Portia Modise

If only the reward equated the sweat you break…

-LesediSetlhodi-Paul

Source: Soccer Laduma

https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/banyana/porti a-modise-call-it-a-day-as-she-retires-from-professional-football/210053 Having to quit something that you are most passionate about must be a tough choice to make as for some that may be the only thing that brings them any tad of joy. Some people don ’t even make money from their talents but still wake up every morning, show up and do their best. Portia Modise (38), former Banyana Banyana player, the only African footballer of any gender to score 100 international goals had to step back from her professional career because of inequalities in the game and speaking up about those.

Of course, having played for Banyana from the age of 16 made her a seasoned player with an illustrious career; she has seen it all in the game and wouldn ’t have wanted future players to go through the same challenges that she experienced. Female football players around the world have shared similar concerns pertaining to not being treated fairly as their male counterparts; having to play in the same pitches, sponsorship, harassment, sexual assault, not getting enough support or recognition as professional athletes.

“When I started playing for BanyanaBanyana I played with great women football players and I have learnt a lot from them. The challenges were still there and they were worse, we fought as hard as we could. ”Modise may have been the youngest player when she started off but that did not dishearten her from speaking up about the stadiums they played at, the harassment that occurred and the gender pay gap. “I don ’t understand why we are not treated the same, we sing the same national anthem, we wear the same jersey and we are all professional athletes representing our country. Why can ’t I be rewarded the same so that I can take care of myself and my family?”

For Modise, it has been hard watching interviews whereby male players would be highlighting how their lives have changed after being part of the PSL and some even playing for Bafana Bafana, how they were able to change the disadvantaged situations they come from and display their lavish lifestyles on social platforms. “For those that aspire to be professional women football players, I’d say that they should study as back-up, football on its own as a career is quite risky. You could sustain an injury, lose form or find yourself in situations of living from hand to mouth. It would be great if female players could buy themselves houses and take care of their families too. ”

For Bafana Bafana in particular, the national team has not encouraged supporters to wear the national jersey and fill up stadiums when they played as their performance is not that good. Bafana Bafana have failed to qualify for AFCON five times already since their re-admission to international football in 1992. Should we even talk about the World Cup that they last qualified for since 2002? And the 2010 World Cup, on a silver platter and yet they still didn ’t make it.

Banyana Banyanacurrently ranks third on the African continent. Having only started playing in 1993, the team has made gaits that ought to be recognized and backed. They have played in almost every Women ’ s AFCON, won a number of COSAFA Cup tournaments and qualified for the World Cup in 2019.

Being seen on TV playing for the national team comes with enormous social pressure. “We go through depression as women football players that people seem not to know about. We come from the same disadvantaged backgrounds as the male football players, we have the same responsibilities towards our families just as they do. We show up and put on a brave face with the hope that things will get better but they don ’t. ” Modise further highlighted how they are put on a pedestal as professional athletes by the society as they assume that they earn the same salaries as their male counterparts. “You are Portia Modise but you have no money. You still use taxis. That is very stressful for us. ” In a recent interview with IOL, it is clear that inequality is still a principal issue for Banyana Banyana as reiterated by Thembi Kgatlana. “If Bafana is playing at FNB, we can ’t be playing at Dobsonville. ”

Modise feels that with more recognition, sponsorship and the broadcasting of women ’ s games, the winds of change may just blow in their

favour. “When will we get to the premier league stage? This would encourage more women to take up the sport and those that are already playing to focus on soccer as their careers. These male teams need to have ladies teams, more people will be aware and this will develop female footballers. ”Modise wishes that as a start ladies teams could be given a chance to play opening matches for the teams that are already in the PSL. Two teams, two genders, two games one pitch and 180 minutes.

Women in higher positions also need to come on board in terms of supporting those in sport. Stadiums are packed with both genders when male footballers are playing but the same cannot be said about women players. There is not even enough female supporters that show up to the games let alone watch the games on TV if they are broadcasted.

"We go through depression as

women football players.