09/10/2026
🇿🇦 HBSL: THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Something exciting is happening in South Africa's top women's football league.
Among the Banyana internationals and some of the country's most experienced players, a much younger generation is beginning to make itself impossible to ignore.
Iminathi Makinana — 14
Scoring against senior women and already collecting Player of the Match awards.
Bonolo Mokoma — 18
Among the HBSL's leading scorers and nominated alongside senior stars for the SAFJA Women's Player of the Season.
Zoe October — 18
Scored on her HBSL debut — and has already made the jump into the Banyana Banyana environment.
Julia Goncalves — 18
Stepping into a major midfield role at JVW while already representing South Africa at U20 level.
Katleho Malebana — teenager
From development football to the Sundowns senior team, with a goal on debut and national-team experience from U15 through U20.
Different clubs. Different positions. Different journeys.
But one thing connects them:
They are being trusted to play senior football while they are still developing.
For those of us working with young girls at grassroots level, that matters.
Because somewhere at training today is another 12-, 14- or 16-year-old wondering how far football can take her.
Now she can actually see the pathway.
Grassroots → Development → HBSL → Banyana Banyana. 🇿🇦⚽
The next generation isn't waiting for its turn.
It's already playing.
