Anyone who knows anything about women’s soccer in South Africa, knows Fran Hilton-Smith. She has held so many positions in the 22 years she’s been involved with soccer, it’s difficult to give her just one title, but for now she is team manager of the national women’s soccer team, and she takes care of the U20 and U17 teams, too.
What is clear is that she has been at the forefront of many major developments in the women’s game and she continues to impact the game both locally and internationally.
The FIFA.com website says of Fran: “The influence of Fran Hilton-Smith in establishing equality for the women’s game in South Africa, cannot not be underestimated. Hilton-Smith, a FIFA instructor and former Banyana Banyana player, has served as a coach and team manager for over a decade and has been an extremely influential individual for hundreds of players, including one Portia Modise.”
This feisty former school teacher spent the month of September in China to write the technical report on all the Women’s World Cup matches for FIFA. She often comes back from these international visits with many resources to help South African women’s soccer improve its standard of play. Fran is a living example of her motto, “believe in yourself, never give up, and never keep quiet”. Her biggest wish is to qualify for the Olympics of the World Cup.
Away from soccer, Fran is a music fanatic. She is part of a band called Basadi Women of Jazz, and she admits to having a massive sound system in the back of her Golf GTI!
In 2010, she hopes to enjoy the FIFA World Cup on the beach and one of her big ambitions is to ride a Harley Davidson across America.
Introducing gsport’s October Woman, soccer queen, Fran Hilton Smith!
Where do you live?
Germiston – my whole life. Was a school teacher in High school for twenty years!
How long have you been involved in sports administration?
Too long! Probably since 85 …
Why are you so passionate about women’s soccer?
Because I was a player and have seen how far it can take you
What are your current projects associated with women’s soccer?
Trying to qualify for the Olympics, U20 and U17 World Cups next year.
Running the High Performance Centre I started in Pretoria four years ago for U20 and U17 players. Looking for new players and trying to develop the sport for girls at school. Doing stuff for FIFA and CAF as well, like coaching coaches.
What is the main reason the women’s game is struggling in South Africa?
No professional league. No sponsorship. Not enough recognition. No school soccer.
Not enough clubs soccer. All professional teams should have a girls team.
Tell us about your role with FIFA?
It varies. I am a FIFA coaching instructor (men and women). One of only two in Africa-the other is a man from Nigeria.
Travel around the world developing coaches in women’s football in developing countries. It has taken me to some amazing places- Iran, Vanuatu, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand to name a few.
I also write the Technical report for FIFA on the Women’s World Cups – U20 in Canada in 2002, Thailand 2004 and Russia in 2006 (an amazing experience). Senior Women’s World Cups in USA in 2003 and now in China in 2007. This position has made all my years of struggling in women’s soccer in SA worthwhile! The pinnacle of any football person’s dreams!
What was the purpose of your recent trip to China?
To write the Technical report on all the Women’s World Cup matches for FIFA. This is sent to all the federations so they know what level they have to achieve. A hard job and taxing but I have met so many wonderful people especially top women coaches from around the world.
What has been some of your career highlights?
Being appointed by FIFA and CAF into high positions normally reserved for men!
How do you deal with challenges as a woman in sports administration?
Believe in yourself, never give up and never keep quiet!
Aside from soccer, what are your other favourite spectator sports?
Anything exciting. I used to instruct in Karate and played tennis so I like to watch them. The Boks!
Who are your favourite sports stars?
So many !!!!! Marta of Brazil.
How do you keep fit?
My hectic schedule keeps me fit. Just had my knee replaced so am doing a lot of cycling
What are your hobbies?
Music! I have a massive sound system in my Golf GTI, Sleeping! I also enjoy riding my motorbike on weekends; visiting with my parents and family, and being with my grandson Tyler. Doing nothing..
Tell us about your band
Basadi Women of Jazz. One of the best female bands ever (my opinion)! Five women from Soweto mainly and myself. We play mainly African jazz-some old standards that we revamped so people could dance to them. We wer so hot we were selected to represent Africa at a world music festival in London a few years back.
Often older men from the townships would come up to me after a gig and ask me to play a song again for them, especially when I was playing bass guitar as they didn’t believe I was really playing! Had to stop playing as my schedule now is too hectic for the intense practice sessions the band requires. When I am old I will go back!
gsport strives to celebrate femininity. How would you define femininity?
Being powerful is like being a lady-if you have to tell people you are-you aren’t! I think femininity is similar – Not changing who you are to succeed. Be yourself. My best thoughts on this are “educate a man and you educate and individual, educate a women and you educate the whole family”
What’s the best thing about being a woman?
Everything
What inspires you?
My parents.
Mandela – he said “a good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination”. Meeting Mandela last year was a highlight of my life
Who are some of the women who you admire?
My mother, Oprah. Margaret Thatcher- she said” I am extraordinarily patient-provided I get
my own way in the end”
What is your biggest wish for women’s soccer in South Africa?
To qualify for a World Cup or Olympics. To have a professional league. More competitions
What would you like to be doing in 2010?
Enjoying the world cup on the beach
Your greatest ambition?
Have achieved most of them. To be happy and healthy. To drive a Harley across America.
For my dear Banyana team to qualify for a World Cup!!
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