Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Girls in a league of their own
SOCCER skills of young girls under the age of 10 were showcased at the University of the Western Cape’s She-Bobo football league last Saturday.
She-Bobo at UWC seeks to address the lack of competitive soccer for girls under the age of 10 in the Cape Metropole.
A total of 280 junior players represented 12 community clubs from across the city.
She-Bobo has been endorsed by South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan as well as former Manchester United and Bafana Bafana star, Quinton Fortune.
“It is a project that we are certainly delighted about and will support. It’s in the context of us making a bid for the Women’s World Cup in 2027. We are going to launch our intention to bid and then a full bidding process will be outlined by FIFA … around the time that we will see the launch of She-Bobo. It is indeed a wonderful initiative,” said Jordaan.
Jordaan noted UWC’s contribution to women’s football, saying that more than 15 Banyana Banyana players come from UWC.
She-Bobo is the brainchild of UWC spokesperson, Gasant Abarder.
“We believe that creating a platform for junior girl footballers is an investment in young girl children,” said Abarder.
“At UWC, we know full well how talented girl footballers are in a league of their own. We want to be their springboard for a whole new world that connects possibilities.”
Abarder said he was pleased at how the event turned out.
“The players and their clubs were the real stars and for the first time ever in South Africa, there was a junior football event for girls under the age of 10,” he said.
“What I like the most about soccer is the kicking of the ball,” said Liche Klassen of the Cape Flats Soccer Club.
Carl Swain, a mentor for Heideveld Female Football Academy’s under-8 team, said initiatives such as She-Bobo go a long way in promoting the game among young girls.
“It is important to let them know that they should not think of themselves as less than boys. They should see themselves as equals because with that mentality comes confidence that many girls are lacking, and it makes them doubt themselves and their abilities, both on and off the pitch,” said Swain.
“Young girls and young women are the jewels of the future, so I think that we as coaches should do our best to guide and protect our precious jewels.”
Abarder said the university wants to take the young girl footballers all the way into adulthood to enrol and study for a career of their choice at UWC and any other university.