Leading up to the 2010 World Cup, the South African public was encouraged to wear their Bafana Bafana jerseys on Fridays to show their support for the senior men’s team.
There’s hardly any excitement as Banyana prepare to compete in their first ever World Cup, in France from June 7 to July 7. Banyana are in Group B with Spain, Germany and China.
“Where is the soccer Fridays? People used to wear their jerseys and things would be written and people in the kasi [township] would say ‘siyaya eFrance’ [we are going to France]. We are also going to France, why are you not recognising us? We are going there,” Modise said.
“You guys must spread the word, we need to wear those jerseys. It’s soccer Friday. Support our girls, they deserve. We belong in this country at the end of the day.”
Modise will dust off her boots to play in the Gauteng All Stars Games at Tsakane Stadium on Saturday. The one-day tournament is a competition for women that will feature four teams, captained by Modise (Team Portia), Banyana captain Janine van Wyk (Team Janine), Keneilwe Mathibela (Team Maestro) and national under-17 women’s coach Simphiwe Dludlu (Team Shorty).
All teams have current and former Banyana players, while players from the national under-17s and 20s, as well as the Sasol Gauteng Women’s League.
Entrance is free.