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    ‘Grateful and Excited’ – Banyana Banyana’s Jessica Wade on Move to Åland United

    Prudence MakogeBy No Comments8 Mins Read
    ‘Grateful and Excited’ – Banyana Banyana’s Jessica Wade on Move to Åland United


    Twenty-two year old Banyana Banyana player Jess Wade is preparing to join Åland United in a move which she has described as life-changing, that will soon see the JVW FC stalwart realise a lifelong dream, having signed a two-year contract with the Finnish club.

    “I was at camp, and my agent had just messaged me and said we got this offer, and the negotiations and the contract were signed, all within two days, which was kind of crazy.”

    New Åland United Signing, Jessica Wade

    “Life just changed really fast. I am so unbelievably excited. I have always wanted to play football in Europe. The goal for the year was to have a good season, and at the end of it, leave and hopefully find a club in Europe. So for all of that to just, like, fall into place, I am so grateful and so excited for this new opportunity.”

    “I feel like the last five or so years have been a real challenge, and just for everything to kind of pay off, you know, sticking with it when I really, you know, at times questioned if I should or not. It’s just amazing that it’s just yeah, fall into play so nicely,” she said.

    Playing overseas is one of the achievements that most young footballers have their eyes set on from a young age, and it is no different for Wade. She is now hoping that her time abroad will help her in further career growth, aiming to adapt to the professional environment and improve her game. 

    “I am super grateful to be going and just playing anywhere in Europe, because I think the exposure that you get and the levels that you get to play every week, and just the fact that it’s like a fully professional setup, unfortunately, we don’t have that yet.”

    As a young footballer embarking on her senior football career, the twenty-two year old JVW FC stalwart will join Åland United on a two-year deal.

    “I think just adapt to like that style of living, and to be able to train every day and not have to worry about working, studying, and everything all together. Yeah, I think it’s really well.”

    “I’m really hoping that it’s going to develop my game quickly,” Wade told gsport, 

    As a young footballer embarking on her senior football career, Wade says her move overseas will certainly be one that teaches her about more than just the beautiful game. “If you’re moving away from home, and living by yourself, you are going to learn a lot of life lessons, adapting to different cultures, different living environments, the weather.”

    “I hear it’s absolutely freezing, but I am looking forward to it. I am just excited to experience a different style of living, meet new people, and try a new sport.”

    When it comes to South African footballers playing abroad, there are a fair number of players who are plying their trade in leagues around the world, most notably Thembi Kgatlana who recently won the Liga MX Femenil title with UNAL, and Amogelang Motau who is also in Mexico, playing for Club Tijuana.

    Bongeka Gamede made a high-profile move to Nordsjælland in Denmark in 2024, and Wade shared that players being able to experience other leagues will only strengthen the national team. 

    Wade believes that this level of international experience has a multiplier effect of raising the bar at home. “I think it can only better our players. If everybody is playing full-time and getting that kind of exposure to, like, a regular, really high level of football, can only develop us.”

    “And then, you know, when those kinds of players bring that level of football back into the national team, you can just learn a lot from it.”

    “And I think you can only make us better and give us a level to aspire to reach in South Africa, because, you know, we’re not quite there yet, and I really think that, like we have the talent, we have the players, we just need the setup to support.”

    Asked to reflect, she spoke about her extended tenure at JVW FC after joining the club at 11 years old. After a stint at Emek Hefer Women’s FC, Wade returned to the Gauteng team. She praised the club’s supportive culture and development system, highlighting the impact of former Banyana Banyana captain and club co-founder, Janine van Wyk.

    “Janine came and created this family-like culture, and I am truly going to miss everybody so much, as happy as I am to be leaving! There’s just as much sadness to leave what I am. We created such a good family,” said Wade.

    “Just looking at the team that we had, the youngsters that we have coming through,” she continued, “I think it speaks to the development system that they have got going at the club. I think it’s definitely up there being one of the best in the country, assisting young girls who are playing football. I am sad to leave it behind, but I hope it leaves a good reflection of what the club is doing and me as a player.”

    Wade most recently represented SA when Banyana Banyana defeated WAFCON 2026 hosts Morocco 2-0 in an international friendly in Agadir in December.

    “I think JVW has played a huge role in developing women’s football in SA from the schools league to a club level, yeah, to showing everybody what we’re made of in the Hollywoodbets Super League.”

    “So I really don’t think that [Janine’s] impact can be understated. I mean, she so rightly deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame recently, yes. So yeah, I think Janine deserves all the credit that she’s getting, and probably even more than she gets.”

    JVW have enjoyed their most successful season in the Hollywoodbets Super League since they joined the top-flight of women’s football. “I am so incredibly proud of everyone,” said Wade. “I mean, if you had to know what this team has been through.”

    “Yeah, it’s actually insane, what we managed to accomplish! I mean, there’s basically no one that isn’t working another job, that wasn’t coming to training, absolutely exhausted, but we still had people showing up.”

    While her mind is consumed with a major career-changing move to Finland, she can’t deny her years-long investment in the state of the game at home, looking forward with optimism that 2026 will be another year full of success for women’s football in South Africa.

    “We have the Women’s African Cup of Nations in March next year. So I think the first goal is for the national team to qualify for the World Cup. I think we have to set those kinds of standards for ourselves if we’re going to be asking for things in return.”

    Wade is set to travel to Finland in January to get the new chapter in her football career started. 

    Main Photo Caption: Banyana Banyana player Jess Wade has signed on the dotted line to join Finland’s Åland United in a life-changing career move to realise a lifelong dream. All Photos: Supplied

    Photo 2 Caption: The twenty-two year old JVW FC stalwart will join Åland United on a two-year deal.

    Photo 3 Caption: Wade most recently represented SA when Banyana Banyana defeated WAFCON 2026 hosts Morocco 2-0 in an international friendly in Agadir in December.



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