One could easily describe multi-talented Sandiswa Diba as a lady with many hats.
Diba is soaring as a top woman football administrator in the Safa Nelson Mandela Bay region local football associations.
She also scored for international cricket for 15 years and is now managing the Eastern Province Cricket women’s senior team.
The 37-year-old mother of two is also in line to be the next vice-president of the Port Elizabeth East Football Association, with elections in January.
She is also the only woman in management structures at United Brothers FC.
The KwaMagxaki-born Diba’s sporting journey started in primary school.
“I have always been a very sporty person,” she said.
“In primary school I took part in almost every sports code and when I got to high school I continued doing everything.
“I joined the Westering High School netball first team when I was in grade 9. I was first team in tennis and hockey as well. I even did cross-country.
“At primary school I missed out on winning the best sportswoman award in my final year of school but I told myself in high school that I would get my name up there among the top achievers, and I did.
“I was all over the place in high school. I was even part of the choir. I went overseas with them and then I joined the EP Youth Choir.
“In 2000, I was the school’s best sportswoman.
“Now my passion has driven me to help the youth.
“I have seen that there is a lot of talent and some people are not aware that they are talented.
“I want to see someone reaching the highest level in their sporting careers and go as far as playing for SA,” she said.
In 2001, Diba approached Lyanda Ncwadi of United Brothers to inquire if she could assist him at the club.
At the time, she was in full swing scoring for the KwaMagxaki Cricket Club.
“I was the first woman to join the administration team of Brothers as their secretary and I was the only lady in the team back then.
“With cricket, it was the late Zimayi Njokweni who mentored me. I started as a scorer for the KwaMagxaki Cricket Club in 1998. “I then moved to UPE [now NMU] to score for their cricket side and in 2001 I started scoring provincially.
“I also did international games from 2002 onwards.
“It has been 15 years now that I have been doing international scoring,” she said.
“While scoring for the Warriors I got to see the professional side of things.
“Although I was not handson in the Warriors management, from a distance I could see how things were done.
“At the start of this season, I was approached by EP Cricket and they asked if I would be able to manage their women’s senior team.
“I thought to myself ‘why not’, because I would now and again travel with the U19 side during the national week.
“So I am familiar with the girls in the squad and some I have known since they were little, and I’ve watched them grow.
“So, I said yes, and it is a privilege to be with them again.”
Diba said being in a leadership position was not always easy as one had to instill discipline and order.
She said her role at United Brothers had helped her to cope in her new role in cricket.
Working with a supportive coach had also made a huge difference, she said.
The sport enthusiast joined NMB Safa from 2014-2015 as a co-ordinator for the women’s football league.
“Football has given me so many opportunities.
“When I worked for Safa they put me through an administration course and the Fifa sport management course at Nelson Mandela University.
“This year and back in 2015, I represented the NMB region at the Safa administration workshop in Johannesburg.”
Her dream now is to open a sports academy in the Eastern Cape to help sportswomen from disadvantaged areas.