Nwabisa Tyelbooi has been a member of African Connections Women’s Football Club for the past 12 years. Photo: Nokulunga Ntantiso
Nwabisa Tyelbooi has been a member of African Connections Women’s Football Club for the past 12 years. Photo: Nokulunga Ntantiso
Nwabisa Tyelbooi from Emacangceni in Joza is passionate about soccer and she can’t imagine how her life would be without playing the game.
Tyelbooi is a member of African Connections Women’s Football Club in Grahamstown, and has been a member of the club for the past 12 years, since the age of 16.
She was born and bred in Grahamstown and is proud of being one of the few women to play football for her town.
The 28-year-old said football was not a second choice or an alternative for her because she always wanted to be a soccer player. “Playing football did not just happen over night, it has always been my dream and I used to play while at Nombulelo Secondary School,” she said.
Her love for soccer was primarily influenced by the media, as she used to watch women playing on TV and thought she can also do it.
She participated in a number of matches in Grahamstown and in other towns. “In June we went to play in Port Elizabeth against other regional women’s teams,” she said.
Tyelbooi said many companies have confidence in them (African Connections) and as a result, they get some form of funding.
“Sanlam sponsored us in 2001 and Absa also did the same when we went to Port Elizabeth this year and they are keen to sponsor us again next month,” she said with a smile.
She doesn’t want the women’s football club to die a slow death in Grahamstown and her wish is to see more young girls joining the African Connections team.
“I want to recruit more girls who will continue to play because I am now getting older, “she said. Tyelbooi completed matric in 2000 at Nombulelo High School and then became a police reservist.
Tyelbooi said she likes to be involved in things that reduce crime which is why she decided to be a police reservist. “The aim of the team is to recruit more girls to stop crime and that is another reason I became a police reservist,” she said.
