Full Name: Noko Alice Matlou
Date of Birth: 30 September 1985
Place of Birth: Moletjie, Limpopo, South Africa
Position(s): Forward (early career), later Defender
Profession: Professional Footballer
Current Club: SD Eibar (Spain)
National Team: Banyana Banyana (South Africa Women’s National Team)
Early Life & Career Beginnings
- Born and raised in Moletjie, Limpopo province.
- Developed a passion for football in a rural village where girls playing football was rare.
- Started playing with boys’ teams due to a lack of local girls’ teams.
- Joined local clubs in Limpopo before being scouted to the national setup.
National Team Career – Banyana Banyana
- Made her debut for the South African national team in 2006.
- Scored a hat-trick against Cameroon in 2008 to earn international attention.
- Was originally a striker but transitioned into a central defender later in her career.
- Has earned over 150 caps for Banyana Banyana, making her one of the most capped South African women footballers.
Major Achievements
- 2008 CAF Women’s Player of the Year, becoming the first South African woman to win the award.
- Represented South Africa at:
- 2012 London Olympics
- 2016 Rio Olympics
- 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup
- 2022 WAFCON (Winner – South Africa’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title)
- Played a key role in South Africa’s qualification for multiple international tournaments.
Club Career
- Played for University of Johannesburg and MaIndies FC in South Africa.
- Signed by SD Eibar in Spain’s Primera Federación (women’s second division) in 2020, becoming one of the few South African women to play in Europe.
- Adapted to playing multiple positions, showing versatility and leadership.
Off-the-Field Contributions
- Vocal advocate for gender equality in sports.
- Seen as a role model for young girls, especially in rural communities.
- Known for her humility, discipline, and leadership qualities on and off the pitch.
Legacy
- Considered a pioneer of women’s football in South Africa.
- Inspired a new generation of girls to take up football across the continent.
- Holds legendary status in South African sport for both her talent and contributions to the growth of the women’s game.
