TOP OF HER GAME
A natural talent and the will to succeed led former UWC footballer Sinoxolo Cesane to follow in the footsteps of her football heroes By Buntu Gotywa
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ff the field, a big smile and a willingness to chat about any subject under the sun is what defines Sinoxolo Cesane. Her welcoming disposition and ability to spread positivity to those around her is something that comes naturally. Yet, those qualities are quickly swept aside when she laces up
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her boots and takes to the football pitch. Her competitive on-field nature and desire to strive for only the best is something to marvel at – and is what sets her apart from her peers. She is as fierce as they come and her rise to stardom is no surprise to those who have been following her football journey. More than just
a natural flair for diski, she possesses a strong mentality that plays a significant role in the continued development of her game. And it’s this mentality that scored her a full athletic scholarship with East Tennessee State University women’s soccer in the United States. The former UWC midfielder is now one step closer to her goal of becoming a professional football player, having already played for Cape Town Roses alongside her twin sister Noxolo, who donned the Banyana Banyana jersey during the 2019 Cosafa Women’s Championship. The 20-year-old has yet to decide on her academic pursuit, but says it will definitely be in the field of medicine. This makes sense considering women’s football is still far away from reaching the same professional level as the men’s game – at least when it comes to earning a living. “I started my career with my sister at Roses and, although we were playing older ladies, we were never shaken because we always believed in our abilities. I then went on to join UWC, which brought about the opportunity that I have now. It was a step I had to take in order to move my career forward,” she says. With players such as Thembi Kgatlana – who now plays for Spanish Primera División club SD Eibar – having plied their trade at UWC, it’s easy to see why playing
