Brics tournament to help Bantwana in their preparations

Bantwana coach Simphiwe Dludlu (right) is banking on the Under-17 Brics Cup to help her team prepare for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Uruguay later this year.

The tournament is made out of the five Brics countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and Dludlu believes playing these nations will really give her side an idea of what to expect on the global stage.

“We will be playing in the Brics tournament which is supposed to be played in July. I think it will help us in terms of preparing for the World Cup because we will be playing against top nations like Brazil, Russia and China. The tournament will be a big a boost for the girls because they have never been at a huge competition like the World Cup,” said Dludlu.

“Again, they will be playing against nations from different continents, so that will give them an idea of what to expect at the World Cup because that will be a different stage playing against some of the best footballing nations.”

Dludlu has emphasised the need to get her team ready for the competition in Uruguay and they will also be heading out to Spain for further preparations before the tournament. However, she says there are some difficulties in trying to assemble her squad, with her players busy with exams.

The Bantwana mentor adds that they are eager to make sure the squad are ready for the tournament, so they will have alternative plans and make sure the players don’t miss their schoolwork.

“We are looking forward to the Spain trip, it seems like the World Cup is far, but it is only four months away. We need proper preparations because we will be playing against the best nations at the tournament and we don’t want to go there just to make up the numbers, we want to compete.

“The thing is the players are in school and we don’t want to disturb them, but we have drawn up a schedule for their studies that will suit them and us as well.”

The World Cup will take place from November 13 to December 1.