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Linda Motlhalo

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Linda Motlhalo
Motlhalo with Djurgården in 2022
Personal information
Full name Linda Maserame Motlhalo[1]
Date of birth (1998-07-01) 1 July 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Brandvlei, Gauteng, South Africa
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Racing Louisville
Number 10
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
JVW
2018 Houston Dash 21 (1)
2019 Beijing BG Phoenix 14 (2)
2020–2023 Djurgården 67 (3)
2023–2024 Glasgow City 16 (3)
2024– Racing Louisville
International career‡
2015 South Africa U17
2017 South Africa U20 (9)
2017– South Africa 76 (20)
Medal record
Representing  South Africa
Women's Africa Cup of Nations
Second place 2018 Ghana
First place 2022 Morocco
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 December 2023 (prior the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup)

Linda Maserame Motlhalo (born 1 July 1998) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Racing Louisville and the South Africa women's national team. She is also known as the 'Randfontein Ronaldinho'.[2]

Early life

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Linda Motlhalo was born in Badirile, Brandvlei, in Randfontein, Gauteng, on 1 July 1998.[3] Her family has a footballing history, with her father Johannes Motlhalo attempting to become a professional player. Although he failed to do so, his brother Joseph Motlhalo became a goalkeeper for Kaizer Chiefs F.C. between 1970 and 1985.[4]

Motlhalo attended TuksSport High School, during which time she was part of the South African High Performance Centre in Pretoria.[5]

Club career

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Houston Dash

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On 1 February 2018 Motlhalo signed with the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League. She was brought in by Dash head coach Vera Pauw who coached the South African national team from 2014 to 2016.[6] Motlhalo made 21 NWSL appearances for the Dash and scored 1 goal.[7]

Motlhalo was waived by the Houston Dash on 6 February 2019.[7]

Beijing BG Phoenix F.C.

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On 22 February 2019 Motlhalo was unveiled as a player of Beijing BG Phoenix F.C. in the Chinese Women's Super League, joining her South African and former Houston Dash teammate Thembi Kgatlana who also made the move to China.[8]

Motlhalo started all 14 league games for Beijing across the 2019 season as the team finished fifth in the CWSL, playing the majority of the campaign in a deeper central midfield role. She also helped guide Beijing to a semifinal finish in the Chinese Women's Championship.

Djurgårdens IF

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On 18 January 2020 it was announced that Motlhalo had joined Swedish side Djurgårdens IF on a two-year deal, subject to receipt of her working visa.[9]

Motlhalo made her debut on 22 February 2020, scoring twice after coming on as a substitute in a Stockholm derby victory over AIK.[10] In January 2021 she was named Newcomer of the Year by her Djurgården teammates for her performances across the 2020 season.[11]

In January 2022, it was announced that Motlhalo had signed a new two-year contract to remain at the club.[12]

Glasgow City

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On 23 January 2023, Motlhalo officially joined SWPL 1 club Glasgow City on a permanent deal, signing a contract until June 2025 with the Scottish club.[13][14]

On 21 May 2023, Motlhalo provided a 92nd minute assist as Glasgow City beat Rangers 1–0 at Ibrox Stadium to win the SWPL title on the final day of the season. She was also named Player of the Match.[15]

Racing Louisville

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On 18 January 2024, Mothlalo signed a two-year contract with Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League. Racing Louisville paid an undisclosed transfer fee to Glasgow City and signed Mothlalo through the 2025 season, with a mutual option for 2026.[16]

International career

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While attending the High Performance Centre, Motlhalo played for the South Africa women's national under-20 football team as a forward. This included in matches as part of the 2015 African U-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament.[17]

Motlhalo was called up to the senior squad for the first time in October 2015, following an injury to Thembi Kgatlana which caused her to be withdrawn from the team.[17] Motlhalo did not play at the time, but instead made her debut against Cameroon in 2016,[5] in which she scored in the 2–2 draw.[4] She said, "I am just happy to have been part of this team. The senior players have made me feel at home and it was good to rub shoulders with the likes of Janine and Amanda. I really enjoyed my time here."

