Phoenix Elites SA and GWSL partnership set to uplift women’s football
The Gauteng Women’s Soccer League (GWSL), formerly known as the Gauteng Women’s Soccer Tournament, an annual competition hosted at the end of October and extending into November, has grown year on year. Recently, it announced a game-changing partnership with Phoenix Elites SA, which is set to further boost the event.
Now heading into its fourth edition this year, the GWSL has dedicated itself to being the only tournament that exclusively focuses on young girls and women’s football teams from across Gauteng. Zimbabwean sides have also added their flair to the competition.
Teams from the Gauteng Women’s Development League (GWDL), Sasol Gauteng, and SAFA Regional Leagues, as well as university clubs, are eligible to compete in the tournament.
In a recent exclusive interview, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Mondli Dube, the Director of the GWSL, and Melissa Sall, the Managing Director of Phoenix Group SA.
Phoenix Elites SA possess a diverse profile – a registered entity focused on youth empowerment through sport and development initiatives, engaging in a wide range of activities from sports to rehabilitation centres and children’s homes.
Sall informed SuperSport Schools Plus that the partnership with GWSL has been developing over an extended period of time. She said it wasn’t able to come together in 2024, but now Phoenix Elites SA is well-positioned to contribute to the GWSL.
Dube said the partnership involves diverse activation channels, which include networking opportunities, a grassroots programme, and shared brand values focused on youth empowerment, teamwork, and perseverance.
Both parties [GWLS and Phoenix Elites SA] have agreed to work jointly towards a shared vision of uplifting underprivileged youth, with a specific focus on community development, girls’ soccer initiatives and educational enrichment through sport.
Sall stated the partnership with the GWSL was logical for Phoenix Elites SA as it resonated with the values of the organisation and what it represents.
“We don’t believe that there’s only one winner,” she said. “Yes, we understand it is part of the claim that there needs to be a winner, but for us, everything that we do is about longevity,” Sall said about the deal.
“Are we merely stating that we are organising a tournament, and once someone wins R20 000, that is the end of it? Or are we considering how we can ensure the sustainability of this team from the R20 000 prize – that this team is indeed developing, and the players are receiving the essential support they require within the sports industry?” Sall asked.
She said her organisation was also aiming to collaborate with the GWSL on additional initiatives beyond the end of the year tournament. “If the events that they are organising align with our vision and the way our organisation functions, we will certainly provide our support,” she stated.
In addition, said Sall, Phoenix Elites SA will also host their own tournament in October. It would be entirely distinct from any other tournament, she reckoned. The tournament, an invitational event, will feature teams that have been identified as having specific needs.
“There will be first-place prize money, but for each and every team that will be invited, we have a specific tailor-made award or prize that they are getting that is beneficial to the team.
“For instance, we’ve identified that there are teams where half of a team does not have soccer boots. We will be supplying that team with soccer boots”
The GWDL and Phoenix Elites SA listed six shared goals that they will work on together:
– Awareness and visibility, featuring female athletes in mainstream media, launching integrated marketing campaigns across TV and social media to elevate the profile of the tournament.
– Infrastructure and talent development – building a strong, lasting foundation for women’s football.
– Innovation.
– Commercial visibility – having a sustainable business model around the GWDL.
– Cultural and social impact.
– Legacy creation.
“The partnership aims to grow the game, uplift the athletes, and inspire communities. The partnership emphasises balance in commercial goals with a deep sense of purpose and responsibility,” Dube said.
