The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is taking place in Morocco this year and Banyana Banyana are playing their first match in the competition against Tanzania tonight. South Africa won the Cup only once – in 2022. One of the women who lifted the trophy that year was Janine van Wyk. In 185: The Janine van Wyk Story as told to Firdose Moonda, you can read all about the successful campaign and Janine’s path to record-breaking glory as well as the incredible background story of South Africa’s women footballers’ quest to compete on the African continent and beyond, and to be counted among the best! Janine and Firdose will be in Johannesburg to celebrate the launch of the book – fittingly during the women’s month of August – and we hope to see you all at Love Books on 11 August for the occasion. Janine and Firdose will be in conversation with speaker, broadcaster and host of The Enhanced Pod, Leigh-Ann Paulick. Not to be missed!
From kicking a ball in the backyard with her cousins, to being the only girl in a boys’ team, JANINE VAN WYK rose to become the most-capped footballer in Africa and is among the most decorated players in the global game. This book charts her journey alongside the growth of the women’s game and the changing landscape of South African sport. Hop on a bus in Mozambique, bathe in a river in Nigeria and feel the fury of fans in Equatorial Guinea as Janine and her teammates chase continental glory. Experience the thrills of the Olympic Games and the World Cups and the progression to professionalism as Janine earns contracts abroad. What never leaves her is her commitment to developing and contributing to the game at home. Alongside her quest to break the record for most appearances for an African national side, Janine navigates co-owning a football club, the Covid-19 crisis, and changing team and relationship dynamics. This is not just a story about sport; it is a story about dreams, determination and a deep desire to be the best one can be.
About the author:
FIRDOSE MOONDA is a sports journalist and writer whose main role is as the Senior Correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket at Cricinfo but her first published stories were about football. While studying her Journalism Honours degree, Firdose covered the university’s football team, Bidvest Wits, who were in South Africa’s Premier League. She went on to report on the 2010 Football World Cup but with a packed sporting calendar, eventually had cricket chosen for her. She returned to football writing in 2023, inspired by the Women’s World Cup. Firdose is interested in sport as a socio-cultural phenomenon and her stories often come from beyond the boundary. Her writing portfolio includes short stories published in Karavan Press anthologies and chapters in academic books and journals. When she is not writing, Firdose is a yoga scholar and teacher trainer.
karavanpress.com 