Noko Matlou

Noko Matlou

Personal information
Full name	Noko Alice Matlou
Date of birth	(1985-09-30) 30 September 1985
Place of birth	Moletjie, South Africa
Height
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	MaIndies
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Development Ladies
	Brazilian Ladies
	University of Johannesburg
	MaIndies
International career
2006–	South Africa	89	(61)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 August 2014

Noko Alice Matlou (born 30 September 1985) is a South African women's footballer who plays as a striker for MaIndies. She represented the South Africa women's national football team at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2008 she became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Matlou made her debut for South Africa ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006 and came to prominence by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women's Championship. In 2014, South Africa's coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a prolific striker—as a centre-back.

Strong and athletic Matlou trains with male footballers to enhance her game: "I train regularly with local male clubs and when I get on to the field with the women they simply cannot touch me." In September 2007 Matlou was subjected to a gender "inspection" by a referee in the presence of the opposition captain, before South Africa's match against Ghana at Caledonian Stadium, Pretoria. She was allowed to play in the match after being confirmed as female.

External links

• Noko Matlou – FIFA competition record
• Noko Matlou on Twitter