BANYANA READY FOR SWEDES
AFTER winning the Cosafa Cup and being named the Caf women’s team of the year, Banyana Banyana are not short on confidence.
In fact, the SA national women’s team’s stock has risen to such a degree that a side as high profile as Sweden has jetted in to the Mother City for an international friendly at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).
Sweden are ranked 10th in the world and fifth in Europe.
Entry is free, but tickets still have to be accessed via Computicket or any Shoprite, Checkers, or Checkers Hyper for those able to get there.
For Banyana captain Janine van Wyk, this is an occasion to treasure. While accolades are important in tracking and measuring improvement, it also places a football team squarely in the spotlight. They are no longer an unknown entity – instead they are now in the focus of other nations as a team to beat.
Banyana’s recent success has had the requisite effect of elevating the national women’s team into international recognition. And it was this particular aspect highlighted by Van Wyk when revealing her thoughts about Sunday’s friendly.
This is the first time Banyana are playing such a high profile friendly in the Mother City.
“I am really looking forward to the match,” said Van Wyk. “It will be the second time I play against THE BIG TIME: Swedish women’s football coach Peter Gerhardsson,captain Caroline Seger, Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk and SA coach Desree Ellis are all smiles ahead of the more serious business of their international friendly in Cape Town. Sweden. They are tough opponents, they are world class, and it is an honour to have them here. It shows that Banyana are a good team, otherwise world class teams like Sweden wouldn’t come here to prepare.
“For us, this is part of the preparation for the women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the ultimate aim of qualifying for the 2019 World Cup.
“This is our first game for 2018; preparations have been going well under coach Des (Ellis), the spirt is high, especially after the Cosafa Cup win and being named as the African women’s team of the year.
“We want to put up a good fight against the Swedes. As a team, in order to grow you have to play games against such top-class opposition. But the confidence is high. All eyes are on us, everyone wants to play against us, and we want to show why we are the best team in Africa.”
For the City of Cape Town, bringing Banyana to the Mother City is a big coup.
“This project has been long overdue,” said the city’s Stuart Diamond. “We have been talking to Safa for a while and we have finally got Banyana to play in Cape Town.
“We welcome Des Ellis and her team to the Cape, and as she is a Capetonian, we say to Des, ‘welcome home’.
“Our commitment in the city is not just to grow football in the Cape, but also to grow women’s football. This is an occasion for Banyana to showcase their skills against a world class team like Sweden.”