A key member of Desiree Ellis' FIFA World Cup-bound squad, Noxolo Cesane sprang to prominence during the African Women's Cup of Nations in Morocco, where Banyana Banyana matched the 1996 achievements of their male counterparts in winning gold in the continental showpiece. In this interview with Thomas Kwenaite, the Gugulethu-born footballer admits that there is still a long way to go despite Banyana flipping the script and changing the perception about women's football in the country. She also dwells on her latest move as she ventured into unknown territory to join fellow national team star Jermaine Seoposenwe in Mexico, where she is looking forward to a duel with her compatriot. The 22-year-old also reveals that coaches in the development structures deserve recognition for their unselfish work, which is never rewarded or appreciated.
Thomas Kwenaite: Good to have you on the Soccer Laduma pages, Noxolo. So, how important was Banyana Banyana's recent excursion in Turkey, where you participated in the Turkish Women's Cup?
Noxolo Cesane: I don't really know if the question is directed at me as an individual or whether on the team, but for both it was important so that we could test ourselves to see where are we in terms of our fitness levels. But equally important was to see how we can approach most of the teams that will be playing in the FIFA World Cup and the teams in the Turkish tournament provided that opportunity. In addition, it also afforded us an opportunity on how to approach matches at that level and generally it was part of training and preparations mentally and physically so that we could understand how we can fix anything. However, of even greater importance was to bond as a team ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
TK: What did you make of your own performance?
NC: To be quite honest, I am not satisfied, not even 80% satisfied. I am a perfectionist and maybe I am too hard on myself but, I just feel that I really need to work harder in terms of maintaining consistency.
TK: What did you and the team pick out of the match against Uzbekistan?
NC: What we picked out was that we are capable of penetrating and breaking down teams through playing our own brand of football. That we can also stick to what we are capable of doing best. But there was also the negativity of our intensity in the second half. I think we took the foot off the pedal a bit and that was the negative part of our game. I think we should work more on that aspect of our game and not settle for just three goals seeing that we could have scored more. That's what I picked up and also that we are capable of winning against big teams if we continue trusting ourselves and having confidence on the field.
TK: Banyana controlled the tempo of the match against Slovenia but could not find their way to the net. Why was that?
NC: I don't really have an answer to that. You see, I'm thinking that we were confident and I really don't know… Maybe I'd say it was Slovenia's day because all teams can perform on any given day and on the day we fell just a little short of punishing them. Much as we were in control, the ball just did not roll our way and such things do happen in football. We just have to accept that and move on.
TK: What areas of the game have you ladies worked on since that 4-1 loss to Australia?
NC: I could say the lessons were that, when we lose possession, we need to get back quicker and work hard towards regaining possession. We must also work on our movement and how to penetrate such teams. For your information, we have really been working on that (regaining possession) and focusing more on getting fit for such teams.
TK: Talking about the World Cup, Senegal lost to Haiti, while Cameroon also fell to Portugal in the play-offs. How do you feel about the two African nations' failures?
NC: Naturally, as a fellow African I feel sorry for them and sad that as a continent we couldn't increase the number of representatives at the Mundial later this year. Ukumoshakala kwenye kukulunga kwenye (In life, you win some and lose some). I honestly feel sorry for them and hopefully next time they will learn from their shortcomings, pick up the pieces and be successful.
TK: SAFA is bidding to host the 2027 edition of the global showpiece. How much will that do to development of women's football in the country?
NC: It will go a long way in inspiring a lot of girls to dream. It will motivate and encourage them to work harder in whatever they attempt to do. The Afcon tournament that we won changed and inspired a lot of girls in South Africa and it reminded them that one day they could achieve big things. There is always a plan for everything to succeed and it will require a lot of work and they have started working on that.
TK: Moving on now, tell us about your move to Tigres Femenil FC in Mexico…
NC: I don't exactly know what to say about my new home. What I can confirm, however, is that during the relatively short period that I've been there, it has just been a blur… sorting out the paperwork and settling in. What has made things easier is the warm welcome that was extended to me by players and the supporters. The supporters are not just passionate but encouraging as well. Women's football is hugely supported in this part of the world. The supporters encourage you and fill you with a spirit of confidence. I have also discovered a huge difference between coaches here and all the places I have been, even compared to South Africa. It has been an amazing experience so far. Mexicans are generally wonderful people and very accommodating. They love their football and are so supportive it's crazy!
