Noko Matlou

Noko Matlou
Personal information
Full name Noko Alice Matlou[1]
Date of birth (1985-09-30) 30 September 1985
Place of birth Moletjie, South Africa
Height 172 cm (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker / Defender
Club information
Current team
 MaIndies
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Development Ladies
Brazilian Ladies
University of Johannesburg
MaIndies
National team
2006– South Africa 89 (61)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 August 2014.

Noko Alice Matlou (born 30 September 1985) is a South African women's footballer who plays as a striker for MaIndies. She has represented the South Africa women's national football team both as a striker and a defender. In 2008, Matlou became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year.

Career

Club

At a club level, she plays for MaIndies. She has previously played for Development Ladies, Brazilian Ladies and the University of Johannesburg. Within footballing circles, she is nicknamed "Beep-Beep".[2] Matlou trains with male footballers to enhance her game: "I train regularly with local male clubs and when I get on to the field with the women they simply cannot touch me."[3]

International

Matlou made her debut for South Africa women's national football team ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006.[4] In September 2007, Matlou was subjected to a gender "inspection" by a referee in the presence of the opposition captain, before South Africa's match against Ghana at Caledonian Stadium, Pretoria. She was allowed to play in the match after being confirmed as female.[5]

Matlou came to prominence within the national team by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women's Championship.[4] She has been selected for the squads for a variety of tournaments, including at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.[2] In 2014, South Africa's coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a striker, as a defender.[6]

Awards

In 2008, she became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Athlete Information". Universiade 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Noko Alice "Beep-Beep" Matlou". Sasol in Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Mohamed, Zaheda (9 January 2015). "Belle of the ball". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  4. 1 2 Taele, Keabetswe (8 December 2008). "Banyana do SA proud". Independent Online (South Africa).
  5. ↑ "Banyana dispute gender cheating claims". Sport24. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Moholoa, Ramatsiyi (10 July 2014). "Matlou adapts to Banyana role in defence". The Sowetan. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Noko Matlou makes history". KickOff. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
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