19 June 2026 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced the appointment of Stayfree as the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana in a landmark partnership designed to shine the spotlight on an important but often overlooked aspect of women’s sport: the role pads play in performance.
Launched under the campaign platform #KeepingThemLockedIn, the partnership is built on a simple belief: when women trust their pad, they are free to focus on their performance. Elite athletes rely on products that perform under pressure. Footballers choose the right boots. They commit to training programmes. They focus on nutrition and recovery. Yet one of the most important products female athletes rely on every month is rarely discussed – their pad.
As the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana, Stayfree is partnering with South Africa’s national women’s football team to help bring greater attention to the relationship between players, pads and performance. Powered by Stayfree’s 8-Hour LeakLock Technology, the partnership aims to support Banyana Banyana players with pads designed to perform under pressure, help attract greater visibility and support for women’s football, and extend access to quality menstrual products for women and girls participating in the game.
Firstly, Stayfree will support Banyana Banyana players with trusted sanitary pads designed to help them stay focused on the game, not their period. Secondly, Stayfree is committed to helping grow the visibility of women’s football in South Africa. Through campaigns such as Goals 4 Pads, the partnership aims to attract greater attention to Banyana Banyana’s performances, encourage support for the women’s game, and inspire more girls to see a future for themselves in football.
Thirdly, the partnership extends beyond the national team to women and girls participating in football across South Africa. Through product donations and community initiatives, Stayfree aims to help more players access quality sanitary pads and remain focused on achieving their goals on and off the field. As part of the partnership, Stayfree has launched the Goals 4 Pads initiative.
For every goal scored by Banyana Banyana, Stayfree will donate 1,000 packs of Stayfree sanitary pads to nominated schools, football academies, community organisations and programmes supporting women and girls across South Africa. The initiative creates a direct link between performance on the field and impact beyond it.
Astrid Stealey of Kenvue South Africa said the partnership represents a natural alignment between a leading feminine care brand and South Africa’s most successful women’s football team.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer Lydia Monyepao: “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. Through the platform of Banyana Banyana, we look forward to empowering more young women to participate and thrive in the game, and to creating a lasting positive impact in communities across South Africa”
Astrid Stealy, Area Managing Director South and Sub-Saharan Region for Kenvue, the distributors of Stayfree: “As the Official Sanitary Pad Sponsor of Banyana Banyana, we want to help change that conversation. We believe female athletes deserve pads designed to keep up with the demands of their game. Every woman and girl should be able to focus on her performance rather than worrying about her period.
“This partnership is about supporting players with trusted Stayfree pads, helping grow support for women’s football, and ensuring more women and girls have access to products that help them stay locked in on their goals.”
The partnership was officially launched at SAFA House in Johannesburg, bringing together media, stakeholders, athletes, influencers and partners to discuss the future of women’s football and the role that pads play in supporting performance. The event also introduced the Stayfree Soccer Collective, a group of young female football freestylers and tricksters who embody the determination, skill and focus that define the #KeepingThemLockedIn platform.
As Banyana Banyana continues to inspire the nation through its performances on the field, Stayfree remains committed to supporting the players, growing the game and helping more women and girls stay locked in on their goals.
Supporting the players. Growing the game.
Empowering the next generation. #KeepingThemLockedIn
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