Romaney Pinnock may only have spent a year in the role head of women's football at the South African Football Association (SAFA) but the 40-year-old made inroads at the organisation before deciding to walk away from the position which was once a dream, owing to an unsustainable working environment.
Pinnock, who is the founder of Badgers Football Academy and one of three directors, now boasts of five competitive teams in operation and seven training sessions a week. She underlines the growth journey for her once-fledgling project which has been monumental.
Badgers' mission statement is for girls and women to have a safe space to play football and learn life skills along the way. with the beautiful game being a vehicle to drive change.
The buzz words the thriving Academy espouses are kindness, respect and inclusivity.
"South Africa is a deeply patriarchal society, and it plays out in sport," Pinnock tells Soccer Club from a Cape Town coffee shop, a stone's throw from Badgers FC.
"South African football is especially male-dominated and even deeper set in the patriarchy. It doesn't make for the most inviting environment and can be intimidating for young females to break into the space, whether as an administrator, coach or player. This is why I feel strongly about creating a space in which girls and women feel empowered."
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Esta historia es de la edición October 2024 de Soccer Club.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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WORLD BEATER
MANCHESTER CITY AND SPAIN MIDFIELDER RODRI HAS BEEN COLLECTING TROPHIES IN HUGE NUMBERS IN RECENT SEASONS AND IS A KEY MAN FOR CLUB AND COUNTRY
WHO ARE CLUB BRUGGE?
Shandre Campbell has recently joined Club Brugge in Belgium, but he is not the first South African to play there. Who are the team known as the Blue-Black?
LOST ART
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE GREAT FREE-KICK TAKERS IN FOOTBALL?
BACK TO THE START
HAASHIM DOMINGO HAS A FRESH START AT CAPE TOWN CITY, WHERE HE COULD TAKE THE LEAGUE BY STORM, ACCORDING TO HIS NEW BOSS
FROM BADGERS TO BRISTOL
SOUTH AFRICA'S LOSS IS THE UK'S GAIN WITH DYNAMIC ROMANEY PINNOCK HAVING TAKEN CHARGE AS THE HEAD OF BRISTOL CITY WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
READY TO PLUNDER
SELAELO RASEBOTJA HAS ARRIVED AT ORLANDO PIRATES WITH BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
CITY OF GOLD
THE GAUTENG PROVINCE, MORE SPECIFICALLY JOHANNESBURG HAVE PRODUCED THE RICHEST RESERVOIR OF TOP FOOTBALLING TALENT FOR SOUTH AFRICA
LONG-TERM TARGET
KAIZER CHIEFS ENDED THEIR LONG PURSUIT OF DEFENDER RUSHWIN DORTLEY WHEN HE WAS SIGNED IN THE LAST TRANSFER WINDOW
REMEMBERING SENZO
THIS MONTH MARKS 10 YEARS SINCE ORLANDO PIRATES AND BAFANA BAFANA GOALKEEPER SENZO MEYIWA WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED
MIRACLE MAN
QUIET AND UNASSUMING, XABI ALONSO HAS EMERGED AS ONE OF THE TOP COACHES IN WORLD FOOTBALL