Sasol Banyana Banyana geared for Zambia clash
Sasol Banyana Banyana are rearing to go for their international friendly match against the Zambian women’s national team.
The South African Women’s National team, Sasol Banyana Banyana, are rearing to go for their international friendly match against the Zambian women’s national team, She-polopolo.
Vera Pauw’s charges depart for Zambia on Thursday August 21 to take on She-polopolo at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Sunday August 24. The kick-off for the match is scheduled for 15:00.
Both Sasol Banyana Banyana and She-polopolo are preparing for the ninth edition of the African Women’s Championship (AWC), which will also be used as qualifiers for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The top three finishers from the AWC will qualify to compete at the World Cup in Canada.
Preparations for the match are well under way. The team assembled in Johannesburg and held their training sessions at the Nike training centre.
“There are still some points that we have to address, but in the meantime I am satisfied with the squad,” said head coach of Banyana Banyana Vera Pauw at the Nike Training Centre on Wednesday August 20.
“We are not fully ready yet for the tournament, but we are on track. We need to work on getting fitter and stronger, and with each friendly match we play we are moving towards that goal,” said Pauw.
Banyana Banyana will take to the field against Zambia without midfielder Amanda Dlamini, who suffered a knee injury in the match against Namibia at the Dobsonville Stadium two weeks ago.
“Amanda’s injury is not bad, the scan showed that she will be out for a few weeks and she will be ready for October,” said Pauw.
Banyana Banyana will continue playing friendly matches, before travelling to Namibia to battle it out with Cameroon, Algeria and Ghana for a place in the semi-finals of the tournament.
