The 18-year-old local soccer sensation, Judy Baloyi, has been called up to play for the South African Women's U/20 side. The team is currently competing in Namibia in the Region 5 Tournament, which started on Tuesday (1 July) and runs until 14 July.
Judy plays as a goalkeeper for the Sinthumulekutama Ladies team, which competes in the SAFA Limpopo Sasol Women's League. Her team is still unbeaten and currently holds the top position after six matches.
The Grade 10 learner from Sinthumule High School said she was happy to be selected for the national U/20 team. When girls' soccer was introduced at her school in 2023, she saw it as a good way to stay fit and agile between athletics seasons. But the soccer bug bit, and her talent as a goalkeeper soon caught attention.
"I used to play with the boys at an early age and the sport that they loved was soccer, and I got used to playing soccer with them," Baloyi said.
For Baloyi, sport is much more than just winning medals. It has helped her stay focused on her life goals. "It has taught me to be strong and unapologetic about my capabilities as a young girl," she said.
Her dream is to play for Banyana Banyana and eventually join an overseas team. She credits much of her growth to her team manager, Mr Caswell Mohale.
She also thanked the South African Football Association for initiating the SAFA Women's National League. "Even though there is still a gap between female and male sports, especially in terms of money, I hope that will change as the government is always talking about 50/50. I hope that it will also apply in sports," she said.