The pending launch of the professional National Women’s League next month may be the best omen for the development of women’s football in the country but it has also disrupted teams that ply their trade in the Sasol Women’s League.
The much-awaited introduction of the league has opened opportunities for many players and boosted activity in the transfer market as players knock on the doors of those teams already promoted into the new league in the hope of securing contracts.
Teams in the Sasol League are crying foul as they are losing talented players in their droves.
For the players securing contracts, it will not just boost their careers but will also mean they will be able to draw fat salaries as professionals and may also be scouted by overseas clubs.
One such club that has been hit hardest by this exodus is Alexandra’s Bluebirds Ladies FC which has lost more than five of its senior players, with the most notables being Tshwarelo Digauta, skipper Vangile ‘Nyatama’ Mnguni, Devaney Rhoda, Noxolo ‘Zongo’ Gcina and keeper Siphesihle Madala.
Alex News was lucky to bump onto Mnguni during Birds’ game against Croesus Ladies in the Alex Northrand derby of the Sasol Leagu at the Number 3 Square Grounds as she came to watch and give support to her teammates.
When asked why she was not in the team, Nyatama, as she is popularly known in football circles, said she had an injury, hence she was not selected for the team and will also miss the Map Games senior women’s tournament.
“I have a nagging hamstring that I suffered in one of our matches a few weeks ago but I am hopeful that I will overcome it and return to the team,” she said.
But her coach Bulelani Maphanjwa disputed this and claimed she was one of the senior players that had left the club in search of greener pastures.
“I am not sure why she was not forthright with you,” said Maphanjwa. “We haven’t seen her in training for several months now and we have heard she was trying her luck in the other league [National Women’s League], which is a good thing but she should have been upfront with us too.
“I am sure we would not have stood in her way but we would have opened the door for her to return if things do not work out well the other side.”
Balfour Park-based Croesus Ladies, better known as the Greek Queens, was also affected by the exodus but team manager Maria Athanassouli said the good thing was her players were upfront about it.
“I have lost quite a number of them but I am happy for them,” she said. “They told me upfront that they would like to try their luck and I gave them my blessings and told them if it does not work out well, Croesus is still their home and they welcome to return.”
Related article:
Sasol Women’s League set to kick off without the powerhouse of women’s football
