Simphiwe Dludlu, head coach of the South African U-17 Women’s National Team (Basetsana), has called up 29 players for a training camp – this is in preparation for the Road to the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup scheduled October in India.
The tournament has been rescheduled after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This will be the second time that India hosts a FIFA tournament (after the men’s 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup), but the first time they host a women’s football competition.
The 16-nation event has been pencilled in for 11 – 30 October across four cities.
Dudu’s charges have been drawn against Kenya in the African World Cup qualifiers, and this clash will take place in March this year.
Bantwana start their training camp on Thursday, 3 February 2022 and will conclude on Monday, 7 February.
The aim of the gathering is to start building a new squad for the after most of the 2019 group graduated into the U-20 national team.
In a statement, Dludlu says the camp is for laying the foundation for the future.
“We are looking forward to getting back on the pitch and building a team that will take us to the world cup. At this level of football, we are faced with many challenges as we always have to build a new team and navigate around the education of the various players,” said the former Banyana Banyana captain.
“However, I believe we have a system that accommodates everyone’s’ needs. We will have an intense program, but full of fun as we lay the foundation of what it takes to play for the national team.’’
Once the training camp is over, the players will return to their respective teams.
Bantwana will then assemble again later this month (24 February) to start preparations for the first round first leg against Kenya, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 12 March.
The return leg will be played on the weekend of 19 – 21 March at a venue still be determined.
The winners take on either Uganda or Ethiopia in the second round.
Only three teams will represent the African continent in India.
South Africa has been to the World Cup on two occasions – 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago (coach Solly Luvhengo, and in Uruguay in 2018 (Simphiwe Dludlu).
SOUTH AFRICAN U-17 SQUAD FOR TRAINING CAMP
GOALKEEPERS:
- Iviwe NOMPONDO
Cape Town Roses (Western Cape)
- Kgomotso MUSIMANGO
Kempton Park FC (Gauteng)
- Roche BAARDMAN
Stellenbosch FC (Western Cape)
- Akhona MADIDIMANE
Mito Stars (Gauteng)
DEFENDERS:
- Siphesihle MADIYA
Lindelani FC (KwaZulu Natal)
- Omuhle NGCOBO
Lindelani FC (KwaZulu Natal)
- Lindelwa MJWARA
Sapphire Ladies ( KwaZulu Natal)
- Siphesihle DELIWE
Cape Town Roses (Western Cape)
- Ntando PHAHLA
Sunflower WFC (KwaZulu Natal)
- Zintle MXWALI
Cape Town Roses (Western Cape)
- Geneva ABRAHAMS
Vasco Da Gama (Western Cape)
- Siphesihle MASELANE
Mito Stars (Gauteng)
MIDFIELDERS:
- Kutlwano MAPHANE
Mito Stars (Gauteng)
- Kananelo TAIWE
Unattached (Free State)
- Siphesihle MAGAZE
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (Gauteng)
- Mmabatho MOGALE
High Performance Centre (Gauteng)
- Lumka QHEKEKA
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (Gauteng)
- Nonhle MABASO
JVW Ladies (Gauteng)
- Cinderella MIBE
Wits Juniors (Gauteng)
- Ayongezwa MDINGI
RV United (Western Cape)
- Kwanele MGADWA
Mito Stars (Gauteng)
- Daniella SEGALL
University of Cape Town (Western Cape)
- Ayanda MKHIZE
Durban Ladies (KwaZulu Natal)
- Mpho DLAMINI
Kempton Park FC (Gauteng)
- Anako DLALA
Sunflower WFC (KwaZulu Natal)
- Nomphelo YAKUPHI
Copperbelt Ladies (Limpopo)
STRIKERS:
- Nondumiso MALINGA
Mito Stars (Gauteng)
- Gugu DHLAMINI
High Performance Centre (Gauteng)
- Azile PHITHI
Cape Town Roses (Western Cape)
By Matlhomola Morake
