South Africa’s Women’s World Cup hero shares troubling personal travails
South Africa’s hero in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup win over Italy which sealed a first-ever knockout round spot for Bayana Bayana , Thembi Kgatlana has revealed the troubling personal travails she ignored to be at the competition.
Kgatlana scored in the second minute of additional time to complete a 3-2 win over the Italians and after the game told the post match interview;
” Over the last two weeks, I’ve lost three family members. I could have gone home but I chose to stay with my girls,”
“Because that’s how much it means,” Kgatlana revealed.
The win also had huge personal significance for Kgatlana, who battled back from a severe Achilles injury that sidelined her for ten months.
A determined soul who wanted to represent her country and inspire other aspiring young players was evident.
“I came back from a very, brutal injury to be here, to play for the country, to represent every single girl that wanted to be here, to make history with the girls for South Africa,” she stated.
