Stayfree Partners with Banyana Banyana to Support Women’s Football and Menstrual Health
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Stayfree, naming the feminine care brand the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana. The initiative aims to highlight the often-overlooked role that menstrual health plays in the performance and wellbeing of female athletes.
Launched under the campaign theme #KeepingThemLockedIn, the partnership is built around the belief that when women can trust their sanitary products, they are free to focus on achieving their goals on and off the field.
Powered by Stayfree’s 8-Hour LeakLock Technology, the collaboration seeks to support the national women’s football team with reliable products while raising awareness about the importance of menstrual health in sport. The partnership also aims to increase visibility for women’s football and expand access to quality sanitary products for women and girls involved in the game across South Africa.
A key feature of the initiative is the Goals 4 Pads campaign. For every goal scored by Banyana Banyana, Stayfree will donate 1,000 packs of sanitary pads to schools, football academies, community organisations and programmes that support women and girls. The initiative is intended to ensure that the team’s success on the pitch translates into tangible benefits for communities.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer Lydia Monyepao welcomed the partnership, describing it as a significant step towards removing barriers that continue to limit the participation of many young women in sport.
“We are proud to welcome Stayfree to the SAFA family as the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana. This partnership extends beyond football; it reflects a shared commitment to addressing a barrier that continues to limit participation for many women and girls, while advancing player welfare, dignity and opportunity,” said Monyepao.
She added that SAFA hopes the platform provided by Banyana Banyana will inspire more young women to pursue football and create a lasting positive impact in communities across the country.
Astrid Stealey, Area Managing Director for the South and Sub-Saharan Region at Kenvue, the distributors of Stayfree, said the partnership was a natural fit between one of South Africa’s leading feminine care brands and the country’s most successful women’s football team.
“As the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana, we want to help change the conversation around periods in sport. Every woman and girl should be able to focus on her performance rather than worrying about her period,” Stealey said.
The partnership was officially launched at SAFA House in Johannesburg, where media representatives, athletes, stakeholders and influencers gathered to discuss the future of women’s football and the importance of menstrual health in supporting performance. The event also unveiled the Stayfree Soccer Collective, a group of young female football freestylers and tricksters who embody the determination and focus promoted by the #KeepingThemLockedIn campaign.
As Banyana Banyana continues to inspire South Africans with its achievements, the new partnership aims to ensure that more women and girls have the support and confidence they need to stay focused on reaching their goals.