READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD

BY BUNTU GOTYWA

BANYANA BANYANA are en route to their second FIFA Women’s World Cup, still on a high after lifting the 2022 WAFCON and beating Morocco 2–1 in the final. The SA ladies are confident that they have what it takes to cause a few upsets at the global showpiece to be held in Australia and New Zealand between 20 July and 20 August. And who can fault their optimism? After all, before 2022, they came agonisingly close to lifting the WAFCON trophy five times, only to lose in the finals. These players do not ever quit.

IN THE PAST, Banyana had been blessed with talented individuals who enjoyed stellar careers without quite making it at the world level as a team. The team has been on an upward trajectory in recent years and, with the addition of coach Desiree Ellis in 2018, they seem to have found their spark. Finally crossing the African hurdle and being crowned African champions could be the start of a new dawn in African women’s football on the biggest global stage.

THE WORLD CUP WILL BE NO EASY TASK. Banyana has drawn a tough group with Argentina, former World Cup quarter-finalists Italy and second-ranked former finalists Sweden. Sweden is the toughest of the three opponents and the only one Banyana has played before. It’s worth mentioning that the side was able to hold the talented Swedes to a goalless draw in their last encounter. To put the challenge in perspective, Banyana lost all their group-stage matches at FIFA 2019 in France. It would be a massive achievement to even make the final 16, which no senior South African side has yet done in the World Cup. The World Cup squad is expected to feature most of the players who took part in WAFCON.

AFTER THE POST-WAFCON RUDE AWAKENING of losing heavily in friendlies to Brazil and Australia, Coach Ellis knows there is a lot of work to do before July arrives. But tough opposition doesn’t faze this highly experienced coach.

DEBUTING AT THE MATURE AGE of thirty in Banyana’s inaugural international of the democratic era, Ellis scored a hat-trick against Swaziland (Eswatini). She won 32 caps and captained the side that won the 2002 COSAFA Cup before retiring as a player. She has coached senior sides since 2006 and was recognised as CAF Women’s Coach of the Year three times. There is no denying the competitive spirit of her players, many of whom ply their trade overseas against the best in the world at club level. The UWC Ladies’ football side has indirectly contributed to the national squad through its investment in the student game, which has produced many players who have served in Banyana.

AFTER WAFCON 2022, UWC had a huge homecoming ceremony for some of these players who have become regulars in the national setup and who are expected to play key roles if SA is to make it out of the group stages for the first time. Among the 10 ex-Udubs members of the WAFCON-winning team are UWC captain, Bongeka Gamede, Regirl Ngobeni, Amogelang Motau, Sibulele Holweni and Noxolo Cesane. UWC coach Thinasonke Mbuli serves Ellis’s national team as an assistant coach.

WITH OR WITHOUT ITS NATIONAL SQUAD MEMBERS, Udubs continues to field a strong team and finished second behind Sundowns in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Looking to go one better this season, the team hit the ground running with an opening week 9–1 drubbing of Coal City Wizards.