Portia “Bashin” Modise was born on 20 June 1983 in White City Soweto, Transvaal (now Gauteng Province). Modise chose football at a young age over the more popular girls’ choice of netball. She started playing soccer at the age of seven. She grew up playing football in the street with the boys in her neighbourhood, and began playing with the Soweto Rangers at the under-10 level. She played as a central striker. She started playing for the South African Women’s National team, Banyana Banyana, in 2000 at the age of 16 years old.

In 2000, Modise made her debut in the African Women’s Championships (AWC). She has earned 120 caps for the South African National Women’s team, Banyana Banyana, making her one of the most experienced women in the game in the world. She also played a key role on the road to the final of the African Women’s Championship held in Equatorial Guinea on 15 – 19 November 2008. In 2003, she had a trial with the British team, Arsenal women’s squad, but saw the move curtailed due to financial issues.

She played for soccer teams such as Falcons F.C, Soweto Ladies F.C, and Croesus Ladies. In 2007, Modise signed a two-year deal to play for Denmark’s Fortuna HjÁ¸rring in the Elitedivisionen, before returning to South Africa in 2009 to play for the Palace Super Falcons.

In 2008, she quit international football after falling out with the coach at the time, Augustine Makalakalane. Makalakalane was later accused of sexual harassment and homophobia and eventually sacked. She was recalled by new coach Joseph Mkhonza in 2012 and scored South Africa’s only goal at the 2012 London Olympics. She was the most valuable player in the FIFA Stars Team in China.