Salgado aims to star abroad
MIDFIELDER: ‘IT’S BEEN A DREAM FOR ME’
Tshepo Ntsoelengoe
With a number of female South African players currently getting an opportunity to play overseas, there are still plenty more who are eager to ply their trade outside the country.
One of those is JVW FC and Banyana Banyana midfielder Gabriela Salgado, who reveals that playing abroad has always been her dream since she started kicking a ball. The midfielder is hoping her dream will materialise, but for now she will continue working hard and taking advice from her mentor, Banyana skipper Janine van Wyk, who plays for Houston Dash in the US.
If Salgado does move overseas, she will follow in the footsteps of Van Wyk and more recently Refiloe Jane and Rhoda Molaudzi, after the pair were announced as new signings by Australian club Canberra United yesterday.
“It has been one of my dreams to play abroad, but you have to wait for the opportunity to arrive. I have to keep on working hard and hope someone will notice me one day. It’s my dream and I won’t give up,” Salgado tells Phakaaathi.
“Janine is my mentor and she is the captain of Banyana. I am always speaking to her and she advises me here and there. I always jokingly say to her she must put in a good word for me, but I know she has my back and if the opportunity arises, she will put in a word for me.”
The midfielder is one of the new crop of players who have been introduced to the Banyana team by head coach Desiree Ellis ahead of the Cosafa Women’s challenge next month. Having played for all the SA junior national teams, Salgado reckons being part of Banyana is a good step towards success for her, but she also says she has to be on top of her game in order to stay in the team.
“I’m honoured to have been able to be part of every age group of the national teams. I learned from the Under-17s, and then went on to the Under-20s and now Banyana.
“Obviously, the competition is very high here so you always have to be on top of your game and make sure you keep your spot.”