It’s been 30 years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, and over the period, women’s football has played a significant role, and continues to do so.
The sport has come a long way and is making headlines, not just in the country but also on the continent and around the world.
While there is talk of professionalising the current elite women’s football league, the entity is rated among the best, if not the best, on the continent in its fifth year of existence.
As South Africa celebrated three decades of since 1994, gsport – a leading movement for women’s sport advancement, led by women – undertook a campaign to find the greatest moment in women’s sport through the FreedomInSport campaign.
Spearheaded by gsport founder Kass Naidoo, the initiative came up with the 10 most amazing events in the history of women sport since 1994.
Women’s football featured prominently with three great moments among those listed.
Coming in at number six was the history making lifting of the 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy by the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana – their maiden continental title, led by four-time CAF Woman Coach of the Year, Desiree Ellis. She was recently conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, and now going by the title of Dr Desiree Ellis.
At number seven is the remarkable achievement of the African Champions becoming the first and only South African national team to reach the knockout stage in a FIFA World Cup – this was at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, their second in a row and both led again by Ellis.
At the event, held in Australia and New Zealand in July and August last year, Banyana Banyana lost to Sweden, drew with Argentina, defeated Italy – their first ever win at the tournament – to make the Round of 16 where they fell to the Netherlands.
Also on the list at number 10 was the 2008 crowning of Noko Matlou as the CAF African Woman Player of the Year – the first South African to achieve the feat – before Thembi Kgatlana followed in 2019.
The Limpopo-born Matlou, the second highest capped Banyana Banyana player with 173 appearance for her country, made her debut in 2007 – starting out as a forward before switching to defence.
Now playing in the colours SD Eibar in Spain’s top-flight women’s football league, she is the longest-serving player in the national team following the retirement of fellow defender Janine van Wyk on 185 caps.
Matlou featured in the London 2014 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, two FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances (2019 France and last year in Austria and New Zealand) as well as several WAFCON tournaments, winning the 2022 edition. To date, she has scored 64 goals for Banyana Banyana.
But retired and legendary South African swimmer, Penny Heyns’ double gold medal win at the Atlanta (USA) Olympic Games in 1996 have been hailed the Greatest Moment in Women’s Sport in South Africa since 1994.
She was named top of the list following public participation and votes from a panel of 10 leading women in sport – all former Momentum gsport award winners.
“The FreedomInSport series serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of women in sport and the outstanding achievements they have recorded since 1994. Penny Heyn’s remarkable feat continues to inspire generations of athletes and symbolises the relentless pursuit of excellence in women’s sport,” said Naidoo.
Completing the top 10 on the list were, amongst others, the likes of Caster Semenya, who won gold in the 800m at the Olympic Games, the late wheelchair bound Zanele Situ – the first black South African female to win a Paralympic gold medal in 2000 at the Olympic Game, as well as the Proteas Women becoming the first senior South African team to reach a Cricket World Cup final.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF TOP 10 WOMEN’S SPORT MOMENTS SINCE 1994:
- PENNY HEYNS – 1996:
- Winning Double Gold at the Atlanta (USA) Olympic Games
- CASTER SEMENYA – 2016:
- Claiming gold in the 800m in a South African record at the Rio Olympic Games
- NATALIE DU TOIT – 2008:
- Becoming the first amputee to qualify for an Olympic Games
- ZANELE SITU – 2000:
- The first black South African female athlete to win a Paralympic Gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games
- PROTEAS WOMEN – 2023:
- The first senior South African side to reach a Cricket World Cup Final
- BANYANA BANYANA – 2022:
- Won their first ever continental title – the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nation
- BANYANA BANYANA – 2023:
- Became the first ever South African football national team to reach the knockout stage in a FIFA World Cup
- KGOTHATSO MONTJANE – 2023:
- Won her first Grand Slam title in the French Open Doubles at Roland Garros, alongside Yui Kamiji
- TATJANA SMITH (NÉE SCHOEMAKER) – 2018:
- Won Gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, breaking Penny Heyn’s 100m and 50m Breaststroke African records in the process
- NOKO MATLOU – 2008:
- The first South African to be named CAF African Women’s Player of the Year
By Matlhomola Morake
