Stayfree Brings the Football Fever to Bloemfontein as Banyana Banyana Take on Madagascar
Stayfree, the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana, brought its vibrant football-led fan experience to Bloemfontein from 9 to 13 October 2026, rallying local supporters behind South Africa’s national women’s football team as they faced Madagascar in a two-legged Olympic qualifier at Toyota Stadium.
Hosted at Loch Logan Waterfront, the four-day event kicked off with exciting mall activations to build anticipation for the home fixture, offering fans interactive football-themed activities and chances to win match tickets. This community initiative celebrated the growing impact of women’s football in South Africa while reinforcing Stayfree’s ongoing #KeepingThemLockedIn partnership, which highlights the connection between confidence, menstrual health, and peak performance both on and off the pitch.
Beyond the excitement on the field, the partnership delivered meaningful impact through Stayfree’s “Goals 4 Pads” initiative, which pledges 1,000 packs of sanitary pads to South African schools, football academies, and youth programs for every goal scored by the national team. Following Banyana Banyana’s fixtures against Madagascar, Stayfree will donate an additional 6,000 packs of sanitary pads in recognition of the six goals scored directly by South African players. Although the overall aggregate score across the two legs was 7–0, the final goal was an opposition own goal accidentally put into the net by a Madagascan defender, bringing the official player goal tally for the donation to six.
In line with standard football statistics, the campaign specifically rewards goals earned through Banyana Banyana’s own offensive play, setting the total contribution for the Madagascar round at 6,000 packs.
This latest success brings the overall campaign tally to an impressive 14,000 packs of sanitary pads raised since the initiative’s launch. This total includes 2,000 packs unlocked during the early stages of the campaign—highlighted by their historic breakthrough match against Japan on June 9, 2026—alongside 6,000 packs raised during the team’s resilient WAFCON tournament run in Morocco in August/September, and the 6,000 packs earned during this latest Olympic qualifying round.
“This partnership supports our players, helps elevate women’s football and creates meaningful opportunities to impact the next generation of female athletes. For us as an association, it is about addressing barriers that prevent many young women and girls from participating in football. Many girls from disadvantaged backgrounds cannot afford basic necessities such as sanitary pads, and that affects whether they play, how comfortably they play and, ultimately, how they perform.”
— Lydia Monyepao, CEO of the South African Football Association (SAFA)
“We all come from communities and we all want to give back. There’s a meaningful way for that young girl to now start dreaming. We’re not only playing to win matches anymore. Every goal can help a young girl who may otherwise miss school or sport because she doesn’t have access to sanitary pads.”
— Dr Desiree Ellis, Head Coach, Banyana Banyana
“People talk about the best boots, training gear and equipment needed to perform at your best, but they aren’t talking about the right pads and what that means. If you think about an elite sportswoman’s toolkit, pads have to be part of that. Reliable protection gives us confidence, and confidence allows us to perform. Female athletes deserve products that can keep up with the demands of their game.”
— Astrid Stealey, Managing Director at Kenvue Sub-Saharan Africa
The cumulative donation will support schools and football academies across the country, ensuring more girls have access to essential menstrual hygiene products so they can participate in sports, education, and everyday life with confidence.
The Bloemfontein activation successfully brought together the excitement of football and the power of community support, reinforcing Stayfree’s commitment to creating opportunities for young women to thrive both on and off the pitch.
Through the #KeepingThemLockedIn and Goals 4 Pads initiatives, Stayfree continues to champion the belief that when women and girls are fully supported, their potential extends far beyond the field.
