Ria confirms World Cup bid
Tshepo Ntsoelengoe
South African Football Association (Safa) deputy president Ria Ledwaba (above) has confirmed that there will be a women’s national league in the country by 2019 and South Africa is looking at bidding to host the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023.
Ledwaba, who was recently appointed as deputy president, confirmed the news during a press conference aimed at congratulating Banyana Banyana on qualifying for the 2018 Women’s Afcon in Ghana at the Safa house yesterday.
However, Ledwaba revealed they are yet to secure sponsorship for the league which will consist of nine provincial winning teams of the Sasol regional league, one university team as well two PSL team’s in Bloemfontein Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns.
“We haven’t found sponsors yet, but we are still in negotiations with a lot of potential sponsors. But I am here to confirm that the league is happening,” said Ledwaba.
“We are bidding for the World Cup, but remember before you start planning you must get the government on board. So this will be discussed during our meeting with the Minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation (Tokozile Xasa) next Friday.”
In congratulating Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis and her charges, Ledwaba added that it was imperative for Banyana to qualify for Afcon because the main objective is to take part in the inaugural 2020 Fifa Women’s League and only the finalists of the continental competition will have that privilege.
“We need to be in the final of that tournament, it is a must. She (Ellis) knows, it is her mandate.
“Yes, we know that top three teams will qualify for the World Cup, but for us, the key is to qualify for the 2020 Fifa World Women’s League.
“We don’t want to participate in that league at the later stages, we want to be there when it starts. So we need to be in final because only top two teams in the continent will qualify.”
We are bidding for the World Cup, but remember before you start planning you must get the government on board.
Safa deputy president Ria Ledwaba