PLAYING FOR PRIDE: SA’s LGBTQ+ team chases gold in Valencia
By Sitha Maliwa:
A historic South African women’s football team is set to take centre stage at the 2026 Gay Games in Valencia, Spain, using sport as a platform for visibility, inclusion and social change.
Competing under the banner of SA YAG Games, the 25-player squad brings together two generations of players: veterans from the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago- where they secured a bronze medal - and former Banyana Banyana internationals, including Portia Modise, Pinkie Majekane and Phumla Masuku.
The team, South Africa’s first dedicated LGBTQ+ women’s football side, will compete in the 11-a-side Division 1 tournament this June.
Team representative Phuti Matlou said the initiative goes beyond football.
“YAG stands for GAY. We are using sport as a platform t...