Banyana praised for qualifying
However, former player Modise does not believe the squad will progress far
Former Banyana Banyana midfielder Portia Modise says although the national team’s chances at the Fifa World Cup are slim, credit must be given to the team for qualifying for this prestigious event.
A runner-up finish in the African Women Cup of Nations saw the South African women’s team book themselves a spot in the World Cup for the first time.
Banyana are in group B and are up against Spain, Germany and China. SA play their first World Cup game against Spain in Le Havre, France on Saturday, June 8.
“Playing against Spain, Germany and China will be really difficult, but I will give the girls the credit for qualifying,” Modise, 35, said during an interview at the Betway 12th Man Legends coaching course in Randburg, Johannesburg.
“Firstly, for Banyana Banyana to qualify, that was a great achievement. It shows that the plan was already there. Coaches that have been coaching Banyana have been putting up this plan.
“If they did not combine the U17 and the U20 national side to support the first team for the three to work together, I don’t think we were going to qualify.
“Vera [Pauw] would come and take players from the U19 side and give them a chance, [Augustine] Makhalakhalane would also come and give the U17 players a chance to be part of the national team setup.
“For them to get the feel of how it is to play for a senior national team and the pressure that comes with the job. So you start to adapt in an early age.
“When we retired some of the U19 players came in because they were familiar with what was happening in the first team. It made things easy for the players to gel, give good results and qualify.
“I think their chance in the World Cup are very slim, but for me it’s all about qualifying and going there to get the experience.”
The former Denmark’s Fortuna Hjørring player says the team should use this opportunity to collect as much experience as they can. Moving past the group stages will be a bonus for Banyana.
She believes there is a lot that still needs to be fixed in the development structures of women’s football.
“If we could invest in our development by finding sponsors and creating a good competitive league it will make the coaches’ lives much easy.
“When players go to the national side the coaches will not have to start afresh in terms of preparing the player, because when we are home we don’t have any training facilities.
“We are trained by coaches from schools who just have the passion for football. We use school grounds for training, and when we go back to the national team we have to be professional again and behave professionally,” she said.
“For them to continue qualifying for the World Cup a proper league needs to be in place for women’s football.”
She said this will make things easier for the national coach, as players will be playing more regularly.
“If you check, the Bafana coach does not struggle because PSL keeps the players fit. They play week in, week out competitive football and Cup games.
“I pray that the league that they have been talking about is really going to happen. Since I started playing for the national team when I was 13 years old they have been talking about this league.
“I am even retired today and they are still taking about the same league. I have been working hard in keeping myself fit so that I can play in that league. I am not fit anymore and I am still waiting for this league.”