TK INSPIRES THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION

The Blue Birds Ladies keep on doing fantastic things no one could have thought this team would ever do. They are the first of their kind in Alexandra township and are already breaking boundaries to be a force to be reckoned with. During this month of August, Thokozile Mkosi, one of the team players of BBL football club was invited to a women’s day conference in Patterson Park Bowling Club, it was about a Girl child becoming a Woman.

She was one of the speakers at the event and we at BBL will not miss out on this opportunity to inform the readers about her experience.

1). WHAT WAS THE EVENT ABOUT AND WHEN WAS THE EVENT?

‘’The event was on the 10^th of August 2020. It was focusing on celebrating young girls in sports. It is about time we have something like this happen, whereby the  focus is on the lives and successes of young female people in the world of sport, and acknowledging our hard work and resilience in this industry that a lot of us are getting ourselves into.’’

2). HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE?

‘’I was honored  and thrilled to have been selected as one of the speakers in the event, sharing my journey in soccer with such a renowned group of people was such a moment of “ I cannot believe I am here, somebody pinch me’’.’’

3). WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO YOUNG GIRLS WHO ASPIRE TO PLAY SOCCER?

‘’Well, have passion, have drive, have the heart. You need to give it your all and remember that as a young female soccer player, especially black, you need to work three times as hard just to get half of what your male peers have. You need to leave space for disappointments as well because they will be there…always. Do not rush the process, nothing happens overnight in soccer, it takes hard work and tenacity.’’

4). WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

‘’Janine Van Wyk has always been the one for me. She is living proof that your background or where you come from does not determine your future and the plans you have for yourself in this life. She is a hard worker and a great player.’’

5). HOW HAS THIS EXPERIENCE CHANGED YOU?

‘’I got to realize more about myself, how far I have come and how far I still have to go, however the best part about this long journey is that I am definitely on the right track.’’

6). WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOURSELF FROM HERE?

‘’In university, studying for a teaching degree. I want to be a pioneer in my community. This township has given me so much in this life and I want to give back to it as much and more as it has given to me. I am going to study to become a teacher and come back to this community to teach and mold our leaders of tomorrow…basically the next generation of Blue Birds Ladies. It will not end with us.’’

 7). BEING A GIRL PLAYING SOCCER IN ALEXANDRA, WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

‘’honestly it is quite difficult, some parents do not support the passion we have for this game as they have this backward mentality of soccer being an only male sport. So yes, we do still have these types of people today. Another challenge that we face is that training starts late for us, which makes it a bit difficult to explain to the parents and when it is time to go home considering the dangers we come across in the streets.’’

8). HOW DID YOU START WITH YOUR SOCCER JOURNEY AND WHY SOCCER?

‘’Again! Janine Van Wyk.  The way she plays changed my whole view on soccer, she sorts of gives me goosebumps when she plays.’’

‘’I started playing soccer when I still in primary school till today.’’

9). HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO BALANCE YOUR ACADEMICS AND SOCCER?

‘’Daily routine that I have set for myself worked wonders for me and the goals that I have set for myself helped me balance my soccer career and school work, so one must find what works for them, as what works for me might not work for the next person.’’

10). WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SPORTS HIGHLIGHT?

‘’I was selected to play for the under 23’s National team. The team represented the nation in Nigeria, but I could not go due to my knee injury I got at training camp.’’

She further commented, ‘’I am proud of what has happened so far in my life, it just proves that coming from such a disadvantaged township does not hold anyone back especially if you are determined to achieve your goals. Alexandra is full of potential and talented people, it just needs the likes of Malvin Khumalo to help dig out that pot of gold, and obviously, a person’s willingness to do well for themselves in life. This life is yours and I believe that we are all spoiled for choice in terms of what you want for yourself. It all comes back to you.’’