VUT football star sets sail to Australia
VUT football star sets sail to Australia
VUT Sport Management Alumnus and Banyana Banyana player, Refiloe Jane
Staff Reporter
On 20 August an announcement was made that Refiloe Jane, aka Fifi, a VUT Sport Management alumnus and Banyana Banyana player, had signed a contract with the Australian club, Canberra United. She had been on trial with the Australian giants and, after an impressive display of her footballing skills, coach Heather Garriock made her decision.
The coach said that she and another team mate, Rhonda Mulaudzi have been impressive.
“It was hard for them to come here, and then to come into a different environment and play, but they have done very well to adapt and really stood out for me. Fifi’s technical ability in midfield is simply outstanding, and in Rhonda Mulaudzi I can see the pace and aggression that I’m looking for upfront.’’
Ms Jane’s resume is impressive. She has over 80 international caps to her name. She’s taken part in three successive Universiades, the last of which was held in Taipei last year where South Africa won a bronze medal, losing to Russia in the semi-finals. Ms Jane represented South Africa at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games and captained the team to victory at the regional 2017 COSAFA Cup tournament.
She captained the university team to victory at the 2017 University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament and 2017 Varsity Football tournament. Her achievements were crowned with the 2018 Gauteng Sportswoman of the Year and Sports Personality of the Year.
Ms Jane is also currently studying towards her Master’s in Marketing at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
Her diligence and hard work in the lecture room and football field have undoubtedly afforded her the opportunity to play for Canberra United. Academic performance is always scrutinised before giving student-athletes international sporting contracts.
Ms Jane said: ‘’I am looking forward to the season and making the most of this chance.’’
She follows in the footsteps of last year’s Universiade teammate, Thembi Kgatlana, who earlier this year signed a professional contract with American club Houston Dash, joining only a handful of elite South African women football players to land professional contracts abroad.
Canberra, two-time winners of the Westfield W-League, will only start their 2018/2019 season late October, giving Fifi a bit more time to settle into her new country and club.
