GWDL’s Women’s Month celebrations highlight the growth of the game
The month of August holds particular importance for the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), with Women’s Day falling on 9 August.
To celebrate it, the league hosts the GWDL Women’s Day Festival, which honours women’s contributions to football and celebrates the future of young stars in the game.
Ahead of the latest round of GWDL fixtures on Sunday, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Mondli Dube, the Administrator of the GWDL League and SAFA Gauteng, about the GWDL’s special month.
Commenting on the Women’s Day Festival, he said the event, hosted at Curro Hazeldean, in Pretoria, by Refilwe FC, was a resounding success. All teams were in action, including this season’s newcomers – Hellenic Falcons FC, Dinoko Rondebult, and SAFA Academy.
Dube said a high level of competitiveness and fair play was exhibited, while families, supporters, and community members attended in large numbers. The players, also, gained experience, confidence, and visibility through the live broadcast provided by SuperSport Schools.
Dube said the GWDL continues to gradually expand, and he praised the teams for their dedication to advancing women’s football.
The results are evident. One of the big success stories has been Katlego Malebana, who plays for the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies first team and has been included in the team for the ongoing Cosafa CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, in Johannesburg.
Players like Malebana, despite being only 16 years of age, are a testament to the growth and success of the GWDL. She is not a lone shining star, though. Other players from the GWDL have also participated in development Cosafa tournaments and the CAF African Schools Football Championship, which South Africa won in 2024, when Malebana captained the side.
Striker Leonay Kock, for example, plays for SAFA Academy and is a member of the u17 South African National Team.
“One thing that I took from the GWDL Women’s Day Festival was that the talent in women’s football is growing stronger, and with the right support these players can go very far,” Dube said.
To maintain the momentum beyond August, Dube said the GWDL would continue to concentrate on creating opportunities for young women footballers. He said the league would aim to create additional pathways for exceptional players to join academies and advance to higher leagues.
He mentioned the necessity of enhancing media coverage, which is generally lacking in women’s football within the country, by creating player spotlights and collaborating with media outlets to share the talent present in the GWDL.
Furthermore, Dube emphasised the importance of developing players off the pitch by providing and establishing platforms for life skills training and mentorship programmes.
The GWDL also tracks players’ progress through reports and feedback from teams to ensure continuous improvement.
While he expressed confidence that the league is on the right track, Dube said there is still room for improvement and a need for greater consistency.
“One day, we will triumph in the women’s FIFA World Cup,” he reckoned. “It is easy to lose sight of the journey while fixating on the destination. The future of women’s football is promising, and we are at the forefront on this continent.”
Meanwhile, the battle for the GWDL title has developed into a two-horse race between Mamelodi Sundowns and SAFA Academy. Currently, the Brazilians are four points clear of SAFA Academy, but their chasers have some games in hand.
There are tight battles being fought between the other teams to finish high up the league table and Dube has commended all teams for their unity, discipline, passion, hunger, determination, and resilience, which have stood out.
Players have not only developed their skills on the field, he said, but they have also grown as leaders.
In conclusion, Dube said he was pleased to witness a wide diversity of playing styles, which has enriched and enlivened the league.
He said every team possesses untapped potential that can be realised with the appropriate support.
FIXTURES
Sunday, 31 August
Curro Hazeldean
11:30 – Refilwe FC vs SAFA Academy
Panorama FC
11:30 – Panorama FC vs RESA
University of Pretoria
11:30 – Mamelodi Sundowns vs Tuks
Bonaero Park
11:30 – Kempton Park vs Dinoko Rondebult
Jeppe Quondam
11:30 – JVW vs Edenvale FC
Balfour Park
11:30 – Highlands Park vs Hellenic Falcons
