Soccer success beckons for Bluff school girls

KICKING their way to glory, are Grosvenor Girl’s Thabile Mthembu and Breigh Smith, after being selected to represent KZN in a Johannesburg soccer tour.

Along with playing in friendly matches against Joburg soccer clubs, the recent tour saw the 15-year-old Thabile and 16-year-old Breigh attend a training clinic and Banyana Banyana skills sharing and autograph signing session.

Grade 9’s Thabile, who hails from Umlazi, was selected to the U15 team. “When I heard I had been chosen as part of the team, I didn’t believe it. The whole tour and meeting the Banyana Banyana players was amazing,” she said.

Thabile started playing soccer in grade 7. “I grew up with people who played the sport so I was always going to play.”

In the U19 team was Wentworth’s Breigh, who is in grade 11. “I was shocked and amazed when we were picked for the team. I had no words – I kept thinking, ‘this isn’t me’,” said Breigh.

She started playing soccer when she was in grade 8. “I loved playing it in PE and I was always the girl taking to the field to play soccer with the boys.”

Their coach, Patricia Taylor knew both girls were headed for success.

“Coaching them is a wonderful thing for me. Besides the skills and attitude they both possess, their fitness, knowledge of the rules and dedication shines through,” said Taylor.

“When they got selected, I felt like I got selected. I cried. When you do a job, you want an outcome and their success is that outcome. Helping them get there is my success as a coach,” she added.

The achievement earned both girls full colours at Grosvenor.

When not training for soccer, which they do four times a week, Thabile also plays basketball and Breigh plays tennis and does athletics and is an accomplished musician.

Both have aspirations to take their soccer further, with hopes for making the Banyana Banyana team in the future and later, taking to the world stage.

After school Briegh has her sights set on completing a medical degree and become a cardiologist while Thabile hopes to study information technology. They both plan on studying sports management on the side.

The dup are full of praise and thanks for those who helped them make it to Johannesburg.

“Thank you to coach for always being there and making the time for us. We also thank Grosvenor Girls High School for sponsoring us with R1,000 each and the Grosvenor soccer team for organising a cake sale fundraiser,” said Breigh.

“Thanks coach. She never gave up on us. And thank you to everyone else who helped us,” said Thabile.

Patricia thanks the parents and the school for their support.

While they agree on many things and display great teamwork on the field, both disagree on one thing – their favourite soccer player.

“It’s Cristiano Ronadlo for me,” said Thabile. “And it’s Lionel Messi for me,” said Breigh.