22 June 2021 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) North West office says it is encouraged by the visit of Banyana Banyana Head Coach Desiree Ellis to their area.
Ellis spent two days this past weekend in Potchefstroom where she conducted a workshop for local Sasol League coaches and also watched two games as part of her Provincial visits.
The North West is the fourth Province to be visited, after the Free State, KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.
“It gives us great pleasure as the SAFA NW to have to welcome the Senior Women’s National Team Head Coach to our province. This is a province of goodwill, surrounded by peace-loving people with talent in football. I see this visit as a great opportunity for us to improve the quality of football played in our province by both males and females,” said David Molwantwa, SAFA NW Chairperson and National Executive Committee member.
“This kind of engagement is very crucial because rubbing shoulders with people like Desiree will assist our coaches in knowing what level the national teams want so we can prepare the players adequately.”
His words were echoed by the SAFA NW Women’s Football, Ms Thembela Nomadla.
“First we must thank and congratulate the coaches for being able to make it and come to drink from this fountain of wisdom. I am confident that they have managed to absorb the crucial information from our beloved coach. I am also hopeful that after this gathering, our coaches will know which direction to take and soon we will see more of our players in the various national teams, especially Banyana Banyana. Hopefully this is not the last session in this province with our coaches.”
Gv of Workshop during the 2021 SASOL League – North West Workshop on the 19 June 2021 at NW Sports Village / Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
So far, in all four provinces, the North West is the only one with a full attendance by coaches, with a total of 22 present at the workshop.
Molwantwa also threw a challenge to the Sasol League coaches.
“It is very crucial that we pay attention to what is shared by our coach, but above that, I want to challenge you that whenever there are coaching courses that we are running in the province and regions, be the first ones to come because I envisage a situation where each and every Sasol League club is run by women, and coached by women – and for us as SAFA that will be a great achievement, more so because it is also the dream of our President Dr Danny Jordaan to see women’s football growing in this country,” added Molwantwa.
The SAFA NW Chairperson also applauded Sasol for the good work they are doing with women’s football.
“Of utmost importance, a word of gratitude must go to Sasol to say the great work they are doing in supporting women’s football has not gone unnoticed by us – even by the South Africans, who know what value you to this game,” said Molwantwa.
“We need to improve our football because a good product augurs well for potential sponsors. You can see the spinoffs that we are experiencing with Hollywoodbets coming on board to sponsor the Hollywoodbets Super League. Therefore I urge you to take football seriously and bring in mass participation of women into the game so that when national team coaches visit our province, they are able to identify more talent and take this talent with them to the national teams.