A Banyana Banyana star has been included in the Forbes Africa 30 under 30 class of 2023 list released this week.
The Forbes magazine annually identifies 30 of the continent’s brightest and most prospective game-changers under the age of 30 in different spheres. The finalists were selected from a pool of over a thousand applicants across the continent.
They will be hosting a summit in Botswana from 23-26 April where all the 30 young people who have made the list and those from other continents will receive their certificates. The initiative was originally launched in 2011.
BANYANA BANYANA STAR THEMBI KGATLANA RECOGNISED
Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana [26] has this year made the list alongside three other footballers in Africa.
Despite an Achilles tendon injury during the CAF Wafcon tournament in Morocco last year that has kept her put for over a year, Kgatlana is one of the most influential figures in Women’s football. She became only the second South African to win the CAF Player of the Year award when she won the 2019 CAF Women Footballer of the Year. Noko Matlou was the first South African to win the award in 2008.
The club Racing Louisville in America forward has not formed part of the Banyana squad since the injury. But coach Desiree Ellis remains confident that the striker will be ready for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July.
OTHER FOOTBALLERS ON THE FORBES AFRICA 30 UNDER 30 LIST
The other female footballer to have made the list this year is Asisat Oshoala [28] from Nigeria. Oshoala currently plays as a striker for Spanish Liga club FC Barcelona and the Nigeria women’s national team.
Ghana and Ajax Amsterdam Attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus [22] has also made it into the list.
Kudus has been in great form for both his club and country in the last 12 months. He was also part of the Black Stars squad Qatar 2022 World Cup.
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