Banyana Banyana Head Coach Desiree Ellis will be returning to Australia – the scene of her side’s heroics where they went toe to toe with the Netherlands in the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup but fell 2-0 at the Sydney Football Stadium.
This time she will attending the second edition of the two-day FIFA Women’s Football Convention taking place from 18 – 19 August at the International Convention Centre.
She will also stay and watch the final, scheduled for 20 August.
Ellis and her charges rewrote the history books by becoming the first South African national team – female or male – to qualify for the second round of a FIFA World Cup.
This was only their second appearance at this level after featuring in their maiden tournament in 2019 in France.
Four years ago, the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana couldn’t get out of their group – comprising Spain, China and Germany – after losing three matches, leaving them pointless with one goal from Thembi Kgatlana (vs Spain).
In Australia and New Zealand it was a different setup as they managed four points – one draw (vs Argentina) and one win (vs Italy) while suffering only one defeat (vs Sweden) in the group stages – which saw them make history by booking their first ever Round of 16 ticket.
They also scored five goals shared amongst three players – Kgatlana (2 – vs Argentina, Italy), Hilda Magaia (2 – vs Sweden, Italy) and Linda Motlhalo (1 – vs Argentina) plus an own goal (vs Italy) to make it six goals in total for Banyana Banyana in 2023.
In another first, South Africa joined Nigeria and Morocco as the first time since the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 that three African nations get out of the group – the closest was in 2019 when the Super Falcons of Nigeria and Cameroon were the only two representatives.
Ellis will be joining coaches, legends, administrators as well as leaders from the world of football, business and society to discuss global women’s football development.
The event will be opened by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and the outgoing FIFA secretary General, Fatma Samoura, with keynote addresses by Jill Ellis – two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning coach; Arsene Wenger – FIFA Chief of Global Football Development and Emma Hayes – The Best FIFA Women’s Coach from 2021.
Also in attendance will be two time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, Carli Lloyd as well as England and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright.
“We can already say with confidence that this tournament is a gamechanger for women’s football. The crowds, the atmosphere and the quality of football we have seen already has been exceptional. I look forward to reflecting on that success and taking another enormous step to building on it at the Second FIFA Women’s Football Convention on the 18-19 August,” said Samoura.
Some of the topics to be covered include: Training and Preparing Women as Women; Women’s Football – a Driver for Greater Societal Change; Setting The Pace – The Professionalisation of Women’s Football; The Cultural Movement of Women’s Football – The Investors; Football Technology at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and The Importance of Diverse Leadership.
The programme will follow the five pillars of FIFA’s Women’s Football Strategy: Develop and Grow; Showcase the Game; Communicate and Commercialise; Govern and Lead, and Educate and Empower.
“We are at a remarkable moment in the development of women’s football. As we witness the greatest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup – with records being broken on a daily basis – it is essential that we also maintain this momentum across all aspects of our sport by staging the second FIFA Women’s Football Convention at Sydney’s iconic International Convention Centre on 18-19 August,” said Infantino.
“This Convention follows the inaugural edition in France in 2019. But in four short years – and backed by FIFA’s dedicated funding through a global pandemic – it is wonderful to see how quickly women’s football has advanced. I look forward to joining friends and colleagues from across the world of women’s football to ensure the momentous things we are achieving here in Australia and New Zealand are used to further boost the sport – and to ensure this tournament not only inspires a new generation of female footballers, but also empowers a new generation of leaders.”
All six confederations have been invited and will tackle the two days through a series of speeches, panel discussion sessions and presentations.
