Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini is on the verge of a remarkable return to the Women's World Cup that is co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand after coming back from a career-threatening heart condition.
Dlamini's career hung in the balance two years ago when a severe cardiac effusion, brought on by contracting Covid-19, threatened to shatter her dreams.
The Africa Cup of Nations-winning shot stopper with South Africa, speaking to BBC Sport Africa, said: "It was a very painful experience. I thought I was losing my life. There was a time when I asked my mum: 'Mama, just let me go - I am tired.
"I didn't think I would ever play football again and I don't think the doctors thought I would ever play football again."
Dalmini won Wafcon in Morocco with South Africa last year, having lost each of their four previous appearances in the final.
Dlamini, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns, won the tournament's best goalkeeper award, as she had done in the 2021 African Champions League.
"Winning Afcon changed a whole lot of things for women in South Africa," she says.
"More recognition, more respect, more love from people - being treated professionally. They knew there was a goalkeeper called Andile but now they understand that she plays for the national team and she is currently the best goalkeeper in Africa.
"But it has also put so much pressure on us to improve because you cannot stay at the same level. You need to grow each time."
Dlamini has been playing professionally for more than a decade, starting at a time when female footballers in her country had to dip into their own pockets to train and play matches.
While the situation has improved, she craves more impactful change and says a lack of sponsors remains as much an issue now as it was initially.
"That's what I want to see change - getting more sponsors in the women's game so that the girls can also make a living out of a football career," she hopes.
