Banyana Banyana’s teenage midfield sensation Robyn Moodaly has set her immediate sights on helping the national team to do South Africa proud at the London Olympics, but a queue is starting to form as overseas universities look to obtain the prized signature of the High Performance Centre (Tshwane) Grade 12 pupil for 2013.
“Right now, my focus is on doing my best for Banyana Banyana at the London Olympics, but I am hoping to study Sports Science next year. We have received interest from a university in the USA as well as a university in Canada, both are keen for me to study there and play for them,” said the 18-year-old Moodaly, nicknamed ‘Gundwane’ (mouse) by her Banyana Banyana team-mates.
“It is now a case of deciding on the best option as far as my studies and football career is concerned. SAFA and Sasol have done a tremendous job in lifting the profile of women’s football in South Africa over the past few years and the cream is rising to the top as can be seen by Banyana Banyana’s results, hence the international interest in some of the Banyana Banyana players from overseas universities and colleges.”
If Moodaly ends up based in the USA, she will follow in the footsteps of national team-mates in goalkeeper Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine University, California) and midfielder Kylie Ann Louw (Stephen Austin University, Texas).
Moodaly was a key member of the Banyana Banyana Olympic qualifying campaign against African opposition last year and made several contributions – mainly as a second half substitute – where she played a game-breaker role, turning matches in favour of South Africa through slick passing and well-timed tackling.
Another Banyana Banyana attacker, Santos FC (Sasol League Western Cape) striker Jermaine Seoposenwe, is also set for a journey to further her education, but will remain inside the borders of South Africa.
Following her matriculation at Portlands Secondary School, Mitchells Plain last year, Seoposenwe has placed her focus on football in this Olympic year and is one of the six reserves on standby should any of the 18 Banyana Banyana players suffer an injury prior to the start of the world’s sports showpiece in London.
In 2013, the 18-year-old Seoposenwe is set to study law at Wits University in Johannesburg.
“It is great to be a part of the Banyana Banyana Olympic preparations and if any of the 18 players is unable to compete in London and coach Joseph Mkhonza calls on me, believe me, I will be ready to grab this Olympic dream opportunity,” said Seoposenwe.
Both Moodaly and Seoposenwe were members of the South African Under 17 Women’s National Team that competed at the FIFA World Cup Under 17 Women’s tournament in the Caribbean in 2010.
Banyana Banyana will play against German Women’s Premier League side Bayer 04 Leverkusen in a practice match on Thursday, 12 July 2012 (19h30 kick-off).
They also have an international friendly match lined up against Great Britain before returning home. The encounter will take place in Birmingham, England on Sunday, 15 July 2012 (14h00 SA time).
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