FORMER Motherwell Football Association (MOFA) deputy president, Nomphelo Whawha Malahleka, feels that women have the potential to lead in sport that was previously only played by men.
Malahleka started playing netball at Mboniselo Primary School and Soqhayisa High School as a goal-shooter.
She said that she had coached netball for children in her community and discovered an immense talent in the young girls.
Furthermore, according to Malahleka, sport was the right tool to keep the children away from committing crime. She and her cousin, Nwabisa Mavuso, decided to form a netball club in their community called Converse Netball Club.
According to Malahleka, things did not go well and she was eventually recruited by her community soccer club, Young Stars’ management, to join them.
“I joined Stars and I was elected as their club delegate who would attend meetings including MOFA meetings. I told myself that I would do my best for our club. I became so interested in soccer and I had an opportunity to be elected as MOFA executive member.
“Since then I have not looked back,” said Malahleka.
Young Stars closed down, but Tomorrow Stars president, Simphiwe Mkhangelwa, told her not to throw in the towel. Mkhangelwa recruited Malahleka and Mavuso to join them.
“Initially, my cousin, Mavuso, and I served on Tomorrow Stars’ executive committee.
“Then I was elected as a secretary, treasurer, deputy president and the first female team manager of the MOFA squad.
“During my tenure in MOFA, we achieved a lot.
“So I believe that women have the potential to lead any kind of sport, as men can do,” said Malahleka, who thanked Mkhangelwa for guiding her to be an effective and efficient female official, who holds a CAF Licence D coaching certificate.
