Dialogue in Braamfontein encourages women to participate more actively in sport

Is the idea of a non-sexist sports community lost on most?

The Wits Conference Centre in Braamfontein sought to answer this question and was the scene for the Women in Sport dialogue on 23 June.

The event served to highlight the importance of female sport participation while seeking to ensure that an equilibrium is struck with male counterparts.

Media specialist Kass Naidoo headlined the event and discussed vital leadership points.

Naidoo said the journey through life can be hard due to a number of personal barriers. “Individual transformation is a requirement in order for personal barriers to be overcome. Good leaders don’t just rush up the hill, they also know when to take a step back, re-evaluate, do some introspection and redirect if need be,” said Naidoo.

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At the age of 27, she became the first female television cricket commentator in South Africa.

“Aspiring and active female athletes ought to be comfortable with discomfort. You need to tackle discomfort by being comfortable with it. I’m not here to tell you what your barriers are, but rather to tell you that you should ‘smash’ them.”

Other speakers included Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation representatives Mpumi Yingwane and Nonhlanhla Maboa, Wits Basketball player Rudo Kaseke and eNCA journalist and para-athlete Palesa Manaleng.

Yingwane spoke about the importance of actively engaging with other women across different spheres of the sporting world, adding that a like-minded approach is pivotal for leveraging active and successful female sports participation.

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Meanwhile, Kaseke highlighted barriers that hinder active female sporting participation. “There should be equal incentives at various levels, equal media coverage, better sport education and exposure in more culturally driven areas,” Kaseke said, offering suggestions on the issue.

In closing, Maboa said, “As women, we need to stop pulling each other down and pull each other up. As leaders, we must have a vision. Sport [offers a range of opportunities] and can be turned into a business. Whether it’s a sport academy or running a magazine.”

Edited by Stacey Woensdregt