Danny Jordaan has commented on the likelihood that Premier Soccer League clubs, with Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates the most notable, will be snubbed by CAF next season for not having a women's team.
The continental motherbody has issued a directive for the 2022/23 campaign that no team without a women's outfit will participate in any of the interclub tournaments.
And as things stand only two elite clubs – Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy – meet the criteria.
"Our initial idea, having launched a league with 12 teams, was that we would make it a 16-league team if we get four PSL clubs. But the PSL did not respond," Jordaan, the SAFA president, told the Siya crew in reference to the Hollywoodbets Super League, which currently has 14 teams.
"We are going to discuss this with the league in the new year. If they need another season we will ask CAF to give them a grace period."
He insists that the situation isn't quite at crisis level yet for all the 14 other topflight clubs that don't yet have a women's team.
"If they have a women's team then those teams can play in the SAFA leagues, no issues. They will have to sign players if you already have the structure. It's not all doom and gloom as the media makes it out to be. Look at the global clubs, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham – all have women's teams," explained Jordaan.
"You can see the trend in football, so if you really want to build a global club you should have both women's and men's teams at the highest level. Chiefs did have a women's team, they were one of the first. But at the time there was no real focus on women's football. I have spoken to Jessica (Motaung) about it. They know how to put it together, and now their fans also have an appetite for it now that Sundowns is being compared to Barcelona."