TK: Are you already fluent in Spanish?
NC: No, ha, ha, ha… certainly not yet. I am aware that communication is key and in order to settle down and grasp things quicker, find my way around and get to know the place and its people, I must speak their language and learn their traditions and culture. It is for this reason that I enrolled for a Spanish course on the first day that I arrived in the country.
TK: Have you watched Jermaine Seoposenwe's team, FC Juarez Femenil, and how do you feel about possibly facing her as an opponent?
NC: No fear! Everything will happen on the day that we will be facing each other. I don't really know what to expect. I'm just excited that I will be playing against her as an opponent, opposing each other, but in truth, it's not really a big deal. We are just two South African compatriots doing what we enjoy the most. We are also mindful of the fact that we are blazing a trail for future generations and creating a platform where the next generation will find things a lot better. We want to inspire other young girls not to look at South Africa but to also explore the world while raising the country's flag.
TK: You were previously on the books of Stade Reims in France. Tell us about that experience.
NC: I was representing South Africa during the recent Awcon in Morocco and the coaches from France watched me throughout the tournament. They probably liked what they saw in me and decided to select me as part of Stade Reims FC. I think they were really impressed and at the end of the tournament, I joined the team.
TK: By the way, how is your sister, Sinoxolo, doing in Nashville, Tennessee?
NC: My sister is doing extremely well in Tennessee, and she is also working hard, but generally doing well for herself.
TK: Do you know how difficult it is to tell you apart from your sister?
NC: Yes, I know that. I know how truly difficult it is to figure us out because even our cousins at home, it has always been difficult for them to tell us apart. Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to some people!
TK: Ha, ha. Who's crazier between the two of you?
NC: I do not really know, ha, ha, ha. But I hear some people saying it's me, others tend to say it's Sino. I really don't know.
TK: On a more serious note, what do you admire about her?
NC: She is a great player and just so humble and respectful a human being. She enjoys life and motivating and encouraging others. She is the happiest person I know and she derives pleasure out of bringing joy to other people. In addition, she is simply too good in whatever she does and she is full of confidence.
TK: Tell us, where does the success of women's football stem from?
NC: There are a lot of youth development coaches out there that usually do not get the credit they deserve for their unselfish work down there. A coach like Xolile Madikane, for instance, guided and nurtured us from a very young age. He was a school teacher as well and coached a developmental club called Cape Town Roses. He really played a key role in influencing the development of many young players. Coaches like him need to be inspired to selflessly continue imparting their knowledge to the young ones and a lot of players came through their hands.
TK: Are there correct structures in place for the growth of the women's game in Mzansi?
NC: Yes, there are, but I feel that those structures, which are in development, are not taken into consideration. They are not properly looked-after and sometimes those in positions of authority don't care enough. If people in SAFA, for instance, could really take care of those developments coaches… like, play a role by providing soccer boots, soccer balls and shin guards to those development teams around SA, then perhaps the growth could be seen.
TK: Please explain your point in detail.
NC: I think the person in charge at the top of the hierarchy could try to change and look at the development where those essentials are in short supply and try to supply those things that are very essential for development, like equipment, because development coaches are struggling in acquiring those basic necessities as they work alone and often in isolation. And because there is no support, they usually dig into their own pockets where tragically, sometimes it's not even enough as we all know that a teacher's salary is nothing to write home about. But they use their meagre earnings to hire playing fields or utilise the school ground for training. Some literally conduct training on an open park. It is tough out there at development and I really wish the best for the girls they are grooming. I hope they can look at the likes of Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Lelona Daweti, Nocawe Mafu, players that have featured for Banyana but grew up under shocking circumstances – then they will be inspired.
TK: Is it really that bad at grassroots level?
NC: It is terrible and I really take my hat off to those development coaches who are doing it alone without any reward. Sometimes they have to fight because there is no ground, no money to transport players to a fixture or leaving players that do not have boots and taking only those players with boots. I really think development coaches, and mostly in rural areas, go through a lot without assistance and that is the area (where) I believe SAFA should really do something at that level for the true growth and development of women's football in South Africa.
