Plans to send a South African queer women’s football team to the Gay Games in Spain later this month have sadly collapsed following a dispute over funding.
In April, the Muholi Art Institute (MAI) announced it would provide financial support for the 25-player YAG Games squad, which would participate in the 12th edition of the Gay Games in Valencia. The institute also committed to assisting with logistics, training and documenting the team’s journey.
The Gay Games take place every four years in different host cities and celebrate LGBTQ+ sports and culture. South African women footballers have previously participated in the event in 2006. This year’s edition is being held from 27 June to 4 July.
The SA team was set to include a mix of younger and experienced footballers, including former Banyana Banyana internationals Portia Modise, Pinkie Majekane and Phumla Masuku.
Funding Dispute Leads to Withdrawal
However, just days before the team was scheduled to depart, YAG Games NPC announced that it was dropping out of the Gay Games due to funding challenges.
According to the organisation, it was recently informed by MAI that the institute would no longer fund the participation of all 25 players as originally expected, but would instead support only 13 players.
YAG Games claimed that, “No provision was made for the technical team, reserve players, or the broader support structure required for a credible and competitive international initiative.”
“This eleventh-hour decision effectively rendered participation unworkable,” commented Tholo Motaung, Director of Corporate Affairs and PR.
“A reduction of this magnitude leaves the squad unable to field a properly supported 11-a-side team and raises serious concerns regarding player welfare, team management, and competitive integrity.”
Motaung added: “The timing of the decision left virtually no opportunity to secure alternative funding, make suitable logistical adjustments, or implement contingency plans.”
YAG Games Says Attempts to Resolve Matter Failed
YAG Games said efforts to resolve the dispute and reach a compromise — including a proposal to send 20 participants to the event — were unsuccessful. The organisation claimed that it was informally told that all funding had ultimately been withdrawn.
“YAG Games is profoundly disappointed that circumstances have resulted in the collapse of the initiative after months of planning and preparation,” said Motaung.
“The organisation believes that the players and technical staff deserved better and that the outcome could and should have been avoided through timely communication, transparency, and responsible stakeholder engagement.”
Muholi Art Institute Explains Funding Withdrawal
Responding to MambaOnline’s request for comment, the Muholi Art Institute confirmed it had “taken the difficult decision to withdraw its sponsorship and support from the SA YAG Games team ahead of the Gay Games XII in Valencia.”
In a statement, the institute said:
“Despite providing financial support for visa applications and official registration, MAI was unable to obtain basic and necessary information from the team leadership. After repeated requests for a players-only list of 13 key players, the head of the team consistently refused to cooperate or provide the required details.”
The institute did not comment on why it seemingly reduced its initial commitment from supporting 25 players to 13.
Mpho Molefe, Communications and Special Projects Manager at MAI, said:
“We believe deeply in transparency and good governance. We are always willing to support initiatives that advance inclusion and equality, but we cannot operate without proper accountability. Our duty to our donors, partners and the communities we serve requires full transparency. After numerous attempts to resolve this, we had no choice but to withdraw.”
The institute added that “we wish the SA YAG Games players every success in Valencia and in their future endeavours.”
The collapse of the initiative is a disappointing setback not only for the players involved, who invested significant time and effort preparing for the tournament, but also for the visibility and representation of South African queer athletes on the international stage.
