Long serving Banyana Banyana defender Janine van Wyk has expressed her disappointment of not being included in the national team’s final preparations ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup set for 20 July to 20 Augustt in Australia and New Zealand.
The Greece-based player was recently left out of the preliminary squad of 32 players to face Serbia in an international friendly match, set for 10 April 2023 in Serbia.
Van Wyk was in the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana team that lifted their maiden CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where she was also a bit-part player.
She was called up for the two international friendly matches against Brazil in September last year, but missed out on two back to back camps where the South Africans played Australia in London in October 2022 as well as the Turkish Women’s Cup last month.
“Obviously like any player, I am disappointed that have I have not been part of the last preparations of Banyana Banyana before a tournament like the World Cup. I have been working really hard because I know what it takes to play at the highest level, and even though I am feeling down, I will continue to keep up the positive spirit and work even harder to stand a chance of making the final squad,” said a sad Van Wyk from Greece where she runs out for Ergotelis.
The South African Senior Women’s National team’s local-based players will report for duty on Monday (27 March) before being joined by the six selected overseas-based players – Noko Matlou, Hilda Magaia, Refiloe Jane, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Noxolo Cesane and Linda Motlhalo – the following Monday (3 April).
“I want to wish the team well in this clash against Serbia, and let them know that they will always have my support. These are final preparations for the bigger picture, and I am confident they will do well – this is a team of fighters as we proved in Morocco. Go out there and get that win as you conclude preparations for the World Cup. All the best,” added Van Wyk.
The most-capped African woman player on the continent with 183 appearances, Van Wyk made her Banyana Banyana debut in 2005 against Nigeria.
She played and won several COSAFA Women’s Championships, featured two Olympic tournaments – London 2012 and Rio 2016, and rewrote the history books when she became the first player to captain South Africa at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Her 100th cap was achieved in the clash against Namibia in 2014, while the 150thappearance was in 2018.
PRELIMINARY BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD TO FACE SERBIA – INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY:
| NAME & SURNAME | POSITION | CLUB | LOCATION |
| 1. ANDILE DLAMINI | Goalkeepers: | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES | Pretoria |
| 2. KAYLIN SWART | JVW FC | Johannesburg | |
| 3. REGIRL NGOBENI | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 4. KATLEGO MOLETSANE | ROYAL AM | Durban | |
| 5. DINEO MAGAGULA | TS GALAXY QUEENS | KwaMhlanga | |
| 6. ASANDA HADEBE | Defenders: | SUNFLOWER FC (Sasol League) | Durban |
| 7. KARABO DHLAMINI | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES | Pretoria | |
| 8. FIKILE MAGAMA | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 9. TIISETSO MAKHUBELA | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES | Pretoria | |
| 10. LONATHEMBA MHLONGO | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 11.NOKO MATLOU | SD EIBAR | Spain | |
| 12. BAMBANANI MBANE | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES | Pretoria | |
| 13. BONGEKA GAMEDE | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape town | |
| 14. REFILOE JANE | Midfielders: | SASSUOLO FC | Sassuolo, Italy |
| 15.SIBULELE HOLWENI | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 16. THUBELIHLE SHAMASE | UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG | Johannesburg | |
| 17. LINDA MOTLHALO | GLASGOW CITY | Glasgow, Scotland | |
| 18. KHOLOSA BIYANA | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 19. CIMONE SAULS | JVW FC | Johannesburg | |
| 20. NOMVULA KGOALE | TS GALAXY QUEENS | KwaMhlanga | |
| 21. ROBYN MOODALY | JVW FC | Johannesburg | |
| 22. AMOGELANG MOTAU | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 23. NOXOLO CESANE | Forwards: | TIGRES FEMENIL | Monterrey, Mexico |
| 24. GABRIELA SALGADO | JVW FC | Johannesburg | |
| 25. SPHUMELELE SHAMASE | UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG | Johannesburg | |
| 26. JERMAINE SEOPOSENWE | FC JUAREZ | Ciudad Juarez, Mexico | |
| 27. MELINDA KGADIETE | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES | Pretoria | |
| 28. NTHABISENG MAJIYA | RICHMOND LADIES | De Aar, Northern Cape | |
| 29. HILDAH MAGAIA | SEJONG SPORTSTOTO | South Korea | |
| 30. LELONA DAWETI | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LADIES | Pretoria | |
| 31. NTOMBIFIKILE NDLOVU | UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE | Cape Town | |
| 32. WENDY SHONGWE | TUKS LADIES | Pretoria |
By Matlhomola Morake
