BANYANA SQUAD

BANYANA Banyana coach Desiree Ellis yesterday named a squad of 26 players for a training camp to kickstart their preparations for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup to be held in France from June 7 to July 7.

The squad will be based in Cape Town where they will face the Netherlands and Sweden in friendlies on Saturday, January 19 and Tuesday, January 22, both at Cape Town Stadium.

The squad includes forward Thembi Kgatlana, who won two trophies – Goal of the Year and Woman Player of the Year – at the CAF awards in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday night.

Kgatlana won Goal of the Year for her winner when Banyana beat Nigeria 1-0 in their opening match of the 2018 Women’s Afcon in Ghana in November when she went on to score four more goals to be crowned Player of the Tournament as the top goalscorer.

The pint-sized player took home the coveted 2018 CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, pipping Nigerians Asisat Oshoala and Fransisca Ordega.

She was also a nominee for the African Player of the Year award in 2017.

The Houston Dash forward became the second South African to lift the trophy, following in the footsteps of fellow Banyana Banyana striker Noko Matlou in 2008.

Ellis has kept the bulk of the team that did duty in the 2018 Women’s Afcon in Ghana, where Banyana Banyana lost in the final to Nigeria.

BANYANA SQUAD

Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart, Roxanne Barker, Victoria Muroa, Lebogang Ramalepe, Nothando Vilakazi, Janine van Wyk, Noko Matlou, Bambanani Mbane, Tiisetso Makhubela, Koketso Tlailane, Karabo Dhlamini, Mamello Makhabane, Leandra Smeda, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Linda Motlhalo, Busisiwe Ndimeni, Refiloe Jane, Molatelo Sebata, Kholosa Biyana, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Thembi Kgatlana, Kelso Peskin, Amanda Mthandi, Hildah Magaia, Rhoda Malaudzi