Jessica Motaung continues to make significant strides, having been recently appointed to the FIFA Men’s Football Stakeholders Committee for a four-year term until 2029. The Kaizer Chiefs’ Marketing and Commercial Director is no stranger to top positions in sports leadership, and her latest appointment demonstrates the integral role she plays as a leader in the beautiful game.
Her latest appointment is a historic one for women in sports leadership, as she will become one of the few women from Africa to hold such a high role at the global soccer body.
Speaking to gsport earlier this week, Motaung said her new role fills her with both humility and pride.
“This is such an honour and a privilege for me to be appointed to such a prestigious committee with the calibre of the people who are on the committee.”
FIFA Men’s Football Stakeholders Committee Member, Jessica Motaung
“It’s very humbling, but at the same time encouraging that the work that I’ve done is recognised and that I’m seen to be able to come and contribute on such a platform.”
Her leadership is recognised across Africa. In 2022, Motaung was appointed to the CAF Women’s Football Standing Committee and currently serves as Deputy Chairperson of CAF’s Africa Clubs Association. The FIFA committee focuses on the structure of the game among players, clubs, leagues, associations, and confederations within FIFA.
She believes her experience offers her a broad understanding of where she wants to make an impact in club football, while providing a strong African perspective.
“I think my roles will definitely assist me, but certainly I think the foundation is laid by the work that I’ve done through hazard chiefs, working in the game, through the PSL, certainly working with the SAFA Committee, and then obviously working with the CAF committee and the ACA. It’s giving me a broad understanding of the game,” says Motaung.
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“Obviously, this is a men’s football Committee, which makes it easier for me, because I work more in the men’s game. I think I bring a more balanced view, since I have been exposed to the women’s side, but most importantly, a great understanding through the ACA of the challenges that clubs are facing, the opportunities that are here on the African continent. And I think a very strong African perspective in terms of the men’s game, and I am excited about that.”
“I think, very importantly, I’m hoping to learn as well from some of the people I’ll be working with, but certainly to bring, like I said, an African perspective and understanding some of the stuff that we’re doing, continent issues relating to players.”
“I think what’s nice about the stakeholders is that we’re speaking to all stakeholders, and I think the role of players sometimes is not taken into account, and African players that play such a key role on the continent, on the continent and also on the world stage, giving that perspective, but also a lot of the stuff that we’re doing with our supporters, looking at our competitions and what’s different in terms of what’s happening here on the continent. So just a really great African experience from my side,” Motaung added.
It can be said that Motaung is one of the most recognisable women in sports leadership as she continues to be a driving force in the industry. She says being a female in this sphere is an honour, and she hopes that this opens more doors for other women to take up roles in sports leadership.
“I have been fortunate to be having played a role in football for a number of years. But certainly, like I said, it’s an honour and a privilege, but certainly also validates the work that one has done, and says that we women had a role to play, not just in the women’s game, but in the men’s game too, and says that we can make a contribution.”
“So I’m hoping that the door opens for many, many more women who can be part of places like this, because we have experience, we have something to bring to the table. And at the end of the day, whether you’re a man or a woman, it’s really about excellence as best as you can to make sure that we give value to where we work.”
Motaung is seen as a role model to many, but who inspires her? “I come from a culture where women have played such a key role,” she responds.
“Yes, my mom and my grandmother have certainly been key. But certainly there are so many women in the international South African landscape that I’ve looked up to, and many men who’ve also been inspirational for me. I am a mother of boys; life is about balance. We need each other, men and women,” says Motaung.
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“So I have also had leaders like my dad (Kaizer Motaung), and I keep people who have charted the way or allowed me to play the role that I play. But certainly there are many, many women, and I mention many of them, but certainly there are women who inspire me, who I look at in different fields, and sometimes not even in leadership space.”
“There are some people who touch my life on a daily basis. I say that about Kaizer Chief supporters. I look at the women in our branches who are leading, who work with very little at their disposal, but make a difference in their communities. I think those are the people who remind me what’s important.”
“It’s the work that we do on the ground, it’s the lives that we’ve touched, the people’s lives, that make a difference, that matter, and those are the women, I think, who stand out for me, women in the communities, but unsung heroes, who don’t have the titles, but they have the heart.”
Motaung shares sage advice for young women who are looking to take up leadership roles in sport. “Be authentically yourself!”
“Approach work with diligence and work hard, because a lot of the time, I think people want the results of hard work, but don’t want to put in the work,” says Motaung, “And if you’re excellent, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a woman or not. Yes, you know, people will recognise excellent work. Your contribution will speak for itself.”
“We live in this Instagram world that makes life seem like it’s all pretty pictures, and it’s really the hard work and the grind and the tough times. It was the hard times that actually defined who we become. And don’t run away from that, from those; actually lean into those so you get to know yourself more, and I think a lot of personal work. But certainly for me, I think the most important thing is being diligent and excellent, because excellence always wins.”
Main Photo Caption: Kaizer Chiefs’ Marketing & Commercial Director Jessica Motaung continues to break barriers, becoming one of the few African women appointed to the FIFA Men’s Football Stakeholders Committee for a four-year term. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: Motaung’s latest appointment is a historic one for women in sports leadership, becoming one of a few women from Africa to hold such a high role at the global soccer body.
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