The global recession has been unfortunate in so many ways. From a women’s sport perspective, it could not have come at a worse time. Our female athletes across the sporting codes are focusing on improving their personal brands, encouraging the public and the media to take women’s sport seriously.

The fact is that money makes sport happen, and without it, you can’t really make the kind of progress that is expected from true contenders. South Africa, as a nation, has sport in its blood, and it is only a matter of time before we take our rightful place on the world stage. Right now, though, women’s sport, like many minority sports, has to bide its time.

Before you know it, there will be wall-to-wall football coverage in the media, and women’s sport will have its toughest time ever in trying to secure coverage on the regular media platforms.  So, what do you do when the whole world is football-crazy and you feel as though you or your sport has been forgotten?

At gsport, we have decided to renew our commitment to raising the profile of women’s sport significantly to encourage Corporate South Africa to back our female athletes.

We are going to look high and low for individuals who are making their mark across various sporting codes in different roles, from coaches to administrators, physiotherapists to video analysts.  Our main focus remains the athlete and we have so many of them who are flying the flag for South African women.

What will help the image of women’s sport immensely is a major trophy. Imagine what would happen to women’s cricket if the national team wins the ICC Women’s World T20 in the West Indies this year or if Banyana Banyana produce some magic. Nothing like a major victory to get people talking!

gsport will be four years old this year and we will be unveiling our 5^th Hall of Fame inductee at the Annual gsport Awards. It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the movement to make women’s sport a successful entity, capable of making a real difference to the lives of South African women.

The truth is that everything South African is in fashion at the moment and even though football is the main attraction, there is no reason why women’s sport cannot benefit from the spotlight being shone so brightly on our nation…

Here’s to 2010, a year that promises so much … Here’s to South Africa!!!