Sasol hopes to curtail the ‘riches to rags’ scenario for retired footballers

The South African Football Association (Safa) and its sponsor of women’s football have renewed their commitment to the empowerment of women footballers so they can face up to life after the beautiful game.

Safa and Sasol, the sponsor of the provincial leagues of women football and Banyana Banyana renewed their vows to the Limitless Internship Programme which seeks to give women footballers the opportunity to acquire skills in their chosen field of study, beyond football and gain valuable work experience at Sasol and their Houghton-based communications agency, Levergy.

The internships are open to both Banyana Banyana and Sasol League players where candidates with degrees or diplomas in media, marketing, communications and or sports related courses are encouraged to take up the opportunity to upskill themselves.

The first participants of the programme which was launched last year have since graduated and Safa and Sasol are now looking for the next intake of the interns.

Speaking at the launch of the next round of the intake held at Ferguson’s 5th Floor in Illovo, one of the graduates, Bontle Mashilo was full of praise for the programme. She described it as a valuable opportunity that seeks to ensure players continue to put food on their tables long after their glamorous careers have come to an end.

“Marketing and media have always been my passion and I am grateful that I have been hired at Levergy and I can continue to put food on my table,” said the former Banyana star.

Sasol’s senior manager for group brands management Nozipho Mbatha said as sponsors of women’s football they had been saddened by stories of footballers going from riches to rags when they retired.

“The internship programme is designed to curtail this unfortunate situation from happening and to ensure that women footballers have careers beyond football that can sustain their lives long after the final whistle,” said Mbatha.

Former Banyana Banyana captain Lydia Monyepao, who’s now the deputy director of support services at the University of Pretoria, is a mentor of one of the interns.

“I know football, I have played it at the highest level and I know what it is like to retire without the prospect of an income. My acceptance of this programme to mentor former footballers will allow me to give back to a sport that shaped me and made me what I am today,” Monyepao said.

Safa CEO Russell Paul urged former players who qualify for the programme to take advantage of the opportunity and register to better their lives after the beautiful game.