Thandeka Pretty Shabangu (24) was born and bred in the village called Shabalala in Mpumalanga province and she was raised by her grandparents.

Her journey with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) started in 2021, after she enrolled for her Diploma in Public Relations and Communication Management, which took her three years to complete.

Thandeka Shabangu.

Shabangu shared she joined the DUT Women football (DUT coastal WFC) in 2023, because she was injured for the past few years and could not participate in sports. It was hard for her to balance her studies and playing soccer.

“Training was very difficult, because when I joined the team, they had already qualified for Varsity Football so it was hard, and we were also playing a league that time so I told myself that soccer will be my friend so I distanced myself from other things I used to do before joining the team, ”said Shabangu.

Shabangu’s strategy was to listen attentively in class and do assignments in the library when she got time and that was how she managed to balanced her studies and also playing soccer.

“The challenges I faced as a student while playing soccer were being understood by the coaches, understanding my role on the team, coping with pressure to succeed, getting enough downtime and maintaining my academic performance,” she alluded.

Her highlight on the DUT Sport journey was being part of the Varsity Football Cup where the games were held in Gauteng, Tshwane in Tshwane University of Technology.

Shabangu’s love for sports came when she was still in primary school. “I was in grade 6 where we would play soccer with boys during our lunch time and that was where I developed the love for football and I see myself in that Banyana Banyana jersey.

Sharing her excitement on graduating, Shabangu said: “Public Relations was my choice of study because it provided skills in communication, relationship building and strategy planning, which are essential in various industries and career paths. I am passionate about writing and my course allowed me to use my skills, in future I see myself writing for media news”.

She also mentioned that she was planning to study her Advance diploma in Public Relations and Communication Management next year at DUT.

“My aim for my career path is to become the best social media specialist,” said Shabangu.

She advised students that wish to follow on her footsteps to work hard and also read a quote from Swami Vivekananda who was a Hindu monk. The quote mentioned reads as follows: “Take up one idea, make that one idea your life -think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nervous, every part of your body, be full of that idea. And just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success”. She advised those passionate about sports to practice every day, train hard and always listen to their coaches.

In her closing statement she mentioned that being part of the DUT Sport was like being at home away from home because she has meet new sisters.

“We play for many leagues like Sasol league, University Sport South Africa (USSA) games and Varsity Football. Don’t sit with your talent, come and join us,” urged Shabangu.

Pictured: Thandeka Shabangu.

Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese.

Sinethemba Njoko