SA quick to forget its woman sports stars

DESPITE challenges encountered because of gender inequalities and discrimination, women in South Africa sport have claimed championship titles and medals. All sportspeople eventually retire and sportspeople worldwide do not expect to retire into a life of struggle, especially after all they have achieved for themselves and their country. But after having served South Africa sport and represented the country internationally, several retired black sportswomen are struggling to survive. Among them are athlete Janice Josephs, pictured, from Retreat, weightlifter Babalwa Ndleleni from Crossroads, and soccer player Jo-Anne Solomons from Cloetesville in Stellenbosch.

Ndleleni and Josephs were on the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s Operation Excellence programme (Opex), which prepared athletes for participation in world championships, continental events and the Olympic Games. Ndleleni got R2 000 a month and Josephs got R6 000 a month from Opex.

Solomons received stipends and match bonuses from Safa when Banyana Banyana played internationally.

Josephs was a talented schoolgirl athlete, becoming SA schools champion in several disciplines including the sprints, javelin and long jump. She represented South Africa at several African and world championships.

Ndleleni was introduced to weightlifting at school in Nyanga. She became Western Province and South African champion, won numerous African titles and gold medals and clinched a bronze medal at the 2008 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Solomons played club and provincial football. She was a member of the South Africa’s women’s national team, played in African championships, friendly internationals and World Cup qualifying events. She remains one of Banyana Banyana’s prolific goal scorers, having scored 49 international goals.

She retired from international football in 2006. All three would love to be involved full-time in sport; to be coaching or managing girls and women. Solomons lives at home with her pensioner mother and is looking for a job.

Ndleleni, 35, can’t find a job in sport. She worked in a call centre and now has an admin job, but can’t survive on her income.

Josephs retired from competitive athletics, aged 32. Two years ago, she won a silver medal at the African championships in Benin. A few weeks ago she was forced to seek refuge in a shelter for homeless people in Paarl.

When the medals are counted, the names of Josephs, Ndleleni and Solomons will be up there.

But why can’t they be further be involved in sport?

In the billions of rand allocated to sport in South Africa, surely opportunities can be made for our former star sportswomen ?