Nothando Vilakazi
South African soccer player (born 1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nothando "Vivo" Vilakazi (born 28 October 1988) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for TS Galaxy Queens and the South Africa women's national team.
|
Vilakazi at the 2016 Olympics | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 October 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Middelburg, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | TS Galaxy Queens | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Moroka Swallows | |||
| Palace Super Falcons | |||
| 2019 | Gintra Universitetas | 3 | (3) |
| 2020–2021 | Logroño | 6 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies | ||
| 2023– | TS Galaxy Queens | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007– | South Africa | 133[1] | (7) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 June 2021 | |||
Early life
Nothando Vilakazi was born in Middelburg, South Africa, on 28 October 1988.[2] She played for a boys team between the ages of 9 and 14, when she started playing with girls.[3] At the age of 17, she started playing in the Sasol League for the Highlanders team.[3] She completed her schooling at TuksSport High School, associated with the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre, for which she was selected while representing Mpumalanga at a tournament.[4]
Career
Vilakazi played for Palace Super Falcons, having previously played for Moroka Swallows. In footballing circles, she is nicknamed "Vivo".[2]
International career
Vilakazi was called up for the first time by the South Africa women's national football team against Ghana in 2007 but did not play.[2] She made her international debut on August 10, 2008 against Netherlands. Vilakazi has been a regular feature of the team as they were managed by Vera Pauw.[5] Vilakazi was part of the team which were runners up in the 2012 African Women's Championship.[2]
As part of the South African team, she has played at both the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[6] She played in all six of South Africa's games at the 2016 tournament.[2] Vilakazi has continued to feature in the squads for the nation following the transition to the management of Desiree Ellis after the Olympics.[7]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6 July 2011 | Gwanzura, Harare, Zimbabwe |  Malawi | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2011 COSAFA Women's Championship |
