Sasol prolongs  Banyana Banyana sponsorship

Wrenelle Stander, Sasol Vice President for Corporate Affairs

 

 

Nie Cele

One of the country’s integrated energy and chemical company Sasol, believes that its association with Banyana Banyana is paying dividends and was an impeccable decisions to take.

 

This was a sentiment echoed at a recent sponsorship renewal announcement at a packed eventthat took place at their headquarters in Sandton.

 

Wrenelle Stander, Sasol Vice President for Corporate Affairs, told the packed audience thather organisation was very excited to extend their title sponsorship of Sasol Banyanaand  Sasol League for a further four year-period up to 2021.

Making the ground-breaking announcement, an elated Stander said it was another red-letter day in Sasol’s longstanding partnership with SAFA, specifically in regard to the on going empowerment of young women, through the beautiful game of football.

 

 

She reminded the audience that, It was in 2009, when Sasol took a bold step to refocus its partnership with SAFA towards the development of women’s football.

 

“This landmark decision resulted in Sasol becoming the first sponsor of the Senior National Women’s Football team, and the establishment of the Sasol League.

 

“As a direct result of our investment in women’s football, the landscape for Sasol BanyanaBanyana has forever changed and we are extremely proud of what they have achieved in such a short time,” she said.

 

Stander also pointed the following few notable success examples which she said were big achievements.

• Qualifying for back-to-back Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016, the only South African national football team to achieve this.

 

• Participating in all the Africa Women’s Championship tournaments since 2010.

 

• Through international exposure, six players have received international contracts with teams in Europe and the USA.

 

• Eleven players are currently studying in the USA through sports scholarships, while at least 39 of the core group of 49 players have degrees or are studying towards one.

 

• Six players have also earned over 100 caps for appearances with the national team, and one former player, Portia Modise, still holds the record of over 100 international goals scored – the highest ever for a football player, for both men and women, in South Africa.

 

Stander also argued that equally, the Sasol League has provided a robust platform for women football players to develop and showcase their skills to an audience of national coaches and talent scouts.

 

“The league remains one of only a handful of women’s football leagues in the world, with few countries having succeeded in managing and maintaining a women’s football league.

 

“For Sasol, we consider ourselves as more than just a sponsor.  We are a partner to SAFA in the empowerment of young women though sport,” she pointed.

However with tongue in cheek, she warned that her organisation was expecting Banyana to qualify for all the major tournaments coming up over the next four years, including the Women Africa Cup of Nations, Women’s World Cup and Olympic Games.

“In addition, we know that you will continue to be role models for our nation’s youth,” she said.