The South African Senior Women’s National Team (Banyana Banyana) returned home from the Olympic Games. The squad touched down on Thursday, 2 August 2012, richer in experience after holding World Cup champions Japan to a goal-less draw in their final Group F fixture in London this week.

The team, led by head Joseph Mkhonza and captain Amanda Dlamini, was welcome by Minister of Sport and Recreation, the Honourable Mr Fikile Mbalula, president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Kirsten Nematandani – both of whom also arrived in the morning from the Games – as well SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) members Xolani Mtumtum and Anthony Reeves.

“They met the best and were defeated, but we are still proud of them. The future looks bright though for women’s football in South Africa and we need to engage SAFA on trying to get going a professional women’s league in this country because that is the only advantage the other countries have on us. Well done girls, and we are aware you could have done a lot better, but qualifying and being at the Games is victory in itself,” said Minister Mbalula.

“We were surely not disgraced. We should applaud the girls for their good showing. Playing against such established countries is no mean feat, but our girls stood their ground, even though they went down in two matches out of three. We are proud of you girls, and are confident that going forward we will grow even more,” said Nematandani.

There were also family members and a few fans on hand to receive the team.

“This was an unforgettable and proud moment for me personally as well as the whole team. Also it was an experience of a lifetime, and we learnt a lot as a team and we are confident those lessons will stand us in good stead when we tackle the CAF African Women Championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea starting at the end of October,” said Dlamini.

“To hold World Cup champions Japan to a draw in our final match was the highlight of the Olympic Games campaign as we fancied our chances against them as we play a similar style to them and backed our pace against them. Even though we started very slowly, we grew stronger as a team and we know next time we know what to expect. We lived our dream.”

Mkhonza was also full of praise for his players, saying they did the country proud.

“I must say I have mixed emotions. The team played against the best and we came second best, but we did not disgrace ourselves. It was through our mistakes that we were beaten, but we go into the future confident that we gave our best and will be a force to be reckoned with. The last game we played was mainly for pride, but the girls showed their true potential. I am happy with the performance but not the results,” said Mkhonza.

“Special thanks must go to SASCOC, Safa, the Department of Sport and Recreation and our team sponsor Sasol, for their support of our team. The South African public and the media have also shown great interest in our team and long may this continue.”

Banyana Banyana went down 4-1 to Sweden and 3-0 to Canada before holding Japan to a draw in the last match.

Striker Portia Modise made history when she became the first player to score for Banyana Banyana in an Olympic tournament.

“I cannot stand here and take all the glory. Gratitude should go to my teammates because I could not have done it without them. I am still excited over the goal, and I must agree it was a great goal. It’s one I will remember for a very long time,” said an elated Modise.

The squad will take a rest before resuming preparations for the upcoming AWC tournament.

South Africa and Cameroon represented Africa at the Olympics.

This was Banyana Banyana’s first Olympic appearance.

by OBAKENG MAJE

BY Obakeng Maje

The South African Senior Women’s National Team (Banyana Banyana) has resumed preparations for the African Women’s Championship qualifiers where they will take on Zambia in the return leg fixture to be played at the Kanyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit on Youth Day – Saturday, 16 June 2012.

Kickoff is at 15h00.

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana defeated their Zambian counterparts four-one (4-1) in the first leg.

South Africa’s head coach Joseph Mkhonza has warned the players against complacency.

“Having won the first leg so comfortably, I will want the girls to continue from where they left off. So I have asked them not to relax because we have a good lead, but cautioned that this is a new match altogether and Zambia will come here for a fight to reverse the score-line. We have a few days in camp and we will use the time to analyse the last match and iron out tactical errors that we committed in the first match. The mission for us remains going for an all-out attack to get more goals and put the game beyond doubt,” said Mkhonza.

Defender Janine van Wyk has not been called-up for the training camp due to an injury she sustained in the build-up to the friendly match against Nigeria played just over a week ago (Sunday, 3 June 2012).

Also not in the squad is Robyn Moodaly who is completing her exams.

Russian based striker, Nompumelelo Nyadeni is expected to join her team mates in training tomorrow morning.

Banyana Banyana squad:

BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana and Nigeria played to a 1-all draw in an action-packed international friendly encounter played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, in Phokeng, near Rustenburg on Sunday, 6 June 2012.

The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s team will face the Nigerians in a return international friendly encounter in Abuja, Nigeria on June 23.

Experienced Nigerian striker Stella Chinyere’s goal broke the deadlock 17 minutes after the break, after she latched on to a long overhead ball,  and run into the home team’s penalty area, before netting  despite the diving effort of Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Roxanne Barker.

