FRAN A Song for Banyana

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Fran Hilton-Smith is an award-winning coach and sports personality, and a crusader for women’s rights.

But that’s not half the story of this remarkable South African’s life. In a frank, poignant and often hilarious account of her time playing and leading women’s football, A Song for Banyana goes behind the scenes when she was at the centre of Banyana Banyana’s rise from dusty pitches in the townships to the biggest football stadia in the world.

Her memoir reveals her obsession with bikes during her tomboy childhood in Driehoek, and later how she broke down gender barriers in sport. As a guitarist and drummer in numerous groups she immersed herself in African jazz, and even played for her hero Nelson Mandela with her band ‘Basadi Women of Jazz’.

Fran was the first woman on the Confederation of African Football technical committee, and was part of the FIFA Technical Study Group for countless World Cup tournaments. A FIFA, CAF and COSAFA instructor, Fran continues to mentor the next generation of administrators and coaches, and was part of FIFA’s Female Leadership Development programme of their Task Force for Women’s Football.

She has received many honours, including Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year, the National Sports award, and the Steve Tshwete Lifetime Achievement award.

Fran lives in Germiston with her family.