Former Bafana Bafana and Cape Town Spurs defender Roger Links may have swapped the limelight of mainstream football for school fields, but his latest mission could prove every bit as impactful.
The 58-year-old Battswood legend is now investing his time and expertise into developing the next generation of female footballers through his work at Wynberg Girls’ Junior and High School, where he is helping create opportunities for young players often overlooked by the football system.
For the former South African international, who earned 12 caps between 1992 and 1993, the project is about far more than developing talent.
“It’s about creating pathways,” Links told No Bones with Jones. “Just to give you an idea of the challenges, the girls don’t even have changing rooms, specific field allocations or referees assigned to their games. But it needs to change for the better. Through schools, and particularly Wynberg Girls’ Junior and High School, girls have a voice that carries weight because they are part of an academic institution.”
Determined to drive that change, Links recently helped forge a partnership between Wynberg Girls’ and Antalyaspor JPM Cape Town, one of the region’s leading development academies.
“The fantastic part is that Antalyaspor recognise the opportunity to grow the women’s game and have graciously allowed the Lionesses to partner with them,” said Links.
“We share the same values. The holistic development of the girl is paramount. Football must help her contribute positively to herself, her family, her community and her club.”
The former Ajax Cape Town and Ubuntu coach empahsized the importance of collective action adding it is the only way forward.
“We cannot leave anyone behind,” he further explained. “Every football girl has a part to play. The more we work together, the more we can make girls’ football a home where every girl feels at home and more importantly, has a voice that is heard,” Links concluded.
While many continue to speak about the challenges facing women’s football, Links has chosen to become part of the solution. And having spent much of his playing career stopping attacks, he is now focused on breaking down barriers.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
