Mamelodi Sundowns teenager hails organisers after cup triumph

The 15-year-old was speaking to SABC Sport after leading her team of U20 players to gold against a strong University of Johannesburg outfit in the Gauteng leg of the tournament.

They won 4-3 on penalties after a goalless stalemate in regulation time.

They will now face off with other provincial winners in the Champs of Champs scheduled for September.

"I mean this is a great opportunity because the teams we play against are playing in the highest stages in Hollywoodbets and you find us playing regional. It's a stage where we can see where your level is as a footballer and as an individual and where you have to improve,” Malebane said.

“I mean in South Africa we don't get a lot of tournaments as ladies' teams to be able to see where you are so Engen is like a World Cup here in South Africa because I remember playing at the age of 13 and one day telling myself that I'm going to win this Engen thing. Now it's been three years and this year is the year."

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The youngster was at a loss for words as she relayed the excitement of winning a tournament of this calibre.

"I'm very excited, it's been a hard journey from day one being able to not lose any game under my leadership, so I'm very happy. All the hard work we put finally paid off. It means a lot because at my age, I'm only 15 years old being able to captain, I have no words to explain but it means a lot."

Malebane will best be remembered for captaining the South African team that won the CAF African Schools Championship last month in Zanzibar – but her dreams started back in 2022 when she was a ball girl in the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final between Banyana Banyana and Morocco in 2022.