Football administration and coaching have long been dominated by men all around the world, but the winds of change are blowing. Recently more women have entered this male-dominated sport, either as administrators or coaches.

One such shining star is Azania Amogelang Moshushu, head coach of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) women’s team. She holds a BSc degree in human movement and sports science and, after obtaining her first coaching licence (Introduction to coaching development), she received the Central African Football (CAF) C licence for coaching.

This makes Amogelang uniquely qualified to coach male and female football teams.

For the past five years, coach Moshushu has been working with the men’s team at the NWU Soccer Institute, and assisted with the women’s team until she was promoted to head coach of this team in 2018.

Under her leadership, the NWU women’s team were named team of the 2019 tournament in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) competition. They also achieved an overall second-place ranking in the tournament and were promoted to stream A of the league log.

Her skills have been in demand elsewhere too. Coach Moshushu was selected as the coach for the provincial under-19 women’s squad in 2019, and also served as development officer of the USSA Football Committee.

“This gave me the opportunity to help organise the USSA 2019 Club championship tournament and to be further involved with the USSA national squad and the technical committee,” she says.

Currently, coach Mashushu works as an administrative assistant at the Soccer Institute and is also the assistant coach for the second division SAB team.

On top of all that, she is the coordinator, assistant team manager and compliance officer for the men’s team during Varsity Football tournaments.

“I have learnt a lot in the sports industry, and one lesson is that you can never limit yourself. Working in male-dominated area taught me that I am strong and I can push myself to all limits. I fall in love with my work every day and am passionate about the development of players,” says coach Mashushu.

She believes that female coaches should be treated as what they are first and foremost: coaches.

“We must set aside our assumptions and stereotypes, and our male colleagues must consider us female coaches as equals. It is the obligation of everyone engaged in football, at all levels and in all roles, to do their share to ensure a fair playing field in terms of gender.”

Coach Azania Amogelang Moshushu in action on the soccer field.