The South African Football Association (SAFA), has announced on May 8 the appointment of Ms Lydia Monyepao as the Association’s new CEO. She is the first female Chief Executive Officer of the SAFA.
Lydia Monyepao holds a Masters in Sports Management from Loughborough University in the UK, obtained during her playing career ; a BCom Honours in Accounting (CTA) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of the Witwatersrand, among others. She takes over from Adv Tebogo Motlanthe who has quit the position with immediate effect due to personal reasons.
In her acceptance speech, Lydia Monyepao said she was aware of the challenges of the new role but was up to the task. ‘’It is big shoes that I am filling and I have to hit the ground running, I am capable of hitting the ground running, I will accept the task and take the work forward. I am not naïve in terms of what is required for this job. I know the challenges that surround any CEO of the South African Football Association, I am not blind to that”.
She added: “But as indicated, no job is easy and you have to take it as it comes and apply what you are good at, and what you are capable of. Thank you very much to the President and to the SAFA NEC for having confidence in me and my abilities. My CV will show you in terms of my previous experience and my educational, so I believe I am capable of this.”
Experience in the financial and sport management industries
Lydia Monyepao has over 20 years’ work experience in the financial and sport management industries. She has also freelanced as a football analyst for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Kwese Sport, amongst others, with a specific focus on women’s football as a former international player.
Before her appointment, Lydia Monyepao was the was the Chief operating officer of the South African Football Coaches Association (SAFCA) and an associate member of the South African Football Association (SAFA). She was also the Deputy Director of TuksSport, the University of Pretoria’s Department of Sport.
A former player
A former player for Banyana Banyana, the South African women’s national soccer team, Lydia Monyepao also managed the team between 2012 and 2014 and was also the team’s liaison officer at the 2010 African Women’s Football Cup of Nations. She has represented South Africa in football (and basketball) at various international competitions, at student and senior levels (as a player and team manager). She has represented South Africa at the 2002 and the 2004 Women’s AFCON and the 2003 All Africa Games. She represented University Sport South Africa (USSA) women’s national football teams at the 2001 and 2003 FISU World Student Games and various CUCSA Games. At club level, she played for Wits Ladies FC, Soshanguve All Stars and Soweto Ladies.
Lydia Monyepao works as a part-time basis Online Tutor on the International Sport Management programme at the University of London, with a specific focus on Financial Management in Sport, and also assisting with Sport Strategy, Governance and Leadership.
Mentoring young women
Lydia Monyepao is passionate about mentoring young women in soccer and strengthening women’s leadership in sport. She participated in the FIFA Women in Football Leadership Program held in Zurich in November 2019 as recommended by SAFA.
