THE ONLY LADY ON THE BENCH

All South African football lovers have seen Highlands Park being led by this beautiful woman during warm-ups just before kickoff and also her being a rose among thorns on the bench, but who is Simone Conley? Kgothatso Malepe finds out.

 

Kgothatso—We have been seeing you on the Highlands Park bench, we have seen you warming up with players on matchday. Who are you and Where are you from?

 

Simone—I am Simone Conley, a Biokineticist, a football fitness trainer. I was born and bred in Edenvale. My parents moved to Meredale, I went to primary and high school in Meredale. I studied sports management and qualified for an honours in biokinetic then I decided to take a step further and do a masters degree. I knew that if I want to make it in this male dominated field, I have to take the academic route.

 

Kgothatso—Have you always been involved in sports from a young age?

 

Simone—I played a lot of sports, I did very well in netball and I represented South Africa. I chose the academic route in sports because it is difficult to earn a living in South Africa as a female in football. I started in rugby, but there are a lot of Biokineticist in rugby and besides my passion lies in football.

Kgothatso—You seem to be a woman of many hats, I have seen you on the Biogen face of fitness and you have also entered for the USN face of fitness, are you a model as well?

 

Simone—It was just for fun; I do not focus on it and that is my downfall. I just entered and left it like that. I have worked as a Nike trainer; there you are a trainer and a model, but I am too body conscious and shy to be a model.

 

Kgothatso—Why specifically football fitness?

 

Simone—Is been a long journey for me, I started volunteering at Stars of Africa Academy when I was still studying, I also volunteered at Safa school of excellence. I then met Khabo Zondo, he gave me an opportunity to be part of the ‘Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search’ for 5 years. I have also worked with the national team U23 and U20, then coach Mike Mangena, Owen Da Gama and Mashaba saw potential in me. Coach of highlands Park called me asked if I would be interested to be part of Highlands Park in the National First Division (NFD).

 

Kgothatso—You are the only female fitness coach in the top fight of SA football at the moment, how were you received at Highlands Park, did the players give you the well-deserved respect?

 

Simone—One of the biggest blessings is how the coaches and management welcomed me and the confidence they showed in me and also the fact that I had already worked at the national team level. If players who were called up to represent the country could show me respect and work well with me then there is no reason why players who are playing in the PSL or NFD could not show me respect and work well with me. I think also the kind of CV that I have, having worked with the national team, having gone to international games just showed the players that I’m not just a fly-by-night, I have done something to earn my stature. I think that is how I gained my respect and trust from them and I also had to be confident, I could not go there be scared and shy, I had to go show them that I know what I’m doing, I know my job and I can help you. So, let me help you. 

 

 

Kgothatso—What does it take to work for and be associated with big brands like SAFA and the PSL?

 

Simone—It takes commitment, it takes self believe and I think that especially as a woman you are always going to be in a situation where there is doubts; you want to train boys, you want to understand the game, which is a male dominated game. So, there is doubts but you have to put the doubts aside and have confidence in your abilities and also, always be open to learning. The one thing has really made a big difference in my career so far is that always I am open to learning from all the coaches, all the physios, management, staff and other fitness trainers in the industry so that is the major thing.

 

Kgothatso—It is general knowledge when someone is involved in football they want to see themselves working for the bigger leagues, do you wish to work for a bigger league than the PSL one day?

 

Simone—Most definitely, I think any professional in the industry would love to climb the ladder, but I believe everything happens in God’s time. I am just going to try my best to keep myself relevant in the industry and work hard and if is meant to be, it will be. I was part of the National team, I was part of Highlands Park which is a smaller team in the PSL, but I think I have to be conscious and my next step would mostly likely to be part of a bigger team in the PSL, prove myself at a bigger team and bigger brand in the PSL. And from there work my way up into a bigger league.  

 

Kgothatso—You have worked with the national team on the under 20 FIFA world cup Poland 2019, how was the experience, take me through it?

 

Simone—The first one was the U23, Olympic games in 2016, words cannot begin to describe that experience. We played our opening game against Brazil in Brazil and we held them to a 0-0 draw. It was unbelievable, the stadium was packed, for me it was a different experience because they were also shocked that there is a woman on the field preparing the South African team to play against the Brazilian team. You know, I do not know what went through some of the fan’s minds, they probably thought; “oh man we are going to kill the South African Team”, they are busy being trained by a woman or they thought “Yoh! This is different, there is a woman”. But you know they gave me a very warm welcome and warm reception, when I walked onto the field, they were cheering for me because I was the only woman there, it was amazing and unbelievable. The experience and journey to qualify for Olympics was tough you know; it is never easy, but I learnt and experience so much.

