Banyana star wants to uplift youth in her community
Banyana Banyana and University of Western Cape striker Thembi Kgatlana wants is aiming at exposing an enormous talent that comes from the Rand-West with her first annual Thembi Kgatlana Tournament starting on the 27th July until 29th at the Pule Ace Ntsoelengoe Stadium in Mohlakeng.
Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa and Chen Gao of China during the Group E Women’s Football match between South Africa and China PR at Olympic Stadium on August 06, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Roger Sedres/Gallo Images)
Thembi Kgatlana, who has represented the women senior national team at the African Women Cup of Nations and the Olympics believes there is a lot of talent in Rand-West. She decided to start a tournament and possibly open doors for the next generation of stars that will come from the area.
“It is a tournament that is meant to run yearly. I want to be it a legacy and it will be used to the community of Mohalekeng where I was groomed as a soccer player to be where I am at,” said the 21-year old Banyana striker.
“We have good players in our community, but there is nothing we are doing as well-known players in our area to try help others to make it to the top. I want this tournament to inspire other people and to make sure we continue giving Premier Soccer League and National First Division teams players who come from our region.
“I want the tournament to be as big as the Steven Pienaar Tourament and the Maimane Phiri games in Alex. Those tournaments are an example of how soccer is uniting people and one can easily be scouted by a top team.”
At only 21-years, Kgatlana has given back to the community before. In the past, the Banyana striker donated shoes and sanitary pads to schools in her community.
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