Kaizer Chiefs marketing and commercial director Jessica Motaung has shared one of the conditions that will guide Amakhosi to finally establish their long-awaited women’s team.
Motaung was speaking to the media during the CAF Champions League trophy reveal at the TotalEnergies headquarters in Rosebank on Thursday.
Amakhosi are one of many clubs in the Premier Soccer League, including Orlando Pirates, that do not have a women’s team.
Motaung emphasised the importance of big clubs building their women’s teams; however, she said the project will only get fast-tracked when South Africa professionalises women’s football.
Professional league is key
“It’s important [for big clubs to have a women’s team]. We have seen many women’s teams across the world starting to achieve a lot because they are professional,” Motaung, who doubles as the African Club’s Association deputy chairperson, said.
“It’s not just about partnerships but more about having more women’s teams, and what will be key for other leagues [to achieve that] is having a professional league so our women can have a space to play in.”
“Other teams, like Kaizer Chiefs, can have women’s teams to play in that platform, so we are looking to get into that space as well; we have no choice.
“It will be a staggered approach, something we must look at, but South Africa must look at professionalising [women’s teams].”
Struggling to stay afloat
She continued: “The current status needs to be reviewed to make sure it is feasible. Clubs are struggling to stay afloat, as seen in the Sasol and Hollywoodbets leagues.
“So, we need to come together for women’s football to say what the vision is and where we are going so that we can play meaningfully in it, not as lip service.
“And that is one of the things we as Chiefs have tried to say: how do we do it in the best way possible?
“Now that we are in the CAF [Confederations Cup] again, it’s important that we do it, and we do it right.”
Amakhosi will be returning to continental football next season after winning the Nedbank Cup over a week ago.
