HWBSL should have been professionalised: Joseph Mkhonza

Mkhoza is one of the custodians of women’s football in the country, having been a part of Banyana Banyana’s first supporting staff in 1992, just after South African football was readmitted into FIFA. 

He further coached the national team between 2011 and 2014, taking over from Mamelodi Sundowns legend Augustine Makalakalane.

Speaking to SABC Sport Mkhonza says it is sad to witness the national league taking so long to be professionalised.

"Hollywoodbets is doing a great job, them and Sasol, they are doing a very, very good job in our country but we need to do more than what we are doing now. We need to get more sponsors and more money in women's football, for me, Hollywoobets [Super League] was supposed to be professional because it's a national league, it's supposed to be professional," Mkhonza said.

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Mkhoza highlighted the importance of a solid development structure in women’s football, to help feed the Super League and the national team.

"We need to be mindful of the future because I don't think we are looking at the future because I said just now, remember I said the under20s lost to Ethiopia and the under17s lost to Burundi and for me, Burundi, let me not discredit Burundi but if you look at all the other countries in Africa, they are improving with their development. So, we also need to improve our development," he added.

Reflecting on his significant contribution to women’s football, the 71-year-old stated that he would not have enjoyed a successful career without the support of the South African Football Association, Banyana Banyana sponsor Sasol, the players and his technical team.

 "It is not only about me alone, it's about all the people that were working with me, all the understanding that we had, even with the players and the technical staff, SAFA and Sasol and everybody who was involved,” he explained.

“We used to make a very good team because football is a team sport, you can't do it alone. We used to do proposals to SAFA and SAFA will approve them and Sasol will come on board and also help.

“I still feel that we could do better than what we are doing at the moment, especially in terms of making women's football to be professional."