Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and Banyana Banyana defender Bambanani Mbane will now be available for the international friendly match against Serbia on Monday, 11 April 2023.
Mbane was initially ruled out of the match due to a family emergency but has since being cleared to travel – she will join her compatriots in Serbia on Saturday (8 April).
Her presence will come as a relief to the South African Senior Women’s National Team technical bench as they head into the final stages of getting the team ready for the global women’s football showpiece.
The clash against Eastern Europeans will be played at the Sports Centre of the Serbian FA in Stara Pazova, kicking off at 13h30 (there is no time difference).
The fixture is part of preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup scheduled for 20 July to 20 August in Australia and New Zealand this year.
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad flew out on Thursday night (6 April) after wrapping up preparations in South Africa.
The team, made up only of local-based players, had two training camps – first from the 27-31 March, dispersed and returned on Monday, 3 April after playing in the Hollywoodbets Super League over the weekend.
Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis says it all a worthwhile exercise.
“This was a worthwhile and fruitful exercise bringing in the players early and working on somethings that we needed to work on. I think it really helped us. We had a bit of a break with players going back to their clubs where we saw players showing up. Nicole Michael (TS Galaxy) scored a hattrick, Thubelihle Shamase (UJ Ladies) scored a bicycle kick and Katlego Moletsane (Royal AM) did well as a goalkeeper. This is what we want to see when players go back to their clubs,” said Ellis.
“The attitude, the work rate and effort was all there. We worked a lot and we could see some improvements. Now we go to the next part of the camp where we travel to Serbia and we meet the overseas based players.”
The overseas-based players are Refiloe Jane (Italy), Linda Motlhalo (Scotland), Jermaine Seoposenwe and Noxolo Cesane (both Mexico), Hilda Magaia (South Korea) and Noko Matlou (Spain).
This will be the sixth match of World Cup preparations – South Africa has already faced Brazil twice, co-hosts Australia as well as Uzbekistan and Slovenia.
By Matlhomola Morake
