| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 1 July 1998, South Africa |
| Age: | 22 years |
| Star sign | Cancer |
Linda Motlhalo (born 1 July 1998), is a South African football midfielder. She is a member of the South Africa women’s national football team, having previously played for the under-20 team.
Early life
Linda Motlhalo was born in Brandvlei, Northern Cape, on 7 January 1998. 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.
Her father convinced the owner of amateur team Might Bucs F.C. to create a women’s team, which Motlhalo began to play for at the age of 11. She would train twice a day, with both the boys and girls. She saw claims from opposition coaches that she was a boy, with one demanding that she undressed in public to demonstrate her gender. This was prevented following an intervention by her father. She attended TuksSport High School, during which time she was part of the South African High Performance Centre in Pretoria.
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.
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to the senior squad for the first time in October 2015, following an injury to Thembi Kgatlana which caused her to be withdrawn from the team. Motlhalo did not play at the time, but instead made her debut against Cameroon in 2016, in which she scored in the 2-2 draw. 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.” Motlahalo hoped to be called up to the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Personal life
She is a fan of Arsenal L.F.C., and hopes to play for them some day.