But the South Africans showed character and determination and were rewarded with an equalizer 12 minutes before fulltime, when a cross from the left found Portia Modise, who fired home from close range to net her 69th goal in her 90th appearance for Banyana Banyana.

This was also the third goal in as many matches for the Palace Super Falcons (Sasol League Free State) player, since returning to the national side.

Modise played on the left-hand side of an attacking midfield – rather than her usual role upfront.

The South Africans suffered a setback before the start of the match when tough tackling central defender Janine van Wyk suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up phase and was replaced. Refiloe Jane took over at right back with regular fullback Zamandosi Cele moving to the centre of defence next to Amanda Sister.

The match marked the second game in charge for Nigerian coach Ikhana Kadiri, whose new-look Nigerian outfit would have been a bit of a surprise to the South Africans. 

Goalkeeper and captain Dede Uzoaru, midfielders Ebere Ngozi  and Mbachu Chinyere, plus striker Oparanozie Ugochi were the only familiar names from the Nigerian side that lifted the African Women Championship 2010 trophy in Ekurhuleni.

BY Obakeng Maje

Banyana Banyana dominated the second half proceedings to run out 4-1 winners over Zambia in the first leg of their African Women Championship 2012 qualifier – in a match which saw two home team goalkeepers sent to hospital for medical treatment.

The clash took place at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday, 26 May 2012

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will carry their advantage through to the return leg fixture to be played in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga on June 16.

The visitors went into the match ranked 65th in the world compared to the 126th placing of the Zambians.

While the first half produced no goals, the hosts lost the services of their goalkeeper Mirriam Katamauda who was carried from the field and taken to hospital after pulling off a close range save from Matlou in the 20th minute.

Substitute goalkeeper Delly Lumwaya was kept busy for the remainder of the first period, but the goal scoring chances that went the way of Matlou, fellow striker Portia Modise and midfielder Mary Ntsweng – a header put over the cross bar from close range – were not converted.

The South Africans were lucky to escape being a goal down at the break after a pile driving effort from the left by Musonda Sakala was cleared away from the Banyana Banyana goal-mouth with goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni  beaten.

Matlou, the CAF Women’s Player of the Year 2009 and current SA Sportswoman of the Year, headed home two minutes after the half-time break to continue her goal-scoring form. She also scored in the national team’s 2-1 win over the Zambians in an Olympic qualifier there in January last year.

But the Zambians showed great character to equalize in the 60th minute when a looping ball played in to the right hand side of the Banyana Banyana penalty area was blasted home by Etas Banda with the South Africans appealing unsuccessfully for an offside ruling.

But three minutes later, Lumwaya made an awful blunder as she dropped a relatively easy cross at the feet of second half substitute Sanah Mollo who scored with ease.

This was the Bloemfontein Celtics (Sasol League Free State) striker’s third goal in two matches having scored twice as a substitute in Banyana Banyana’s 5-2 win over Tanzania in an international friendly match played in Dar es Salaam last weekend.

Things went from bad to worse for Zambia when, eight minutes later, Lumwaya was left red-faced as she dropped the ball into her own goal-net at the near post. This was after a free-kick taken from the right by Banyana Banyana defender Nothando Vilakazi.

Lumwaya, who was later rushed to hospital, spent five minutes on the grass receiving medical attention after she collided with the goal post as she lost control of the ball.

Substitute midfielder Chisala Musonda changed into the goalkeeper’s jersey – becoming the third goalkeeper for Zambia in one match.

Banyana Banyana took advantage of the make-shift goalkeeper with Mollo cruising through the host’s defence and scoring her second goal of the match with ease.

Banyana Banyana head coach, Joseph Mkhonza is happy about the results as the players applied themselves to see them score the four winning goals.

“I am happy that we got a win here in Zambia, I am proud that the girls showed a lot of mental strength in front of a very supportive home crowd. We came here to accomplish one of our missions and that’s playing towards the number one spot on the continent. The girls showed character and applied what we learnt as they scored two goals from set-pieces,” said Mkhonza.

“Going into the second leg, we don’t want to dwell on the four-one lead but rather aim at scoring more goals.”

Mollo, who scored another two goals in this match, is happy that the game went in their favour.

“I am happy that I scored two of the goals that led my country to victory against Zambia. Scoring has boosted my confidence levels and I am hoping to carry this momentum into the second leg of the qualifier,” said the player known as Diego.

Banyana Banyana will arrive back in the South Africa on Sunday 27 May, they are expected to land at 09h20.