South Africa’s local procurement advocacy campaign Proudly SA has called for the equitable support of local women’s football at the heroines’ welcoming of Africa’s football Queens, Banyana Banyana, who touched down on home soil this Tuesday morning at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.
The African Women’s Football champions cemented their position as the continent’s number 1 football team after defeating Morocco’s national squad 2-1 at the finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations over the weekend and have earned their place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Says Proudly SA Chief Marketing Officer Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, “We are honoured to have been a part of the homecoming celebration of SA’s official ‘Bunch of Winners,’ Banyana Banyana, who’ve undoubtedly shone an inspirational, encouraging light to the people of South Africa when it is most needed. The camaraderie was absolutely electrifying, the excitement was palpable, joy and pride was the order of the day.”
“The time has now come to give our national women’s football team the support that they need and that they deserve. In the same way South Africans have supported many other national sporting codes and teams, we call on them to also buy tickets, fill up stadiums and overcrowd broadcasting network spectrums whenever Africa’s heroines, Banyana Banyana are on the battlefield,” she added.
Ngidi emphasised the importance of supporting local sectors which command a high potential of making significant positive changes to SA’s local job creation index, which ultimately translates to a healthier economy.
“The jobs value chain of supporting sporting giants like Banyana Banyana is massive and cannot be underplayed. From broadcasting media houses to stadium vendors, informal traders and personnel, kit and regalia sponsors, logistics teams and partners, to the coaching and medical staff, sports management crews and ticketing to mention a few,” she said.
Ngidi added that Banyana Banyana’s win is a historic kick-off to Women’s Month in South Africa. Halala Mbokodo, Halala Banyana Banyana.