Ferns give Banyana final Olympics test

BANYANA Banyana will complete their preparations for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with a friendly against New Zealand next week.

The Banyana are holding their final week-long training camp on home soil ahead of their departure to Rio on Saturday.

Coach Vera Pauw said the match against New Zealand, nicknamed the Football Ferns, was crucial.

“Every match we play we want to improve, and the New Zealand clash is not different,” Pauw said.

“We want our play to be better than it is now. I wish New Zealand can put us under pressure the way the USA did.

“I know they are capable of that because that is their playing style, that is why we wanted to play them. Hopefully we can improve on our attack too.”

After going down 1-0 to the USA, Pauw is adamant that concentration is also paramount.

“What you could get away with in earlier games you won’t get away with now.

“So we have discussed these moments – for example, one step forward, or one step late, getting your eye off the ball for a moment means a chance against us.”

Banyana open their campaign in Brazil against Sweden on August 3 at the Olympic Stadium in Rio. China and the hosts complete the group.

Asked about the team’s chances as the clocks ticks towards the start, Pauw said: “It is so difficult to say before the competition starts because our opponents are ranked between one and 12 while we are on 52. China are growing and going back to being the strong force they were about a decade ago. We want everybody to be proud of us and see that we are improving. We want to leave a legacy that we don’t get ignored anymore.”