Former UJ Ladies FC player gets signed internationally
Disclaimer: Interview was conducted last year before Amanda went abroad...
Q: Tell us more about who you are, where you from and what are you studying?
A: Amanda Mthandi was born in Orlando East, Soweto and moved to Kiblerpark when her parents bought a house that side. She is currently doing a bridging in Transportation Management in order for her to start her Btech.
Q: When you were told that you will be playing for Banyana Banyana how did you feel and how was it attending the camp with players that have been playing for the team for a long time?
A: She was notified by her captain who is also her friend, “Thato Letsoso” and was still playing for the squad at the time that she is going to camp as she was added on the WhatsApp group chat.
She waited for the formal letter that confirmed that she had made it to the camp. She advised us that she was firstly intimidated by the faces she saw at the camp as those were the people that have been part of the squad for a long time.
After the first camp, she was never selected to play for COSAFA as she noticed that she was still not showing her potential, however she motivated herself that she will do better when she gets a call-back.
She received a call-back after they won the COSAFA as the coach saw her performing at the Varsity Cup and she made it to the squad that played for AFCON and they placed second.
Q: How did you start playing football?
A: Started playing football at the age of 6 and at the age of 7 years she started playing for Orlando Pirates apprentices’ academy until she was 12 years of age.
Her first ladies team was Logos ladies which does not exist anymore, she was then discovered by one of the Sasol League team “Croesus ladies” when she was playing at the “track tournament” which happened at Fiat Sports Centre based at Meadowlands, Soweto.
After completing her matric, she then started playing for University of Johannesburg ladies.
Q: How do you balance school work, football & fun?
A: Balancing all the mentioned is about discipline and creating a schedule that can work. When I am not coping I call our Sports Psychology who deals with our academics and we try to come up with solutions.
Q: How long have you been playing for the UJ Ladies FC team?
A: Started playing for University of Johannesburg in 2015 and went abroad in 2016, in 2017 came back to play for the team again.
Q: What role do you think UJ technical team played to produce you as the best player?
A: They always believed in me because even during my first year, I was nominated for the Sports Woman of the year at the UJ Sports Awards.
In 2016 I then went to play abroad and when I came back I was coached by a different coach who always told me that if I always push I will make it to the Banyana Banyana squad.
I was then recognised by Banyana Banyana Coach at the USSA Tournament in 2018 where I was the top goal scorer and also player of the tournament.
Q: Not so long ago we saw on social media that you will be playing for CD Badajoz which is based in Spain, how did that happen and how did you feel when you received the news?
A: After winning the Sports Woman of the Year Award at the UJ Sports Awards, I got an inbox from an agent on Instagram and we starting communicating, he asked for my videos and pictures and I sent all of that in 2019.
Earlier this year (2020), he made communication with me again and advised me that there is a team in Spain that would like to sign me but they had not confirmed anything and he will get back to me.
Around July (2020), he tried to get hold of me but I was not available on my phone so he contacted the Banyana Banyana coach who managed to get hold of me.
I called the agent back and he told me that the team has finalised everything and will send me the contract. I read the contract and asked someone that I trust to proof read it with me, where I needed the changes I told them and after the changes were made I signed the contract.
I honestly had mixed emotions when Banyana Banyana made the announcement that I was now signed with CD Badajoz.
Q: Do you know how to speak Spanish?
A: I only know few things such as greeting, asking someone to take me a picture and basic stuff. She has downloaded an App that will assist to translate for things she does not know.
Q: How did your family feel after you told them the news?
A: I firstly told my mom that there is a possibility of me going to play abroad but I am not sure when it was going to happen.
After signing the contract she did not believe it, I even had to tell her to check on the internet. It took time for me to tell my dad but when I told him he was happy for me.
They were concerned about my studies but I told them that I made arrangements to do my studies online and they were relieved that I will still focus on my studies. My entire family is also happy for me.
Q: You one of the players that have a fast pace career in football, what do you think make you different from other players?
A: Listening and applying what the coaches tell you is very important, I never think that I am better than the other person and I do not compete with anyone but myself.
If I were to start competing with the other person, I will never be able to achieve what I want to achieve in life.
I am always humble and respect the elders, even when we at the camp, I am able to assist the technical team if they need any assistance with carrying anything.
Q: When you get on the field, what emotions go through your mind?
A: The field is my happy place and is the place I get to express myself however I do not like losing and sometimes go astray. I am however learning to control my emotions.
Q: What would you share with a young girl that wishes to be a Banyana Banyana player one day?
A: Since in South Africa we do not have a professional women’s league, continue playing football however put education first as it is important.
For me to start playing for Banyana Banyana, I started playing for UJ Ladies and it is not like I was discovered from one of the tops in South Africa.
There are different opportunities when playing for a University team because you get to play for Varsity Cup, USSA Tournament and World Student Games which happen abroad.
You can get exposure through that, it does not mean you have to play for Banyana Banyana for other teams to recognise you.
Set goals for yourself and always know that if things do not go the way you want, you will continue doing what you love because we cannot all achieve the same thing as once, God is the one that plans for us.
Always remain humble as it is small things that set us apart from our peers.
Q: What do you do on your spare time?
A: Going out with friends, watching movies or playing games
Q: What role do you think the SAFA National Women’s League is playing on the development of women’s football players?
A: Now that there will be a division for the Under 20 it will be a good thing because before; for you to get recognised, you needed to attend at HPC.
Now through various tournaments that are starting, they can get easily scouted and try to nurture it at a young age.
As a young girl, you never know who to turn to and ask if you want to play football so through the tournaments they can easily be recognised.
I believe that since we qualified to play for the World Cup, there is now recognition in the world that South Africa also has women’s football and after the world cup most of us have been signing international contracts.
Q: What is your wish for South Africa’s women football?
A: To have Premier Soccer League teams to have ladies teams also, I believe they will be assisting SAFA and the league will be more competitive. The future of the ladies football will be in good hands and will be strong.
Q: You have received various awards and the one I know is the Sportswoman of the Year award at UJ which you have been nominated for the previous years, how did you feel when you finally won the award?
A: I was actually excited because I finally won and even some of my team mates can now see that I am working hard. There is a saying that says, “Hard work beats talent where talent does not work”.
And that is what I noticed in my life. I was also happy that I was nominated for CAF Goal of the Year which I did not win but getting the recognition means a lot to me especially after noticing that Thembi Kgatlana won that award the year before, it means I am doing good and should not undermine myself.
Q: Who is your role model and what is the reason?
A: In football I admire Thembi Kgatlana because she is one person that never gives up easily, even when you are with her she motivates you to never give up.
My mom however is my role model because she always supports us, is kind hearted and has a good heart.
Q: What does #9 mean to you?
A: I look up to Fernando who is a striker for an overseas football club and is wearing jersey #9.
I also look up to Amanda Dlamini who used to wear that jersey and she retired at Banyana Banyana which is the jersey I am wearing now at UJ and also Banyana Banyana.
At UJ however when I started I could not wear that jersey because Amanda Dlamini was still playing with us but when she left I took the jersey.
Word of advice from Amanda Mthandi:
“Never forget God because things happen for a reason. At the Banyana Banyana camp we always have devotions and that has helped me establish a good personal relationship with God”.
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