Former Banyana Banyana star Simphiwe Dludlu says Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs should not take too long in forming their women’s teams, as Mamelodi Sundowns have raised the bar even higher.
Sundowns Ladies defeated Morocco’s Sporting Casablanca 3-0 in the final of the Caf Women’s Champions League in Morocco – their second continental title since 2021.
Following on the footsteps of their male counterparts, Banyana ba Style have been agonisingly dominant in their respective leagues and have become the head and shoulders of club football in the Sub-Saharan Africa.
Chiefs and Pirates are yet to establish their women’s soccer teams and Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala said the two Soweto giants should not be forced to establish women’s teams as part of their contribution to local women’s football.
Speaking to Sunday World during the launch of the Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge early this week, Dludlu said Chiefs and Pirates should speed up their process of establishing their women’s teams, as it will contribute towards the success of Banyana Banyana and South African football.
“The only thing that will make me forgive them a bit is me assuming that they want to do it correctly want to strategies and make sure that they make a full-on impact,” Dludlu said.
Only four PSL clubs have women’s teams
“But they shouldn’t take too long because when you look at the north African teams such as Wadi Degla of Egypt, AS Far and Sporting Casablanca (both Morocco) that faced Sundowns in the final, they have invested so much in women’s teams.
“Then you come to South Africa, there is Mamelodi Sundowns, TS Galaxy, Royal AM and recently SuperSport United are the only teams you can mention from the PSL.
“So, we would love to see more professional teams put women’s football as part of their structure just like they do with the youth teams and the DStv Diski Challenge – that would be beautiful to have women’s team in that spectrum and competing in those kinds of competitions as well.
“Because that will only mean one thing, that we will go up with proper structure, quality and the return on investment will be big, not only for the clubs but the national team too.”
