The South African Football Association has launched its Inter-Local Football Association Leagues for U15 girls on Monday, 20 November 2023 and SAFA’s Walter Steenbok began his visits to various areas.
“The league will cater for 400 players and 38 women coaches across the four provinces. We are looking at the next U17 girls national team. These players are everywhere, hence we need to go to the villages and rural locations to afford them the opportunity to be scouted and developed. This is why this league is important.”
SAFA Technical Director, Walter Steenbok
It’s not just the player who benefits from the league, but coaches are also able to hone in their skills in a bid to gain more experience and knowledge.
SAFA Waterberg (Limpopo) was their first stop where the five regional representatives were in attendance for the launch.
SAFA Technical Committee Chairperson and Provincial President Jack Maluleka opened the days proceedings and thanked all the Regions who attended the launch.
SAFA Technical Director Steenbok highlighted how important a program like this is and just how it can benefit the young footballer as they look to reach national team levels.
“The criteria of players that we are looking for are girls born in 2009 – 2010, but this does not mean you cannot unearth talent that is younger than that age group,” said Steenbok. “The focus is that young football players will be able to improve their skills and as they look to start their football journey to being a national team player.”
“We will also be looking to unearth young talented coaches. All these coaches will be encouraged to do CAF D and C (coaching licenses) in April 2024. In the meantime, an online coaching and mentoring programme will be implemented for all these coaches in the league.”
“The U15 Inter-LFA League will be played over four months. We need girls to be playing competitively, on a more consistent basis. Our suggestion to the Regions is to have festivals every month,” added Steenbok.
“Each Region must host the other Regions, and allow the girls to play strength-versus-strength.”
“We want them playing against each other on regular basis, with each team having at least 20 players. The idea of this project is to create Provincial teams, so that we have a database of all the players,” concluded Steenbok.
Nkangala Region in Mpumalanga will host the next launch of the U15 Inter-LFA League.
Photo Caption: SAFA has launched it’s Inter-LFA Leagues for U15 girls and development coaches to play strength-versus-strength on a more consistent basis with an eye on building a quality intake for the future U17 SA Girls National Football team. Photo: SAFA
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