Creating something and anything outside football is important

Lebogang ‘Shucks’ Rakhuduwe, a homogeneous product of Tshwane University of Technology in academics and sports. She is best known in the field and now she has expanded her name as a brand as she is the face of the famous sanitary towel brand ‘Always’. Born and raised in Soweto (Johannesburg), Lebogang has obtained her National Diploma in Sport Management and a BTech Degree in Project Management from the People's University and she is currently enrolled for a Postgraduate Diploma (Honours) in Project Management at TUT.

Shucks laid her foot in a football field for the first time in September 2008, that was when her school needed ladies football players. Initially, she was a netball player, but she and her friend decided to go help the team since they did not have any players. "Our local netball coach Ta Mluks, who also had a male football team - Rusma United - decided to start a ladies football team which didn't last long. Everyone had quit and I was the only one left, so I ended up joining the boys. I used to play both netball and soccer at tournaments because both teams would have tournaments at the same time. I must say it was exhausting, but I could handle it. Unfortunately, the boys team also collapsed in December that very same year. I was forced to stop playing soccer for the whole of 2009 until the late Bra Toto who used to coach Spartak F.C, which was also a boys team, came to my house. He had seen me play a couple of times and when he heard that the team had collapsed, he took that opportunity to come and recruit me. Shortly after I joined his team - and it was not even a month - I think I had played only 2 official games; then, he passed on and no one took over the team. I had no team again" she said.

Rakhuduwe said that in 2010 she heard there were ladies playing football in Zola 1, only to find out it was also a boys team (Zola All Stars) with only one girl, but it wasn't a train smash as she was used to playing with boys already. She further said, “I really don't know if I had bad luck or I was the bad luck as every team I played for always collapsed. I then joined Zola Lazio, but later left to join their neighbors Zola Real Glasgow. So, in a space of a year (2010) I had played for 3 teams. While I was still with Lazio, my mom was busy trying to work some magic so that I can get a women’s team. I went to try out at Fabulous ladies, but I did not even get to register with the team because I broke my arm while I was playing with boys. I also went to Moroka Swallows Ladies in Germiston, but that didn't work out because I was in matric and Germiston was far from Soweto.”

2011 became the “light at the end of a tunnel" for her when she was recruited by Lusaka Ladies which was playing in the ABSA women's league at the time. She played for about two to three months, then was selected to represent Gauteng Under 19 twice that year. In that process, she had the privilege to be captain of the under 19 Gauteng team which participated in the South African Games in 2011. Then she got her ticket into the University after she met the former TUT ladies team coach at the Absa Women’s Championship in KZN Eskhaweni.

Shucks shares her journey about joining the People's University ladies team: "In 2012, I joined TUT ladies. I must say I thought I knew football until I joined TUT because believe me when I say I had to work very hard to finally make the first starting 11. I lost so much weight during the process and I only became a regular player in 2013 when I was also Koketso ‘Shuffle’ Tlailane's vice captain. I, then, grew and improved with the team until I was announced as captain of the Army in 2016. It was the team's tradition back then to change captains every year to give people a chance to lead the Army. Little did I know that it would be my ‘cream’ year. I achieved a lot that year more than any other year."

One of her biggest highlights of 2016 is getting a call up for the National Team, she said, “When I got a call up in 2016 - after having a very successful football season - I must say it came as a shock because I had been playing football for a few years.” When asked if the call up for the National Team is or has always been the goal for most female footballers her response was: "I believe that it is a goal for most female footballers until a certain level. We grow to realize and understand how women’s football is in our country and the goal switches immediately. It is obviously an honor and an achievement to make it that far, but I think now most female footballers’ goal is to play in Europe more than making it into the National team. We all want to make a living after all and not everyone is cut out for school."

Rakhuduwe once left TUT & went to play for Mamelodi Sundowns. She shares the lessons that came with that experience, “Well, I left TUT because I had only 1 subject left, so I was staying at home and Mamelodi Sundowns was the best team I could join. Because of the state of women's football in South Africa, I had to come back to TUT for my own good which was that I had to further my studies. As a female football player, I believe building a career outside football is very important. I mean the only achievement for us is to make it into the National team or go play abroad, unlike the guys who can make a living by just playing in the 3rd division (ABC Motsepe). I learned that not just education is important but creating something and anything for yourself outside football is very critical."

Lebogang said that TUT has really groomed her as a player, but mostly as a person outside sports, “If it wasn't for TUT, I don't know where I would be right now. TUT football has helped me a lot with my studies and I will forever be grateful for ever being part of this family and I believe that my loyalty to the team has proven that" she added. We've recently started seeing Lebogang on the Always advert that aired on TV, she mentions how that had an influence on her mindset and the importance of continuous brand association for players: "The MSL group was looking for a lady who plays football and my friend Bontle "Vitjo" Mashilo recommended me. She thought I was perfect for the role because I represent women’s football very well. The agency, then, went through my social media and they agreed with Bontle. I received a call from the agency, and we took it from there. This has shown me that we can achieve a lot as female football players if we put our minds to it. Although women’s football is not a big thing in South Africa, we can still achieve in other aspects through brand association. Brand association for players is creating an imagine for yourself. Unfortunately, most brands only want to associate themselves with top class players who people care about and who are getting more media attention.”

If given a chance to play for purpose for any brand/organization besides the one she's worked with, Lebo said that she would choose Sobert (specializes in cosmetics). It is a South African brand and it is mostly used by women. She thinks those are the kind of brands that should come forth and support or sponsor women leagues and female athletes. Lebogang was asked that if/when football returns, the National League will welcome two new teams (JVW and MaIndies), does she think they will boost the level & intensity of the National League compared to its debut, she replied, “Definitely. The two promoted teams were also the best in their respective provinces. I have played against both teams and they proved to be very competitive sides. Now the competition will increase which will require more focus and more preparation as there will be more competitive teams now than the previous season.”

In closing, her message to all the ladies in sports is: “There is always going to be a reason why you can’t do something, but your job is to constantly look for the reasons why you can achieve your dreams. You should never stay on the same level, always push yourself to the next. There are always new, grander challenges to confront and a true winner will embrace each one, and always remember that hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Editor : Nomvula Kgoale

IG:Nomvulak_words