Danny gives squad a ringing endorsement

Tshepo Ntsoelengoe

South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan says he is proud of the national Under-17 women’s team who are set to depart for Uruguay today where they will be competing at the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

The Safa president’s message to Bantwana was to be fearless when they come up against their opponents and to play their normal football, like they have been doing all along since the qualifying campaign.

“First of all, we want to congratulate the coach and the team. You are one of the three countries that will be representing Africa. It is South Africa’s second (Women’s Under-17) World Cup and you are probably in one of the most challenging groups, Japan, Mexico and of course Brazil,” said the Safa president.

“But it is all about 11 players against 11 players on the field and our players are good enough, like any other players on the field, don’t play the name, play the players in front of you.”

Jordaan believes the current generation of the Bantwana team prepared better for the global tournament than the 2010 team which qualified for the World Cup for the first time. And he believes the team will do well.

“Your advantage is that you played in the Brics tournament and you’ve done extremely well against Brazil and China ... it showed you can compete at international level. We have great confidence in you,” he added.

“You have a great coach and technical team. So, from the federation’s side, we are very proud of you. I see some of the players here were in the Under-19 interprovincial tournament. We have great expectations of the team and that you will do us proud in Uruguay.”

At the tournament, Bantwana will play their first game against Mexico on November 13, followed by a clash with Japan three days later, before meeting Brazil in their last group stage match on November 19.