Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana jets off to US club as she nears injury recovery
January 19, 2023

The South African Football Association (Safa) announced on Thursday that Kgatlana will leave for the US this week.

“I can’t wait to meet my new teammates in Kentucky but I am still going through rehabilitation from the Achilles tendon injury. I am close to full healing and at the moment am running and trying to get to full fitness,” the striker, who signed a two-year contract with Racing Louisville, told the Safa website.

Louisville compete in the US’s National Women’s Soccer League, widely regarded as the strongest league in women’s football.

Kgatlana praised her new club for being patient with her throughout the period she was injured. ‘’The club has been helpful and for that I want to applaud them.”

The 26-year-old Banyana player has had a glittering career abroad already playing for clubs like Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, Eibar in Spain, Benfica in Portugal, Beijing in China and Houston Dash in the US.

South Africa open their account at the World Cup against the top-ranked Sweden at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand on July 24.

Safa announced last week that Fifa has given them R16m towards Banyana’s preparations for the World Cup. 

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Source: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-01-19-banyana-star-thembi-kgatlana-jets-off-to-us-club-as-she-nears-injury-recovery/

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