The Houston Dash have signed South African midfielder Linda Motlhalo, pending receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate, the club announced today.
“Linda is one of the most promising talents of women’s football at this moment. Her qualities compliment the talent we have on our roster,” Head Coach Vera Pauw said. “She will bring variety in our attack and that will bring the best out of the other players. She can balance our team. South African players start to get recognized. Linda deserves this next step in her career. She has proven herself at the Olympics in Rio on a global stage.”
Pauw coached Motlhalo and fellow Dash teammate Janine Van Wyk at the women’s soccer tournament at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The South African international has scored two goals and earned 14 caps with the senior team. Motlhalo made her debut as a teenager in 2016 at 17 and scored a goal in the 2-2 draw with Cameroon. The midfielder also represented Banyana Banyana at the U-20 level in the 2015 Confederation of African Football U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
Motlhalo joins Houston after two seasons in South Africa’s Sasol League with JVW F.C. The midfielder won the Gauteng Sasol League in 2016 with the club and finished second in the national tournament.
