Nothando Vilakazi

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nothando Vilakazi

| fullname =

| image = Nothando Vilakazi Rio2016.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Vilakazi at the 2016 Olympics

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|10|28}}

| birth_place = Middelburg, South Africa

| height = 160 cm

| position = Defender

| currentclub = TS Galaxy Queens

| clubnumber = 11

| youthclubs1 =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs2 =

| youthyears2 =

| years1 =

| clubs1 = Moroka Swallows

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 =

| clubs2 = Palace Super Falcons

| years3 = 2019

| clubs3 = Gintra Universitetas

| caps3 = 3

| goals3 = 3

| years4 = 2020–2021

| clubs4 = Logroño

| caps4 = 6

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2021-2023

| clubs5 = TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies F.C.

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 = 2023-

| clubs6 = TS Galaxy Queens

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2007–

| nationalteam1 = South Africa

| nationalcaps1 = 133{{cite web |url=https://www.safa.net/2020/03/03/50-caps-up-for-banyana-banyanas-andile-dlamini/ |title=50 caps up for Banyana Banyana's Andile Dlamini |website=safa.net |date=3 March 2020 }}

| nationalgoals1 = 7

| pcupdate = 27 June 2021

| ntupdate =

}}

Nothando "Vivo" Vilakazi (born 28 October 1988) is a South African soccer player who plays as a defender for TS Galaxy Queens and the South Africa women's national team.

Early life

Nothando Vilakazi was born in Middelburg, South Africa, on 28 October 1988. She played for a boys team between the ages of 9 and 14, when she started playing with girls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.safa.net/2019/05/22/banyana-banyanas-nothando-vilakazi-reaches-stars/|title=Banyana Banyana's Nothando Vilakazi reaches for the stars|date=22 May 2019|website=SAFA.net}} At the age of 17, she started playing in the Sasol League for the Highlanders team. She completed her schooling at TuksSport High School, associated with the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre, for which she was selected while representing Mpumalanga at a tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newframe.com/nothando-vilakazis-rocky-road-to-stardom/|title=Nothando Vilakazi's rocky road to stardom|date=8 November 2019|website=New Frame}}

Career

Vilakazi played for Palace Super Falcons, having previously played for Moroka Swallows. In footballing circles, she is nicknamed "Vivo".{{cite web |title=Nothando "Vivo" Vilakazi |url=https://www.sasolinsport.co.za/profiles/banyana-banyana-player-profiles/nothando-vivo-vilakazi/ |publisher=Sasol in Sport |accessdate=23 February 2021}}

=International=

Vilakazi was called up for the first time by the South Africa women's national football team against Ghana in 2007 but did not play. She made her international debut on August 10, 2008 against Netherlands. Vilakazi has been a regular feature of the team as they were managed by Vera Pauw.{{cite news |last1=Ngid |first1=Njabuto |title=She dreamt it, she's living it |url=http://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/she-dreamt-it-shes-living-it-2050763 |accessdate=18 November 2016 |work=IOL |date=28 July 2016}} Vilakazi was part of the team which were runners up in the 2012 African Women's Championship.

As part of the South African team, she has played at both the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.{{cite news |last1=Isaacson |first1=David |title=Banyana Banyana keep hope alive after Games opener loss |url=http://www.heraldlive.co.za/sport/2016/08/05/banyana-banyana-keep-hope-alive-games-opener-loss/ |accessdate=18 November 2016 |work=Herald Live |date=5 August 2016}} She played in all six of South Africa's games at the 2016 tournament. Vilakazi has continued to feature in the squads for the nation following the transition to the management of Desiree Ellis after the Olympics.{{cite web |title=Desire Ellis opens up after first training session as Banyana Banyana head coach |url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/69884/desire-ellis-opens-up-after-first-training-session-as-banyana-banyana-head-coach |publisher=KickOff |accessdate=18 November 2016 |date=18 October 2016}}

References

External links

[https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/c/jugador.html?id=25941 Nothando Vilakazi] at BDFútbol
[https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/clubs/players/250131219--nothando-vilakazi/ Nothando Vilakazi] – UEFA competition record

{{Navboxes

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Category:1988 births

Category:Living people

Category:South African women's soccer players

Category:Women's association football defenders

Category:Gintra Universitetas players