- The Mzansi Equality League, launched by LALIGA South Africa, offers young girls a safe space to play football and develop valuable life skills.
- The league promotes gender inclusivity and confidence-building through sports.
- It aims to create positive social change and opportunities for girls across South Africa.
Empowering girls by promoting diversity and inclusivity in sport. That is the key focus of the Mzansi Equality League, a unique football tournament designed to provide a safe and empowering space for young girls to play organised football.
The tournament, led by LALIGA South Africa and FUNDACIÓN LALIGA, is currently in South Africa for the first time. It kicked off at the Fives Futbol Court in Clifton on Saturday 12 October, and it will run for six weeks.
Taking part currently is five teams from various communities across Cape Town. Each team consists of 20 girls aged between 13 to 16.
Tresor Penku, managing director of LALIGA Africa, says the league aims to address socio-economic challenges.
“By providing young girls with access to opportunities in football, the league aims to keep them engaged in sports for longer. This initiative gets them out of their comfort zone. It is designed to build their confidence and empower them, fostering personal growth and development.”
He said the game goes way beyond just sports.
“Participants are provided with an opportunity to develop valuable life skills while building meaningful connections within their communities. By focusing on both sports and social development, the league aims to empower young women and promote a wider positive change in their lives.
Penku says bringing the league to South Africa will help promote women’s sports.
The league was originally launched as La Ligue d’Égalité in Cameroon and then expanded to Kenya.
“Bringing the league here is important because it can help promote gender equality, and build a good foundation for women’s football, although it is more focused on inculcating life and leadership skills to young girls.
“Being in South Africa reflects our commitment to empowering girls across the continent.”
According to Penku, LALIGA has seen the positive results the game has on the girls and how it improves their academics.
“In Cameroon, where we first launched this initiative together with our partner Petrichor, an NGO focused on human rights and community development, we’ve seen that the girls taking part tend to also do better in school and other areas of life.
“Participating in the league allows girls to maximise their footballing potential while helping them build their leadership abilities. It provides a safe environment for practising and refining their skills, helping them gain confidence, but more importantly it has a positive effect beyond the pitch.”
Platform for women
Penku said the league promotes women’s sports by providing a platform for female footballers to showcase their talent and compete at various levels.
“By highlighting the talents of female footballers, the league challenges stereotypes and fosters a culture of inclusivity, inspiring young girls to get involved. The league advocates for equal opportunities in sports and contributes to the overall growth of women’s sports at all levels.”
One of the soccer teams taking part is Oasis from an organisation called the Oasis Linking Lives Together based in Schaapkraal.
Mishalan Davids, head coach for Oasis, says thanks to Laliga the girls are now getting exposure to soccer.
“Girls don’t often get the opportunity to play soccer because in society it is seen as a boy sport. It’s a privilege for us to be one of the first teams to partake in this league. We usually hear about Laliga on TV but now we are part of it.”
She called on more organisations to support women’s sports.
“Our girls don’t get much exposure to the game of football. For them it’s not just about football, it’s an escape from their environment. When you are on the field your mind is focussed on nothing but the game.”
According to Penku, cultivating future leaders is crucial.
“We are equipping the girls with essential skills to become leaders in their communities through educational courses and training offered that will further support their personal growth, providing the kind of knowledge and experiences that promote community engagement as well as encouraging them to become active, positive contributors to society.”
