Football icons kick off women’s five-aside
Already in its second year, the Castle Lager Africa 5s social football league has added a new dimension by introducing a women’s league.
The league has also spread its footprint by adding three countries to the original six the social five-a-side tournament started with last year.
Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda will now join South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Furthermore, communities around SA will also have a taste of the action as the community version of the league will be brought to their doorsteps at Action Sports Arenas closest to them.
Former Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini, who has been appointed as the women ambassador for the Castle Lager Africa 5s, applauded the move.
“It’s a first of its kind [for women],” Dlamini said.
“I think the biggest job for us is to try and really get everyone to grasp the idea of women footballers playing Africa 5s, because it’s something that has never been heard of.
“We need to make as much noise as we can, in terms of encouraging women.
“It is always so difficult for us to get into a space which is male dominated.
“But I think with the quality and support that we have from Castle it will be so much easier going out there and encouraging people, not only to consume the brand, but also to be part of what they believe in.”
The campaign will continue to be spearheaded by Africa’s soccer icon Samuel Eto’o, who will be joined by an array of other legends in SA’s Matthew Booth, Ivo Mapunda of Tanzania, Tinashe Nengomasha from Zimbabwe, Zambia’s Christopher Katongo and Siza Dlamini of Swaziland.
Dlamini said she did not hesitate when approached to be the ambassador.
The concept had come at the right time as SA was celebrating Banyana’s qualification for the World Cup.
Vaughan Croeser, Castle Lager brand director, expressed his delight and said: “The tournament will be live. One can go to our website: Africa5s.com
“You can preregister your team and you have to select the province that you are in.
“We will show you the closest venue, where the community playoffs will be happening.
“We are partnered with Action Sports Arenas, so across the country they have a footprint and that is where the community playoffs will take place,” he said.
Champions from each country will battle it out for the coveted trophy and Africa 5s title in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The ultimate winners will walk away with an all-expenses paid trip to a Ligue 1 match in Milan, hosted by Eto’o.