21 May 2015 12:23
South Africa’s foremost women’s footballer, Portia Modise has called time on an illustrious career spanning over a decade.
The retirement of the 32-year old was announced by the South African Football Association (SAFA) president, Danny Jordaan at a press briefing on Tuesday, 19 May 2015; marking an end to the career of unarguably the most gifted South African female footballer of all time.
The news comes as a blow to the South Africans, due to face Gabon in a second round qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games qualifier on Saturday in Libreville.
Modise is famed for scoring over 100 goals in as many as 120 matches for the Banyana Banyana between 2000 to 2015.
A teary Modise said: “I’m not going to say goodbye to our football association. I’ll say, see you later’ because I want to come back and rebuild probably 10 Portias or Shoes Moshoeus out there.
“I’m not crying because I’m sad, it’s tears of joy. I think I had a nice ride being a soldier for my country. I have really good memories – probably it’s those that really make me cry right now”.
She was a regular face in the South African line-up at the African Women’s Championship (AWC) between 2000 and 2014, whilst also appearing in the Banyana Banyana’s only participation at the Olympic Games, in 2012 in London, where she scored a stunning goal in a 4-1 defeat to Sweden.
Another highlight of her career was her nomination for the FIFA Women’ Player of the Year in 2005, being the other African besides Nigeria’s Perpetua Nkwocha.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) News
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