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Safa announces major focus on women football

File photo: Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise, left, fights for the ball with Canada's Desiree Scott during their Group F match in Coventry. Photo: REUTERS
File photo: Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise, left, fights for the ball with Canada's Desiree Scott during their Group F match in Coventry. Photo: REUTERS

The South African Football Association (SAFA) together with partners SASOL today launched the 2014 Edition of the Sasol Women’s League.

SASOL together with SAFA, have undertaken to plough huge resources into women football and in the process use the sport as a tool to empower and develop young women.

In the past years, the partnership between SASOL and SAFA has witnessed massive growth in women football which culminated in Banyana Banyana qualifying for the London Olympics. The Sasol sponsorship has also enabled the development of a competitive women’s football league around the country.

The Sasol League comprises of 16 teams participating in each of the nine provincial leagues.

One province kicked off their league programme this past week (22-23 March); three provinces will commence their league programme this coming weekend (29-30 March) with the remaining five kicking off their programme next weekend (5-6 April 2014).

In addition to the weekly fixtures taking place around the country over the next nine months, SASOL and SAFA representatives will visit provinces to host a one day women’s football promotional event, which include trial sessions for players and a coaches’ workshop.

The trials are open to all players in the SASOL League. This will allow Senior National Women’s Team technical staff to identify new talent for possible selection to SASOL Banyana Banyana squad.

“We are excited to witness yet another bumper start of the 6th Edition of the Sasol League and we look forward to providing all girls with an equal opportunity to be spotted for national team selection,” said Mr. Dumisani Mbokane, Sasol Sponsorship Specialist.

The Sasol League reaches the peak with the hosting of the National Championships to be held from 8-14 December 2014 in Port Elizabeth where the nine provincial winners compete to determine the 2014 Sasol League national champions.

“This is an exciting chapter in women’s football. With the arrival of new Banyana Banyana coach Vera Pauw, the launch of this year’s Sasol League, again offers an opportunity to identify new talent.

“Our aim is to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2016 Rio Olympics and of course, dominate African women’s football,” said SAFA Chair of Competitions and Women’s Football committees, Ms. Nomsa Mahlangu.

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