South Africa women’s Under-17 coach, Simphiwe Dludlu believes that there is so much more that should be done to celebrate women.
As the world and different industries commemorate 8 March as the 2022 International Women’s Day, the Bantwana coach hopes for a society that enables women to be celebrated for all kinds of achievements. This is fitting for this year’s campaign theme #BreakTheBias.
“When celebrating the day, it shouldn’t be about heartache. It should be the same as celebrating a birthday, a milestone of being a woman alive. Of being a citizen of the world, a person that adds value to the world. We should be creating platforms where women get to celebrate themselves in different industries,” she says.
Mzansi gets to celebrate women’s day twice in a year, the International Women’s Day in March and National Women’s Day on 9 August this is after the women of 1956 marched to petition against the country’s pass laws. August is dubbed the women’s month in South Africa with celebration events taking place the whole month in different areas of life and not only in sport. This is also the time when several women’s football tournaments are hosted around the country. The gsport Awards which celebrate women in sports, among other initiatives, not only in South Africa but the continent as well, are also hosted on Women’s Month.
“For me, on Women’s Day, we’re slaving away because we are playing in tournaments and doing all sorts of things. Maybe when we celebrate International Women’s Day we should come with gifts, funding and things that are donated to women and different programs. We are uplifting a group of women who have been involved in a good cause.
“To better celebrate this day, we should come up with (solid) ideas 11 months before the date. We should have a round table discussing how do we embrace women in different spectrums then we will know that there are certain things that are happening to better their lives, not only football. Exchanging experiences with people from other countries, knowing that when the time comes (IWD) there will be women from that part of the world meeting with others exchanging ideas and experiences. That’s what I would like to see for this day,” she adds.
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