Club America women sporting director explains Liga MX Femenil growth

The Liga MX Femenil is the professional women’s league in Mexico started in 2017 with two competitions each year – the Clausura tournament from January to May and the Appertura tournament from July to December.

Speaking to SABC Sport in Spain, Carrion says the introduction of a professional women’s league was implemented by the Mexican Football Federation and club owners.

“The owners as well as the federation voted that it was a good idea for teams in the league to have women’s teams – it was only a senior women’s team in the beginning, but after two years, the U17 league came as a pilot," Carrion said.

“It was almost like an invitation that any team that wanted to participate in the U17 could do so, and then a year later, the league said, well, this is working, so we’re gonna do it. Now, we also have the U19s.”

Women’s football matches are usually sold out in Mexico, and Carrion believes it’s because of how fans are attached their original clubs.

Liga MX Femenil also currently has four Banyana Banyana players – Thembi Kgatlana at Club Tigres UANL, Jermaine Seoposenwe at Monterrey, with former UWC captain Amogelang Motau recently joining Hildah Magaia at Club Tijuana.

Carrion says they are now looking into bringing younger foreign players in order to develop the league and the players.

“We need to improve the level and develop the younger ones and that needs to be done with the youth teams. So, since we don’t have the space in between, that’s why the league is thinking, maybe we should bring in two under-23 foreign players," she explained.

"And not to take our Mexican players' spots, but just for them to get used to a higher level of football and adapt to the league – it’s a win, win because that U23 player can become really successful abroad. 

"For example, right now we have a Brazilian player, Priscila [Flor da Silva] – she’s only 20 years old but she now plays for Brazil’s first team, and she’s really, really good, so that’s the idea with the club."

READ: Noko Matlou confirms Banyana Banyana retirement