Substance in the PSL

Golden Arrows owner Mato Madlala was set  to become the first woman to head the Premier Soccer League (PSL) since its inception in 1996. Madlala is widely respected in the football world and has the capacity to hold the demanding position. By fighting against all obstacles, Madlala works hard to reach her goals – and one of her many achievements includes being the only woman on the PSL executive committee. Further, she was the Deputy CEO of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Bid Company and part of the team that travelled to Zurich in May 2004 to convince football governing body FIFA to award South Africa the hosting rights for 2010 World Cup.
The Golden Arrows owner was going to be a powerful voice in a male dominated field should she have  accepted the position. Instead, former Director of Football of SuperSport United, Stanley Matthews, now holds the position.
Although Girls and Football SA staff have reached out The Golden Arrows office, Madlala was not available for comment.
Although Madlala did not end up accepting the position, it is encouraging to see the introduction of female leaders in the football world. At Girls & Football SA, it’s our belief that women in higher positions will help sensitize, encourage and support other women who might be hesitant to accept nominations for leadership positions. High profile women such as Madlala can also help build the confidence of other girls and women and encourage them to seek leadership positions in their own communities. At Girls and Football SA, we believe that having a woman like Madlala at one of the  top positions in the football industry means a lot to the future of girls’ football future. We wish Madlala all the best in her football endeavors in 2012!