Former Mamelodi Sundowns owner Natasha Tsichlas has offered advice to embattled Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize, who is having a torrid time after her club, Royal AM, was taken under curatorship by the taxman.
The veteran Tsichlas is one of the few women in the country who have owned and run a successful professional soccer team in Mzansi.
Under her leadership, Sundowns became a force to be reckoned with. She is also the Safa vice president.
Other women club owners are Ria Ledwaba, who was running Ria Stars until they sold the
status together with Free State Stars in 2002.
Mato Madlala is another female club boss who is in charge of KwaZulu-Natal outfit Golden Arrows.
“I always say that it’s very difficult, and you have to be very strong because not everybody is going to treat you well and fair when you are a women club owner,” Tsichlas told
Sunday World.
“The system and the general perception make it difficult for women because football is still male-dominated. Women are still judged, and there are wrong opinions about their ability to run a club or to hold big positions in the sport,” she said.
“Shauwn is a very enthusiastic person, and she loves football. I always tell her when there was a game over the weekend, on Monday you call meetings and have discussions with the coaches and ask them about that game and the players. I used to do that at Sundowns.
“Everything starts with bringing in the whole team as a family, and one must understand the other. You cannot say you’re always right because you are the boss. It is all about teamwork.
“When Angelo [my husband] handled some of the things, it worked out better, because that’s how a lot of people and the system are wired.
“If you get that kind of support, then it will be easier, and you just focus on the admin side and making sure everything is functional at the club,” she added.
“The tax thing is an old story with SARS. Unfortunately, it is affecting her team as well. She spent too much money on the team, and quite frankly, I would have left the name of Bloemfontein Celtic because of its history — I did not change the name of Sundowns when we got the club.
“And in those years, I could, but I did not. I do not believe it’s clever to change club names. You cannot learn so quickly to run a football team. Even for experienced people, it is still very difficult.
“With Shauwn, she must sort out her problems so that her mind is with the team, and I am around. I am here and will help with pleasure.
“I do this because I love the teams. I hope she will come back because we need more women in football—now its only Mato [Madlala] and Shawn,” she explained further.
