Women’s edition of the competition is even more compelling and vital to women’s football as the country still faces the unfortunate reality of offering limited opportunities to ladies to achieving their desired professional career goals.

Varsity Football caught up with former UKZN women’s captain, who was recently in the Banyana Banyana team that was crowned Champions of Africa in Morocco. Coming from a small rural village of Clarkebury in eNgcobo (Eastern Cape), the story of Biyane (28) is an inspiring one, as it perfectly paints the portrait of what consistent pursuit of dreams can do for anyone.

The Banyana Banyana international began her football from a young age at Canaan Academy in iDutywa (Eastern Cape) – playing with ‘the boys’ – and ultimately inheriting her love for football from her father whom she references often helped her to discover her dream of playing for Banyana Banyana from an early age whilst in her home province. Her passion for football earned her the name of legendary Banyana Banyana superstar ‘Portia Modise’, whom at that time was idolised by many young football loving African girls around the country.

After her years in the Eastern Cape, Biyane moved to Durban in search of football’s greener pastures, studying at DUT and completing her first qualification. She left soon after to join UKZN – all in search of the opportunity to showcase her talent and to realise her dream of playing in the professional ranks.

The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Biyane captained the UKZN team in their inaugural season of the Varsity Women’s Football tournament in 2018, where she attracted the eyes of many clubs with her consistent quality performances.

“Varsity Football and University Sports helped me, especially with exposure. I used University Sports and Varsity Football to help me get exposed to national team football,” the Banyana Banyana international tells Varsity Football.

The staunch midfielder went on to join UWC, working closely with Desiree Ellis’ Banyana Banyana assistant coach, Thinasonke Mbuli. Joining the likes of Thembi Kgatlane, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Hildah Magaia, to name a few, Biyane set her strides abroad joining Spanish second division side, Sporting Gijon, increasing the number of players in the squad who have left their marks beyond the country‘s boarders. Despite limited opportunities for woman‘s football in South Africa, the Banyana Banyana midfielder helped her country to write history by bringing the WAFCON trophy back to South African shores for the first time ever.

“It’s great to be a champion and I’m happy that I helped the team to win the championship. It was the biggest achievement, great, to make history,” she explained.

“I am part of the Woman’s football that made history with this team. The first [South African] women’s team to win the AFCON. And I know that no one can take that feeling away from me. We [Banyana Banyana] worked together as a team, we were so close, we became a family. And it was easier to win games.”

With her contract, with the Spanish side Sporting Gijon having come to an end, the Banyana midfield maestro says keeping her level of consistency with the national team will be key to her next step while hoping that women’s football is quickly professionalised in her home country so that more ladies can have the opportunities, which will consequently enable South Africa to compete with the best teams in the world.

An inspirational story of sacrifice and hard work, turning a passionate football-loving village girl to become an African Champion!

The 2022 edition of Women’s Varsity Football takes place from 9-14 October and includes the top eight university teams across the country.