Lisene: It Has To Be Competitive Like The PSL

 By Malose Wa Ga Lamola

Richmond United coach Edwin Lisene finds the time in his busy schedule to have a conversation with ShakingInk. He emphasizes the importance of women's football coaches obtaining relevant qualifications to enhance the quality of the game and their players.

Lisene notes that ninety percent of coaches in the Hollywoodbets Super League have the necessary accreditations to coach, highlighting the importance of coaches equipping themselves to elevate women's football in the country. He commends the South African Football Association (SAFA) for providing a platform that has motivated coaches to pursue further education. 

"I would like to thank South African Football Association (SAFA) and Mr Walter Steenbok (Technical Director at SAFA) for affording coaches in the Hollywoodbets Super League a platform to acquire coaching badges."

Despite coaches being prepared to elevate their coaching skills, the overall standard of the league still requires improvement. Since HollywoodBets took over as the national head sponsor from SAFA, there has been a positive impact on the financial aspect of the game. The sports betting franchise has allocated R2 million in prize money, but the league remains in a semi-professional setup. Lisene emphasizes the progress made in the game since HollywoodBets became involved.

"I am now in my 34th year coaching in women's football and want to thank God for always being there for me. I can say that, even though we are not there as yet, but will like to encourage sponsors to come on board and sponsor women's football. We need the Hollywoodbets Super League to be as competitive as the Premier Soccer League. It is not fair for the coaches, but passion is what drives us to keep working hard, to help and improve women's football."

Richmond United concluded the 2023 Hollywoodbets Super League campaign in the top 8. The team amassed forty-eight points, scored forty goals, and conceded forty times, finishing seventh in the standings. With six games remaining and the team currently in ninth place, fourteen points behind their previous season's position, Lisene maintains optimism that his team can surpass last season's performance.

"For the past two seasons we did well finishing seventh with 47 and 49 points respectively. This season we started well, but lost the grip around June when we started having lot of injuries. The aim is to finish atleast on the eighth position as we left with two games."

@Lamola_Herold