Sekhukhune Women Football reaches new heights
Sekhukhune: The South African Football Association (SAFA) in Sekhukhune Region has embraced a new era of women football in the region.
The association has registered eight teams from various parts of the region that are participating in the newly established SAFA Sekhukhune Women’s Regional Football League. The Sekhukhune football women’s league matches commenced last week Sunday, with all teams playing their first games.
The women’s football teams featured in the competition are Nokaneng Ladies FC from Tubatse, Thotho Ladies from Thoto Village, Sea Waters Ladies FC from Mamone Village, Mashadi Ladies FC from Mashadi Village, Victorious Sports Academy Ladies from Ga-Masemola Village, Milania Ladies FC from Glen Cowie Village, Junior Bucks Ladies FC from Phokwane Village and Meretlwaneng Ladies FC from Diphagane Village.
According to Frank Maredi, who is SAFA Sekhukhune Regional Football League Coordinator, remained a priority within the organization for the few past previous years.
“However, we were struggling to get teams to come and join because most of the ladies who were participating in the sport in the villages could not imagine playing organize football,” he said.
Maredi said SAFA in Sekhukhune aims to grow women football exponentially in all levels to bring it in a mainstream, until they produce professional women football players who will form part of the national soccer team.
“The first round of the current season will be completed in June and we are expecting the second round to finish around September and October. Teams that will be in the first and second place will be eligible for the play-offs and the winners will be promoted to the Provincial Sasol League,” he said.
Maredi said unlike in the men football, the women’s league will have no other competitions within the league.
“This is because we still lack sponsorship in the women’s league. But our plan is to have more competitions within the league in the near future,” he said.
Maredi called on other interested women’s football teams within Sekhukhune to come and join the league in the next season.
“Most of the teams participating in the league are coming from Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality except only Nokaneng that is from Tubatse. We are still expecting women’s league from other parts of Sekhukhune such as Dennilton and Burgersfort to come and join,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maredi said the male football league will be completed soon and teams that will be crowned streams winners will battle in the play-offs for the Sekhukhune championship crown.
“Currently, we are only left with a few matches playing in Stream C2 and they will be completed in a week’s time,” he said.
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