Category Archives: Women’s Leagues

WORLD CUP DESK: IN PICTURES – Banyana Banyana’s first open training session in Wellington

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad has been in New Zealand for just over a week, held several training sessions, and also travelled to Christchurch to play Costa Rica in a friendly international – which they won 2-0. But the training session on Monday, 17 July was of a different kind – they had visitors from […]

WORLD CUP DESK: FEATURE – Banyana Banyana’s newest member finds a new home in the Middle East

Biokineticist Simone Conley is a God-fearing person and believes her path to success was rocky to better prepare her to be where she is today. She is currently in Wellington, New Zealand as a biokineticist with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad ahead of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that kicks off on Thursday, 20 July. […]

WORLD CUP DESK: “It’s amazing to be back in the Banyana Banyana fold and score,” says Thembi Kgatlana

A lot can happen in one year… and no one knows that more than forward Thembi Kgatlana.  In July last year in Morocco at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, she suffered an injury that many thought would keep her out of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup to be staged in Australia and […]

WORLD CUP DESK: Banyana Banyana round off World Cup preparations with a win

Two goals in either half from forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia were enough to give the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in an international friendly played in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday (15 July 2023). This was the final fixture for both teams ahead of the start of the 2023 […]

FIFA unveils Technical Study Group for FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™

* Technical Study Group to be led by Jill Ellis, back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup™ winning coach* Team of experts to share deep insights of all 64 FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ matches* Group is responsible for the FIFA awards, with selection based on technical expert observations and football data analytics FIFA has unveiled the […]

Banyana Banyana to face USA after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will face current Women’s World Champions, the USA, in two international friendly matches, a month after the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The announcement was made by the US Soccer Federation on Friday (14 July). The fixtures come as both countries are among those who are bidding to host the […]

WORLD CUP DESK: Banyana Banyana’s Thembi Kgatlana is raring to go!

Just over a year ago (10 July 2022), Thembi Kgatlana’s Banyana Banyana took to the field to face Botswana in the second match of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. It would end in tears for the Randfontein-born forward as an injury brought her tournament to an abrupt end late in the […]

Banyana Banyana and Zambia sit out first round of the WAFCON qualifiers

Reigning African Champions South Africa as well as neighbours Zambia have received byes for the first round of the 2023 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers, following the draw recently (6 July 2023) in Rabat. Morocco are the hosts again in 2024. As runners up in 2022 after they lost to the Sasol-sponsored Banyana […]

WORLD CUP DESK: FIFA confirms final squad lists for the 2023 Women’s World Cup

It’s only a matter of days – nine to be exact – before the kick-off of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 which will be hosted by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The most-anticipated month-long tournament is scheduled to run from 20 July to 20 August. After years, months and weeks of toil and planning, […]

WORLD CUP DESK: Sasol League and Hollywoodbets Super League crucial in Banyana Banyana’s success

The SAFA Girls Soccer Academy, based at the High Performance Centre (HPC) at the University of Pretoria, was instrumental in kickstarting the development process of 11 players in the current Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad that is in New Zealand ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. But during that preparation phase early on in their careers, […]