Banyana: question of who to leave out

Danny Jordaan expects the competition to be intense for places in the Banyana Banyana squad that will take part in their first Fifa Women’s World Cup finals in France next year.

Banyana will find out who they will be playing in the group stages in France tomorrow, as the draw for the finals, which run from June 7 to July 7, takes place at La Seine Musicale on the island of Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt.

South African Football Association president Jordaan will attend the draw, along with Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis.

Ellis may be tempted to put her trust in the squad that got Banyana to France, finishing as runners-up at the 2018 Caf Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. But Jordaan thinks his coach will find it tricky deciding on who to take.

“The dedication, commitment and focus of the players, the spirit of unity among the players, it was an extraordinary team effort on their part,” said Jordaan on Banyana’s Afcon feat, though they did lose the final on penalties to Nigeria.

“When Cyril Ramaphosa phoned them the night before the final, you could see on their faces the determination to go out and win, but of course when it comes to penalties … we heard Janine Van Wyk (Banyana captain) saying hey didn’t lose a single match, they don’t count penalties because a shootout is a lottery.

“You can see a determination in them, and now going to a World Cup, of course there are other players – Rhoda Mulaudzi (left) is scoring goals (for Canberra United in Australia) and Robyn Moodaly is doing well in the US and there are many others. You have Under-17 players who have come through, and Under-20s who have come through. With six months to go I think the competition will be fierce, now that the World Cup is a reality.”

While in France, Jordaan will also meet Fifa president Gianni Infantino to discuss South Africa’s potential bid to host the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.