USA-based Thembi Kgatlana is back in the Banyana Banyana fold after an absence of almost a year through injury.
The prolific striker was stretchered off in a CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations clash against Botswana – the second match of the tournament – in July last year in Morocco, and had to return home to start her recovery.
When Banyana Banyana lifted the continental title, she was watching the action on television.
The Randfontein-born player only recently returned to action and has been seeing a lot of game time for her new club in the USA, Racing Louisville in Kentucky.
On the other hand, long-serving defender Janine van Wyk, has had to withdraw from the preliminary squad and will miss the World Cup due to an injury.
Just recently, she parted ways with her Greek employers, Ergotelis WFC and is making plans to return home to play in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“I have sustained an injury that I personally feel would impact my chances of performing at the highest level that is required to make the World Cup squad. I have to turn down the call-up with a heavy heart, but also knowing that I am doing what is best for the team,” Van Wyk told www.safa.net
With 183 appearances for her country, the defender is two matches shy of becoming the highest capped player on the continent – male or female.
She represented South Africa at the London Olympic Games in 2012, and captained the squad at the Rio Olympic Games four years later (2016). She made history by being the first player to lead the team at a senior FIFA Women’s World Cup (France 2019), and was also co-captain in Morocco when Banyana Banyana rewrote the history books by winning their maiden WAFCON.
Van Wyk would have been part of the quartet of players remaining from the London Games – alongside co-captain Refiloe Jane and defender Noko Matlou as well as Robyn Moodaly, had she made the list.
Meanwhile Desiree Ellis becomes the third coach to announce her preliminary World Cup squad, following on the heels of Andries Jonker (Netherlands) and Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany).
Sarina Wiegman has named her 23 players that will represent England at the global women’s football showpiece.
The three-time CAF Woman Coach of the Year has gone for a group of 36 players.
Later this month, she will name the final 23 that will represent South Africa at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup scheduled for Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August.
Five goalkeepers have been selected, with the three usual suspects, Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart and Regirl Ngobeni joined by Katlego Moletsane (Royal AM) and Asa Rabalao (University of Pretoria). Only three are expected to make the cut.
Ten defenders have been called up, including Asanda Hadebe who runs out for Sunflower FC in the Sasol League – the only player from the lower tier of women’s football.
The battle for places in midfield is very strong with UJ Ladies’ Thubelihle Shamase the only player that was not in Morocco with the squad.
Upfront, Ellis will also have another headache as she has invited 12 forwards to camp – six more than she had at the WAFCON, with newcomers Nicole Michael, Gabriela Salgado, Sphumelele Shamase, Lelona Daweti, Wendy Shongwe and Ntombifikile Ndlovu all in the hat for selection.
“It’s most probably one of the most difficult selections I’ve ever had to make. As a coach you always say players must raise their hand and make it difficult. And it has been very difficult (selecting the preliminary squad),” Ellis was quoted by www.SAFA.net
“Congratulations to the players that have made the preliminary squad. We are always saying players must raise their hands, and many of them have raised the hands. But this is the group of players that we think we can select from, and they have raised their hands. We are going to do a final selection as well as announce the final 23 plus three. That is even going to be more difficult, but this is the group of players that we think will do the job for us.”
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will go into a training camp on Monday, 12 June 2023 in Johannesburg.
They are expected to depart for their World Cup base early next month.
“Congratulations to the preliminary squad selected to represent South Africa at the upcoming World Cup. The ball is now in the courts of these talented players to put their best foot forward to be selected to the final squad,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorship, on the preliminary squad announcement.
“We have seen how hard they have fought to remain at the top of their game in the local league matches. Our overseas-based players also continued to work hard to profile themselves and ensure they remained within the radar of Coach Desiree and her technical team. We wish all these players the best of luck with the final preparations knowing that they all have an equal chance to be a part of the final 23 strong women.”
With the absence of Van Wyk, it is interesting to see whether Jane will be given the sole responsibility of leading the team, or whether it will be shared responsibility in terms of captaincy.
By Matlhomola Morake
