It was a proud moment when a young woman from Brantwood, Kuils River recently made her debut with the South African u-17 women’s national soccer team, Bantwana.
She played two World Cup qualifier matches against Nigeria — one in Pretoria on 8 March and the other in Nigeria on 15 March. This achievement was significant not only for her, but also for those who supported her along the way.
Naylene Morgan, who played the full 90 minutes in both legs of the qualifier, has come a long way since her early days of kicking a ball with her brothers, playing soccer with the boys and the first girls’ team at Rouxville Primary School. Three years ago, TygerBurger reported on Naylene, then 13, when she started high school in Grade 8 at Tuks Sport High School on a full scholarship.
This independent co-ed school, linked to the High-Performance Centre of the University of Pretoria, offers a unique environment for both sport and learning.
Back in 2022, Naylene’s former soccer coach at Rouxville Primary, Nathan Newman, described her as an example of someone who did not allow circumstances to define her. Despite facing challenges, Newman said Naylene had consistently ranked in the top 10 academically in her grade throughout primary school.
Naylene, former deputy head girl at Rouxville Primary, was also its first-ever Western Province athlete, excelling at long jump.
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From a young age Naylene and her two brothers were raised by their grandmother, Amelia Taute, who took on the role of a “single mother” and sometimes struggled to make ends meet. Taute described “Coach Nathan” (Newman) as an angel who saw Naylene’s potential and was willing to go the extra mile to support her.
Newman, who initiated the first girls’ soccer team at Rouxville Primary, and principal Serina Daniels made it their mission in Naylene’s Grade 7 year to get her into the best possible high school. In early 2021,
Newman sent scholarship applications with testimonials and videos of Naylene to various schools. After several rejections, Brackenfell High School offered a scholarship based on Naylene’s athletic ability. However, athletics was not Naylene’s first choice – her true passion is soccer.
In October 2021, Newman received a call from Sheryl Botes, head coach of the South Africa Football Association (Safa) Girls Soccer Academy at Tuks Sport High School, a breeding ground for the national team, Banyana Banyana. Naylene was invited to a trial and assessment in Pretoria, and Newman ensured they secured financial support to make the trip.
Taute said: “He would be the one engaging the principal and the school’s governing body (SGB).” Thanks to the SGB, Daniels, and Newman, Naylene attended the assessment.
When she left for Pretoria to begin her first school year Taute’s heart was at ease, knowing her granddaughter was self-motivated and hardworking, despite being far from home.
Naylene (now in Grade 11) has embraced this opportunity with both hands, feet and head. She has also excelled academically. At the school’s prizegiving last year she was awarded for achieving above 80% in all her subjects.
