The need to compete against some of the best players in the world in the Uefa Women’s Champions League on a regular basis and to grow her game are the reasons behind Banyana Banyana star Linda Motlhalo's recent move to Scottish powerhouse Glasgow City.
Motlhalo, who has been plying her trade abroad for the past five years, joined Glasgow last month after parting ways with Swedish side Djurgardens.
The skilful 24-year-old winger, dubbed the “Randfontein Ronaldinho”, had been with Djurgardens for three years after joining them from China’s Beijing BG Phoenix in 2020.
Before that, the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations (Wafcon) winner was lured by Houston Dash of the US.
While Motlhalo enjoyed her time in Sweden, the mid-table team’s constant failure to qualify for the Champions League prompted her to look for a challenge that would grow her career.
“I was looking for a new challenge and when I spoke to my agent, he asked what my plans are,” Mothlalo told Sunday Times from Glasgow.
“My plans were that I want to play in the Champions League and this move came. When I looked at the team (Glasgow) and how they have been doing, I was like, this is what I need in my career at this moment,” she said.
“Since a very young age I have been winning accolades and I am a player who doesn’t limit herself. And I haven’t played in the Champions League, but I’ve played in different countries and that is one of the things I feel is left for me.”
As one of the dominant clubs in Scotland, Glasgow are regulars in the Champions League.
Motlhalo is not the first Banyana player to sign for Glasgow as former skipper Janine van Wyk and forward Ode Fulutudilu have also donned the jersey.
However, the stints of Van Wyk and Fulutudilu were disrupted by Covid-19, which almost brought the league to its knees and was saved by donations from philanthropists such as James Anderson, in 2020.
Motlhalo has been welcomed with great excitement at the club, with coach Leanne Ross raving about how she was going to enhance their team with the experience she gained playing in the US, China, Sweden and in South Africa.
“The coach saw my videos and explained to me how they play and she told me that she strongly believes I will enjoy myself here because they are a team that likes to keep the ball and are very creative going forward,” Motlhalo said.
“That is what I bring as well because I’m a very creative player. I also think I’m really going to enjoy myself here.”
She has already made her debut for the side, coming on as a substitute late in their goalless draw away to Rangers FC.
The South African will be hoping to get more minutes on the field of play when the log leaders host Patrick Thistle at Petershill Park today at 3pm.
After helping Banyana win their first Wafcon title, Motlhalo is one of the players that will be key in South Africa’s second appearance at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20.
When Banyana made their World Cup debut in 2019, their efforts ended in the group stages but Motlhalo wants South Africa to take one step further by reaching the knockouts. “My personal goal is just to play all the games because in 2019 I played one match due to injury and to make it through the group stages,” she said.
“Now there’s a lot of South African players that are playing abroad, which is a plus for us. We are playing at very high level leagues, so I think competing against other top teams will be much better this time around.
“We will now be able to match them in terms of fitness. South African players who are playing abroad are going to add so much value going into the World Cup. I’m not taking anything away from the locally-based players, but I think we will be able to manage or be equal with European teams.”
Banyana are in Group G with Sweden, Italy and Argentina.
As part of their preparation for the world showpiece, South Africa will take part in the Turkish Women’s Cup between February 13 and 23.
Slovenia, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zambia and Turkey are the other participants in the tournament.
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