THIRTY YEARS IN THE MAKING

Banyana Banyana’s triumph in Morocco came almost 30 years after they played their first ever international fixture.

That was against what was then known as Swaziland (now Eswatini) and was a friendly international played at Wits University’s Milpark stadium on May 30, 1993.

It would turn out to be a romping success for Banyana was they won 14-0, with current coach Desiree Ellis scoring a hat-trick.

She was not the only one to get a treble, Gaylene Peters did so inside 29 minutes and Bertha King matches that feat.

The side was coached by Englishman Terry Paine, who led them in their first three matches – all wins – before leaving to be replaced by Sandile Bali.

“It was the very beginning and the ladies football was struggling to get a foothold,” Paine tells KICK OFF. “I was approached by Fran Hilton-Smith to help out and I just did it on a temporary bases, giving them a level of support in terms of coaching and the professionalism that was needed.

“But Fran was the driving force, she was exceptional in her determination to get the women’s game up and running. I also ran some coaching courses for young people who were trying to get into the game. I enjoyed it immensely.” As for the game against Swaziland, Paine says there was excitement, nervousness and a sense of the unknown on the day. “Desiree was my captain and she was an exceptional player in her own right, but the whole team played really well obviously. However, we then went to Zimbabwe and won 2-1 and 8-0 against much harder opposition, and Fran could not believe the improvement in the team in such a short space of time.

“Like I said, that was just the beginning and look what has happened since. It has taken too long [to win the Wafcon], but now this is a platform to really grow the game further in the country. “Women’s soccer has taken a real hold in the world game, just look at the Euros that were played [in England]. The standard of the football is incredible and has improved so much in such a short space of time. I was blown away by some of the games.

“The challenge now for Banyana is to go to the [World Cup in] Australia and New Zealand next year and compete with the best in the world. They will have to show they have the ability to do that.”