Head Coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis will be delighted that Mexico-based Jermaine Seoposenwe scored in her final match before the international break.
The forward will join the South African Senior Women’s National team ahead of the crucial fourth and final round of the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers against Nigeria, which will be played in Abuja.
On Friday morning (29 March 2024), Seoposenwe helped her team to a 3-1 win over Club Tijuana Femenil on Match Day 13 of the Clausura 2024 when she netted in the 54th minute – her seventh goal of the current league campaign. The result saw FC Monterrey move to second place on the table with 29 points – two behind log leaders and defending champions, Tigres UANL who are in action on Monday (1 April).
In 10 regular season meetings, Rayadas has managed seven wins, two draws and one defeat against Club Tijuana – as they continued their dominance with the latest result.
Ellis will be hoping Seoposenwe takes this form with her to Abuja, with the first leg scheduled for Friday, 5 April 2024 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, kicking off at 18h00 South African time.
“I think the first leg is going to be key, getting a positive result in the first leg will take a lot of pressure off us because the traveling is very long getting back and there is very little time to prepare. We are going early to Nigeria to prepare there as well so we need to get a positive result to take the pressure off us coming home because playing at home there’s such a lot of pressure. Most of the matches we’ve played away we’ve gotten positive results and that has taken the pressure off us, so likewise we’re going to do the same thing and get a positive result and make sure that when we get home this little less pressure on us,” said Ellis.
“But we’re also urging the fans to come out in their numbers because you know when we play away the stadiums are packed, and we are playing against the 12th and the 13th player. The only time I’ve seen us having the 12th and 13th player was in Gqeberha when we were playing the COSAFA CUP, and now we’re playing at home and people have urged us to bring the games closer to them and we’ve done that, so let us not be outnumbered. Let the fans come out in their numbers because when you walk out of the stadium and there’s a lull in the game, it’s the fans through their singing that lift your spirits and that’s been proven over the last couple of years.”
Banyana Banyana started their training camp on Monday (25 March) with only local-based players. After naming a squad of 30, Ellis will trim the squad down to 23 on Saturday (30 March) before departing for West Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning (31 March).
The overseas-based players are still to report for national team duty as they have league matches to play, but all of them will fly directly to Nigeria for the Super Falcons clash.
“The games have been coming thick and fast, I am just hoping none of them get injured because it has happed in the past when, at the last minute, you have players on the injury list. We need all hands on deck for this one because it is big, you get only one shot (home and away) to book your ticket,” added the Banyana Banyana mentor.
Hilda Magaia’s Mazatlán FC Femenil will be away to Club Leon on Saturday morning (30 March). Teammate and compatriot Sinoxolo Cesane will serve her first match of suspension after she was red-carded in the last league fixture, but is available for her national team.
Noko Matlou and SD Eibar will be hosted by Betis Women on Saturday afternoon (30 March) in Round 22 of the Liga F Women in the Spanish League.
On Sunday morning (31 April) Linda Motlhalo’s Racing Louisville will visit Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the USA.
Thembi Kgatlana will be the last player in action when her Tigres UANL travels to Puebla Women in Mexico, with the match scheduled for Monday morning (1 April)
Banyana Banyana captain’s Sassuolo Women in Italy is not in action this weekend but will be making her way to Nigeria at the start of the international break.
FIXTURES FOR BANYANA BANYANA OVERSEAS-BASED PLAYERS:
| NAME | FIXTURE | DATE | COUNTRY | RESULT |
| Jermaine Seoposenwe | FC Monterrey vs Club Tijuana | Friday, 29 March | Mexico | Won 3 – 1 (scored 2nd goal) |
| Hilda Magaia | Club Leon vs Mazatlán FC | Saturday, 30 March | Mexico | TBD (Sinoxolo Cesane on a red card suspension) |
| Noko Matlou | Betis W vs SD Eibar | Saturday, 30 March | Spain | TBD |
| Linda Motlhalo | Portland Thorns vs Racing Louisville | Sunday, 31 March | USA | TBD |
| Thembi Kgatlana | Puebla Femenil vs UANL Tigres | Monday, 1 April | Mexico | TBD |
| Refiloe Jane | Sassuolo W | Not in action | Italy | Awaiting start of international break before travelling |
By Matlhomola Morake
