Banyana star lauds women’s football development
JOBURG – Banyana Banyana star player, Refiloe Jane has praised the contribution of the Solomon 'Stix' Morewa Challenge to the development of women's football.
Banyana Banyana midfield maestro, Refiloe Jane has lauded the development of women’s football in Soweto under the Clinix Solomon ‘Stix’ Morewa Challenge.
Jane was speaking at the launch of the 10th edition of the tournament at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto, which runs from 11 September and culminates in a final on 12 November. She said she would like to see this tournament taken to new heights to ensure that it continues to be the leading light in producing the country’s most talented women footballers.
“I would like to see the pool of women’s teams in the tournament to grow, including as many of the girls as possible. Soweto is quite a huge township and I am sure we can manage to raise more than 16 women’s teams to participate in the tournament,” Jane said.
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On her message to other aspiring women footballers, Jane urged the teenage girls to believe in their dreams and live them. “No matter what the challenges may be, they should not give up on their dreams, including dreams, outside of football,” said the Banyana stalwart, who has been capped more than 50 times and has just returned from a not-so-successful Rio Olympics in Brazil.
The Banyana squad returned home empty handed without winning a single match in the tournament but were proud representatives of southern Africa and the entire continent, along with their Zimbabwean counterparts.
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Clinix’s public relations officer, Lebogang Matseke, daughter of the founder of the group of hospitals, Dr Khamane ‘Kop’ Matseke, urged the girls to use football as a catalyst to uplift themselves, their families and their communities, from the clutches of poverty. “I would like to see more and more girls playing soccer, developing themselves, upgrading their families and giving back to the community which has made them who they are, which would include giving an opportunity to other aspiring girls in the same way as they have been given a chance.”
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