International soccer returns to Nelson Mandela Bay next week when the metro hosts Banyana Banyana and the Cosafa Women’s Championship over an 11-day period.
Having successfully hosted matches in the 2010 Fifa World Cup and more recently the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations, the Bay will now entertain 11 leading African countries at the Wolfson and Gelvandale stadiums starting on Wednesday next week until September 22.
The teams will be divided into three sections.
Banyana Banyana are in Group A with Madagascar, Malawi and Botswana.
The SA women, who slipped into Port Elizabeth this week, play Madagascar in the opening match of the tournament at the Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakele at 3.30pm.
Safa Eastern Cape provincial secretary Isaac Klaas said it was exciting to have been given the opportunity to host the event.
“As Safa Eastern Cape, we are very happy and feel really blessed that we were awarded this opportunity to host this beautiful and prestigious women’s tournament,” he said.
“We just finished off women’s month and would have loved to host it in August, but September is also a significant month as we celebrate our heritage.
“This will give us the opportunity as the Eastern Cape to display the different cultures we have in the province to our colleagues in Africa.
“This tournament will also assist us in the development of women’s football in the province.
“We don’t have players in the national team, so this is an opportunity to motivate women to go to the stadium and see those players in action.
“We have talent here in the Eastern Cape but our players need to have a high level of discipline and commitment to the game.
“Football nowadays is a business. It creates opportunities for our players to go to school, meet influential people and even get employment.
“So we are very happy to be hosts and hope after this tournament women’s football will grow in the Eastern Cape.”
Klaas also applauded the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality for agreeing to host the tournament.
“Eastern Cape people at large and in particular those from Nelson Mandela Bay where this tournament will be hosted, should come out in their numbers,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to go all out and support the team. Go and support Banyana Banayana as much as you can. They are already in the Bay.”
Most of the matches will be played at Wolfson, with only three matches scheduled for the Gelvandale Stadium.
Klaas said hosting the games at Wolfson was a strategic move.
“We chose Wolfson to host the games because it is in the heart of Nelson Mandela Bay’s township,” he said.
“We are guaranteed to get the support of the people there.
“Also, the stadium is just walking distance for many people, they don’t need transport and, if they do, taxis to and from the stadium are easily accessible.
“Big matches have been played at that stadium. The former Bay United gained promotion to Premier Soccer League in that stadium.”
Unlike in previous years, the Eastern Cape is not represented in the Banyana squad.
“Of course we feel bad not having a player in the Banyana squad to represent the province,” Klaas said.
“We cannot be happy that we host an international tournament event and as Eastern Cape we don’t even have a single player in the team.
“But it is indeed a challenge to Sasol League teams and the players to say here is an opportunity presented to you.”
Entry to the stadium is free but will be controlled with the issuing of tickets.