‘I just had to return to my husband’

FOLLOWING her mysterious departure from Banyana Banyana, former team coach tells from Holland that she did not “just disappear”.

Why did you leave Banyana?

It was never my choice to “just disappear”, hence the tweets I sent out regarding my departure. After two-and-ahalf years, I felt I had to return to my husband [former Holland assistant coach Bert van Lingen] and family. We have hardly seen each other over the last eight months. Did Safa try and convince you to stay?

I asked management not to try to convince me. They respected that. I just had to return home. This decision had nothing to do with my warm feelings for the players, colleagues and fans. Who is the best candidate to take over?

The management of Safa has asked me to make recommendations about the future of women’s football. I have written a report. One of the issues was to give my opinion about a successor. Safa must be free to decide. I prefer to keep that between Safa and myself. What do you make of the criticism that followed Banyana’s first-round exit at the Rio Olympics?

Only one [news] paper thought that a player needed to be given a platform, others quoted this paper. This player actually had no right to say anything at all. Of course, this was unfair. Professionals in the group had an opposite opinion and have expressed themselves clearly. Some players say you were not the right coach for the team...

It was a very small group [and] not one of them was a key player at the Olympics. One of them actually wrote me a text message with opposite remarks and thanked me for everything. They know themselves very well that this was not on. Will you return to SA to coach again?

No option is ever closed. I truly loved my stay in South Africa. I have no plans other than catching up with my husband. We are looking forward to our bike tours. What will you miss about SA?

I will miss my “tiny frogs” [Banyana players], my staff, the incredible warmth of the people in the streets. I have always given my best and shared all my knowledge and experience with anyone. [Safa] President Danny Jordaan has always been there for us when times were difficult. I will also miss Fran Hilton-Smith [SA assistant technical director]. What legacy did you leave behind?

Players have grown into strong independent individuals and are able to create their own future. I am proud that several players do football analysis on TV, some are coaches or working in sports development or studying. We have grown into a team that can play against the very best in the world. That is why we received all the praise, including from Fifa. The next step [for Banyana] is to start winning at the top level. What are you doing these days? Are you back with Fifa?

Fifa has just asked me to discuss this. It would be great to do development work again, but not full-time. My husband comes first now.