4 minute read
TOP OF HER GAME
A natural talent and the will to succeed led former UWC footballer Sinoxolo Cesane to follow in the footsteps of her football heroes
By Buntu Gotywa
Off the field, a big smile and a willingness to chat about any subject under the sun is what defines Sinoxolo Cesane. Her welcoming disposition and ability to spread positivity to those around her is something that comes naturally.
Yet, those qualities are quickly swept aside when she laces up her boots and takes to the football pitch. Her competitive on-field nature and desire to strive for only the best is something to marvel at – and is what sets her apart from her peers. She is as fierce as they come and her rise to stardom is no surprise to those who have been following her football journey. More than just a natural flair for diski, she possesses a strong mentality that plays a significant role in the continued development of her game.
And it’s this mentality that scored her a full athletic scholarship with East Tennessee State University women’s soccer in the United States. The former UWC midfielder is now one step closer to her goal of becoming a professional football player, having already played for Cape Town Roses alongside her twin sister Noxolo, who donned the Banyana Banyana jersey during the 2019 Cosafa Women’s Championship.
The 20-year-old has yet to decide on her academic pursuit, but says it will definitely be in the field of medicine. This makes sense considering women’s football is still far away from reaching the same professional level as the men’s game – at least when it comes to earning a living.
“I started my career with my sister at Roses and, although we were playing older ladies, we were never shaken because we always believed in our abilities. I then went on to join UWC, which brought about the opportunity that I have now. It was a step I had to take in order to move my career forward,” she says.
With players such as Thembi Kgatlana – who now plays for Spanish Primera División club SD Eibar – having plied their trade at UWC, it’s easy to see why playing
for the University was another leap towards professional football for Cesane. Udubs was one of 12 sides that played in the inaugural National Women’s League, which presented Cesane with the chance to go up against some of South Africa’s top talents.
“I enjoyed my time playing for the University as we were able to play all the top sides throughout the season,” Cesane reminisces. “The transition to the side was also easy because I knew most of the players from before, so I fit in quite well. The level of competition was also higher and that helped with boosting my profile.”
And just as she had imagined, the scholarship offer arrived during her spell with UWC after videos of her playing were spotted online. “What makes it even more exciting is that I can also study, not just play football. There were other offers but this was the best one, especially knowing there were other players who spoke highly of the coaches at East Tennessee.
“Ode Fulutudilu and Jermaine Seoposenwe are some of the players who have worked with the same coach (Jay Yelton), so it made my choice a lot easier.”
Preparing to move abroad presented its own challenges, specifically with funds for travel looking to derail the opportunity. However, through the goodwill of her team, community and the public at large – who chipped in with donations – the funds for her flight were raised and she has since settled in at her new home.
On starting a new chapter in her life without her family by her side, Cesane says what keeps her going is knowing she can always count on their support no matter how far apart they are. “My sister and I had always spent a lot of time apart during the national team call-ups as she would be away for weeks, so I don’t think being homesick is something that will affect me too much.”
With her dream becoming a reality, she wishes the same for other dreamers, advising that they should hold steadfast in aiming for the stars. “There is no turning back for me now. There may be challenges along the way, but I’m prepared. No barriers will
stop me from the goals I’ve set for myself, and that is what I’d like to see for other young footballers in South Africa.
“The successful careers of footballers such as Ode, Thembi, Jermaine and Noko Matlou is something I’d like to emulate. I know that talent alone is not enough; there’s always that extra effort required in order to achieve such lofty goals,” she concludes.
