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Speaker Notes For Mec Bernice Sinxeve At The Hand Over Of The Team Attire And Equipment To The Richmond Ladies Soccer Team

Programme Director
Players, Coaching Staff of the Richmond Ladies Soccer Club
Representatives from SAFA
Members of the Media
Distinguished Guests
Good Evening.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great honour and privilege for me to be invited here and be with you today at this important ceremony where the Richmond United Ladies Soccer Team will receive their official team attire and equipment for their participation in the first ever National Women’s League. I will not bore you with a long speech , but please allow me so say a few words , or should I say it the way Oubaas of Sewende Laan use to say it “ n paar geveelde woorde

However before I can continue I would like to share a very inspirational passage which I read from the book “ More than a hero: Muhammad Ali’s Life Through His Daughter’s Eyes Muhummad Ali’s daughters arrived at home wearing clothes that were not modest. His story as told by one of his daughters:

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said , “ Hana , everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered with layers and layers of rock. You got to work hard to get them”

He looked at me with serious eyes “Your body is scared. You’re are far more precious than diamond and pearls, and you should be covered too”

So to the Richmond United team, your bodies are far more valuable than diamonds and therefore the attire you will be receiving will be covering your precious bodies and that will make you shine like diamonds in the sky. Not only will you shine like diamonds in the sky, but it unifies your diversity and you will stand tall together as one. Ladies you deserve the best and you received the best here today.

I believe that the team possesses the kind of discipline and determination one needs to play a competitive sport. I also believe that we have women here who are pursuing their dreams.

And it is a given fact that no one can stop women that is committed, dedicated and driven to achieve their dreams

I say to you all, half the battle is won, by just being part of this unified team and representing your province.

You have managed to play your hearts out here to be selected for the Richmond United First Team that will be participating in the National Women’s League. You have managed to sacrifice hours of your time to hone your skills in order for you to be here today.

Now the challenge that exists is to play like a team. Play extremely hard. Represent not only your team but our province too. And remember to have fun while doing it.

These kinds of opportunities exists so that we may begin to see more and more women in sport taking their place on the international stage and flying the South African flag high.

Government is serious about women’s participation in sport, this is why we give you all the support we can. We therefore support the vision and goals of the National Women’s League.

Remember that this competition is being played against all provinces in the country. This therefore serves as a platform for you to showcase your talent and skills and therefore be identified by the selectors and coaches of the National Team.

The Department of Sport, Art and Culture dedicates most of its budget to Sport Development. We are of the firm belief that in fact sport can be a useful tool on the road of reconciliation ,redress and nation building.

We also believe that sport plays a crucial role as a national unifier and facilitates social cohesion in ways that people cannot even begin to imagine.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Very importantly as well, is that whilst we fight for the emancipation of women we also stem-out all forms of Patriarchy and fight against male Chauvinism in the circles of sport. It is a known fact that soccer is a male dominated sport, but yet it is a proven fact that Bayana Bayana is performing much better on the International Scene than their male counter parts.  

Women’s soccer is not yet one of the most popular sport played by women across the province , and as a Department will be embarking on a campaign to development and promote ladies football.

Competition will be tough, but that’s how it is meant to be.

Good luck to the players and well done

Air Jordan

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