On Banyana Banyana's Squad Announcement For The FIFA Women's World Cup
Desiree Ellis has announced the Banyana Banyana squad that will take on Argentina, Italy and Sweden at the FIFA Women's World Cup, and when I look at the final squad, I have hope that we will do well. From where this team started and Des' own journey with Banyana Banyana, which started while we were playing together, I really believe in her. Desiree has done her homework and she has also been to the previous World Cup in France and gained valuable experience. Right now, she knows that the country is fully behind her and she selected a squad full of youngsters that can pull through. She has been attending a lot of domestic matches and I've seen her at matches and she has chosen the best few. We cannot accuse her of leaving this player out or that player out. At the end of the day, as a coach you can only select players that you think can do the job for you and the country. I believe this team will compete and we have the vital Afcon experience and we will probably reach the second round. We want our country to succeed and the players to do well, and it's only fair that we give them all the necessary support that they need.
We are African champions and going to the World Cup as winners of Afcon should not be looked as an extra burden, it should be looked at as a motivational factor. All the countries going to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand know that South Africa is not going there to add numbers, we are going there to compete. We can't be African champions and underperform on a world stage. The players who have been selected have been chosen because they will succeed and we have players like Refiloe Jane who will play a key role in assisting the young ones who don't have experience. At the previous World Cup, we did try our best but unfortunately finished at the bottom of Group B because the level was a little bit too high for our experience at the time. At least now we are a much better-prepared team and we have few players who will be bringing the experience that they have gained by playing abroad.
On What Some Of The Players Bring To The Team
In the goalkeeping department, Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart and Kebotseng Moletsane are all good. Andile is experienced and she has leadership qualities. She can start the build-ups from the back. I also know Kaylin – she is good and she has been with the national team for a while now. I'm not doubting any of the selected goalkeepers selected, but I would love to see Andile starting as a first choice because of her experience. In defence, there are four players from Mamelodi Sundowns, who are familiar with each other. There is Karabo Dhlamini, Fikile Magama, Lebohang Ramalepe, Tiisetso Makhubela, Noko Matlou, Bambanani Mbane and Bongeka Gamede. Karabo is a young player and is going far with her career. Ramalepe is one of the best right backs to have ever played the position in our country. Bambanani has always been marshalling the defence with her experience. I don't see any player that can play better in defence than those who have been selected. Their advantage is that age is still on their side and their muscles can carry them throughout the tournament.
'To Have Thembi Back Is A Massive Morale Booster'
In midfield, we have Refiloe Jane and Linda Motlhalo, who will be bringing overseas experience. Linda is one special player, full of creativity, and Refiloe is disciplined and can track back and defend. She also listens and takes advice very well. The two of them have that good understanding needed because they have been playing together for a while now. When you have a good relationship with your teammates, it makes it easy for you to control difficult situations and also help with young ones in the team. Noxolo Cesane is skilful and can dribble and enter the box. They will be complemented by other players too who have been doing well, and I don't remember anyone accusing them of lack of effort. Up front, there is also Thembi Kgatlana, who had a good Afcon tournament but unfortunately couldn't finish it because of an injury. There is also Jermaine Seoposenwe, who made her mark at the tournament. Thembi is matured and I speak to her on daily basis because I was trying to find out how was she doing with the injury. According to her, she got the best rehab programme, which helped her speed up the recovery, and she is looking forward to making the country proud.
Seoposenwe is scoring goals, can position herself well to receive balls and her and Cesane can complement each other well. Thembi, Seoposenwe and Cesane are three players who can help us score goals in this tournament. Desiree has selected a good squad and she knows what she needs to work on to help her prepare for the tournament. To have Thembi back into the team is a massive morale booster because of her experience. She has also won a lot of individual awards. What I can say on a personal noteis that I believe in these girls. We have paved the way for them and they have also made us proud by winning the Afcon and qualifying for the World Cup. The belief is there for them to do well and reach the next round, and if they can take it one step at a time, who knows? We might even go further than the second round. Football is a 11 v 11 sport. From the bottom of my heart, I believe in my team. I believe in Banyana Banyana, I'm a proudly South African. We all come from different backgrounds, but when we represent the national team, you know you are representing a country. I give the players my 100 percent support because I want to see them reach the next round.
