Ex-Banyana Banyana forward Ode Fulutudilu has shared her views on whether Kaizer Chiefs Ladies’ establishment would force arch-rivals Orlando Pirates to form a women’s team.
This comes after Amakhosi took a bold move to launch the club’s women’s football team in March 2026. Chiefs Ladies are competing in the Gauteng Sasol League run by SAFA.
The Chiefs Ladies team boasts a 24-player squad led by head coach Unathi Mabena, who is assisted by Justice Khunou.
According to Fulutudilu, Pirates will feel the heat now that Chiefs have made their move. She notes that the Buccaneers won’t want to be “left behind”, meaning the pressure is on them to respond.
However, to meet CAF’s stringent club licensing regulations, the Sea Robbers entered into a partnership with the University of Johannesburg [UJ] women’s team. This strategic move ensures their participation in continental competitions and compliance with a mandatory CAF directive requiring all participating clubs to have an active women’s side.
ODE FULUTUDILU: ‘ORLANDO PIRATES WON’T WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND’
“I really hope it [formation of Chiefs Ladies] puts tremendous pressure on Pirates to not be left behind,” said Fulutudilu in an interview with FARPost.
“Rivalry doesn’t just live on the men’s side. Orlando Pirates won’t want to be left behind in any space where Chiefs are gaining ground. If Pirates don’t move, it starts to look like they’re not fully committed to the future of the game. And in modern football, that matters.”
TIME FOR SAFA AND PSL TO MANDATE WOMEN’S TEAMS?
Meanwhile, the discussion with the former Banyana international, Fulutudilu, went beyond the Soweto teams’ rivalry. With CAF pushing for top-flight clubs to establish women’s structures as part of club licensing requirements, the question arises: Is it time for SAFA and the PSL to make women’s teams mandatory?
Fulutudilu believes South Africa needs to act decisively to keep up with continental standards. “In my opinion, yes [it should be mandatory for top-flight clubs to form women’s teams],” Fulutudilu declared.
“If African football, through CAF, is already pushing in that direction, then South Africa shouldn’t lag behind. Making it mandatory would accelerate growth overnight.”
However, she cautioned that enforcement must be accompanied by proper infrastructure and support from the football governing body – SAFA.
“Clubs need support, guidelines, and accountability to build sustainable women’s programmes, not just teams that exist on paper. If done properly, it could transform the entire ecosystem of the women’s game in South Africa,” she added.
“At the end of the day, this move isn’t just about one club, it’s about shifting the whole culture of football in the country.”
Several Premier Soccer League [PSL] clubs have established women’s teams to compete in South African leagues. Notable examples include Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, TS Galaxy Queens, and Stellenbosch FC Ladies, as well as Marumo Gallants, who recently partnered with Diepkloof Ladies to launch their women’s side.
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