EXCLUSIVE | Football stalwart Fran Hilton-Smith opens up to Sport24: 'Danny and I never got on'

Sport24 asked: Why did you feel A Song for Banyana was a fitting book title?

Fran Hilton-Smith: Because Banyana translates in English to women and I've been involved in women's football and developing women as players, coaches and administrators for 40 years. Banyana references the women's senior national team and also applies to the jazz band I played in, which was known as Basadi Women of Jazz (Hilton-Smith was a bass guitarist and once famously played for Nelson Mandela). It all links with women, so that's why I came up with that name.

My dream has been to give back and to develop women in football and I think I can sit back and confidently say I've done that. I have been described as a "crusader for women's rights" and it's absolutely how I see myself. I want my book to be a bible for women in terms of how much you can endure and still survive and be successful.

Right throughout my career, but especially in 1993, I went through a torrid time and my life was even threatened. Everything was always a struggle and was never done willingly. However, I came out the other end having achieved much of what I wanted to in football. I always dreamed I could make a difference in women's football but never thought in my lifetime it would be a reality. The point of this book is that anything is possible if you don't give up.

Sport24 asked: How would you asses the current state of women's football?

Fran Hilton-Smith: Since I left (SAFA) three years ago, I haven't been replaced. My position hasn't been filled. It can't be a financial issue if, by all accounts, they are giving each member of the NEC money. A failure to fill that post is problematic because there is not much happening with regards to development. When I was there, over the