ABSA Womens League Unveiled

The Absa Women’s League title will be fiercely contested in Mafikeng in the North West Province from August 9 -14. SA’s rising football talent will be looking to shine when nine provincial teams battle it out in a bid to lift the coveted trophy.

The Itsoseng Stadium in Itsoseng township will be host venue to the opening and closing ceremonies during the much anticipated event on the women’s football calendar with other matches scheduled for the North West, Mafikeng Campus grounds.

SAFA is pressing ahead with its objective to take the beautiful game to the people, and SAFA Central as a host region, is working tirelessly to get supporters from Mafikeng, Itsoseng and surrounding areas to attend this “football festival of women”.

The tournament will be a combination of football and life skills programmes which will see experienced referees, administrators and coaches conduct workshops with tournament referees; team managers and coaches respectively. Players will also benefit from life skills workshops that include financial planning, self management and social skills.

SAFA CEO, Leslie Sedibe, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the league since inception. “The introduction of the Absa women league has accelerated the development of women football in the 52 SAFA Regions. Our National under 17 Women team has made history by becoming the first Women National Team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

“Our mid- and long-term goals are to have Basetsana and Banyana Banyana also representing the country in the FIFA World Cup. As outlined during the inception of the Absa Women League in February 2009, we see this league as an important platform to identify and groom young talent countrywide.

“The National Championship is definitely a culmination of hard work by players, referees, coaches and administrators; and as a result this event should be treated as a football celebration that should be enjoyed by all,” said Sedibe.

Angie Burton, Absa Group Executive: Marketing said: “ This is now our second successful year as sponsors of the Absa Women’s League and we are proud to see how much this league has grown. With so much going on for our country, this is a hugely exciting time for women’s football; the excitement around the World Cup has certainly benefited women’s football”.

Women National Team’s Coach Augustine Makalakalane said that last year’s National Championship had been a wonderful opportunity for his technical team to identify players for the under 17 national squad.

“Five young girls have been selected to play for their country at this year’s U/17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago in September and this is a honour for any sportsman,” explained Makalakalane.