There has been a mixed reaction from some coaches to the new sponsorship of the SAFA national women’s league, Lethabo Kganyago (@ngwanamogoto) reports.
Betting company Hollywoodbets announced last week that they will inject R17 million into the women’s league for a season with an option to renew.
Under this deal the winners will get R2 million, the team that finishes second is set to get R1 million and the rest of the teams get R150 000.
Last year the South African Football Association (SAFA) couldn’t find a sponsor and league winners went home with R500 000.
Limpopo based First Touch Academy head coach John Hlako is pleased about the sponsorship saying the players deserve to play for something.
“You know football is played by poor kids from poor families you understand. We are lucky to have Hollywoodbets now to sponsor these girls. I wish, I wish they can get the salaries but I’m very happy we have a sponsor, I’m happy for the girls. You know women need a lot of things if they can get R2000, R3000 it would be fine for them, they will be able to buy themselves something,” Hlako told iDiski Times.
UWC coach Thina Mbuli is also pleased with the league’s sponsorship, however, feels the prize money could have been spread differently.
“You know I’m always honest with you. Obviously we are happy with the overall prize money of R2 million but from position two to one is R1 million. So the difference between two and one is a million and again you are saying number three is worth R150 000. So number three is the same as number 14? But we are happy, I think it’s a start thanks to Hollywood.”
Meanwhile First Touch and UWC played to a 1-1 draw in their league match in Seshego outside Polokwane this weekend, a result Hlako thought his side was lucky to achieve.
For Mbuli she felt her side should have bagged maximum points according to how they played. First Touch are second on the log with 13 points, two behind log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and UWC in fifth with eight points all from five encounters.
