Rhoda Mulaudzi

"Football has given me so many memories and lessons that I will carry for life."

"The will was there to continue, but the body was no longer responding the way it used to. I had to listen to it, respect its limits and make the tough decision."

"The transition from being a player to stepping into a coach has been exciting and humbling. As a player, I was used to being on the field—scoring, assisting and making things happen. Now, I lead from the sidelines, but with the same passion and drive. It is a different kind of responsibility that requires vision, clarity and patience."

"What makes it easier is that I have walked the same path many of these players are on. I know what they are fighting for. I am here to guide them—with honesty and experience."

"I am excited for what lies ahead and ready to continue building a legacy that empowers the next generation."

"I don’t normally like to talk about it. Coming from a royal family, being a female and wanting to play football. The family… they wanted me to be something else."

"I would say they do support me today, even though they would prefer if I was a princess. But I refuse to be that because football is something that I love, it completes my life and my world."

"It is not easy playing with the ‘big guns’, but we enjoyed ourselves and the experience we got playing there, we are using it now."

"We did not just do it for ourselves, but also the young ones out there, the next generation so that everyone can recognize that in South Africa we have good players. That will hopefully open the doors for others to get a contract overseas."

"Age is just a number, as long as I can still play and run, that is what matters most."

"The only problem that we have as Africans going overseas is our development."

"I would start by introducing school football and development academies for girls, and then ensuring there were sponsors for female teams and seeking support from the department of sport and other organisations to assist with the growth of women's and girls' sport across all provinces."

"When I was young, they tried to stop me from playing football, but I refused and told them I was not interested in royal duties, my mom was not happy."

"Being a coach is not as easy as everyone thinks. There are so many aspects of the game that you have to pay close attention to. You need to understand the mindset of the players, as well as their mentality to buy into your philosophy. Being a coach also makes one understand the psychological aspects of the game because I am now able to understand the frustrations of a player when things are not going according to plan. Overall, by becoming a coach, I have gained a broader understanding of the game."