The start of Women’s Month shines a light on Banyana Banyana, their excellent performances of especially the last half-decade, how these came despite poor treatment by the South African Football Association (Safa) and concern about the team’s future prospects.
The South African women’s national team are overshadowed by the men’s side, Bafana Bafana, despite consistently competitive performances.
Banyana thrust themselves into the spotlight heroically winning the stirring 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), including stirring final victory against hosts Morocco in front of a packed, hostile stadium in Rabat. It was their first title in the competition, having been runners-up four times.
High on confidence, they followed that up by becoming the first South African senior national team to progress past a group stage at a Football World Cup in Australasia in 2023.
Having previously battled with the step up outside the comforts of continental opposition when playing against European and South American teams, Banyana again caught the imagination going toe to toe with women’s giants Sweden (a 2-1 defeat), Argentina (2-2 draw) and then beat Italy 3-2. They were not disgraced losing 2-0 against the Netherlands in the last 16.
That the excellent generation of Thembi Kgatlana, Refiloe Jane, Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia is nearing its end, and coach Desiree Ellis injected some youth in a transition phase, seems part of the reason defending champions Banyana placed fourth at this month’s Wafcon, also in Morocco.
But it could also be a warning that the talent pipeline is not providing the same depth and star quality in the coming generation.
Shockingly, Banyana went on strike ahead of the 2023 World Cup over treatment and their bonus structure not being finalised. Embarrassingly for cash-strapped Safa, the Motsepe Foundation had to step in and cover the bonuses.
Even more shamefully, given they were the defending champions, there was another strike in Morocco in the days leading up to the latest Wafcon as players attempted to secure unpaid win bonuses from matches previously played this year.
Safa president Danny Jordaan’s legal issues as he battles a fraud charge have left Safa admitting it is battling to pull in financial backers outside sponsorships for headline teams Banyana and Bafana
It is not just such treatment that is a concern. There are reasons commentators such as legendary former Banyana coach and Safa women’s technical director until 2021 Fran Hilton-Smith are raising concerns about the talent pipeline.
The women’s academy Hilton-Smith set up at Pretoria University’s high performance centre reduced its yearly intake for cost-cutting purposes after she left Safa.
The launch of the national women’s Hollywoodbets Super League in 2019 was a major step in the right direction, but the lack of sponsorships for most teams affects the overall level of competitiveness.
Safa president Danny Jordaan’s legal issues as he battles a fraud charge have left Safa admitting it is battling to pull in financial backers outside sponsorships for headline teams Banyana and Bafana.
In that environment, Sasol ending its 16-year sponsorship of Banyana could be disastrous for the women’s national team.
Issues such as the repeated strikes by Banyana players to stand up for their rights and finances seem to be taking a major toll on senior players’ motivation. Many seem clearly fed up at flying the flag at huge effort and with great personal sacrifice, then being treated so shabbily. Kgatlana pulled out of the last Wafcon for personal reasons and Seoposenwe is retiring now the tournament is done, making no bones in interviews about her disgruntlement over Banyana's plight.
It should not just be in Women’s Month that such issues — threatening the continued success of a now beloved national team — should be under the spotlight. However, that they are being highlighted as the month starts seems meaningful, and should stir a rallying call for attention to such matters and for pressure on Safa to do so, so much better.
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