PUMA has signed partnerships with Banyana Banyana stars Noko Matlou and Nomvula "Lady Lipstick" Kgoale. Check it out!
What's the story?
PUMA has signed two Banyana stars in veteran Noko Matlou and the Lady Lipstick herself, Nomvula Kgoale.
In Q&A style interviews, Matlou talks about plying her trade in Spain and being a role model, while Kgoale talks about her successes in the USA, including her degree as well as her nickname.
Read: Queens Of iGwijo: How A Cultural Singing Practice Helped Banyana
Let's take a closer look.
Noko talks all things football
It's safe to say that Matlou is a African football legend. The 37-year-old was the first ever Banyana player to win the coveted CAF Women’s Player of the Year and proved instrumental in defence at last year's successful WAFCON tournament.
Now, the Eibar star is officially PUMA athlete and chatted with her new family about playing in Spain for Eibar and the importance of being a positive role model to young girls.
What attributes are required for your position?
Matlou: Tactical discipline, great reading of the game and the opponent’s movements and patterns, a lot of communication and focus, but most importantly a cool head under pressure.
Which parts of your game have improved the most this year?
Matlou: I have been exposed to a high level of competition in Spain and gained much needed experience. I can now read the game better and I’m much stronger in one-on-one situations.
Tell us about playing for Eibar in Spain?
Matlou: Being so far from home in a foreign country, I needed to become mentally tougher. That has helped me to deal with different challenges on and off the pitch. I’m now a much better person, focussed and always looking for opportunities to challenge myself.
You are active on social media – what type of content of you like to share?
Matlou: My journey will inspire a lot of girls in South Africa and social media gives me the platforms to tell my story - how I want, when I want, and with facts.
Is it important to be a positive role models for girls?
Matlou: It’s something I take very seriously. I want them to understand the journey, experience the up and downs, but forever encourage them to strive to fulfil their ambitions.
Your advice to girls chasing their dreams?
Matlou: Never give up on your dreams; be determined and consistent in your efforts.
What keeps you hungry for success?
Matlou: I compete against myself. I want to be better than I was yesterday.
What attracted you to partner with PUMA?
Matlou: A big brand that always puts the athlete first.
What boots do you play in?
Matlou: The PUMA Ultra because they are very comfortable and light.
Favourite sneakers?
Matlou: The PUMA Mayze as they are very fashionable.
Your career highlights?
Matlou: Becoming the first South African to win the African Women Footballer of the Year award. That was special.
Can you share the secrets to the WAfcon win?
Matlou: The planning and preparations for that tournament were spot on. Everyone understood how tough the tournament was going to be, so we worked hard and smart every day until we put our hands on that trophy.
There is a World Cup later this year. How do you stay focused on the now when that bright star is dangling in the near future?
Matlou: Every day is an opportunity to improve, to fine tune details, and work on myself. To stay focused and in good physical shape. This is the World Cup, the biggest global football stage, and it will be an honour to represent South Africa.
Read: 'Bunch Of Winners': SA Goes Wild Over Banyana Win
Nomvula talks football and studying in the USA
Known for her signature red lipstick, which earned her the "Lipstick Lady" nickname, Kgoale is one of the most charismatic personalities in the Banyana changeroom.
The 27-year-old TS Galaxy Ladies star also stands out for her bleach blonde hair that adds more vibrancy to her look and is now enhancing her brand by signing with PUMA.
Kgoale spoke football, her University days in the United States and her degree that could come in handy when she retires.
What attributes are required for your position?
Kgoale: I’m a versatile player. I don’t play one position. I have both attacking and defensive abilities. What’s required is vision, reading the game 2 to 3 steps ahead, quick thinking, swift movements and mental as well as physical endurance.
Which parts of your game have improved the most this year?
Kgoale: My confidence has definitely moved to a different level and my understanding of the game. My moves are now more meticulous.
You captained the u17 national team – what are your leadership skills?
Kgoale: Firstly, my voice. I command and organize when needed. I also understand the need to encourage and push the team to stay on top of our game.
How was your experience at Louisiana Tech University in the USA?
Kgoale: I excelled as a player and I'm now in the university’s Hall of Fame. As a person, I gained lifetime friends. It’s very difficult for me to talk about this because there are things I experienced that were so peculiar or surreal that they are too fragile for me to touch.
I still don’t understand them and I don’t think I ever will, because of how mystical they were.
Tell us about your BA degree - why Geographical Information Science?
Kgoale: GIS endeavours to solve real life problems using software. I picked it because it was something I had never heard of and I’m all about risks and exploring.
Tell us about your nickname Lipstick Lady?
Kgoale: The people of South Africa gave me the name after a viral video circulated on social media after we won WAFCON. I love it. I live it. I own it because it gives me so much pride in being a woman in a space mostly deemed as a men’s sport.
Also, it twists the mind of those who have never seen a woman wearing lipstick or make up on the field worn. Lipstick Lady is designed for people to raise their eyebrows.
You are active on social media – what content do you share?
Kgoale: A lot. It could be my workouts, or just my teammates or myself relaxing and having fun. I try to show fans things they’ve never had access to, from the inside.
What is the Nomvula Kgoale development programme?
Kgoale: It is not annual or operating on some calendar. It is spontaneous and targets places where the grass is not watered and this is usually in rural areas. However, should the rural place gain the necessary water, then the programme shifts elsewhere where there’s a need for tools that teams or schools need to do what they love.
Currently, because of limited resources the programme only targets rural areas in Limpopo. Moreover, it is not restricted to football, although the first outreach solely focused on football.
Your advice to girls chasing their dreams?
Kgoale: Barriers are only in the mind. If you truly want something, do whatever it takes. Invest in yourself if you’re not getting the support you desire.
What keeps you hungry for success?
Kgoale: My purpose. There is always something that feels unfulfilled when I wake up. But with each workout I do, game I play or event I attend, I feel fulfilled by something that assures me that I’m on the right track.
I’ve got something to do on this planet and whatever that purpose is keeps me going.
What attracted you to partner with PUMA?
Kgoale: A grand brand. But who they are as human beings behind the brand was important. So how they received my agent and spoke to her as an individual is what made me say they are my number one.
The assumption is that she is me, so how they address her is how they’ll address me.
What boots do you play in?
Kgoale: I wear the PUMA Future for control and creativity.
Favourite sneakers?
Kgoale: The PUMA Mayze. They are super fashionable and swaggy!
Career highlights?
Kgoale: Being named in the Team of the Decade at my US university. Secondly, becoming the Champions of Africa.
Can you share the secrets to the Afcon win?
Kgoale: Fate. We were born for it.
Scroll through the gallery to view snaps of Matlou and Kgoale in PUMA gear:
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