Coaches impressed with talent
In their bid to grow women’s football in the country, the South African Football Association began their search for raw, talented footballers with trials in Johannesburg at the weekend.
Assistant technical director of women’s football in the country, Fran HiltonSmith, alongside Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis (right) and Basetsana’s Maud Khumalo vetted over 300 players who turned out at the trials.
Hilton-Smith was impressed with the attendance and believes such initiatives are important as it allows them to identify talented players all over the country.
“The turnout was exceptional,” said Hilton-Smith. “There was great talent on display for Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis and Basetsana (Under-20) head coach Maud Khumalo to select from. These are the kind of initiatives that are needed to ensure we get to see all the talent available in the country.
“This was the first of the nine provinces to be visited. Each girl received a ball to take home, while the coaches were handed polo shirts, a coach’s clipboard, a stopwatch and a whistle – all sponsored by the Department of Sport and Recrea- tion,” added Hilton-Smith.
Banyana coach Ellis, meanwhile, concurred with Hilton-Smith over the talent that was on display on the day.
The Banyana mentor believes some of the players they will be looking at all over the country will certainly play for the national teams in the future.
“This is where you will get the next generation. The future is here and you could see with the number of players who turned up that they are really passionate about football and want to see themselves wearing the national team shirt one day,” said Ellis.
This year will be a busy one for our women. The Under-17s will be at the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay from November 13 to December 1, while the Under-20s will compete in the Region 5 Games.
The senior team lock horns with Lesotho in a 2018 Caf Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifier and they will also defend their Cosafa Cup title in September.