Her aim is to combine football with education

Getting your first senior national team call-up is very special, but getting it when going to a huge tournament such as the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is much more special – that’s how Banyana Banyana’s new star Tiisetso Makhubela (left) has described her selection for the tournament in Ghana.

The Mabopane-born player, who plays her football for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, always carries a smile whenever she talks about her football career and has huge dreams.

Since she started taking her football career seriously when she started playing for Hallelujah Zebra Force and later at Pull Together FC, so much has happened for her – getting an opportunity to play for the national Under-17 and national Under-20 teams, and now with Banyana. Makhubela sees her growth and appreciates the opportunity and the recognition.

“I think to say I was very happy when I heard I had been called up to the team would be an understatement,” said the central defender.

“I really didn’t know what to say, I just thought to myself ‘why have I been chosen out of so many talented players in the country?’ But again, I know I have been working hard throughout the year and I would like to thank the coaches for this opportunity. I am going to make sure I use it to the best of my ability and ensure I stay in the team.”

“Being part of the squad at the AWC is a really proud moment for me and I believe this is the start of many things to follow. I want to achieve a lot within the game and have dreams of playing overseas one day.”

The 21-year-old central defender does not only have dreams of making it to the top in football, but she also wishes to return to school, having dropped out. She says challenges forced her to leave school, so she didn’t get to finish matric.

However, she is now determined to change that and hopes to inspire kids, especially from her community.

“I was forced to drop out from school, but I always knew the importance of education. One can never be too old to study, so one of these days I will head back to school. Education is very important. I see it with a lot of people around me ... they inspire me to go on and study. Another important thing is to be a role model to people who will be looking up to me,” she continues.

“Football takes up a lot of my time, but I will certainly make some time for education. At some point, I would like to have a diploma in Sports Management.”

The central defender earned her senior team debut when Banyana played a friendly game against Ghana prior to the start of the AWC. She was given the thumbs-up by coach Desiree Ellis, who praised Makhubela’s calmness and control on the ball after coming on for skipper Janine van Wyk.

Makhubela was watching from the bench when Banyana won their opening game at the AWC against Nigeria and she will be hoping to feature in the team as the tournament progresses.