Co-captain of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana squad, Janine van Wyk, recently completed her UEFA B coaching licence, a clear indication of where she is headed to when her playing days are over.
It has been a long journey for the defender, who turned 36 last month, to get to where she is.
Currently playing her club football in Greece for Ergotelis in the Super League, Van Wyk has also called home to clubs in the USA (Houston Dash), Denmark (Fortuna Hjorring) and Scotland (Glasgow City).
Among her biggest achievements to date, she lists the lifting of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy – after years of trying, playing in the Olympics, starting a women’s team – which is going strong, and, also, just being able to play the game she loves.
That affection for the sport, which started at a very young age and playing with boys because during those days there were no girls teams, has led her to make a provision for life after football – hence the acquisition of a coaching licence.
And she confirms that someday she will be on the touchline shouting instructions to players.
Regarding matters on the field, she had hoped she would win the league title in Greece – like she did with Glasgow City – but it was not to be as PAOK Women, who have lifted the title for the last seven seasons, continued to do so in the current season, taking their eighth in a row, and a record 18 league titles in total.
Ergotelis Women will finish in second place, missing out on the EUFA Women’s Champions League action.
There are still two matches left before the end of the season:
- Ergotelis (Women) vs P.A.O.K. (Women)
14 May 2023
- Trikala 2011 (Women) – Ergotelis (Women)
20 May 2023
The other matter that has been on her mind a lot lately is the lack of action in the national team.
Van Wyk hasn’t been included in the Banyana Banyana squad in recent times. She last played in the back-to-back defeats against Brazil in September last year.
And with the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup around the corner – it will take place between 20 July and 20 August in Australia and New Zealand – the defender is concerned that she might miss out on the global women’s football showpiece.
CentreCircle.online spoke to her about Banyana Banyana, her coaching badges and the Greek League, among others.
Congratulations Janine, what does this achievement of a EUFA B License mean to you?
Thank you so much. This is a big step for me in the direction I wish to go after my playing career, so I am definitely pleased with myself for obtaining a very important certification that has given me an opportunity to move forward
As someone who is passionate about imparting knowledge, how excited are you that someday you will be able to put this to good use?
I am very excited about eventually sharing my passion, knowledge and experience with the younger generation of players coming through.
How important was it for you to achieve this?
It was certainly a challenge to obtain this certificate as it’s not an easy task to accomplish, especially when one is still a player as I have to go to training and play in matches – so I am happy that all the work I put in paid off and soon move on to the next level.
Top women coaches are in short supply around the world, especially in South Africa – how does this achievement speak to that challenge?
I feel that there aren’t enough coaching courses held across the country for South Africans to access and be part of. If there are courses, they are not easily accessible for coaches located in different parts of the country, therefore it’s very rare for female coaches to obtain their badges. More has to be done for coaches around our country to be able to equip themselves. But in general, I am pleased to see the increase of female coaches employed in top teams around the world at national and club level.
Can we expect to see you on the bench some day? If yes, when do you think that will happen?
There will definitely be a moment one day in the near future that you will see me on the side giving instructions to players.
At club level, how much have you grown as a player since you moved to Greece?
I have been challenged in Greece as a player like never before. Every journey I have been on has taught me something, and being in Greece has been quite a big test in terms of adapting to unusual circumstances and expectations, but an experience that has been extremely valuable to my self-growth.
Ergotelis finished the regular season without a defeat in 14 games, with two draws, how easy was it for your team?
The league was not entirely competitive throughout the season but the top few teams of both regions were , which made the games enjoyable and challenging.
In the battle for the championship, PAOK has done it again – lifting the league title, but you came very close.
PAOK has been defending Champions for many years and we lost our away game 2-0 to them which left us with seven points behind in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they have gone on to win another title and we will have to be contend with second position. We would have loved to play Champions League football, but it was not to be. We will have to try again next season.
Speaking of disappointment, how worried are you, if at all, that you might miss out on the World Cup since you haven’t been called up for some time now?
It’s extremely disappointing for me to not have been included in any of the preparation camps leading up to the World Cup. I haven’t been given a chance to continue to prove my worth and standard as I am always fighting to be at my best. However, it’s not about the individual – it’s about what’s best for the country. If the coach feels that there are better players out there to compete at the World Cup level then I have to accept that.
- Van Wyk made her debut for Banyana Banyana in 2005, playing against South Africa’s nemesis, Nigeria, in the then African Women’s Championship – she scored the only goal in that match to help her nation to their first ever win over their West African counterparts
- She captained South Africa at the Rio 2016 Olympic and also at their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in 2021
- She is Africa’s second-highest-capped footballer, male or female with 183 caps – and needs only two be the leading player with most appearances on the continent – male or female
By Matlhomola Morake
