185, the Janine van Wyk story

177pp., colour illus., paperback, Karavan Press, Cape Town, 2026

ISBN: 9781067178147

A sports biography of Janine van Wyk, former captain of Banyana Banyana, a fierce defender, and a pioneering force in the growth of women’s football both locally and internationally. The number 185 represents her record-breaking 185 international appearances, the most by any African footballer, male or female.

Born in 1987 in Alberton, Janine van Wyk was a member of the South African team who played at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In 2013 she founded JVW FC, one of the country’s most successful women’s football clubs, dedicated to developing young talent. She led Banyana Banyana to its first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in 2019, captained the team to their first WAFCON victory in 2022, and was the first South African ever to play in the U.S. National Women's Soccer League. 

Sports journalist and writer Firdose Moonda is the Senior Correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket at Cricinfo. While studying at Wits, she covered the university’s football team, who were in South Africa’s Premier League, and went on to report on the 2010 Football World Cup.