Mulaudzi returns to Banyana
The Limpopo-born striker is happy with the call-up and is thankful to Canberra for giving her the opportunity to play professional football.
Rhoda Mulaudzi celebrates a goal during the 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship Semifinal football match between Zambia and South Africa at Barbourfields Stadium, Bulawayo (Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix)
Australia-based Banyana Banyana striker Rhoda Mulaudzi is delighted to have been called back into the national team for the friendly games against the Netherlands and Sweden this month.
The Limpopo-born striker who signed with Canberra United last year in August to play in the Australian Westfield Women’s League last played for Banyana back in 2017.
She subsequently missed out on Banyana’s most important year, which saw the team qualify for the World Cup for the first time after they finished as runners-up at the 2019 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Mulaudzi says she is happy with the call-up and is thankful to Canberra for giving her the opportunity to play professional football.
“It’s a good feeling to be called up for the national team – it shows that hard work pays off.
“I would also like to thank Canberra for the support they have given me and I have been able to do what I am here for,” Mulaudzi told the Australian media.
“When I came here, I was not really sure what to expect, especially since it is my first professional contract.
“But I told myself that football is football anywhere in the world, it doesn’t matter whether you are in South Africa or Australia, so the only thing to do was to believe in myself and work hard. The support I got here and back home has been good.”
The 29-year old has scored four goals for the Australian side in her debut season and she believes she still has a lot more to offer the team.
“I am happy with the goals, but I know I can give a lot more. I feel like the season has been short and given the chance I can still continue with the way I have been playing.”
Meanwhile, Canberra and Banyana team-mate Refiloe Jane told the media that South Africa has a lot of talent and her performance and Muladuzi’s in the W-League will persuade people to come and search for raw talent in the country.
The pair will miss Canberra’s second last game of the season against Melbourne Victory and they are expected to arrive in South Africa next week.
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