Banyana Banyana have returned to the training field for the first time since they won the Cosafa Cup in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, in November last year.
The South African women’s team hopes to return to action as early as next month with two international friendlies planned.
The squad is in camp without any of the overseas-based players.
Four months after they successfully defended their title with a 2-1 win over Botswana, the team assembled in Johannesburg for a short training camp.
The coaching staff and players hope that this will be the first step towards resuming a normal playing calendar after the coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of the entire 2020 schedule.
The camp is staged with the aim of preparing the team for possibly two matches in South Africa during the Fifa designated dates next month.
Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, says the training at this point is to get all the players in shape.
“Look we haven’t played for a while we have missed the whole year of football it’s just to get everybody back into training to see where we at especially with the local players who haven’t played for a while. We know all the players abroad are active and are doing really well so we needed to see where we are at with the local players and it’s important to become active again”.
. @Banyana_Banyana head coach @descaptain at the squad’s week-long training camp in Johannesburg, where she has selected 18 players to work with. Camp ends tomorrow. @SasolLeague @SAFA_net @SasolSA @COSAFAMEDIA #womensfootball pic.twitter.com/zqMHa0UVOz
— Official SasolLeague (@SasolLeague) March 18, 2021
Following the cancellation of the 2020 Africa Women Cup of Nations, the focus now shifts to the 2022 edition of the tournament which will be hosted by Morocco. It will also serve as a qualifier for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup. With as many as 15 players currently plying their trade overseas, the aim is to continue increasing the depth of the squad.
Ellis says the so far the training has been fruitful.
“It’s very important and that’s why we had a camp just to see where we at, we brought in some players who missed the Cosafa through exams and illnesses just to have another look and it’s important to get them at the same level. They are not playing regularly and we need to help them to get to the same level as the players that are coming in othersiwe we are going to have a huge gap in terms of conditioning and understanding and most of the players they’ve been here before so we are just sort of refreshing the memory with regards to all the training sessions that we had and so far it’s been very fruitful”.
The 24-member squad that has assembled at SAFA’s Technical centre also features some familiar faces such as Andile Dlamini, Mamello Makhabane, and Mapaseka Mpuru who is working her way back after a long absence due to work commitments and studies.
Banyana Banyana keeper, Andile Dlamini, says she is excited to be playing football again.
“It’s honestly exciting to be in camp this year the last time we were in camp it was in November and playing Cosafa so just being together and playing football again this year again it’s exciting for all the local players we have been waiting to kick the ball and yes I know that we have been with our teams but just getting a national call up It’s always an honour and us coming to train super, super hard because this is a training camp, it’s exciting”.
Banyana Banyana is expected to face Southern African opposition in the two friendlies in Johannesburg in the first half of April.
