Kola still passionate about football

BOIPATONG.- As Women’s Month comes to an end it will be a crime not to recognise a certain selfless woman in football.

Montsheng Kola is one Sedibeng women who’s been a servant of this beautiful game with distinctions as a player, referee and administrator. She is the “last woman standing” in football. She started as a player for the now defunct Springboks from Boipatong, playing alongside boys as there were no women soccer teams back then.

Kola used to play with the likes of the late Meshack ‘Maradona’ Tsotetsi, among other notable names in football. When she retired as a player, she then pursued a football career in refereeing. She became the first female referee from Sedibeng to officiate in a men’s league when it was not fashionable to do so.

Sedibeng Ster Sport conducted a series of interviews with Kola in the past as one of the most outstanding women in our football. Kola and former Banyana Banyana defender Rose Jijane are the most notable female figures in local football to date.

Kola, who also works for the government under the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts and Culture in Sedibeng, is still active in the development of football in this region.

She told Sedibeng Ster Sport that football is, and will always be her passion.

“I’m passionate about the development of a black child and I made a commitment to myself to unearth young referees, especially young girls. It is my responsibility to find and develop many girl child referees in our region. I use school programmes to identify both boys and girls,” said Kola.

Sedibeng Ster Sport will always cherish the responsibility to acknowledge unsung female heroes in the community. Kola is one of those unsung heroes who need to be recognised.