In 2016, Motlhalo attended the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, before playing the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon as part of the Banyana Banyana side.

At the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, Motlhalo started all five games for South Africa as the team reached the final of the competition before losing to Nigeria on penalties. She scored one goal at the competition and was named Player of the Match during her side's semifinal encounter with Mali.[5]

Motlhalo attended the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with South Africa but came into the tournament struggling with injury. While she started the side's opening game with Spain, the remainder of her tournament was limited to a late substitute appearance against China.

In September 2021, Motlhalo scored for South Africa in a decisive 4–2 win over Nigeria as Banyana Banyana won the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos.[18] Motlhalo was subsequently South Africa's top-scorer in qualification for the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations, scoring five goals across four fixtures with Mozambique and Algeria to help Banyana Banyana book a place at the finals.[19]

Career statistics

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International goals

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Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1
 29 March 2016 Limbe Stadium, Limbe, Cameroon  Cameroon
1–1
2–2
 Friendly
2
 25 November 2016  Egypt
5–0
5–0
 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations
5
 17 September 2018 Wolfson Stadium, KwaZakele, South Africa  Malawi
1–0
6–0
 2018 COSAFA Women's Championship
6
5–0
7
6–0
8
 20 September 2018  Uganda
1–0
2–0
9
 21 November 2018 Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana  Equatorial Guinea
1–0
7–1
 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations
10
 7 April 2019 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa  Jamaica
1–1
1–1
 International Friendly
11
 21 September 2021 Onikan Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria  Nigeria
2–0
4–2
 Aisha Buhari Cup
12
 20 October 2021 Estádio do Zimpeto, Maputo, Angola  Mozambique
2–0
7–0
 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification
13
7–0
14
 26 October 2021 Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa  Mozambique
2–0
6–0
15
5–0
16
 23 February 2022 Stade Omar Hamadi, Algiers, Algeria  Algeria
1–1
1–1
 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification
17
 7 July 2022 Stade Moulay Hassan, Rabat, Morocco  Burundi 3–1 3–1 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations
18
 18 July 2022 Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco  Zambia 1–0 1–0
19
 28 July 2023 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand  Argentina 1–0 2–2 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
20
 4 December 2023 Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa  Burkina Faso 1–0 2–0 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

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Glasgow City

International

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: South Africa" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ "'Randfontein Maguire' signs for Glasgow City". BBC Sport. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Linda Maserame "Mimi" Motlhalo". Sasol in Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  4. ^ a b Ramishidja, Mohau (25 June 2016). "Linda Motlhalo is a young women fighting to make a name for herself". Weekend Argus.
  5. ^ a b c Molobi, Timothy (22 April 2016). "Linda Motlhalo – remember the name". City Press. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Houston Dash sign midfielder Linda Motlhalo". 1 February 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Houston Dash waive Banyana duo Thembi Kgatlana and Linda Motlhalo". 6 February 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Kgatlana signs for Chinese club". 23 February 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Linda Motlhalo: Banyana Banyana midfielder joins Swedish club Djurgarden | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Motlhalo's brace on debut inspires Djurgardens to comeback derby win over AIK | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  11. ^ "gsport4girls – Linda Motlhalo's Rising Global Star". gsport4girls. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Motlhalo signs Djurgardens contract extension | Breaking News | FARPost". 20 January 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Glasgow City sign Africa Cup of Nations winner Linda Motlhalo". Glasgow City FC. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Linda Motlhalo: Glasgow City sign winger dubbed 'Randfontein Ronaldinho' from Djurgardens". BBC Sport. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  15. ^ "City clinch title with dramatic last-gasp winner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Racing signs South African star Motlhalo". Racing Louisville FC. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Kgatlana leaves Banyana, Motlhalo in". SuperSport. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  18. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "South Africa stun Nigeria to win Aisha Buhari Cup". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Banyana qualify for Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco". The Citizen. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Magaia brace hands South Africa first TotalEnergies WAFCON trophy". CAF. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  21. ^ "SA women footballers score string of firsts". The Mail & Guardian. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Osimhen, Oshoala named African Men's and Women's Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023". CAF. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
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