One of the most successful female soccer teams in Motherwell, in the Eastern Cape, is in dire need of resources. The Volcano Ladies Football club trains in an open field with hardly any infrastructure.
The second division club has won the SAFA Nelson Mandela Bay Regional League, and is currently participating in the provincial Sasol League.
Training for matches is not an easy task for this team. While navigating the cones, they also need to avoid other obstacles such as stones.
But despite the challenges, the team’s dedication and commitment are on full display. They are forced to hire a nearby soccer stadium at a huge cost for home matches – funds the club does not have.
And travelling and accommodation costs are also a major challenge, for away matches.
Head Coach Mzuvukile “Reggie” Khesi says, “In terms of assistance, I would like to see my club have a proper field with a proper green grass whereby there is soccer poles and nets. It’s important to the club to have such facilities. These girls can easily get unnecessary injuries ”
Their common vision is to become professional players one day.
Sive Takuta is one of the shining stars. Her speciality is set pierces and corners.
She says, “The main reason I feel in love with soccer is that I told myself that one day, I want to become a professional player and I still have that dream even today.”
The Volcano Ladies Football Club in dire need of resources:
Club captain Babalwa Peter says, “Discipline is important in football. Respect is key and without it, you are not going anywhere.”
SAFA says municipalities need to take football more seriously.
SAFA NEC member Mzimkhulu Fina says, “When it comes to facilities, it is the responsibility of the municipality, unfortunately, you can take a helicopter move around, you cannot say, the facilities are dedicated for football, they are prospect of the apartheid patterns. we have not been willing to change in terms of government to try and level the players fields.”
The club played 30 games last season and lost only one.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality said it would meet with the club officials to map the way forward.
