Sacred Heart College girls’ soccer team makes history

Sacred Heart College’s U12 girls’ football team will make history by being one of the first of four semi-finalists from South Africa that will make the trip to compete in the Danone Nations Cup soccer world finals taking place at the RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain between 10 and 12 October.

Since its inception in 2000, boys’ teams from all over the world, including South Africa, have been playing in the U12 competition but in 2017 Danone introduced a girls’ tournament to run alongside that of the boys.

The first tournament saw four countries on the sidelines, which increased to six last year and this year, there will be eight countries sending girls’ teams, including South Africa for the first time.

“The inclusion of a girls team this year is a natural progression and growth of our tournament,” said Marlinie Kotiah, head of corporate affairs at Danone Southern Africa.

“South Africa is one of only a few countries that has been participating in the Danone Nations Cup since its inception.

“Including girls in our tournament is in line with our new policy of promoting inclusive diversity, openness and changing mentalities. We want to encourage more children to follow their dreams on and off the field and this includes all youngsters no matter their gender, who they are, or where they come from.”

To rouse girls’ interest in soccer, which had been seen as a boys’ sport, Danone has brought in Amanda Dlamini, ex Banyana player, as the ambassador and role model. “Amanda has been involved in the tournament in the past and we have brought her in to assist in enticing girls to start playing the sport.

She started playing at the age of 12 and knows the stigma and challenges young girls face. Ultimately, she will be helping to uplift the sport and get more South African girls to play at the highest level or become stadium spectators too.