Banyana players to feature in Gauteng All-Stars Games

In a bid to celebrate the recent developments of women’s football in the country, Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and recreation launched the Gauteng All-Stars Games, which will see ex-Banyana Banyana players and present players going up against each other in a one-day invitational tournament.

The All Stars games was launched at the Johannesburg Stadium on Tuesday, with the likes of Banyana players Janine van Wyk, Andile Dlamini and former players like Simphiwe Dludlu and Portia Modise in attendance.

The games are set to be played at the Tsakane Stadium on Saturday.

“It is a great initiative with the fact that it will be professional women’s tournament because never had that before. And for me, it makes excited because kids will be able to come and watch women’s football and some of them will find a team to play for.

“The tournament will create a big jungle and open opportunities and probably forward it will grow bigger and better,” said Modise.

With former players and current playing set to take each other in a four-team tournament, Modise says this tournament is not even about playing per se, but actually getting players to know more about the South African senior national women’s team history.

“It’s not even about playing. I always cry that we don’t have that history of Banyana players and the database, players come and go and we don’t have their history. Future players and current players o don’t have the history of women’s football and they playing it,” she added.

“They wearing jerseys, but they don’t even know where it comes from. So, I think bringing them (ex-players and current players) together will give light to current and future Banyana players about the history of the team.”

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