SHORTENED CONVENTION PROGRAMME:
DAY 1:
Opening remarks
PILLAR 1: DEVELOP & GROW
10:20h Building the Foundations Moderator:
Karina LeBlanc – Portland Thorns, FIFA Legend
Panellists:
Lowri Roberts – Wales
Bruce Djité – Australia
Tsholo Setlhoko – Botswana Hem Kaur Sidhu – India
11:00h The Journey of Carmelina Moscato Speaker:
Carmelina Moscato – Head Coach, FIFA Legend
11:10h Coaches Conquering the World Interviewer:
Jill Ellis – San Diego Wave
Interviewees:
Emma Hayes OBE – Chelsea FC
Arsène Wenger OBE – FIFA
PILLAR 2: EDUCATE & EMPOWER
13:30h Training and Preparing Women as Women
Speaker:
Dr. Nonhlanhla S. Mkumbuzi – Researcher, Educator and Practitioner
13:40h Training and Preparing Women as Women
Moderator: Carol Tshabalala
Panellists:
Dr. Dawn Scott – Washington Spirit
Dr. Georgie Bruinvels – Orreco, Chelsea FC
Kirsty Yallop – FIFA Legend
14:25h Women’s Football, a Driver for Greater Societal Change
Moderator: Dr. Vladimir Borkovic
Panellists:
Amy Lasu – South Sudan
Kylie Bates – UN Women
Lamia Bahaian – Saudi Arabia
PILLAR 3: GOVERN & LEAD
15:30h Success Story: Angel City in Focus
Moderator: Stephanie Rudnick
Panellists:
Kara Nortman – Co-Founder Angel City
Julie Uhrman – Co-Founder & President Angel City
16:05h Setting The Pace: The Professionalisation of Women’s Football
Moderator: Samantha Johnson
Panellists:
Sarah Gregorius – FIFPRO
Jessica Berman – NWSL
Carlos Valenzuela – Tigres UANL
Ian Wright OBE – FIFA Legend
16:45h Tone at the Top: Diversifying Leadership for Success
Moderator: Amy Duggan
Panellists:
Aisha Falode – Nigeria
Karina LeBlanc – Portland Thorns
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto – Japan Victoria Díaz – Uruguay
17:15h The Importance of Diverse Leadership
Speaker:
Loretta Lynch – Former U.S. Attorney General, Partner at Paul, Weiss
DAY 2
09:00h Opening remarks Day 2
09:20h Positive Impact of the FIFA Women’s World CupTM
Speaker:
Sarai Bareman – FIFA
PILLAR 4: COMMUNICATE & COMMERCIALISE
09:35h Role Models Rising Moderator:
Ian Wright OBE – FIFA Legend
Panellists:
Carli Lloyd – FIFA Legend
Ellie Cole OAM – Paralympian
Briana Scurry – FIFA Legend
10:00h The Cultural Movement of Women’s Football: The Investors
Moderator: Amy Duggan
Panellists:
Andrea Fairchild – Visa
David Neal – Fox Sports USA
Christine Holgate – Team Global Express
10:35h The Cultural Movement of Women’s Football: Creating an Identity
Moderator: Carol Tshabalala
Panellists:
Sarah Walsh – Australia
Fabimar Franchi – CONMEBOL
Romy Gai – FIFA
Kelly Simmons OBE – England
PILLAR 5: SHOWCASE THE GAME
11:10h FIFA Women’s World CupTM Focus: A Tournament of Firsts
Speaker:
Carol Tshabalala
Panellists:
Dr. Johanna Wood – New Zealand
James Johnson – Australia
Nadine Kessler – UEFA
Monique André – Haiti
11:45h Football Technology at the FIFA Women’s World CupTM
Speaker:
Johannes Holzmüller – FIFA
12:05h Refereeing in Focus
Speaker:
Kari Seitz – FIFA
12:15h Preview of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
Speaker: Amy Duggan
Panellists:
Jill Ellis – San Diego Wave
Ian Wright OBE – FIFA Legend
Melissa Ortiz – FIFA Legend
12:45h Closing remarks
17:00h THIRD PLACE MATCH VIEWING ICC
THE FULL AGENDA IS AVAILABLE TO VIEW HERE.
By Matlhomola Morake
