Football belongs to everyone

As women continue to carve out a greater presence in football, both on and off the field, initiatives such as Dove and FIFA’s Girl Talk campaign are helping to create new opportunities for the next generation. Actress, television personality and passionate football supporter Hope Mbhele recently joined the initiative, which aims to empower young girls to find their voices in the game. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Masebe Qina, Mbhele discusses representation, confidence, women’s football and the importance of girls feeling they belong in football spaces.

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Masebe Qina: Hope, thank you for speaking to us. What attracted you to becoming part of the Dove and FIFA Girl Talk initiative?

Hope Mbhele: What attracted me most to the Dove and FIFA Girl Talk initiative is that it’s not just about football, it’s about confidence, visibility, and giving girls permission to take up space. Football is such a powerful part of South African culture, but many girls still grow up feeling like they can support the game without truly belonging in it. This campaign actively challenges that. It creates room for girls to speak, lead conversations, and see themselves reflected in spaces that have traditionally excluded them. That felt very meaningful to me. This initiative goes beyond surface-level representation; women are not simply put in the room, but the initiative ensures that their voices are heard and valued. I think confidence is built through visibility and encouragement, and campaigns like this can genuinely shift how young girls see themselves and their potential.

MQ: The campaign focuses on creating more female voices in football commentary. Why do you think women are still underrepresented in sports media, especially in football?

HM: I think women are still underrepresented in sports media because football spaces have historically treated male perspectives as the default authority. Women in sport are often expected to prove their knowledge before they're accepted, while men are automatically assumed to belong. There are also fewer opportunities, less mentorship, and sometimes a culture that discourages girls from speaking confidently about sport. I also think there has been a long-standing stereotype that sports are “for men” and that mindset has influenced everything from media hiring to whose opinions are amplified online and on television. Many women grow up loving football just as deeply, but they are often made to feel like fans rather than experts, which makes the space more intimidating.