Head Coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, says the upcoming two international friendly matches against four-time World Champions, USA, are the start of the four-year cycle to the next world cup.
The Capetonian is looking to build a team that will be able to compete and go the distance at the global stage in 2027.
The African Champions are in Cincinnati in the USA to face the hosts on 21 September 2023 at the TQL Stadium, before moving to Chicago for the second clash on 24 September at Soldier Field.
While Ellis has selected the bulk of the team that did duty at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, she will be without five key players for various reasons:
- Refiloe Jane – captain and midfielder (injury)
- Bambanani Mbane – defender (injury)
- Hildah Magaia – forward (medical reasons)
- Noko Matlou – defender (Passport and Visa challenges)
- Sibulele Holweni – midfielder (injury)
“We have five players not here that were part of the World Cup so obviously this is a chance for others to get some more game time, and for us to see if they can’t step up as well because that is also important. The other games, Olympic qualifiers in October, are not very far from our minds, but obviously we have two good games coming up to test ourselves and to test the players. And it’s about getting a positive result by putting up a good performance as well, and irrespective of the outcome, you again also want to look at certain things that you worked on, like our finishing,” Ellis told SAFA.net
Jane and Mbane were not considered for the USA trip, but Magaia, Matlou and Holweni have had to be withdrawn from the squad of 23 announced recently.
Matlou was replaced by England-based Faith Nokuthula, leaving Banyana Banyana with 21 players.
“It’s always easier when you play at home, we are able to have more players, and now we had a lot of challenges with visas, late withdrawals through injury and medical reasons – so it was very difficult to replace if we couldn’t get visas. But we are hoping that with the players that are here no one gets injured, But I see the enthusiasm, the commitment, and the willingness to play. It might be a smaller squad but it’s enough players to be able to rotate, to give everyone an opportunity because that’s what it’s all about,” added Ellis.
“We want to get a result, but you also want to see the players that have been with you for a while and haven’t gotten game time, can they step up because it’s a new cycle (World Cup). We obviously have to see who we will take with us on our journey and check if they can fit in or not.”
Uncapped midfielder, Sinoxolo Cesane, joined up with the squad in Cincinnati from Tennessee, USA where she is based.
She was also re-united with her twin sister, Noxolo, and shared the same field for the first time since 2020 while both were playing for the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
It was a chance for Sinoxolo to rekindle old friendships with former teammates from the U17 and U20 women’s national teams, like Karabo Dhlamini, Fikile Magama and Lonathemba Mhlongo.
“To be honest it was a little bit challenging because I’m playing with players that I haven’t played with in a while, and some of them I played with in the U17 and U20 national teams, and that was years ago. But I’m really glad I got to train with the team, I appreciate the opportunity, and also, of course, playing with my sister is a really good feeling,” said Sinoxolo after her first training session with Banyana Banyana.
“Having to share the same field again is a good and amazing feeling in a different level that I cannot describe, and I am happy and grateful for that. For the upcoming matches, I am just hoping that we do good, play our best as a team and play for a win.”
This will the third meeting between South Africa and the USA, after clashes on 9 July 2016 and 12 May 2019. Banyana Banyana lost 1-0 and 3-0 respectively.
The Stars and Stripes has only played two African teams – South Africa twice and Nigeria eight times.
The upcoming two matches will be the first for both Banyana Banyana and the USA since the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For the South Africans, the fixtures present a great opportunity to prepare for the 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifiers, where Ellis’ charges will take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round next month.
Only two nations will represent Africa at the Paris Olympics, and the African Champions will be eager to be on the list, to add to their two previous participations in London 2012 and Rio 2016.
UPDATED BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD vs USA
| GOALKEEPERS: | |
| ANDILE DLAMINI | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES |
| KAYLIN SWART | JVW |
| KEBOTSENG KATLEGO MOLETSANE | ROYAL AM |
| DEFENDERS: | |
| LEBOHANG RAMALEPE | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES |
| BONGEKA GAMEDE | UWC |
| TIISETSO MAKHUBELA | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES |
| FIKILE MAGAMA | UWC |
| KARABO DHLAMINI | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES |
| LONATHEMBA MHLONGO | UWC |
| FAITH NOKUTHULA | BLACKBURN ROVERS (ENGLAND) |
| MIDFIELDERS: | |
| LINDA MOTLHALO | GLASGOW CITY (SCOTLAND) |
| KHOLOSA BIYANA | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES |
| NOMVULA KGOALE | T GALAXY QUEENS |
| ROBYN MOODALY | JVW |
| SINOXOLO CESANE | EAST TENNESSEE STATE (USA) |
| FORWARDS: | |
| JERMAINE SEOPOSENWE | FC MONTERREY (MEXICO) |
| NOXOLO CESANE | UWC |
| THEMBI KGATLANA | RACING LOUISVILLE (USA) |
| GABRIELA SALGADO | JVW |
| MELINDA KGADIETE | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES |
| WENDY SHONGWE | UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA |
By Matlhomola Morake
