While many teenagers her age are still figuring out their future, 19-year-old Maduvha Luvhengo is already making a name for herself in the male-dominated world of soccer refereeing.
Born in the Tshivhungululu area, Maduvha developed a love for soccer at an early age.
"I started dreaming about soccer when I was only 13 years old," she explained.
But unlike most youngsters who dream of becoming star players, Maduvha set her sights on a different goal — officiating matches at the highest level.
She believes Limpopo has produced plenty of football talent, including Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau, but still lacks a top female referee. This is a gap she hopes to fill.
Her commitment to the craft is already paying off. During the final of the SAFA Vhembe Champs of Champs tournament at Thohoyandou Stadium on 5 July, Maduvha was named Referee of the Tournament. She walked away with R1,500 in prize money and a trophy after officiating the final between Rabali Pull Together and Vhembe Tron, which ended 1-0 in favour of Pull Together.
Maduvha says her dream is to officiate at the FIFA World Cup one day, and she uses every opportunity in local leagues as a stepping stone to that goal.
"People should judge me on my performance and not on my gender," she said.
She recalls her first SAFA Vhembe league match, between Mukumba Shooting Stars and Mbilwi United.
"Fortunately, the game went very smoothly and ended 2-0 in favour of United. After the match, many people questioned why I was there as referee. Others stood up for me and said, 'Look at her decisions. She knows what she's doing.'"
Despite the challenges that often come with being a female referee, Maduvha says she has never been assaulted or disrespected on the pitch.
"I make sure that I adhere to all the rules, and this earns me respect. The fact that I'm a woman has nothing to do with my authority on the pitch," she said.
"I'm proud of the way male players and officials accept me when I'm in charge of games."