It has been confirmed that a special Mamelodi Sundowns documentary, “Banyana Ba Style” (The Ladies With Style), will be featured on Netflix from 22 November.
The documentary follows the Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. ladies team as they fight to become the very first Queens of the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021, while shining a spotlight on the battle for gender equality, the vulnerabilities of life’s challenges and family responsibilities and heartfelt human connections.
This story of grit and perseverance follows the team’s incredible journey through the eyes of several players, including coach Jerry Tshabalala and Mamelodi Sundowns Club Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe, among many others.
The film was a personal project of Motsepe, who spoke about the reasons behind the creation of the film.
“We embarked on this journey for two reasons: The first was to promote women’s football and inspire future generations of female footballers in Africa. The second reason was to use the power of storytelling to touch on the challenges that female soccer players face and encourage new sponsors to come into the market and galvanise the women’s game.
“We are incredibly proud to share our story with fans of film and fans of football across the world. Credit must go to our ladies team players for their spirit and amazing personalities, as well as Fell and Co for producing the film; and of course, to Netflix and Roc Nation Sports International for sharing this unique African sports story with the world.”
Viewers will be able to access the film globally on the streaming platform from 22 November. Notably, the “Banyana Ba Style” film also follows shortly after the launch of a football-themed feature film on 17 November, the Queenstown Kings, which features the Mamelodi Sundowns men’s team.
Lori York, the Executive Vice President for Television and Film at Roc Nation – the renowned agency that has a consulting partnership with Mamelodi Sundowns, and that facilitated the licensing of the documentary to Netflix – said it was a momentous occasion for this film to continue expanding its reach.
“We are proud to have facilitated the licensing of this film to enable a whole new audience of Netflix viewers to gain access to the special story of the Mamelodi Sundowns ladies team. They have been trailblazers on the women’s football scene, and sharing their story offers the potential to inspire so many more female athletes around the world.”
Talking at the pre-screening of the film, Caroline Brouckaert, who made her directorial debut, said she always wanted to tell stories that can bring about positive change and “help us all feel more connected to one another”.
“I think this film has achieved both of those things. Making this film and getting to know the powerful women of the Mamelodi Sundowns ladies team has been a privilege and an honour.”
