Banyana Banyana coach Vera Pauw hopes her 21 women squad will escape what is believed to be the “Group of Death” in the upcoming African Women’s Championship (AWC), set to take place in Namibia this month.
”We want to qualify for the World Cup (by finishing in the top three at the AWC),” she said. “That is the only mandate we have been given by Safa and if we can do that, the whole perspective on women’s football is set to change in the country. And by that I mean hopefully a professional football league for women would be established, that’s what we need.”
Banyana Banyana will lock horns with Cameroon in their first encounter, followed by clashes against Ghana and Algeria in pursuit of advancing out of the group stages.
“We need at least a draw against Cameroon. If we can manage to do that, we are set to do well in the group stages. The key thing is to avoid Nigeria and for us to do that, we need to finish top of our group,” she added
Given the circumstances Banyana Banyana skipper Janine van Wyk is not deterred by the task ahead.
“We want to win it,” Van Wyk said. “And winning the AWC will be a great bonus for us given the top three automatic qualification into the World Cup. We need to keep our focus and continue to working towards our common goal given the level of preparations we’ve had in the previous months. We can’t wait.”
Banyana squad: Andile Dlamini, Thokozile Mndaweni, Roxanne Barker, Noko Matlou, Nothando Vilakazi, Janine van Wyk, Nomathemba Ntsibande, Simphiwe Dludlu, Lebogang Ramalepe, Gloria Thato, Amanda Dlamini, Sanah Mollo, Leandra Smeda, Refiloe Jane, Mamello Makhabane, Mpumi Nyandeni, Shiwe Nongwanya, Silindile Ngubane, Ode Fulutudilu, Thembi Kgatlana, Portia Modise. - The Star