The South African ladies team coach Desiree Ellis also made the country proud when she was named Coach of the Year.
One can read all the tributes from fans and the soccer fraternity for Thembi Kgatlana and Ellis, as expressed on Twitter below.
Kgatlana was crowned the best women's player in Africa in 2018 at a Gala in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday, after edging out Nigerian duo Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega.
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The South African had a tournament to remember as her country finished runners-up at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana and secured a maiden Women's World Cup ticket.
Ellis defeated Nigeria's Thomas Dennerby and Cameroon's Joseph Brian Ndoko to the best coach award.
