Banyana Banyana midfielder Thalea Smidt says they have to play one game at a time and not get ahead of themselves in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers.
The Sasol-sponsored South African Senior Women’s National team is currently in Tanzania ahead of the crunch clash against the host nation on Friday, 23 February 2024 at the Azam Complex in the capital Dar es Salaam. Kick-off is at 15h00 (SA Time).
With both teams contesting the third round fixture, Smidt says the focus should be on the immediate task before even thinking about the fourth and final round where either Nigeria or Cameroon lie in wait.
“We know the importance of the game and it’s definitely an important one for us – we know it’s third round qualification so we don’t want to look beyond, we would love to qualify for the Olympics since we missed out on the previous games. So, our main focus is the game against Tanzania on the away leg, then focus on the home leg in South Africa,” said Smidt.
“We have to do our all, we know what’s at stake, we’ve prepared well, and we just have to make sure that we do our best. Obviously, the Olympics are the end goal, but you have to take it one game at a time and focus on the first hurdle which is the away game in Tanzania and take it from there. I think each and every footballer would like to have Olympics on their list of things that they would love to compete in.”
The University of Pretoria midfielder makes a return to Banyana Banyana since October 2023 in the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship held in Gauteng.
She missed the previous round of the Olympic qualifiers against DR Congo late in October, as well as the final round of the WAFCON qualifiers against Burkina Faso in November.
The Capetonian is not too concerned that Banyana Banyana does not have match fitness ahead of this all-important clash vs Tanzania as the 2024 Hollywoodbets Super League season is yet to kickoff.
“We’ve been in a situation like this before, but I think it’s all in the mind, yes, it’s the reality but I think the mind is such a powerful tool. We’ve been preparing well and we’ve been pushing each other, you could see the intensity at training was good, you could see the girls – so we just have to go and do the job on the field – what you put in the mind you give power to, so I think having a mutual goal as a team and a mutual objective and everyone giving their all on the day, giving 100%, then I think we can attain our goal as a team,” added Smidt.
After a light gym workout upon their arrival in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday afternoon (20 February), the South Africans will have two training sessions before facing the home side.
The return leg takes place on Tuesday, 27 February at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
Kickoff is at 19h30.
Meanwhile all but one overseas-based players have reported for national team duty – Thembi Kgatlana (Mexico), who travelled with the squad from Johannesburg, while Noko Matlou (Spain), Jermaine Seoposenwe (Mexico) and Linda Motlhalo (USA) met their compatriots in Tanzania.
Hilda Magaia was expected on Wednesday, 21 February to complete the squad of 23 players selected by Head Coach Desiree Ellis.
By Matlhomola Morake
