Linda Motlhalo

Linda Maserame Motlhalo (born 1 July 1998) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Swedish club Djurgardens and the South Africa women's national team. She is also known as the 'Randfontein Ronaldinho'.

Linda Motlhalo
Personal information
Full name Linda Maserame Motlhalo[1]
Date of birth (1998-07-01) 1 July 1998
Place of birth Brandvlei, Gauteng, South Africa
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Djurgardens
Number 11
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
JVW F.C.
2018 Houston Dash 21 (1)
2019 Beijing BG Phoenix 14 (2)
2020– Djurgardens 42 (2)
National team
2015– South Africa 52 (16)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 February 2022 (UTC)

Early life

Linda Motlhalo was born in Brandvlei, Northern Cape, on 7 January 1998.[2] Her family has a footballing history, with her father Johannes Motlhalo attempting to become a professional player. Although he failed to do so, his brother Joseph Motlhalo became a goalkeeper for Kaizer Chiefs F.C. between 1970 and 1985.[3]

She attended TuksSport High School, during which time she was part of the South African High Performance Centre in Pretoria.[4]

Club career

Houston Dash, 2018

On 1 February 2018 Motlhalo signed with the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. She was brought in by Dash head coach Vera Pauw who coached the South African national team from 2014 to 2016.[5] Motlhalo made 21 NWSL appearances for the Dash and scored 1 goal.

Motlhalo was waived by the Houston Dash on 6 February 2019.[6]

Beijing BG Phoenix F.C., 2019

On 22 February 2019 Motlhalo was unveiled as a player of Beijing BG Phoenix F.C. in the Chinese Women's Super League, joining her South African and former Houston Dash teammate Thembi Kgatlana who also made the move to China.[7]

Motlhalo started all 14 league games for Beijing across the 2019 season as the team finished fifth in the CWSL, playing the majority of the campaign in a deeper central midfield role. She also helped guide Beijing to a semifinal finish in the Chinese Women's Championship.

Djurgardens IF, 2020 – present

On 18 January 2020 it was announced that Motlhalo had joined Swedish side Djurgardens IF on a two-year deal, subject to receipt of her working visa.[8]

Motlhalo made her debut on 22 February 2020, scoring twice after coming on as a substitute in a Stockholm derby victory over AIK.[9] In January 2021 she was named Newcomer of the Year by her Djurgardens teammates for her performances across the 2020 season.[10]

In January 2022 it was announced that Motlhalo had signed a new two-year contract to remain at the club.[11]

International career

While attending the High Performance Centre, she played for the South Africa women's national under-20 football team as a forward. This included in matches as part of the 2015 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament.[12]

Motlhalo was called up to the senior squad for the first time in October 2015, following an injury to Thembi Kgatlana which caused her to be withdrawn from the team.[12] Motlhalo did not play at the time, but instead made her debut against Cameroon in 2016,[4] in which she scored in the 2–2 draw.[3] She said, "I am just happy to have been part of this team. The senior players have made me feel at home and it was good to rub shoulders with the likes of Janine and Amanda. I really enjoyed my time here."

In 2016, Motlhalo attended the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, before playing the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon as part of the Banyana Banyana side.

At the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, Motlhalo started all five games for South Africa as the team reached the final of the competition before losing to Nigeria on penalties. She scored one goal at the competition and was named Player of the Match during her side's semifinal encounter with Mali.[4]

Motlhalo attended the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with South Africa but came into the tournament struggling with injury. While she started the side's opening game with Spain, the remainder of her tournament was limited to a late substitute appearance against China.

In September 2021, Motlhalo scored for South Africa in a decisive 4-2 win over Nigeria as Banyana Banyana won the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos.[13] Motlhalo was subsequently South Africa's top-scorer in qualification for the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations, scoring five goals across four fixtures with Mozambique and Algeria to help Banyana Banyana book a place at the finals.[14]

International goals

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1
29 March 2016Stade Municipal de Limbe, Limbe, Cameroon Cameroon
1–1
2–2
International Friendly
2
25 November 2016Stade Municipal de Limbe, Limbe, Cameroon Egypt
5–0
5–0
2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations
5
17 September 2018Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele, South Africa Malawi
1–0
6–0
2018 COSAFA Women's Championship
6
17 September 2018Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele, South Africa Malawi
5–0
6–0
2018 COSAFA Women's Championship
7
17 September 2018Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele, South Africa Malawi
6–0
6–0
2018 COSAFA Women's Championship
8
20 September 2018Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele, South Africa Uganda
1–0
2–0
2018 COSAFA Women's Championship
9
21 November 2018Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana Equatorial Guinea
1–0
7–1
2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations
10
7 April 2019Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Jamaica
1–1
1-1
International Friendly
11
21 September 2021Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria Nigeria
2–0
4-2
Aisha Buhari Cup
12
20 October 2021Estádio do Zimpeto, Maputo, Angola Mozambique
2–0
7-0
2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification
13
7–0
14
26 October 2021Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Mozambique
2–0
6-0
2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification
15
5–0
16
23 February 2022Stade Omar Hamadi, Algiers, Algeria Algeria
1–1
1–1
2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

International

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: South Africa" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. "Linda Maserame "Mimi" Motlhalo". Sasol in Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  3. Ramishidja, Mohau (25 June 2016). "Linda Motlhalo is a young women fighting to make a name for herself". Weekend Argus.
  4. Molobi, Timothy (22 April 2016). "Linda Motlhalo – remember the name". City Press. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  5. "Houston Dash sign midfielder Linda Motlhalo". 1 February 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  6. "Houston Dash waive Banyana duo Thembi Kgatlana and Linda Motlhalo". 6 February 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. "Kgatlana signs for Chinese club". 23 February 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  8. "Linda Motlhalo: Banyana Banyana midfielder joins Swedish club Djurgarden | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  9. "Motlhalo's brace on debut inspires Djurgardens to comeback derby win over AIK | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  10. "gsport4girls - Linda Motlhalo's Rising Global Star". gsport4girls. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  11. "Motlhalo signs Djurgardens contract extension | Breaking News | FARPost". 20 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  12. "Kgatlana leaves Banyana, Motlhalo in". SuperSport. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  13. Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "South Africa stun Nigeria to win Aisha Buhari Cup". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  14. "Banyana qualify for Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco". The Citizen. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  15. "SA women footballers score string of firsts". The Mail & Guardian. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
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