The SA Football Association (Safa) has launched a long-term partnership with the Mandela Legacy, which will take the form of the annual Winnie Mandela International Challenge – an event where Banyana Banyana will face top-class opposition.
The first match of the Challenge will be against The Netherlands on Saturday, at the Cape Town Stadium.
Also announced at the launch was a clash against Sweden, billed the Albertina Sisulu Centenary Challenge – and this will take place on Tuesday, January 22, also at the Cape Town Stadium.
“We are here to honour outstanding families in the history of South Africa, that is the Mandela and Sisulu families – specifically, Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, these are big giants in the history of our country," said Safa president Danny Jordaan.
"They conducted themselves with grace, dignity and integrity and always put the interests of the country first, so we cannot let their memories disappear. As Safa, we have spoken to the families and they have both agreed to ensure that we keep their legacy alive.”
Trophies for the inaugural Winnie Mandela International Challenge & the Albertina Sisulu Centenary Challenge where @Banyana_Banyana will face Netherlands and Sweden on the 19th & 22nd respectively in @CityofCT at the Cape Town Stadium @SAFA_net @SasolLeague @SasolSA pic.twitter.com/NTmqXjnsCI
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) January 15, 2019
“We are glad to be playing these matches at a time when Banyana Banyana is getting ready to play in their first World Cup tournament, when the coach has just been named the Best Woman coach on the continent, and we also have the best Woman Player in the team – so we believe this is the right time to face the likes of Sweden and Netherlands.
“The matches are also part of South Africa’s preparations for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup which kicks off in June in France."