“I achieve my goal every time I train and train hard. I then know that I am one step closer to being where I see myself.”

Gloria Thato started playing for her local u/13 squad where she was soon discovered by national talent scouts. She sites being selected for the South African National team at the age of 16, and as captain of the u/20 team, as two of the brightest highlights in her relatively short career.

At first, her family was not overly impressed when she chose soccer as the sport she wanted to pursue. They quite understandably perceived soccer as a male dominated sport and were worried that a feminine girl like Gloria would be marginalised in this masculine world. As her dedication and talent became more obvious, however, their support became whole-hearted and today it is one of the rocks on which she finds her balance, enabling her to reach ever higher. 

She describes herself as a naturally happy person, ‘always laughing and smiling’. And her definition of happiness? “If you are happy it means that you are fulfilled and to be fulfilled means that you are on your path to achieving your dreams.”