Mamelodi Sundowns has announced the premier of their inspirational film, Banyana Ba Style:
The First Queens of African Football. The story is dedicated to underlining the struggles that
women in football face and celebrates the journey of the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Team as
they achieved the historic milestone of claiming the first ever CAF Women’s Champions League
(CAF WCL) title in Cairo, 2021.
The much-anticipated film will air again on channel 202 at 19h00, Sunday - November 13. The
airing will be prior to the coverage of this year’s Women’s Champions League Final which kicks
off at 21h00.
The feature documentary film follows the team’s incredible journey through the eyes of current
players, Andile Dlamini, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Thalea Smidt and Coach Jerry Tshabalala.
Additionally, it shows the intimate reality of what it takes to be successful in South African
women’s football highlighting the pressures, pains, successes, hopes and failures. As we follow
their personal journeys, we are afforded the opportunity to get unique insights from journalists,
the legendary Banyana Banyana player, Portia Modise, and Sundowns Club Chairman, Tlhopie
Motsepe.
South Africa’s most decorated female footballer, Portia Modise, spoke about her contribution
to the film “I am proud to have lent my voice to a story that shows the change we are wanting to
see in women's football in South Africa. Caroline, the producer, and the production company,
Fell +Co, have told a beautiful story.”
Sundowns Chairman, Tlhopie Motsepe, who played a pivotal role in the production, spoke about
the reasons behind the creation of the film “We are incredibly proud to share this film with our
supporters and fans of women’s football at large. We embarked on this journey for two reasons:
The first was to promote women’s football in South Africa and tell a story of sporting success that
would inspire future generations of female footballers. The second reason was to use the power
of storytelling to touch on the challenges that female soccer players face and pay homage to the
legends who have passionately played a role in developing the women’s game.”
Talking at the pre-screening of the film, Caroline Brouckaert, who made her directorial debut,
mentioned the importance of documenting such a story, “As a filmmaker I've always wanted to
tell stories that can bring about positive change and help us all feel more connected to one another. I think this film has achieved both of those things. Making this film and getting to know the powerful women of Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club has been a privilege and an honour.”
Banyana Ba Style: The First Queens of African Football reveals the vulnerability of the players and their battle towards their CAF WCL victory.
The club aims for this film to bring the necessary attention on the potential and struggles that women in sports face as well as to encourage positive change in football (and the sportsindustry) for women.
Tlhopie Motsepe also shared the optimism of how South Africa has the potential to be the best in the world if all sectors come together and grow the women’s game “I hope that this heart-warming tale will encourage schools, businesses, brands, and the media, to invest and also continue their support of women’s football.”
Mamelodi Sundowns is proud to present this film to the world and hopes that the time in which the film is released, will give the Ladies motivation to defend their CAF Women’s Champions League title in Morocco.
The Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team faces the home side in Morocco, AS Far, on Sunday at Stade Moulay Abdellah Rabat at 21h00 (SAST).