Skipper convinced they’ll go all the way
VAN WYK: WE MUST CELEBRATE WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED
Tshepo Ntsoelengoe
Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk is confident that the senior national women’s team can once again write their name in the history books by lifting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
As much as Banyana can celebrate qualifying for their maiden Fifa Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted in France next year, after beating Mali 2-0 on Tuesday to reach the final of the AWC, Van Wyk insists the team can go all the way when they meet defending champions Nigeria in the final, set to be played in Accra tomorrow.
This will be the second meeting between the two rivals at this competition, after they also met in the group stages, with South Africa emerging as 1-0 winners courtesy of a Thembi Kgatlana strike.
“We have to celebrate what we have accomplished, but we have another goal to achieve and that is something that we are capable of doing, which is lifting that trophy and making history twice in one tournament ... and getting the gold medals around our necks,” said the skipper.
“They will come out really strongly to try and defend their title and I think we have nothing to lose and we have to do everything and go for it and play hard until the end of the game to see what we can get from it.”
Van Wyk and company, however, will have to face the Super Falcons without midfielder and vice-captain Refiloe Jane, who flew back to her club Canberra United in Australia. The midfielder wished the team well for the final and says there is a lot of quality in the squad.
“It’s sad that I won’t be in the final even though a part of me wants to play, while a part of me needs to go and live my other dream which is to play professional football overseas,” said Jane.
“I met with the team and told them I wouldn’t be available for the final, but we have quality players in the team who have what it takes to lift the trophy.”