SHIFAAN RYKLIEF
A Grade 10 home-schooled pupil, Earon Isaacs uses her fancy footwork to dazzle her opponents on the soccer field when she plays for UCT in the South African Football Association (SAFA) Cape Town’s Women’s Regional League.
She’s also an advanced brown belt at Seido Karate, in Athlone, and gets her swagger dance moves from Daphne Jubber Studio of Dance, in Wynberg.
Earon said she’s always had an itch for physical sports and started playing rugby at the age of five, for the now defunct team, Golden Oldies, at the City Park sports field.
After side-stepping rugby, she made her way to Ambassadors FC, where she learnt the basics of soccer. And, later had stints with Spurs Ladies FC and Santos.
“I started playing for Ambassadors at the age of eight and moved to Spurs three seasons later. At first I played as a centre-back but was moved to the wing when I joined Spurs.
“I went on loan to Santos for one season because Spurs never had a second team in which I could play in, and I joined UCT last year,” she said.
Earon said UCT had finished third on the log last season and they are looking to win the league this year to gain promotion to the Sasol League.
She made the women’s Western Province under-13 team in 2013 and was made part of the women’s senior national team’s 2022 vision.
“I’ve kept my place in the provincial squad since making it the first time.
“Last year, we competed in the national tournament in Johannesburg, but were knocked out in the round-robin stage,” said Earon.
Last month, she won her division at the World Trial Circuit dance competition, in Parow, and will next take on some of the top dancers in country.
“Winning at the World Trial Circuit has been my biggest achievement in dancing so far.
“I competed in the 12 to 15 years age group and it’s my first time winning this competition.
“I will now compete in the national championships at the Battle of the Giants competition, next month,” said Earon.
“I’ve danced for Fun and Dance group in Wynberg, and when they closed down, I was on my own for a while.
“I only joined Daphne Jubber two years ago and have grown a lot with them.
“I enjoy doing the electric boogy, popping and a bit of b-boying – but my favorite is boogaloo,” she said.
When Earon is not kicking it on the dance floor or the soccer field, then she is throwing high kicks in the dojo.
Since joining Seido Karate six years ago, she’s climbed through the belt ranks at a rapid pace and is on her way to earning her junior black belt.
“I’m aiming to get my junior black belt next year. It will not be easy because we’ll be tested on our knowledge on karate, then will be judged on our kumite and kata,” she said.