After her tenure in the United States, Jermaine Seoposenwe wanted to come back home and initiate the changes she envisioned in women’s football.
Four years ago, Seoposenwe left Africa to pursue her interests in football and academics at Samford University in Alabama. And boy, the Capetonian-born forward made that opportunity count.
During her stay there, she won many domestic league championships and became Samford’s all-time leading scorer with 39 goals, and won back-to-back Southern Conference Player of the Year awards.
Earlier this year, offers from Norway, France, Hungary and Sweden came knocking, but one from marketing magnates Levergy was more lucrative. Levergy, through their partnership with Sasol, put a selection of Banyana Banyana players on a one-year-internship program that enables them to learn the corporate side of sport.
“I want to be a voice for women’s football in this country,’’ she explained.
“There was a time when I would jump at opportunities to play abroad but the more mature you become, you realise that there’s a lot more to life. It has been a really good experience being part of the Limitless program because I am not only seeing through the tunnel vision of a footballer’s side but I get to see what Levergy and Sasol does on a daily basis for the team to get there.”
Upon her return to Mzansi, not only did she put her Business Degree to good use but she also continued with her footballing career, joining JVW Girls.
The 24-year-old footballer returns to the country as Safa promises to launch a professional National Women’s League in April 2019. She expressed her excitement in the initiative but is also mindful of the how it will be executed.
“I am excited for it to be launched but I am looking at a long-term growth, we can’t be fly-by-nights and be sold dreams," Seoposenwe insisted.