Captain fabulous Refiloe Jane's journey to Banyana glory: 'She showed you can do it'

Victorious Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane's parents weren't thrilled initially when she chose to pursue football as a career at a young age.

Her mother, Nomvula, especially, was perplexed as to why her beautiful daughter would choose to play a sport she deemed better suited to boys.

But Jane was determined to make a success of her talents, even if it meant going against some of her parents' wishes.

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Now, her name is up there with 1996 Africa Cup of Nations captain Neil Tovey, who guided Bafana Bafana to their first continental trophy 26 years ago.

But it wasn't easy for her mom either, as the late evenings and trips to games took their toll. Nomvula worried a lot about her daughter, who would often come back bruised from the midfield battles.

"The first time she told us she wanted to play football, we weren't too happy because we used to see it as a sport for boys," said Nomvula, who was at OR Tambo International Airport to welcome the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) winners home.

"But we supported her even if we didn't want her to play football. When her coach would come get her for games, we'd always ask why they don't look for boys in the neighbourhood and not take her.

"But they said they wanted her. They would leave and come back very late from games and I would be so worried.

"It would feel like I gave my child away.

"What made me happy the most was that she didn't need anyone to push her to do it. She did it all on her own.

"She loved football and didn't do it to copy anyone else. She wanted to be a professional.

"Even when she'd come home injured, we'd nurse her wounds and sometimes ask what she's doing in the sport