The South African national women’s football team is excited about the friendly international match against Sweden at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.
It’s a big year for Banyana Banyana who won the 2017 Cosafa Cup and who are the No.: 1 ranked team in Africa and the match against Sweden will be good preparation in their attempts to qualify for the 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations and the 2019 Soccer World Cup.
The team is hard at work after the December holidays.
2017 was a great year for South African women’s football under interim coach, Desiree Ellis, but even bigger challenges and competitions lie ahead.
Banyana Banyana Captain, Janine Van Wyk says: “Preparation for the game against Sweden on Sunday is going really well. We’ve been well together after a long break that we had in December holidays and working towards our goal is obviously, qualifying for the world cup.”
Sweden, who are ranked 10th in the world and 5th in Europe, will be a tough nut to crack, but with players like Thembi Kgatlana, who was voted Cosafa player of the tournament in their ranks, anything is possible.
Kgatlana says, “It’s a good preparation for us because we ended the year on a good note, winning Cosafa Player of the Tournament and the team won the Cosafa Cup.”
It will be Banyana Banyana’s first-ever match in the Mother City and the players are hoping fans will take the opportunity to come and support the team.
Banyana Banyana midfielder Leandra Smeda says, “We very excited to play Sweden in Cape Town, my home city. It’s the first time we are playing in the Mother City. So, hopefully, a lot of supporters will come out to support us.”
Entrance to the Cape Town Stadium will be free on Sunday, but fans will have to acquire a ticket from Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper, OK Furniture or U Save stores.
