Game On Magazine April 2016 Game On Magazine April 2016 | Page 17

main feature: soccer

Words: Phumzile Ngcatshe | Photos: BackpagePix

listen to the game on
podcast interview
with L inda

Linda Motlhalo is a talented striker who last year
graduated from Basetsana – South Africa’s U/20 national
women’s team – to the senior Banyana Banyana side.
She experienced the disappointment of missing out on
qualifying for the FIFA U/20 Women’s World Cup when
Basetsana were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Nigeria –
which was an especially disappointing experience for
Motlhalo, who helped the U/20 team reach the final stage
of qualifying with a brace of excellent goals in their 3-2
win over Zambia. But moving up to the senior side under
the guidance of coach Vera Pauw has been a career
highlight. Motlhalo is on track to be a part of the Banyana
Banyana squad which will do duty at the 2016 Summer
Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August, having been
a part of the team which secured qualification, as well
as a preparatory camp held earlier this year at the Nike
Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto.

Honours
• Made the senior national women’s
team, Banyana Banyana, in 2015 and
helped them qualify for the 2016
Olympic Games.

• Was part of the Rio Olympic Games
preparation intake of players at the
Football Training Centre in Pimville,
Soweto.

follow linda on instagram

Game On Magazine, April: Issue 27, 2016

17