21 August 2018 – Vice President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Ms. Ria Ledwaba, has called on women in football to celebrate themselves daily in everything they do.
Ledwaba was giving the opening address at the Women’s Administrators Course for 2018, which kicked off on Monday, 20 August 2018 at the SAFA Technical Centre, south of Johannesburg. Among the attendees was Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis
The SAFA VP, who is in charge of women’s football and school football, has been travelling the length and breadth of the country holding meetings with women in various provinces.
“As women, we need to celebrate ourselves every day, and not wait for Women’s Month in August of every year, or even wait for anyone for that matter – we have to do it ourselves,” said Ledwaba in her address.
“I would like to wish you all the best in the course, and hope that there will be improvements afterwards.”
Earlier, Ledwaba told delegates about SAFA’s Vision 2022 as well as the Women’s National League.
“I can tell you now, we have set a date for the start of that all-important league project – we will kick off in April 2019,” she added.
She also said women need to work together for the greater good of improving the women’s game.
“I can’t do this alone, we need to put all hands on deck to make sure women’s football improves in leaps and bounds. Earlier this year we made presentations to CAF on the status of women’s football, and we are waiting for results on that. But one of the recommendations was that women should also be allowed to officiate in men’s games because they get the same training as men,” said Ledwaba.
She concluded by making a plea to every football loving fan not to tarnish the image of the Association.
“SAFA is you, SAFA is me – so when you drag the name of the Association in the mud, by extension you are dragging yourself in there too because SAFA exists thanks to you and I. If there are issues, let us get together and discuss, that is the only way to find solutions,” said Ledwaba.
The course will come to an end on Thursday, 23 August. The first two editions were hosted in 2016 and 2017.