Empowering women through sport
Palace Super Falcons Academy is a Sasol League participant, defending champions for both the regional Gauteng league and the national championship. In 2012, this team made history by defending the championship and winning it for the third time in succession.
PSF is made of individuals from various backgrounds; some grew up in the rural areas and some in the townships in and around Gauteng mostly. However, they have all been brought together with one shared passion and love, for soccer.
A majority of the girls grew up playing for small teams around their neighbourhood, aspiring to play for a big team like Palace Super Falcons. The technical director, Steyn Maredi has always had a good eye for talent and over the years has managed to spot great talent.
Since 2002, Palace Group has dedicated itself to contributing towards the success of the team. Looking back through the last 5 years alone, the group has contributed over R1.5 Million, towards the academy.
This academy has helped girls to have a sense of purpose and as a result of their dedication and commitment, majority of them are selected regularly to play for Banyana Banyana.
The company provides direct financial support that caters for allowances, transport, rent and related expenses. It is worth noting though, that there are extra material needs that fall outside the company’s budget allocation. Palace Super Falcons, through winnings, manages to provide for these from that pool.
Palace Group contribution to PSF over the last four years
Kgadi Mokoma has been with Palace Super Falcons since 2005 and was the top scorer for 2012. She has watched the team grow from strength to strength. Through shared effort, hard work and dedication, PSF has maintained a consistent winning streak especially over the last three years in particular.
“I am proud to be a Palace Super Falcons player,” Mokoma says. “We have a good coach, a great team spirit and great supporters. For us, the sky is the limit,” she adds.
The contributions made by Palace Group, Mokoma tells us, have opened up opportunities for Mokoma she may not have otherwise had. It is these opportunities that now enable her to have an income that pays the bills. That, to Mokoma, is more important than the relative level of fame that playing for the semi-professional league brings.
Meet Monwabisi Faku: a young girl playing for Palace Super Falcons. She has always wanted to play for this team. Once that opportunity presented itself, she grabbed it and has never looked back. Faku is a student studying towards obtaining a qualification in financial accounting and admin.
“The contributions made by Palace Group help so much that I no longer have to call home asking for money, ” Faku states. She continues that Palace has added a lot of value in my life and still continues to.
For Lindiwe Motau, joining PSF gave her a worthwhile hobby that has kept her off so many unproductive activities. Being part of the team, she stated, has opened doors that have ultimately led to her being independent and self-reliant. Motau is now also a qualified referee. Motau lives and breathes this game and to her, nothing else beats what she does. Motau vows that the championship that they defended in 2012, is not going anywhere and will remain with the Midrand based ladies soccer outfit.
It is such sheer zeal, passion and dedication that prove once again, that we, as Palace Group, may not be changing the world. But, we are making a small difference in some section of the community. What a feeling being introduced to this team, the players ooze confidence yet remain humble and grounded.
“Re leboha ha hole fela, le stwelepele ka mesebetse e metle ledilemo tse tlang.”