Why Jordaan believes SAFA are trendsetters in women’s football
SAFA President Danny Jordaan has outlined the reasons why he believes South Africa is a leader in terms of the development and progress of women’s football in Africa.
This year marks 30 years since the existence of the South African women’s senior national team, Banyana Banyana.
Despite two World Cup qualifications and 13 CAF Wafcon appearances with one title by the team, South Africa remains without a professional league in women’s football. A semi-professional league, Hollywoodbets Super League, was only formed a few years ago.
The majority of the players in the league still play with no contracts, and the lucky few get stipends from their respective clubs.
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Speaking to the SAFA media, Jordaan insists that despite the challenges, SAFA remains a trendsetter in Women’s football.
“We are the leading nation, we are the African Champions. We are the country with the highest number of women players on the African continent,” he said.
Jordaan is in New Zealand, where the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is currently underway.
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“We are the country with the highest number of Women coaches on the African continent. The first country on the African continent and one of only five in the world that has taken a decision that all our women’s teams must be coached by a woman.
“We have 15 Women coaches with an A license. So we have made tremendous progress. Even in the level of governance. In our congress, we had 60 Women delegates and so you can see where South African football is,” he added.
“It [SAFA] is a leader in Women’s football, it was recognised in the FIFA Congress where the secretary general of FIFA highlighted a few countries amongst which was South Africa.”
Meanwhile, Banyana Banyana will play their second Group G match against Argentina on Friday, 28 July at 02:00 SA time. They lost the first match to World number three Sweden on Sunday.
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