Janine van Wyk hopes autobiography inspires next generation of footballers

van Wyk launched the book, co-written with journalist Firdose Moonda, in Johannesburg on Thursday night.

Speaking to SABC Sport, van Wyk says the book highlights the mental fortitude required to succeed as a professional athlete.

“It’s been a long time coming. Even when I was actively playing, I wanted to write a book. I wanted to share some of the experiences I got to endure as a female footballer in South Africa - the challenges I faced growing up, joining the national team, travelling across the African continent, how we were treated and what we had to go through before playing in a major tournament.

“I just want to inspire the current generation of players and alert them to the kind of mental fortitude that is needed to be a successful athlete,” said van Wyk.

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The JVW boss believes every professional footballer has a unique story to tell and has encouraged more players to document their experiences to inspire future generations.

“I think every footballer’s story is unique, and it is important to tell because there are many people with different perspectives on how to build a successful story from playing football.

“There are also underlying challenges that athletes face beyond the money and the fame, so I encourage them to tell their stories if they can, so that these truths can be unpacked publicly,” added van Wyk.

The Banyana Banyana legend also reflected on the success of JVW FC, which she established in 2012 and has grown into a prominent football development institution for girls.

“JVW was established in 2012. What a life-changing institution it has been. That is where we develop young footballers, and some of them have gone on to play for some of the biggest teams in the country, some have earned national team caps, while others have grown into sports administration.

“It is the dream that I had - to see young girls grab opportunities and live their dreams in football,” she expressed.