South African Football Club Kaizer Chiefs Launch Women's Team
Image by Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs have formally entered women's football with the launch of Kaizer Chiefs Ladies, marking a strategic expansion of one of the country's most prominent football brands into the women's game.
The team was unveiled in Daveyton on 31 March and will compete in the Gauteng Sasol League from the 2026 season, following the club's acquisition of league status. The move follows a multi-year build-up, anchored by a partnership with Gauteng-based side Springs Home Sweepers, which provided a pathway for operational and technical development.
The initiative shows a growing strategy among established African football institutions moving toward structured investment in women's football, as clubs look to align with global growth trends and unlock new commercial and talent pipelines.
Kaizer Chiefs acknowledged the role of the South African Football Association in integrating the club into formal women's football structures, as well as the contribution of former player and coach Joseph Mkhonza in advancing the women's game locally.
Corporate backing has also emerged as a key component of the project, with Brima Logistics confirmed as the team's official partner. The partnership shows increasing private sector interest in women's football as a long-term investment category.
Chairman Kaizer Motaung positioned the launch within the club's broader responsibility to the sport, citing women's football as central to its future growth and inclusivity. Marketing and Commercial Director Jessica Motaung added that the initiative is designed to establish clear development pathways for female players, while strengthening the club's commercial and community footprint.
The inaugural squad includes 24 players, blending domestic league experience with emerging talent. Among them is former South African women's national team midfielder Mamello Makhabane, alongside youth internationals Zanele Kunyamane and Katlego Mohale.
The team will be led by head coach Unathi Mabena, supported by assistant coach Justice Khunou, and will host matches at the Kaizer Chiefs Village and Kwa Thema Stadium in Springs.
The launch positions Kaizer Chiefs within a growing cohort of African clubs formalizing women's teams, as governance bodies, sponsors, and clubs increasingly converge around the commercial and developmental potential of the women's game.
