Article by: Pearl Modise <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An 18-woman\nsquad was assembled by Banyana Banyana Coach, Desiree Ellis for a training camp\nthat commenced from 15-19 March 2021 at the SAFA Technical Centre in\nJohannesburg. Since the COSAFA Cup triumph in November 2020 this was the first\ntime that the South African Senior Women\u2019s National team got together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose\nof the training camp was to assess the players fitness level in order to prepare\nfor the Africa Women Cup of Nation qualifiers coming up and the tournament in\n2022 which will be hosted in Morocco. \u201cWe just\nwanted to have an idea of where the players are at in terms of fitness. This is\na big year for us after losing a year of football due to the Coronavirus\npandemic\u201d says Ellis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to\nplay in Morocco the team has to prepare thoroughly as there will now be 12\nteams that will qualify in the Women\u2019s AFCON tournament where the top four will\nqualify for the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. The\ntechnical team is very impressed with what they saw from the players and they\ngive credit to clubs for doing well with their pre-season training. Things can\nonly get better from this point moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to some of the players\nhaving returned to action abroad in different leagues across Europe only\nlocally based players attended the camp. \u201cThis camp really helped a lot to show us\nwhat we have locally. The players based overseas are playing regularly and they\nare doing well at a higher level \u2013 so our aim is to get as close as possible to\nthat level and try to compete on an equal footing because the next camp we are\nlikely going to have the overseas-based players back and so the mix has to be\ncorrect,\u201d explained Ellis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The upcoming FIFA calendar dates\nwill be utilised to bring in the\noverseas-based players who haven\u2019t been in the team for over a year mainly due\nto the corona virus pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe know they\nhave improved because of the regular training and games they are involved in,\nand that is good for us. If you look at the likes of Nigeria and Cameroon, they\nhave all these experienced players abroad and when they come back they change\nthe mentality and everything within the team, making everything better. So we\nare hoping for a similar experience. Remember, previously we have one or two\noverseas, now we have a whole lot of them overseas. Hopefully, they will take\nthis team to a higher level and we need to use this year to catch up.\u201d\nconcluded Ellis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banyana Banyana squad in\ntraining camp:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Goalkeepers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Andile Dlamini ( Mamelodi\nSundowns FC )<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Kaylin Swart (JVW FC\nJohannesburg)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Mapaseka Mpuru (University of\nPretoria Pretoria)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defenders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Bongeka Gamede (University of\nWestern Cape)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Karabo Makhurubetshi (Mamelodi\nSundowns FC )<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Tiisetso Makhubela\n(Tshwane University of Technology)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Xiluva Tshabalala (Ma-Indies\nPolokwane)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Ongeziwe Ndlangisa (Sunflower\nFC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Midfielders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Mamello Makhabane (JVW\nFC )<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Nomvula Kgoale (Tshwane\nUniversity of Technology)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Nonhlanhla Mthandi (Mamelodi\nSundowns FC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Ntombifikile Ndlovu(Sunflower\nFC )<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Noxolo Cesane (University of Western\nCape)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Robyn Moodaly (JVW FC\nJohannesburg)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Strikers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Sibulele Holweni (University\nof Western Cape)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Gabriela Salgado (JVW FC\nJohannesburg)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Lonathemba Mhlongo (Durban\nLadies FC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Kgaelebane Mohlakoana\n(Bloemfontein Celtic FC)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Article by: Pearl Modise An 18-woman squad was assembled by Banyana Banyana Coach, Desiree Ellis for a training camp that commenced from 15-19 March 2021 at the SAFA Technical Centre in Johannesburg. Since the COSAFA Cup triumph in November 2020 this was the first time that the South African Senior Women\u2019s National team got together. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n