Club Tigres UANL boss reserves high praise for Thembi Kgatlana

Kgatlana joined Tigres in December 2023 from Racing Louisville FC on a transfer fee of $275,000, and has since become a key member of the team.

Speaking to SABC Sport at the Women’s Football Summit in Spain, Valenzuela says the South African striker is excelling in crushing defenders head-on.

"We're super proud and super happy having a player like Thembi Kgatlana, more than what she is as a player on the field, we love her off the field [too]," said Valenzuela.

"She's someone we know who really inspires a culture, she really inspires a beautiful country like South Africa, and she has her own book that she launched a couple of months ago.

"And on the field she's just a great player, she's an international star for us and she crushes all of the centre-backs in every game."

Banyana now has four players currently plying their trade in the Liga MX namely Kgatlana, Jermaine Seoposenwe (Monterrey), Amogelang Motau and Hildah Magaia (both Club Tijuana).

Valenzuela says Mexico and Africa have a similar playing style, which makes it easy for players to settle and adapt to the league.

"Africa is a strategic market [for Liga MX] because there are players that can actually adapt to our league and their way of play adapts to the way of playing in the Mexican league," he explained.

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