The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will be without their influential midfielder and captain Refiloe Jane, as well as number one goalkeeper Andile Dlamini for the upcoming international friendly match against the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia in London.
The clash takes place on Saturday, 8 October 2022.
Jane was unable to join her compatriots due to visa complications and the Sassuolo player has been replaced by England-based midfielder Faith Nokuthula, who plays for Blackburn Rovers Ladies in the Women’s Soccer League (WSL). She was born in Ireland to South African parents.
“Unfortunately due to visa complications, Fifi [Jane] is not available. We have brought in Faith Nokuthula to have a look at her. She is still in the process of getting her documentation sorted out, but we thought it was important to bring her in as we are in England,” Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis told SAFA.net
According to the Blackburn Rovers Ladies website, Nokuthula can operate as a midfielder and a full-back. She started out with Tottenham Hotspurs when she was 14-years-old and progressed through their youth teams before joining Brighton in 2019.
Nokuthula was involved with Brighton’s first-team as soon as joined them and made her debut for the side in February 2020 against Crystal Palace in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup at only 17-years-old.
She made her first start for the first-team last year against West Ham in the Continental Tyres League Cup, but moved to Rovers in August this year.
Dlamini meanwhile did not travel with the team because of a family bereavement, and she will not be replaced as they have two goalkeepers in the squad.
The latest development catapults Regirl Ngobeni of the University of the Western Cape to the number one position after second choice goalkeeper Kaylin Swart was not selected for this fixture.
Ngobeni has been number three on the pecking order, and will now have newcomer Dineo Magagula of the University of Johannesburg (UJ FC) in the Hollywoodbets Super League deputising for her in the UK.
Jane and Dlamini join Janine van Wyk, Noko Matlou, Lebohang Ramalepe, Kaylin Swart, Noxolo Cesane, Kholosa Biyana, Thembi Kgatlana and Nomvula Kgoale who will be missing the Australia clash for various reasons – all 10 players were part of the WAFCON-winning squad in Morocco.
With Van Wyk, Jane and Ramalepe out of the match it remains to be seen who will captain the squad – and that honour could fall upon the likes of Jermaine Seoposenwe, Bambanani Mbane or even Linda Motlhalo.
The match against the Matildas is part of preparations for next year’s World Cup.
It comes at the back of a disappointing loss to Brazil in two friendly matches recently where they lost 3-0 and 6-0.
The South African Senior Women’s National Team arrived in London on Wednesday morning (5 October 2022).
“Look, it was a long flight from South Africa and in the morning you could see that there was a lot of fatigue. We had to change the training session a bit, just to make sure that they are fresher tomorrow,” said Ellis.
The team had their first training session on Wednesday afternoon, and have scheduled two more for Thursday and Friday.
Motlhalo, Seoposenwe and Thato Letsoso were expected to join the squad on Thursday morning (6 October).
UPDATED BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD TO FACE AUSTRALIA IN LONDON
| NAME | POSITION | CLUB |
| GOALKEEPERS: | ||
| 1. Regirl NGOBENI | University of the Western Cape (UWC) | |
| 2. Dineo MAGAGULA | University of Johannesburg (UJ) | |
| DEFENDERS: | ||
| 3. Thato LETSOSO | Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) | |
| 4. Fikile MAGAMA | University of the Western Cape (UWC) | |
| 5. Tiisetso MAKHUBELA | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | |
| 6. Lonathemba MHLONGO | University of the Western Cape (UWC) | |
| 7. Cynthia MAKETE | Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies | |
| 8. Bambanani MBANE | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | |
| 9. Bongeka GAMEDE | University of the Western Cape (UWC) | |
| MIDFIELDERS: | ||
| 10. Cimone SAULS | JVW | |
| 11. Sibulele HOLWENI | University of the Western Cape (UWC) | |
| 12. Linda MOTLHALO | Djurgardens IF (SWEDEN) | |
| 13. Thalea SMIDT | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | |
| 14. Robyn MOODALY | JVW | |
| 15. Amogelang MOTAU | University of the Western Cape (UWC) | |
| FORWARDS: | ||
| 16. Thubelihle SHAMASE | University of Johannesburg (UJ) | |
| 17. Gabriela SALGADO | JVW | |
| 18. Jermaine SEOPOSENWE | FC Juárez (MEXICO) | |
| 19. Melinda KGADIETE | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | |
| 20. Hildah MAGAIA | Sejong Sportstoto (SOUTH KOREA) | |
| 21. Nthabiseng MAJIYA | Richmond United | |
By Matlhomola Morake
