Women’s World Cup 2015: South African team prepares

World Today

Women's World Cup 2015: South African team prepares

No developing nation has taken the trophy so far in the women’s World Cup, which doesn’t kick off in Canada until June 2015. However, inequality in the game is leveling out — in more ways than one. CCTV’s Guy Henderson reports from Johannesburg.

Women's World Cup 2015: South African team prepares

No developing nation has taken the trophy so far in the women's World Cup, which doesn't kick off in Canada until June 2015. However, inequality in the game is leveling out. This is happening in more ways than one. CCTV's Guy Henderson reports from Johannesburg.

Follow Guy Henderson on Twitter @guyhendersonsa

The men’s World Cup might get all the attention, but what about the women’s game?

The South African women’s team, Banyana Banyana, is arguably the best it’s ever been. The captain is Janine Van Wyk, who is not a household name just yet.

The African Women’s Championships (AWC) is in October, and success there secures a place at next year’s World Cup. The South African squad is on a tight schedule and heading off for an exhibition game (or ‘friendly’) in Namibia, and then training in Zambia.

In 2010, this country went football mad when the men’s competition came here. But since then, the national team has flopped. Banyana might still struggle to even half fill a stadium, but they’re catching up.

At the training ground, Van Wyk and her team had a sharper look and much-improved facilities — which were mainly due to a big cash injection from a single sponsor that’s perhaps taking the long view.

South Africa is bidding to host the 2019 Women’s World Cup. For coach Vera Pauw, it’s about more than just sport, but also about the opportunities it provides.

The team is a tight group, and reflective of the national demographic mix. With success, the team sends a message on many different levels.

CCTV’s Elaine Reyes interviews Mike Bako, an online sports analyst and Sports Managing Editor for Daily-National Dot Com, to talk more about the topic of women and football.

Mike Bako talks about women in football

CCTV's Elaine Reyes interviews Mike Bako, an online sports analyst and Sports Managing Editor for Daily-National Dot Com, to talk more about the topic of women and football.