Girls Don't Do That, by Thembi Kgatlana

In this wonderfully written book, Thembi Kgatlana tells the story of her humble beginnings in Mohlakeng. She knew that she had the talent for football, and a dream to play one day for South Africa, but she was always told, Girls Don’t Do That: girls don’t play football, and girls certainly don’t play for their country!

Thembi’s hard work, her determination and ability to put the insults behind her led her to play for Banyana Banyana and to be named the greatest player on the African continent. The book is beautifully illustrated by the award-winning illustrators Chantelle and Burgen Thorne. Girls Don’t Do That will be published in Afrikaans, English, Setswana, isiZulu and isiXhosa for children aged 6 to 10, in April 2023.

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; and 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), SD Eibar (Spain) and Atlético Madrid Femenino (Spain). Thembi has just signed a two-year deal with Racing Louisville FC in the US.

Nikolaos Kirkinis is 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.