A HEARTACHE FUELS LONATHEMBA’S AMBITION

BY JOHN GOLIATH

AT THE AGE OF ONLY 21, University of the Western Cape (UWC) defender Lonathemba Mhlongo has had her fair share of football heartache. An injury shortly before the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand meant she missed out on a place in the Banyana Banyana squad. Then she was part of the South African squad that narrowly missed out on qualifying for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

OVER THE LAST TWO SEASONS she has also been a member of the UWC women’s team that narrowly missed glory in the Hollywoodbets Super League, finishing second behind Mamelodi Sundowns. But these setbacks and near misses haven’t left Mhlongo feeling down. In fact, she is using them as fuel to improve as a footballer and help Banyana and UWC reach new heights.

“I GOT INJURED BEFORE THE WORLD CUP SQUAD WAS ANNOUNCED and I couldn’t finish the camp. I had to come back and see the medical team at UWC, who got me back on the pitch,” she says. “We needed to qualify for the Olympics after missing the previous Games. But we fought hard and I can’t fault the efforts of the players and the coaching staff. It is a big tournament and it’s heartbreaking.

"BUT SUCH DISAPPOINTMENT motivates you to fight for more opportunities in future. It’s my dream to play at a World Cup and Olympics with Banyana. Now we have to target the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title and go back-to-back. It’s a big tournament for us and we have to do our best to win.”

MHLONGO MOVED FROM DURBAN IN 2022 TO JOIN UWC as a student athlete. Life in Cape Town has been good so far as she pursues a higher certificate in economics while playing in the heart of the UWC defence. She says she has found the balance that helps her make the best of the opportunities UWC offers.

NOW WE HAVE TO TARGET THE WOMEN’S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS TITLE AND GO BACK-TO-BACK. IT’S A BIG TOURNAMENT FOR US AND WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO WIN.

“IT’S SOMETIMES HARD, and you need a plan on how to balance the studies with the football,” says Mhlongo. “I wake up, have breakfast and then go to my classes, which start at 9am. My classes finish at about 3pm or 4pm and then I go to training at 4.30pm. It’s not bad and I like the routine. There are also lots of teammates who follow the same sort of day so we try to help each other on and off the field.”

MHLONGO HAS SUCCESSFULLY SWITCHED from being a left-side player at fullback and on the wing to holding her own as centre-back. “I started on the left, but as a defender you must know how to play every position,” she says. “The switch has actually been great for me. It’s a lot less running!”