Noko Matlou

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Noko Matlou
Personal information
Full name Noko Alice Matlou[1]
Date of birth (1985-09-30) 30 September 1985 (age 36)
Place of birth , South Africa
Height 172 cm (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Striker / Defender
Club information
Current team
 SD Eibar
Number 17
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
University of Johannesburg
2021– SD Eibar 19 (0)
National team‡
2006– South Africa 159 (64)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 August 2014
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 April 2021

Noko Alice Matlou (born 30 September 1985) is a South African soccer player who plays as a striker for Spanish Primera División side SD Eibar. She has represented the South Africa women's national team both as a striker and a defender. In 2008, Matlou became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year.

Career[]

Club[]

At a club level, she plays for . She has previously played for , and the University of Johannesburg. Within footballing circles, she is nicknamed "Beep-Beep".[2] Matlou trains with male footballers to enhance her game: "I train regularly with local male clubs and when I get on to the field with the women they simply cannot touch me."[3]

International[]

Matlou made her debut for South Africa women's national football team ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006.[4] In September 2009, Matlou was subjected to a gender "inspection" by a referee in the presence of the opposition captain, before South Africa's match against Ghana at Caledonian Stadium, Pretoria. She was allowed to play in the match after being confirmed as female.[5]

Matlou came to prominence within the national team by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women's Championship.[4] She has been selected for the squads for a variety of tournaments, including at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.[2] In 2014, South Africa's coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a striker, as a defender.[6]

Awards[]

In 2008, she became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ "Athlete Information". Universiade 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Noko Alice "Beep-Beep" Matlou". Sasol in Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ Mohamed, Zaheda (9 January 2015). "Belle of the ball". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  4. ^ a b Taele, Keabetswe (8 December 2008). "Banyana do SA proud". Independent Online (South Africa).
  5. ^ "Banyana dispute gender cheating claims". Sport24. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  6. ^ Moholoa, Ramatsiyi (10 July 2014). "Matlou adapts to Banyana role in defence". The Sowetan. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Noko Matlou makes history". KickOff. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2015.

External links[]


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