Lambton football icon honoured with lifetime award

When one thinks of female football in the country, Fran Hilton-Smith is one name that comes to mind.

The Lambton football legend has spent years working to improve women’s football across the continent.

The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) recently honoured her with the lifetime achievement award at its inaugural annual ceremony.

The former Banyana Banyana coach and Safa technical director of women’s football received the award for her service to women’s football.

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Hilton-Smith is thrilled to see all her years of work recognised.

She has been a part of Cosafa’s journey since the early 2000s when it was establishing its presence in the country and across the continent.

When she accepted the award, Hilton-Smith expressed her gratitude for being the first to get this honouring award.

“I remember our first Cosafa tournament in Zimbabwe, which South Africa won. Since then, we have held competitions in many nations and age levels.

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“We now have 14 countries under Cosafa and Cosafa’s influence has resulted in the formation of female soccer teams in other African countries,“ said Hilton-Smith.

Hilton-Smith is now a coach instructor with Cosafa, hosting instructor courses for female coaches from around the southern African region.

Over the years, she has also served as the Banyana Banyana head coach and technical director and is now a published author with her book titled A Song for Banyana.

“Coaches from across the region undergo intensive training through the instructor courses, showing the quality of becoming instructors themselves.”

A tournament has been named after her.

“The Fran Hilton-Smith Tournament takes place annually where 240 of the best U13 girls compete, allowing young aspiring female footballers to showcase their skills. It is going to be hosted in August.

“During the competition, they scout for new talent and players can try out for Spanish teams. In addition, national coaches travel to scout prospects for the 17 national teams.

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“The Southern Transvaal won the competition last year, and one coach is a product of mine.”

Hilton-Smith is also a Steve Tshwete Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The award goes to individuals who have contributed significantly to sports in South Africa and have dedicated their lives to promoting excellence in sports.

“I will always cherish the two lifetime achievement awards that I have received. It humbles me to be acknowledged at this level, and I feel honoured.

“As I wrote in my book, I aimed to see women who play football earn a respectable living. With players like South African sensation Thembi Kgatlana earning more than R10m and Racheal Kundananji of Zambia being crowned the most expensive female player in the world, that ambition is starting to come true today.

“Women’s soccer is the fastest growing sporting code in the world, and it is slowly getting the attention it needs – that is humbling to witness,” said Hilton-Smith.

Looking back to Cosafa’s history, Hilton-Smith stated that women’s football across the continent has improved because of the organisation’s commitment.

“Many federations in their nations did not have women’s football in the early 2000s.

“Today, in women’s football, the current African champion comes from COSAFA. South Africa, Zambia and Botswana represented COSAFA in the last African Cup of Nations. South Africa and Zambia qualified for the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and made progress to the last group of 16.

In the COSAFA Women’s Championship, the Malawi senior women’s team are the current champions.

Malawi has competed in every single women’s championship 10 times, tied with Zimbabwe and South Africa and then Botswana and Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, showing COSAFA’s balanced approach not only in men’s football but also in the pursuit and the development of women’s football,” said Hilton-Smith.

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The following women were also awarded at the COSAFA Awards alongside Fran Hilton Smith:

• Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns ladies and South African team goalkeeper) – goalkeeper of the year.

• Janine van Wyk – lifetime achievement for services as a player.

• Diana Chikotesha (Zambia) – Cosafa’s best female referee.

• Leticia Chinyamula (Ascent Academy & Malawi) – most promising player.

• Dr Desiree Ellis (South Africa) – coach of the year.

• Racheal Kundananji (Zambia) – player of the year.