BLOEMFONTEIN – The stage is set for identifying talented women footballers with this year’s Dlala Ntombazana Women’s Tournament, scheduled for Saturday 13 December. It is expected to unleash potential future stars.
The participating teams will battle it out for top prizes, which include the main trophy, at the Bochabela Primary School in Bloemfontein. The objective of the tournament is twofold: to identify players with potential and to continue promoting women’s football.
This year marks the fifth instalment of the competition. It is organised by the illustrious coach Edwin Lisene, who had a successful stint with Richmond United Ladies FC, as well as the now defunct Bloemfontein Celtic women’s team.
He said hosting the tournament was inspired by the goal to identify talented players, some of whom have gone on to represent South Africa internationally both at the junior U20 and senior levels – Banyana Banyana. Some of the players have gone on to ply their trade internationally after securing contracts.
“A grassroots women’s football tournament is necessary for upliftment, as it provides a crucial platform for skill development and social empowerment,” said Lisene.
A success story is the discovery of Nthabiseng Majiya, currently on the books of the Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team. She had a good stint at the Northern Cape team, United.
“I identified Nthabiseng through this tournament and later recruited her to play for Richmond Ladies. She is the ambassador of the tournament and has been invited to be part of the tournament,” said Lisene.
Nthabiseng originates from the Free State town of Philippolis and is a regular fixture in the country’s senior team Banyana Banyana. She was part of the squad that won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).
Nthabiseng burst onto the football scene playing for Bloemfontein Strikers FC while at school. Her career took a dramatic turn after being enlisted by Richmond United.
She was the second-highest goal scorer in the Hollywoodbets Super League in her maiden 2021 season and was named the Hollywoodbets Super League Young Player of the Season for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The eight teams to feature in this year’s Dlala Ntombazana Women’s Tournament are: Bloemfontein Ladies, Napoli, Falcons Ladies, Dinonyane Ladies from Welkom, Diamond Ladies from Kimberley, City Ladies, Lewete Ladies and Tse Nyane Ladies.
Clubs will compete on a knockout basis to determine the two finalists. The overall winner will take home a gold medal plus a floating trophy, while the runner-up will receive a silver medal. The club finishing in third position will get a bronze medal.
Individual prizes include the golden boot award for the player finishing as the top goal scorer, player of the tournament, goalkeeper of the tournament, and young player of the tournament.
