O'Malley: It Was A Proud Moment

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola 


Shakira O'Malley, a University of Western Cape and Banyana Banyana star, spoke with ShakingInk about her first goal for the national team, working under coach Thinasonke Mbuli, and University of Western Cape goals for the 2026 Hollywoodbets Super League season.

O'Malley scored her first goal for Banyana Banyana against Algeria in an international friendly in Durban. The 23-year-old says scoring against the North Africans gave her confidence and she was pleased to open her Banyana scoring account.

"It was a very proud moment for me, very overwhelming as well. Every time you wear the Banyana Banyana badge, you want to contribute to the team in any way possible, so scoring my first goal meant a lot." O'Malley Said.


Banyana Banyana will compete in the WAFCON knockout phase alongside Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and the Ivory Coast in Group B. The 2022 continental champions placed fourth in the previous edition. South Africa must finish in the top four of the upcoming WAFCON tournament to achieve their goal of qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup three times in a row. O'Malley says the team understands the demands and expectations.

"I believe we have a very talented and experienced group, and the team is hungry to achieve more. WAFCON is always highly competitive, but the focus is taking it one game at a time and representing South Africa with pride. Qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup is a uge motivation for everyone, and I think if we stay disciplined, united, and continue working hard, we can have a very strong tournament." Said O'Malley. 

Also Read: Teams Are Pushing Us 

Coach Thinasonke Mbuli, Dr. Desiree Ellis' second-in-command, works with O'Malley at both the club and national levels. The Cape Town-born defender claims that working under coach Mbuli at both the University of the Western Cape and Banyana Banyana has made the transition from club to national team setup easy.

"Yes, I think it definitely helps in terms of understanding expectations, playing philosophy, and communication. Coach Thina knows how to bring the best out of players, and having already worked with her creates a level of comfort and trust. But at the same time, the national team environment is always competitive, so every player still has to earn their place and perform consistently." O'Malley confirmed. 


The University of Western Cape is up against some big names in the Hollywoodbets Super League. The Western Cape club competes in the Super Era alongside Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, TS Galaxy Queens, University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria, Ezemvelo, Diepkloof Ladies, and Stellenbosch Ladies. O'Malley insists that her primary goal is to help the team improve on last season's stats and compete. But, most importantly to make her teammates and family proud. 

"My main goal is to continue improving as a player and contribute as much as possible to the team’s success. I want to stay consistent, help the team compete at the highest level, and keep growing both on and off the field. Personally, I also want to keep making my family and teammates proud every time I step onto the pitch." Wrapped O'Malley. 

@Lamola_Herold 






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