Banyana Banyana Captain Refiloe Jane is now a free agent after cutting ties with Italian outfit, Sassuolo Women.
In a social media post, the Soweto-born midfielder left a very short message – “a journey that was,” accompanied by a series of photos.
Jane joined the Serie A women’s team in 2022 shortly after this came shortly after winning the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco. She was previously on the books of giants AC Milan Femenil for three seasons.
In the 2022/23 campaign, the South African played 22 games for Sassuolo but was limited to only seven games last season.
The midfielder took over the Banyana Banyana captain from retired defender Janine van Wyk after the announcement of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad.
Jane would, however, play only two games, vs Sweden and Argentina – as she was stretchered off in the 2-all draw against the latter nation. Desiree Ellis’ charges would go on to rewrite the history books with a 3-2 win against Italy, helping them progress to the Round of 16 in a FIFA tournament for the first time ever – becoming the only South African national team to achieve the feat.
She became a bit-part player for Sassuolo upon her return from the World Cup as she was nursing injuries.
It is still not clear what her next destination is, with Mexico-based close friend and Banyana Banyana teammate Jermaine Seoposenwe pleading with her on the socials to come to that country. Should that happen, she will become the fifth South Africans in the Liga MX Femenil – Seoposenwe is with CF Monterrey, Hilda Magaia and Sinoxolo Cesane are at Mazatlán FC while UANL Tigres is the home of Thembi Kgatlana.
In South Africa, Jane has already been on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Vaal University of Technology as well as the Tshwane University of Technology. She has also donned the colours of Canberra United in the Australian Women’s League.
After an absence of about eight months, she was recalled to the Banyana Banyana squad to face Nigeria in the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers, but the African Champions narrowly missed on the ticket to Paris after losing 1-0 on aggregate to the West Africans – who joined Zambia in qualifying for the prestigious Games.
Jane is currently back home on holiday while thinking about her next move.
She will not find it hard to attract suitors, thanks to a well-decorated CV that includes, among others, the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments – 2019 France and 2023 Australia and New Zealand – as well as winning the WAFCON title and several COSAFA Cup competitions.
By Matlhomola Morake
