After seven months of physical and mental hurdles, Banyana Banyana’s Gabriela Salgado has reflected on her difficult journey back from an injury that nearly ended her career.
Salgado sustained her horrific leg injury in July last year during the 2024 WAFCON semi-final against Nigeria. In a physical encounter at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Morocco, the JVW FC star suffered a fractured mid-shaft in her left leg.
The night ended in double heartbreak, with Salgado rushed to Mohamed VI University Hospital for surgery, while South Africa succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, ending their title defence dreams.
The injury forced Salgado to be sidelined for the rest of the season in the last term, leaving many football fanatics to wonder when or if she would return to the field of play.
The long-awaited return finally came through this past Wednesday at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Salgado made her competitive reappearance during Banyana’s 2-0 victory over Malawi in their COSAFA Women’s Championship Group A opener.
GABRIELA SALGADO POURS HER HEART OUT AFTER HORRIFIC INJURY RECOVERY
Reflecting on the mental toll of the layoff, Salgado admitted that the road back to her recovery was as much a mental battle as a physical one.
She went on to state that the time away from the pitch provided a profound shift in how she views her career and her physical health.
“It was a hectic incident, and it happens in football. I have learned from that experience, and now I have a story to tell to inspire others. I think one of the biggest things was not giving up because it creeps in and gets into your head. But just keep going, knowing that there’s a bigger plan for you, and taking a lot of patience, appreciating the game and where I am now, doing what I love each and every day,” said Salgado.
“I have a healthy body and a healthy mind right now. So, that has brought me back to appreciating what I have and what I have access to. It’s something I won’t take for granted going forward—playing football and having the ability to move easily without relying on anybody else. It changed my perspective and my life as a whole.
“This taught me that as a player, you really need to appreciate who you are. Hard work, resilience, and discipline can take you anywhere, as long as you believe in your heart that there’s a plan for you and believe in what you want to achieve. Set your mind to it so you can achieve it.”
HOW GABRIELA SALGADO FELT GOING INTO THE PITCH AFTER A SEVEN-MONTH INJURY LAYOFF
Salgado revealed that stepping back onto the pitch for the national team was an emotional experience, as she had mixed feelings.
With the next CAF 2026 WAFCON tournament on the horizon, Salgado added that she views the COSAFA Cup as the perfect platform to shed the injury rust and find her rhythm again.
“It was a special moment for me, definitely a proud one. I’m super grateful to God for being faithful to me throughout my healing process. It wasn’t an easy journey; it taught me a lot and required a great deal of resilience and patience before I finally stepped back onto the field. The amount of emotion flowing through my body and mind as I eventually stepped onto the pitch fulfilled my heart,” she added.
“This is the moment I have been waiting for and working towards. Obviously, I got injured in the last WAFCON tournament, and the next one is coming up. I just didn’t know when my return would be, and I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to participate in the COSAFA Cup.
“I’m getting all the emotions out of the way to help me focus on the bigger picture. Working hard and staying focused on the field, along with the support of my teammates, has encouraged me because I have come a long way, and it hasn’t been an easy journey.”
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