Curro Soshanguve learner selected as one of only two South African female players for LaLiga-partnered tournament

Grade 12 learner Onkarabile Ramogayana from Curro Soshanguve has been selected to participate in the Tximist Cup 2026 in Spain, an international youth football tournament hosted in partnership with LaLiga.

Onkarabile’s selection follows her participation in the Shaka Easter Soccer Tournament, where she was identified through a talent development initiative aimed at providing young footballers with pathways to advance their careers. Her performances led to her inclusion in a programme that has seen her travel to Spain as one of only two South African female players selected through the partnership between LaLiga and Shaka Sports.

‘I never imagined that playing football at school could take me to Spain,’ said Onkarabile. ‘This means everything to me, not just as a player, but as someone who wants to show other girls from Soshanguve that this is possible for them too.’

The Tximist Cup takes place in Hondarribia in Spain’s Basque region and has become a respected platform for youth football development. Over the past decade, the tournament has brought together thousands of young players from around the world, promoting equality, inclusion, and access through sport.

During the trip, Onkarabile will take part in matches, training sessions, and cultural activities alongside players from different countries, an experience designed to expose young athletes to international football environments while supporting their personal development.

‘Onkarabile has always had the talent, but what sets her apart is her attitude,’ says Dr. Fannie Sebolela, Executive Head at Curro Soshanguve. ‘She shows up, she works hard, and she earns everything she gets. This selection reflects years of dedication.’

Onkarabile’s achievement reflects what becomes possible when talent meets the right environment. Curro Soshanguve believes that sport, culture, and leadership carry equal weight alongside academic excellence as pillars of a complete education. It is this belief that drives the school’s investment in structured development programmes, including its primary school partnership with the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS), which delivers a CAPS-compliant physical education curriculum alongside an age-appropriate football programme led by federation-accredited coaches. Initiatives like these are designed to ensure that learners have access to quality coaching from an early age and that younger learners can look to those who came before them as proof of what is possible.

For Curro Soshanguve, Onkarabile’s achievement reflects the school’s commitment to developing well-rounded learners. Academic excellence remains central to the school’s ethos, but equal weight is given to sport, culture, and leadership as pillars of a complete education.

As she prepares to represent South Africa in Spain, Onkarabile takes with her the pride of her school and her community, and proof that for those who put in the work, the doors do open.