SEDIBENG.- Former Banyana Banyana and SAFA Technical Director Fran Hilton-Smith’s name will be written down in the history of South African football as a woman who transformed female football in this country.

Hilton-Smith has laid a solid foundation for women’s football in this country both as a coach and a football administrator. Most of the players she coached while still with Banyana Banyana are now successful coaches. Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis and former Basetsana Basetsana coaches Simphiwe Dludlu and Maude Khumalo are among the successful women who played under Hilton-Smith. Some of the Vaal players who played under Coach Hilton-Smith include Rose “Pona” Jijane who was one of the most capped Banyana Banyana players then.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Hilton-Smith said one of the highlights of her coaching career was when Banyana Banyana lost 2-0 to Nigeria in the 2000 African Women Cup Of Nation final in 2000 hosted by South Africa. This final match was abandoned after the crowd threw stones in protest of the second goal Nigeria scored to make the score 2-0. Sedibeng Ster Sports journalist, Zacharia Nale witnessed these riots as he was there to cover the final match between these two countries. Apart from this, this journalist shared the stage with Coach Hilton Smith at the Gauteng Sports Star Of The Year Award at African Palace in 2013. Hilton-Smith was a finalist in The Administrator Of The Year category. Sedibeng Ster Sport traveled down memory lane with Hilton-Smith and she believes that more is still needed to be done for women’s football. Coach Hilton-Smith has written a book titled “Fran A Song For Banyana” talking about her journey, both as a coach and football administrator.

“This is a must-read book because it covers a lot of things not only about women football but our football in general including that 2000 African Women Cup Of Nation Tournament. I encourage everyone one to have the book because it talks to us, about our football,” said Hilton-Smith.