August is a month dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements across various fields in sports, and what better way to honour this than by spotlighting Bongiwe Thusi—a dynamic forward for JVW Football Club and a trailblazing entrepreneur.
Thusi, affectionately known as "Slender," has not only made waves on the soccer field but has also recently ventured into the world of sports and remedial massage with her new business, Thusi Authentic. In our exclusive interview, Thusi opens up about how her football career has shaped her life, the inspiration behind her business, and the lessons she's learned along the way.
For Slender, football has been more than just a sport; it has been a defining force in her life. "Football played a big role in my life, when you are an athlete you learn lots of things such as respect, discipline, it keeps you away from teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse, burglary and robbery just to name a few and all other activities that pose a threat in your life and community" she said. “You learn to work hard at a very young age, you meet new people, travel the world.”
Read about other women in sports
The discipline required in training and the dedication to improve each day have helped Thusi maintain a strong work ethic, both in sports and her entrepreneurial endeavours. "Always stay humble, respect people, work hard and never give up in your dreams.”
Thusi’s football career has imparted several valuable life lessons and the idea for Thusi Authentic emerged from her own experiences growing up with love for helping others. “At a very young age I always wanted to help people. Women’s football is not the same as men's teams, we don’t don’t get medical attention or treatment like men's teams, if you check in women’s football we have many injuries.”
“Last year I was watching Sasol National playoffs and a lot of players had knee injuries. It was sad to watch them play with such injuries. I was like why do I stay with my qualification at home and not use it to make a difference. It’s nice to watch the game with players injury free and feeling fresh enjoying themselves.”
The name "Thusi Authentic" reflects Thusi’s personal touch and commitment to genuine, effective treatments, including her own experiences with physical strain and recovery. “I know how it feels to play games back to back without doing a Sports recovery massage. Sports and remedial massage therapy helps a lot. It decreases muscle tension, injury prevention, and enhances performance.”
For other athletes considering starting their own businesses, Sleder offered this advice: “Believe in yourself, Put God first in everything you do and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”
Thusi’s journey as an entrepreneur has not been without its challenges, however, her journey as a footballer has taught her several valuable lessons. "Love your work and what you are doing, stay humble and take any challenges as it comes and never give up." she concluded.
Comments
Post a Comment