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Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa believes women’s football will get more financial rewards only when more fans start supporting them.
This follows a loud national outcry about women being paid less than men in sport, a debate that was sparked by Banyana Banyana’s great run at this year’s Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, where they lost the final to the Super Falcons of Nigeria 4-3 on penalties.
They had already qualified for next year’s Women’s World Cup in France with Nigeria, which finished first, and Cameroon, which beat Mali in the third-place play-off.
“You can trace this from history,” the minister said. “Women have been categorised in a particular way in terms of how society views them. It’s unfortunate and, when we get into organisations, they are still predominantly led by men and they determine the agenda.
“Even though women are trying by all means to break such barriers, it takes extra effort for them before they are recognised.”
She said the Banyana Banyana squad had been facing this challenge for a long time.
“The women in Banyana Banyana have been there among men; they have done it, they have excelled, they have succeeded even more than their male counterparts. That in itself calls for a mind-set change in society.”
Sasol has been the only women’s football partner for the past nine years.
She said it was important for people to support Banyana when they played, especially now they have shown they are an important part of the South African sporting fraternity.
“We have seen how people have been following their progress and cheering them on.”
She said this proved that, when a team plays quality football and gets good results, people will support it.
Sport is associated with fun, family time and the support is gradually coming, Xasa said, adding that more sponsors would come once they saw there was value for money.
“So now that the Banyana Banyana brand has been built, it is at a stage where it can attract sponsors.”
On Wednesday, Safa announced a new partnership deal with clothing brand D’S Damat for both Bafana and Banyana. The Turkish clothing brand signed a three-year deal with the football governing body.
On another note, Xasa said she hoped South Africa would host the 2023 Netball World Cup. South Africa is up against New Zealand to host the event.
“We do have our hopes because we presented everything that we thought was necessary.”
She said the bid to host the World Cup had come when the country did not have money to host major sporting events. “But only 16 countries take part in the netball global event, which is a small contingent.
“It is so affordable that we did not even have to go to Treasury to request money. We can afford to host it with money from a few role players and partners that we have. We will know the outcome of our bid before Christmas.”
Should South Africa’s bid be successful, it will be the first time the Netball World Cup comes to an African country.
And, if successful, the event would be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in July 2023.
