Birds shot stopper flies out to Hungary
ALEXANDRA - One of the best female football goal minders to come out of Alex, Asa Rabalao, is leaving Bluebirds Ladies for greener pastures in Hungary.
One of the best female football goal minders to come out of Alex, Asa Rabalao, is leaving Bluebirds Ladies for greener pastures in Hungary.
Rabalao (19), who has been a revelation for Birds in their two seasons in the Sasol Women’s League, has been snapped up by Hungarian side, Gyor Eto Ladies, and has signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with the club.
Gyor Eto, a newly-promoted outfit, plays its football in the Hungarian Premier League and the Indoor Futsal League.
Rabalao was spotted by Gyor scouts during the 2015 World Student Games in South Korea when she was playing for North West University of Vaal, and the club contacted Amanda Sister, a former Banyana Banyana player, seeking the services of Rabalao and a midfielder.
Sister suggested that the Hungarian club should take a look at Sundowns Ladies midfield maestro, Zanele Nhlapo, and the pair will be jetting out of South Africa as soon as the Hungarian embassy returns their passports.
A delighted Rabalao, who has made history by being the first woman footballer from Alex to play abroad, said, “I am happy as it not easy nowadays to get a player from Africa to play in Europe. I hope to use the opportunity wisely and learn a thing or two to grow my football career.”
Asked whether upon completion of her contract she would return to the Birds, Rabalao said it would depend on any other offers from European teams. “The Birds’ nest will always be my home,” said the Polokwane-born player who first came to Alex in 2008 to do her Grade 6 and has made it her home ever since.
Her coach, Malvin Khumalo, said the team and technical staff wished her all the best as she took her career to another level. “Opportunities such as this don’t come often and we hope she will fly our brand very high and make us proud at the same time,” said Khumalo.
