Amantombazana Akayenzi Loo Nto

In this courageous and inspiring book, Thembi Kgatlana tells the story of her beginnings in the tough streets of Mohlakeng. She always had the talent and a dream to play soccer for South Africa but she was told that ‘Girls Don’t Do That’. This is the story of her hard work, her determination and of her bravery. Read her story to find out how she came to play for Banyana Banyana and was named the greatest player on the African continent.

Banyana Banyana’s Thembi Kgatlana has had an illustrious career – she represented South Africa in the 2016 Summer Olympics; she was the leading goal scorer and Player of the Tournament at the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations; she netted South Africa’s first-ever goal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019. She has played for international clubs Houston Dash (USA), Beijing BG Phoenix (China), SL Benfica (Portugal) and SD Eibar (Spain). Thembi has just signed a two-year deal with Atlético Madrid Femenino. Nikolaos Kirkinis is the author of the bestselling book The Curse of Teko Modise. He was born and raised in Johannesburg and is passionate about the local game, sports writing and the people who make up this extraordinary world. Chantelle and Burgen Thorne are internationally published illustrators with over 20 years experience in educational publishing. The two are now focussing on picture books for children with several more titles being released internationally this year, because the magic of children’s books is that they’re not just for kids. Avid bookworms themselves, they take great delight in the visual storytelling of picture books, art and text working together, every word and every image adding to the reader’s experience. Both have fond memories of being read to as children and this inspires them to make their illustrations as engaging, honest and relevant to young readers as they possibly can – what a wonderful way to spend one’s working day! They are represented by Paul Moreton of the fabulous Bell Lomax Moreton agency worldwide.