10 November 2022
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Story Jóhann Thormählen
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Photo Varsity Sports
The University of the Free State (UFS) women’s soccer captain, Mating Monokoane, has represented Lesotho at U20 and senior level. She has also played Varsity Football for the UFS.
The
Lesotho international loves being part of this special soccer community, as the UFS focuses on much more than just
the beautiful game.
“They are more concerned about building you holistically. It is not just about you on the soccer field,” she says.
“They look to build you as a person outside of football and help you achieve your career goals. That is really special.”
Monokoane is an ambassador for the
UFS Sporting Legends project, which celebrates
current and former Kovsie sports stars by featuring their stories in a video and story series.
Captaincy approach
The midfielder from Maseru was appointed UFS captain in 2021 and leads from the front.
Last year, she was one of the Most Valuable Players – the other being Nqobile Gansa – in the women’s side at the Kovsie Football Club’s awards ceremony.
Monokoane has also been a leader at international level when she captained the Lesotho U20 side.
“I believe that leading by example is one of the ways (of captaining). But having a relationship with the players also helps, because then you know how to approach everyone.”
She started playing for the UFS in 2019 and already made her international debut for Lesotho in 2018.
Monokoane says there is a difference when playing for her country, as the “intensity is a bit more at international level”.
Kovsie goal and heroes
The UFS captain and her team have a clear goal for the end of 2022. They want to get back into Varsity Women’s Football by finishing in the top eight at the USSA tournament from 5 – 9 December 2022 in Secunda.
As a midfielder herself, Monokoane’s soccer heroes naturally include a few midfielders.
“In women’s football, I admire Portia Modise. She is an icon and I really liked how she played.”
“Internationally, I looked at players like Xavi Hernández. I would like to play a lot more like he did, as we share the same position.”
Locally she supports Orlando Pirates – her dad is a fan – and abroad Real Madrid and Manchester United.
“I used to love watching David Beckham play.”
“Also because of his free kicks, as I also like taking set pieces.”