It’s not about winning, it’s about giving

PORTIA Modise’s passion for the development of women’s football is such that she would rather forfeit victory as long as a match helps uplift a player or two.

It is for this reason that the country’s all-time leading goal scorer is not hell bent on leading her team, Team Portia, to success in tomorrow’s Gauteng All Stars Games in Tsakane.

“I know that for most people it looks like Team Portia has already won before we even start playing. But for us it is not all about winning. We want to use this event to showcase women’s football to our communities and to get them to gel wit us and start really supporting us,” said the former Banyana Banyana superstar.

“This project is very important for women’s football because of its unique nature that provides us legends an opportunity to give back to the game and mingle with the current stars and the upcoming players.

“I see this is a chance for us to make these youngsters understand where women’s football comes from and to share our experiences with them. We have to make them aware of what it took to get us to be as successful as we became but also to advice them on some of the pitfalls that come with being in this game.”

Modise’s team is one of four that will participate in this innovative new tournament. The teams are made up of legends, current Banyana stars as well as Sasol League players plus members of the national Under20 and 17 squads.

Modise is captain of her side with the other three sides being skippered by current Banyana captain Janine van Wyk (Team Janine), former Banyana star and current national Under-17 coach Simphiwe Dludlu (Team Shorty) as well as erstwhile senior national team player Keneilwe Mathibela (Team Maestro).

The tournament will be played in a round robin format with each team playing two matches lasting 45 minutes.

In the event of a draw the winner will be decided via penalties.

Three points will be awarded for a win; two for a win from the penalty shoot-out and a point for defeat in the shoot-out. The top two teams will contest the final.

Not that Modise, whose side squares up to Team Shorty in the opening match, will be thinking much of the final.

“I am just excited that we have a pro event that will help women’s football make a mark. My hope is that this serves to inspire young players and opens doors for more to take the game seriously. And hopefully this will show corporate South Africa that women’s football is worth backing.”

She expressed her gratitude to the Gauteng Department of Sport and Recreation for the concept.

“The whole concept of having former, current and future players coming together is brilliant because it will help us legends gel with the young ones. As legends our plan is to use this time with the young ones to make them aware of the history of our game. They need to know when they wear a particular Banyana jersey number that who wore it before and learn to respect it and want to make a similarly telling contribution in it.”

The Gauteng All Star Games are scheduled to kick off at 11am tomorrow.

The winning team will donate equipment to a beneficiary team they have selected to represent and also gift them a cash donation.

Also, each team will select a charitable organisation of its choice that will receive an equal share of donated goods collected at the stadium.