Women’s football in South African received a major boost when Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) and the South African Football Association (SAFA) got into a partnership that will help women’s football move forward.
At the launch held at SAFA House on Friday (1 November 2024), the giant car manufacturing company handed over 10 vehicles to the FA for the use of all women’s nationals teams – Schools U15, U15, U17 (Bantwana), U20 (Basetsana) and the senior team, Banyana Banyana.
“It is a very significant partnership. Women’s football was built on the back of Sasol and Hollywoodbets and we must pay great credit to them that today women’s football in South Africa is among the best on the African continent and one of the emerging and growing women leagues all over the world and so must pay credit and tribute to Sasol and to Hollywoodbets. Of course, Volkswagen coming on board is not just about the cars, it’s a total package of how we further strengthen and build and grow woman’s football,” said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.
“We must thank Volkswagen for the support and strengthen the overall drive of building the kind of woman footballer that can truly not just be an African champion, but the world champion and you become the world champion by playing against the best in the world.”
The deal, believed to be worth around nine million rand, is set to be in place for a year.
“We are starting slowly, for now it’s value and kind, but our commitment is long term – for now it’s one year and then we will grow it as it grows,” said VW’s Bridget Harpur.
VW joins forces with SAFA at the back of their own successful programme, VW Train For Life as well as the Vaya Cup played annually – VW Trained for Life combines a focus on football with life skills education and to support young women on their life’s journey into adulthood, while the Vaya Cup tournament brings the best of South African young football players together to unlock potential and open future opportunities.
Linking with Banyana Banyana, the most successful football national team in the country was a no-brainer for VW. They have been to two Olympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016), and also participated in two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments – France 2019 and Australia and New Zealand 2023. They are the reigning African Champions after lifting the elusive CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2022 in Morocco.
“Volkswagen globally has an alignment to football, so ‘which sport’ was never in a question – it was always going to be football. We have a long heritage of supporting football over the years but when it comes to the gender question it’s only women. We are here to support the girls to try and profile them, to try and grow the sport, to try and grow the spectators. I think the viewership and the fans are already there for men’s sport, we really are here to try and develop the same for women and I think in 2024 we really deserve the equal platform,” added Harpur.
Present at the launch was Banyana Banyana head coach, Desiree Ellis, as well as some of the players, midfielder Nicole Michael (TS Galaxy Queens) and goalkeepers Kaylin Swart (JVW) and Dineo Magagula (TS Galaxy Queens).
The team recently returned from the tour of Europe where they face Denmark and England, going down 5-0 and 2-1 respectively. These were all part of preparations for next year’s TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa are the defending champions.
“We’re really excited to join the national team joining other Volkswagen countries like Germany, France and the United States of America in supporting professional women’s football. In South Africa our mission is clear we are the people’s car, we are dedicated to moving people forward and to us and Volkswagen that goes beyond just the road and beyond the drive. We believe that sports, particularly football in this country, is more than just a game. Our belief is that football has the potential to play a vital role in youth and woman’s development as a tool to help facilitate individual and team growth, while building healthy passions and habits. Our interest in investment in football goes back to 2010 through both our VW Train for Life and Vaya Cup initiatives,” concluded Harpur.
This partnership is about what it means for South African women, it’s about giving young girls the role models that they deserve and showing them that with determination and the right support they can achieve anything that they set their minds to.”
The partnership is with immediately effect.
By Matlhomola Morake
