At just 22, Isabella Ludwig is already a football force to be reckoned with, writes Nick Said.

There were several Banyana Banyana players to catch the eye at the COSAFA Women’s Championship last year, not least midfielder Isabella Ludwig.

She may not have led the team to the crown, but she showcased enough skill to suggest she’ll be on the radar of national team coach Des Ellis in the future, especially as the team looks to life beyond aging captain Refiloe Jane.

At 22, Ludwig needs to gain some experience and polish her game, but she showed enough quality, desire and hunger to suggest she can be a real asset.

She was initially a hockey player but when she moved to a new school that did not offer the sport, she switched to football.

Her passion to compete meant she had to partake in sports. “It started when I was around nine or 10.

“I changed schools to where they did not offer hockey, so the next best thing was football, and I started playing with the boys and developed a passion for it very fast,” Ludwig said.

“There are obviously challenges within your set career path or anything you’re passionate about. It was not an easy road, but I think setbacks ultimately make you stronger. Injuries come and go as well, so they never help.”

“I have had a lot of ankle injuries and I have had a lot of setbacks with them, but so far so good.”

She plays for the University of Pretoria in the Hollywoodbets Super League and was delighted with her national recognition, which she says is the result of hard work on and off the pitch.

“It was obviously always my goal (to play for Banyana Banyana) but the only way you can get there is by putting in the work within the season in the Hollywoodbets Super League,” she said.

“So yeah, I’ve just been working hard, putting in the work and trying to get as much recognition and exposure as possible, which I think I was able to do.

“I was very, very happy [to be called up], I felt like I was finally being seen or was being recognised for my hard work, so it was a very nice feeling.”

Ludwig played at Randburg FC and her potential was noted early as she featured for the national Under-17 side. She later played for Janine van Wyk’s club, JvW.

She is studying BCom Accounting and will be hoping to crunch some big career numbers in the future.

“There’s a lot that goes on all at once. But I think it keeps me busy, keeps me top of my mind, constantly working and stuff, which works well with who I am, so it’s fine, I am managing,” she says of football and studies.