profiling our own sportswomen

South Africa has thousands of sportswomen who participate and compete in different sports both locally and internationally. Yet our mainstream daily, weekly, and monthly sport pages offer next to nothing in the way of showcasing these women and informing the public of the contribution female athletes have made. We here at FEW believe we need to rectify this exclusion and feature the talents that live among us, the women who make a mark in our community through sport.

We also need to come out and give special thanks to women athletes as they also represent positive role models for our young women who are, unfortunately, often presented with limited candidates by the mainstream media. As such, please follow and read this new section of our newsletter with pride.

Name: Natalie “Ace” Matlou
Age: 31
Residence: Born in Orlando East (Soweto), but currently residing in Philip Nel Park (Pretoria)

Qualifications: National Diploma in Marketing at Tshwane University of Technology
Intentions: To study Sports Psychology
Wish: To become a sports doctor
Type of sport: Soccer
Current position: Administrator: Registration and Admin. at TUT
Other: Head Coach of Ladies Soccer team at TUT since 2003
Former soccer player for Tshwane University of Technology Ladies team, Soweto Ladies, Sundowns Ladies, etc.

Major career disturbance: Physical injuries during soccer matches

Achievements:
1999 Player of the SASSU tournament (Provincial)
1999 Player of the Year
2000 & 2001 Player of the Year
Player of the tournament SASSU Clubs champs

Major achievement: First black Sportswoman of the Year in 2003

Hobbies: Music, reading and (mostly) soccer
People admired: Parents, son and partner
Fears: To fail (Not getting what she wants)

Motto in life: ‘Never give up!’

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