The Stellenbosch University (SU) women’s football team has recently appointed their first woman head coach in the history of the football club.
This was according to Elroy Smith, the manager of SU’s football club, Maties Football Club (Maties FC), and former head coach of the women’s team. Jabulile Baloyi replaced Smith as the new head coach of the Maties FC women’s team on 11 October, said Smith.
“Coach [Baloyi] has tremendous experience, particularly in women’s football, as she has coached both the [U20] South African side, as well as USSA [University Sport South Africa] team’s at CUCSA [College Sports South Africa]/FISU [International University Sports Federation] games,” said Kimara Singh, media and communications manager at Maties Sport, in email correspondence with MatieMedia.
Baloyi also formerly played for Banyana Banyana, the South African women’s national football team, said Smith.
Jabulile Baloyi, the newly appointed head coach of the Maties Football Club (Maties FC) women’s team, explained that she has been coaching for almost 10 years. Baloyi began coaching university football at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg in 2011, and then joined the University of Johannesburg from 2016 to 2019. “Her experience in university sport, […] especially in women’s football, is advantageous as she understands how university teams operate and play,” said Kimara Singh, media and communications manager at Maties Sport. PHOTO: Sibulela Bolarinwa
Tackling the league
The football season is set to end mid-November, according to Baloyi. It is crucial that the Maties FC women’s team win their next few games, as the team currently holds the bottom spot in the Sasol Women’s League, with one point separating them from the team above, said Baloyi.
“[My goal is to] improve our standing in the league, so that we don’t find ourselves in the relegation zone,” said Baloyi. “The aim is to prove to ourselves, as a team, that we are capable of winning and positively improving on our results,” she added.
The Maties Football Club (Maties FC) women’s team won 3-2 against Ikamva Football Club on 15 October, according to the Maties Football Club Instagram page. This was the first match under the team’s new head coach, Jabulile Baloyi, according to Elroy Smith, the manager of Maties FC and the former head coach of the women’s team. The team had previously lost 6-0 to Ikamva Football Club, said Smith. GALLERY: Sibulela Bolarinwa
The team being relegated to a lower league is an unwanted outcome, given how hard the team had to work to get into the current league, said Chiara Maccioni, who plays for the Maties FC women’s team.
“With the five games that are left, I’m hoping to see more positive results,” said Baloyi. “I would like for us to end the season on a high note.”
Singh told MatieMedia that Balyoi’s appointment is intended to result in more quality women footballers in the Western Cape region. This will hopefully lead towards a thriving women’s football team environment in future, she said.
A coachable moment
“In the first week of training, we have learnt what she expects from us and we have all been very excited to train with her,” said Vangie Alexander, the Maties FC women’s team captain. “She has already created a good vibe amongst the players and has made us all feel as [if we are part of] one team.”
Prior to Baloyi’s appointment, the team was demotivated due to losing the majority of their games, explained Maccioni.
“One thing that I would like to employ is just changing the attitude [of the players],” said Baloyi.
The newly appointed head coach of the Maties Football Club women’s team, Jabulile Baloyi, explained that there are a few attributes that she would like the team to develop under her care. Baloyi emphasised that she aims to instill discipline, and ensure that players have respect for the game, themselves and their teammates. “To play under her is a big honour for me,” said Vangie Alexander, the captain of the Maties FC women’s team. PHOTOS: Sibulela Bolarinwa