 

Then last year the Poland world cup with the U20 team, I came in late because of my commitments to Highlands Park. The experience was a little bit different, I was not as involved, I basically had to get permission from Highlands Park to join them which I did. Once I was there it was an unbelievable experience. You are at the world cup and you are seeing best, the U20 teams, the future of football in the world. Is really an amazing learning curve and I am thankful to have been part of that team. The U20 team did very well, they played big teams like Portugal, so they also learnt a lot. One of the biggest things with the whole international experience is obviously learning, opening yourself to see what other countries are doing and how they approach things.

 

Kgothatso—What do you consider to have been a milestone so far in your career as a fitness coach?

 

Simone—The 2016 Olympics games, it is one of the most prestigious competitions in sports, that for me is the standout milestone. But in terms of South African Football, in the PSL, my journey with Highlands Park it is a milestone, there was a lot of success within a short period of time. We came into the NFD when they had already played 6 games and we qualified with record breaking stats, we were like 18 points clear and we qualified with 5 entries to go, so we won that cup nice and easy. Our first season in the PSL we made it to the top 8, second season of the PSL we made it to the finals of MTN8 unfortunately we did not win it, you know in a final experience is vital, and our guys just did not have that experience of being in a final, it was exciting and overwhelming. You know, a lot of what happens in the field is very psychological as well.

 

Kgothatso—As a fitness coach, you travel with your team all the time, how do you balance in spending time with your loved ones and also bringing your A game at work? How important is support structure in your line of work?

 

Simone—Shoo! That is a challenge, so is basically a sacrifice you make when you work in the football industry, when you work in the PSL. Is a sacrifice that your family understands, and my family is very supportive. Every home game, my family would be there and every now and then my parents would take a drive to Bloemfontein if we are playing there or to Polokwane if we are playing there. It was nice for the family to also just come out and watch live football, so they understand but is definitely a sacrifice that you make because on weekends you are away working. Your family and friends have to understand that this is the career path that has chosen you and you have chosen it. I think the bigger teams that play in Africa sacrifice even bigger because, so is difficult to balance to be honest so you just have to sacrifice family time, friends time and you have to sacrifice your loved one time (laughs in). Some people manage it, but you need a supportive and understanding family and a group of that understands that is just a different world that you work in.

 

 

Kgothatso—What personal goals have you set yourself for the future?

 

Simone—Right now I am actually very grateful for the break that I have, as much as I want to get into a team as soon as possible so that I can stay relevant in the industry, that is the fine goal right now at the moment.  I need to make sure that I stay relevant in the industry, whether I get into a team or I train a few players, like doing an elite training. Some players have already asked me that I train them outside their teams because a lot of them want to catch up in terms of fitness level, so I might implement something like that but my immediate goal right is just to stay relevant, get into a team, if is God’s will.

 

In the distance future I’d like to work for a bigger team in South Africa and perhaps branch off into a different league. I have really seen a lot of work being done in regards to management level in FIFA and ladies getting roles, I’d actually like to eventually explore that avenue because as a woman you know if you want to start a family, have kids and being out on the field at the same time, is just something that you cannot do for the rest of your life like a man so I might want to end up in a management position one day.

 

 

Kgothatso—Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team will be representing South Africa, in CAF champions league, what advise do you have for them?

 

Simone— Shoo! I take my hat off for the women in the football industry, who are climbing into new heights and breaking boundaries. It is not easy because they are not compensated like males, they are not recognized and sponsored like males are sponsored, so they are basically breaking barriers and defying the odds. My message to them would be; keep breaking barriers, keep succeeding against all odds, keep representing women in South Africa with the honours and colours that you guys are doing. I mean, a women’s national team qualified for the world cup whereas a men’s national does not, it shows so much positivity and success happening in women’s football. It is just not supported enough and not sponsored enough like male football is. So, in encourage them to keep succeeding against all odds.

 

Kgothatso—Lastly, how does it feel like to be the only woman on the bench?

 

 Simone—It great, is an exhilarating feeling. I sometimes still sit there, and I cannot believe that I’m in a male dominated field and I am with a PSL team and we are doing well. Sometimes is surreal moment, and through the years you know you are sitting on the bench with players and you look to your left and look to your right, you realize you are sitting with players that have achieved a lot and players like Letsholonyane, Fransman, players that have been playing for 20 years and you are just like “Shoo, this is really really great” and is just a blessing from God. I do not know how to describe the feeling and I also feel like I have worked hard to work there, I studied for 8 years, I volunteered my time, I was patient, I started from the bottom with development and climbed my way up. Is a really nice feeling and I want to see more ladies sitting on the benches in the PSL, in male football and I’m praying for that, I do know that Swallows has Lauren Tate, she will be on the bench in the PSL which is great because I might not be there but there will be a lady there, which is amazing and important for us women.

 

Kgothatso—Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it.

Simone—Thank you for reaching out, it was fun having a chat with you and thanks for thinking of me. I really appreciate it.