UCT Women’s FC Graduates Urge Young Athletes to Pursue Tertiary Qualifications
The future is bright, which is certainly the case for the UCT (University of Cape Town) Women’s football team. Several players recently graduated with degrees as they look to further their careers on and off the pitch. gsport caught up with Isabella Kaombwe and Jesse-Leigh Nomdo, who shared their excitement at obtaining qualifications in various fields as they also make a name for themselves in football.
UCT Women’s midfielder Jesse-Leigh Nomdo received a BSc in Civil Engineering and says she is glad she was able to successfully complete her degree, and she hopes it opens more doors for her.
“There are a lot of mixed feelings. Relief because it was a really tough journey, one in which I even wanted to give up a few times.”
BSc Civil Engineering Graduate and UCT Women’s Midfielder, Jesse-Leigh Nomdo
“There is anxiety about now going into the working world and putting what I learned into practice but also excited for the growth that it may bring. I am also very grateful for all the support I have received from family and friends throughout my academic career because I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Her teammate Isabella Kaombwe who now has a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science shared Nomdo’s sentiments. The centre-back is also relieved that she is able to successfully navigate this chapter of her life and is now looking forward to putting in some performances for her football team.
“Graduating with my undergraduate degree from UCT felt like a great relief and achievement. I am currently furthering my studies by pursuing an Honours degree while also continuing to play for my football team.”
Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science and UCT Women’s Centre-Back, Isabella Kaombwe
The reality for many up-and-coming sportswomen is the need to ensure their future is secured in some way and obtaining a university degree can give them some sort of a safety net if things don’t work out in their sport.
With that said having a tertiary qualification can also help when it comes to what you can do after time on the field comes to an end. Many women have to work to support their sporting careers, as things are not as lucrative yet but with the work that is being done there is hope that will become a reality for the hard-working women in sport.
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Nomdo says it was important for her to finish her university career with a qualification as this would create a safety net should she need one during or after her football career.
“There are very few opportunities for women in sports in this country. I have never felt like I could fully commit to sports alone because of how rare it is to make a living out of it.”
“That’s why it’s important to qualify so you have something stable to fall back on in case you do decide to give your all to your sport. If it works out great, if it does not, you have something to fall back on.”
Jesse-Leigh Nomdo
Meanwhile, Kaombwe says that securing her undergrad qualification as a sportswoman highlights how resilient females can be as they balance their sporting career and day-to-day life.
“Getting my undergraduate qualification on its own was a great milestone. However, doing so while also being a sportswoman throughout that time means a lot to me because it’s an additional testimony to my own resilience and dedication but also that of women in general as well. This is especially since women tend to face disadvantaged obstacles along the way.”
Isabella Kaombwe
For young girls and women who want to figure out how to balance their university career with their sporting career, Nomdo, and Kaombwe had some sound advice to help them overcome the hurdles they might encounter as they pursue a qualification.
Nomdo who also plays Table Tennis for her University expressed that showing the utmost dedication is where in both spheres can prove tricky but you have to keep your eye on the prize.
“Firstly, being a committed athlete while also pursuing your studies is such a commendable act on its own,” says Nomdo. “Being able to balance my studies and football with the same level of dedication sometimes proved to be a challenge. While it wasn’t always the easiest, the journey of being a student-athlete made it worthwhile.”
“My advice to young ladies in such a position would be that it is doable by them too, and that they are probably a lot more resilient than they think. At a more practical level, I would advise that time management and scheduling your commitments way ahead of time is key.”
Jesse-Leigh Nomdo
Balance is the key word for Kaombwe, who says this is the best way to get both your studies as well as your football done. She also feels being able to juggle both things will also teach you to become more adaptable.
Main Photo Caption: The future is bright, which is certainly the case for the University of Cape Town Women’s football team. Several players recently graduated with degrees as they look to further their careers on and off the pitch. gsport caught up with two players Isabella Kaombwe and Jesse-Leigh Nomdo, who shared their excitement at obtaining qualifications in various fields as they also make a name for themselves in football. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Nomdo: “There are a lot of mixed feelings. Relief because it was a really tough journey, one in which I even wanted to give up a few times.”
Photo 3 Caption: “I am also very grateful for all the support I have received from family and friends throughout my academic career” – Nomdo
Photo 4 Caption: Kaombwe: “My advice to young ladies would be that it is doable by them, and that they are probably a lot more resilient than they think.”
Photo 5 Caption: Balance is the key word for Kaombwe, who says this is the best way to get both your studies as well as your football done.
Crédito: Link de origem