Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala says his team’s success sends a clear message that it’s time to professionalise the women’s game in South Africa.
Sundowns returned back to the country earlier Tuesday afternoon after being crowned African Champions for the second time in three years.
The Brazilians beat Sporting Club Casablanca of Morocco to be crowned CAF Women’s Champions League champions on Sunday. Once again, the international arrival Hall at the OR Tambo International Airport came to a complete halt. This time with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies getting a hero’s welcome when they touched down.
Even a delay of more than an hour did not dampen the spirit of the club supporters. This was the second time for the Pretoria-based club to win the CAF Champions League title in three years. Tshabalala says it’s high time for women’s football to be professionalised in South Africa.
“It’s about time when I look at the journey we have walked with this team, way back from the Sasol League going up to the Hollywood Super Bets League, it’s about time that ladies play football professionally. They don’t need two jobs to go to work 9 to 5 job and come back and play football. You see when you invest in women’s football, this is what you get. We’ve got talent in South Africa, let us invest in our women’s football.”
According to club defender Lebohang Ramalepe, the club’s next target is to conquer the world of football in the FIFA Club World Cup.
“Yeah, we hope it’s going to be there, that’s the only thing we are hoping for because I’ve been preaching about this since I joined Mamelodi Sundowns. We want to win CAF and then go to club World Cup.”
The champions are in town!😀
Our African Queens received a warm welcome from the Yellow Nation 🏆🌟 #Sundowns #CAFWCL pic.twitter.com/efCEsulFTS
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) November 21, 2023
Mamelodi Sundowns supporters are delighted with the achievements of the club. The men’s team was recently crowned champions of the inaugural African Football League last Sunday.
“Mr Motsepe said to us, ‘I’m going to buy this team and I’m going to conquer Africa,’ this is what he is doing right now, and everyone is surprised I don’t know why, he said it before,” says one of the supporter.
Another supporter says, “The achievement that we have now I dedicate it to Alex Shakoane because for a long time, he wanted this and I think wherever he is, he is happy.”
According to club legend Daniel Mambush Modau, this is an important period for the club that must be fully celebrated.
“People saw when Mamelodi Sundowns being the first team you know to lift up the trophy of the AFL and now we come here to make sure we are welcoming our queens of CAF, that’s Mamelodi Sundowns ladies. But one has to say we were not going there to represent only, Mamelodi Sundowns we were there to represent the country,” says Mudau.
Football authorities and other leaders have challenged other football clubs in the country to walk the talk. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says clubs must start investing in women’s football.
“ This arrival should send a signal, it should send a signal to everyone that women’s football is also football, let us invest the way we are investing in men’s football. Let’s identify talent but most importantly let’s give them support and every team that does not have a women’s team, now when these women come out here they must question themselves.”
Mamelodi Sporting Director Flemming Berg says, “It’s an incredible achievement for everyone around the team, the technical team, the players, the staff everyone behind it. It’s a big organisation and there are big investments coming into it and when we achieve, we see them play beautiful football in the final, I was proud of them.”
Sundowns’ exploits in the Champions League are expected to lift Banyana Banyana ahead of the third round of 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifiers resuming in February.
