Banyana Banyana stalwarts, captain Refiloe Jane as well as midfielder Leandra Smeda are training with TS Galaxy Queens and could be part of the new signings for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Super League season.
Both players have reached a century of caps for their country and their experience could be what the Rockets need to launch an attack on the league title.
The club hasn’t released information on any of their new arrivals but a few weeks ago they officially bade farewell to three players – Ramothwe Mogomotsi, Mathilda Ontong and Erin Herz – with the latter rejoining her former club, JVW.
Head coach Sizwe Sibiya was mum on the presence of the well-travelled pair at the club, but it appears an announcement is imminent.
Jane is working her way back to full fitness following an operation she underwent late last year.
The former AC Milan and Sassuolo midfielder in Italy didn’t play much in 2024 as she was nursing an injury. She parted ways with her European employers in June and has been home since.
Fifi, as she is known to her peers, played her last match of the year in the home and away Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers against Nigeria in April, running out for Banyana.
She missed the two away friendly games against Senegal, as well as the Denmark and England games. Jane was also not called up for the Jamaica clashes.
After leaving the University of the Western Cape (UWC) three seasons ago, Smeda found a new home in Spain for Dux Logrono in the second division. In 2023 she moved to RCD Espanyol in the same division. She then had short stints with FC Masar in Egypt as well as in Denmark with FC Nordsjaelland before returning home to join TS Galaxy Queens.
The Rockets, who finished third in the 2024 campaign, will open their 2025 season when they host a new-look University of Fort Hare at the Kanyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday, 8 March.
The Mpumalanga outfit already has several Banyana players in their arsenal, the likes of Nomvula Kgoale, Vivo Vilakazi, Lesego Nkoana, Busi Ndimeni, Nicole Michael, Mamello Makhabane and Dineo Magagula, among others. This potentially makes them one of the teams to beat in the new season.
African Champions coach Desiree Ellis will be watching the proceedings with keen interest and will be delighted to learn that her captain is back in action, with the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations around the corner.
By Matlhomola Morake
