“There are no boundaries that should block women from pursuing a career in sport.” These are the sentiments of 37-year-old, Senele Goba, who is the public relations officer and U11 team manager at Toti United Football Club.
After playing sport from a young age, she was inspired to motivate and empower the youth. Senele is married to Mthobisi and they have two sons, Ntando, 14 and TK, 11. Her journey at the soccer club began in 2013.
“I have two sons who eat, sleep, dream and cry soccer. Ever since Ntando showed interest in the sport at the age of eight, we started to look for a football club where he could develop that skill, as well as social skills. TK didn’t have much of a choice, but he loved the sport and joined the club, even though he was still too young to join at that time.”
According to Senele, her duties includes the communication between the club and its stakeholders. As the U11 team manager, she also looks after the administration of training for the team, the communication with the parents and communication with team managers from other clubs when arranging matches.
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When asked what her thoughts are regarding women in sport, Senele said, “Sport is a critical aspect of life. I used to play netball and athletics since I was in primary school and as I grew older, sport was a great way to maintain mental well-being, especially with the pressures academics. Women in sport do not only stay fit, which improves their quality of life, but they also stay socially active as they interact with others in a relaxed environment. The best time for to get into sport is at as young as possible. There are no boundaries that block women from pursuing a career in sport. Any sport for that matter, as this is a turf that still has a lot of potential. In the club, we have started a team for girls and it took of quite well, recruiting each other into the team. They have a supportive spirit of friendship. The future surely looks bright for them.”
She played netball from a young age until she completed her university studies. After that, she kept active by joining fitness clubs, but she believes that her fitness and activity levels have a lot of room for improvement.
“My words of encouragement during lockdown is that this is definitely a temporary phenomenon. We have different circumstances that allow or hinder us from remaining active during this time. If we remain active, we become strong. Lockdown has been availing opportunities to explore many baking and cooking recipes. We should continue to explore, while keeping balance and not sacrificing our health for the moment. We must note, though, that every little action counts. Do no pressure yourself; do not compete with anyone. Do not expect miracles either. Even if you take one step, it’s a step; keep moving. Lockdown has presented some challenges, all of which are temporary. It has called for mindfulness about what I consume through food, news and emotionally, in order to remain positive and well. It called for creative ways to entertain children and encourage them to remain hopeful. They are dying to return to the soccer field, but they understand the need to stay away for now. The club has put out a few fun challenges for the kids to keep active. After lockdown, I am looking forward to the healthy buzz around our community and the love shared among everyone, reminding us that no matter how dark the night may seem, the sun will rise in the morning.”
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