When the North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute celebrated its promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship earlier this year, much of the attention was on the players and coaches who made history on the field. Behind the scenes, however, was a young woman capturing every moment, crafting stories, managing social media platforms and ensuring that the journey of the team reached supporters across the country.
That young woman is 26-year-old Reatlegile Matomela from Brits in North West.
Reatlegile has built a reputation as a rising media practitioner who has made her mark in university sport. Since joining NWU Sport in 2022, she has worked across several sporting codes, covering major provincial and national tournaments while developing skills in digital communication and content creation.
Her journey in sport media has been marked by several milestones. She was named Best Newcomer in 2022 before receiving the Media Team Personality of the Year, Social Media Manager of the Year and Best USSA Social Media Manager awards in 2024. Today, she serves as a content creator for Corporate Relations and Marketing and manages social media for the NWU Soccer Institute.
Her portfolio includes coverage of Varsity Football in 2024 and 2025, the Pirates Cup, and the ABC Motsepe Provincial and National Play-offs, where she documented the successful promotion campaign of the NWU Soccer Institute.
Leaving NWU Sport after several years was not an easy decision.
“It was painful when I left because I was comfortable there, but I did not want to limit my capabilities. I knew I had more potential and needed to challenge myself to grow,” she says.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Reatlegile believes in serving others. Every year, she quietly donates clothing and household items to people in need. She prefers not to publicise these acts, drawing inspiration from the biblical principle found in Matthew 6:3-4, which encourages giving without seeking recognition. She also participates in community engagement initiatives, including Mandela Day activities organised through the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management.
While many would find these commitments demanding, Reatlegile has continued to excel academically. She holds a BAdmin degree with organisational psychology, as well as a BAdmin honours and a master’s degree in human resource management, all obtained at the NWU. She is currently pursuing a PhD in human resource management.
Her academic journey includes serving as an academic tutor and mentor, earning a place on the Dean’s List of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, becoming a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and registering as a student member of the South African Board for People Practices. In 2025, she also secured first place in the master's category of the Y20 poster competition during the G20 and Y20 Research Week.
Interestingly, her childhood dream was to become a veterinarian. However, after discovering that her sensitivity made certain aspects of life sciences difficult, she redirected her ambitions towards commerce and human resource management.
Today, Reatlegile's story is one of courage, growth and purpose. Whether she is telling stories through a camera lens, supporting a community initiative or pursuing academic excellence, she continues to prove that dynamite truly comes in small packages.
Reatlegile Matomela
