Dlamini perfectly happy to bide time
Donning a South African national team jersey had always been Andile Dlamini’s dream.
It was back in 2010 when Dlamini was called up to represent the Under-20 team, a moment she describes as unforgettable. The Banyana goalkeeper graduated to the senior team the following year, making her debut against Botswana.
Since then, Dlamini has always been a key member of the Banyana squad, even though she has almost always been second-choice goalkeeper. The 25-year old has never got demoralised by lack of game time in the senior team while keeping goal for Mamelodi Sundowns ladies’ team in the Sasol League.
“It is every girl’s dream to play for their country when they play football, it’s a huge achievement because we all know women’s football does not get many opportunities. I remember my first call-up like it was just yesterday, I will never forget that day,” said the Tembisa-born player.
“For me, it was like I had just achieved my personal dream by just getting the call-up, not really thinking I would be an asset in the team for a long time. I have been a second-choice goalkeeper for a long time, learning from the likes of Thokozile Mndaweni and Roxanne Barker.
“They have played a huge role in my development and I am glad to have worked with them. I am still living my dream and I want to achieve a lot with Banyana.”
The last couple of years being part of Banyana has seen Dlamini travel the world, part of the Banyana squad at the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2016 Rio Olympics. She says the Olympic experience is one of the highlights of her
career, but she is disappointed with the team not doing so well in the last two editions of the competition.
Banyana have never made it out of the group stages at the Games, but she believes the upcoming generation of young women footballers who will be wearing the Banyana jersey in future will be stronger, as women’s football in the country is growing day by day.
“It has not been the best (at the Olympics), but remember we have only played in the Olympics twice. It was a big deal for all of us when we qualified for the first time in 2012, we managed to do it again in 2016,” she continued.
“We have dreams, we want to do well in the Olympics, we want to qualify for the World Cup and we also want to win the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. We have been doing very well on the continent, but the main objective is to lift the trophy.”
Dlamini and her team-mates recently won Banyana’s fourth Cosafa trophy after beating hosts Zimbabwe 2-1 in the final. Dlamini played her part in the semifinal, coming off the bench for the penalty shootout, where she is seen as a bit of specialist. And it proved to be a wise move by Banyana coach Desiree Ellis, as South Africa beat Zambia on penalties, following an amazing game that had seen them come back from 3-0 down in the final 15 minutes to draw 3-3.
Dlamini, meanwhile, may get a chance to test herself against one of the world’s best teams, Sweden, at the start of next year, with the South African Football Association yesterday announcing two friendlies between Banyana and Sweden, in Cape Town on January 18 and January 21.