Born in the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa, Jermaine Seoposenwe could hardly have imagined the life she would go on to live.
Not only did she realise her dream of representing her country in football, she also helped shape the most successful era in the history of Banyana Banyana, the national women’s team.
A forward of rare quality, her legacy stretches far beyond her 100+ caps or the goals that powered South Africa to their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in 2022.
She was also part of South Africa’s historic Olympic Games debut at London 2012, before returning for her second Games at Rio 2016.
When South Africa qualified for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019, Seoposenwe was there, and again in 2023.
When the story of South African football is told, Seoposenwe’s name will stand out, bold and unmissable.
She is a trailblazer, a fighter, and now a woman preparing for her final act on the international stage.
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Jermaine Seoposenwe’s surprise retirement
At 31, Seoposenwe has announced that she will retire from national team duty after this year’s WAFCON in Morocco. Her decision, made public on 16 June in a statement shared to her social media handles, was surprising, but full of gratitude.
“It was truly a privilege and an honour to walk onto that field and represent the beautiful people of this country,” she wrote. “I’ve made the difficult decision to retire… after the upcoming Women’s African Cup of Nations.”
Her heartfelt message sent shockwaves through the Banyana Banyana camp.
With Thembi Kgatlana also absent due to personal reasons, the reigning champions were going into WAFCON 2024 with two of their key players either gone or going.
This meant finding new motivation, turning Seoposenwe’s farewell into a rallying cry.
“Knowing this is Jermaine’s last dance at WAFCON could push the squad to give that extra 10% to make sure she signs off on a high,” former captain Janine van Wyk told SABC last month.
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Seoposenwe leads from the front, on and off the pitch
Seoposenwe’s journey has never been straightforward. She came through the youth ranks at a time when opportunities for girls in South African football were scarce. She was 18 when she made her senior debut, and over the next decade she became a dependable forward; strong, intelligent, and unafraid to speak out.
In 2023, she was at the forefront of a player-led boycott ahead of the World Cup, demanding better treatment from the South African Football Association.
Years earlier, visa issues stalled her club career in Portugal for nearly two years. But time and again, she returned stronger, more determined, and often, victorious.
Her biggest triumph came in 2022, when she played a central role in Banyana Banyana’s historic WAFCON win, scoring vital goals against Nigeria and Tunisia and dedicating the title to “all South Africans who continue to endure hardship with hope.”
For a country that has suffered heartbreak in four previous finals, this was a deserved validation for a country long regarded as one of the pioneers of women’s football on the continent.
Seoposenwe’s search for a fairytale ending
Now playing for Rayadas Monterrey Femenil in Mexico, Seoposenwe continues to lead by example, even as she prepares to step aside. Her desire is to pass the baton to the next generation—young talents like Bonolo Mokoma and Ronnel Donnelly, the latter of whom she shared the pitch with on Monday (7 July), just as others did for her.
But before the former SC Braga forward passes the torch, there is one final goal: defending the WAFCON title in Morocco.
South Africa got their campaign off to a winning start against Ghana, a game in which Seoposenwe scored a superb goal to help Banyana Banyana to a hard-fought 2-0 win in Group C.
On Friday (11 July), a win over Tanzania could secure their place in the quarter-finals, bringing the fairytale ending well within reach.
Whether or not that dream is fulfilled, Jermaine Seoposenwe will walk away a legend — a woman who dared to chase ambitions once thought out of reach, and who fought not just for herself, but for an entire generation.
Now, as she prepares to bow out, it’s her teammates’ turn to fight — for her. One last time.
