Career
She represented the South Africa women"s national football team at the 2012 London Olympics. In 2008 she became the first South African to be named African Women"s Football player of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Matlou made her debut for South Africa ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006 and came to prominence by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women"s Championship.
In 2014, South Africa"s coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a prolific striker—as a centre-back.
Strong and athletic Matlou trains with male football players to enhance her game: "I train regularly with local male clubs and when I get on to the field with the women they simply cannot touch medical " In September 2007 Matlou was subjected to a gender "inspection" by a referee in the presence of the opposition captain, before South Africa"s match against Ghana at Caledonian Stadium, Pretoria. She was allowed to play in the match after being confirmed as female.