Birds lend hand in drumming up support for Banyana’s Olympic trip
ALEXANDRA - Bluebirds Ladies will be among other teams in Gauteng that will help Banyana in their training preparations for the Olympics in Rio, Brazil in August.
Alexandra’s Bluebirds Ladies will clash with Soweto Fabulous Ladies, Banyana Banyana legends and staff of the Banyana sponsors, Sasol on 1 July in a five-a-side tournament as part of the sponsors efforts to drum up support for the women’s national team ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in August.
The five-a-side matches will be part of the Sasol Banyana Banyana Celebrating Heroes Campaign at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto, where team members will be signing autographs and meeting fans ahead of their trip for Brazil.
Launched in May, the campaign endeavours to rally the support of the nation for Banyana ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games. The campaign is backed by Sasol which has sponsored the women’s national football team since 2009.
This is the second consecutive time Banyana has qualified for the Olympic Games, having been to London in 2012. The team has been busy preparing to play against tough opponents.
Banyana Banyana has been drawn in a competitive group consisting of Brazil, China and Sweden. As part of the build-up to the Rio Olympics, Banyana has played two international friendlies against the Netherlands, losing 1–0 and 2–0. The team will also travel to the United States in July to play against the USA women’s national team, which is ranked number one in the world currently.
“This is a highlight of my career. We thank Sasol for their continued investment in the team,” said senior player, Sanah Mollo.
Meanwhile, Bluebirds coach Malvin Khumalo said he was looking forward to the tournament. “This is a match that will provide us with the opportunity to test our skills and players against other women’s football teams and I can’t wait for the moment,” he said.
“It will also help in our preparations for the league games which have been put on hold for a few weeks, a move that tends to affect the momentum that the players had built, and this game should serve to rekindle that momentum.”
Khumalo said he was delighted that his team had been chosen to help drum-up support for Banyana ahead of their trip to Rio. “We welcome the opportunity with both hands as it is a great honour for us and Alex football in general to be associated with the national women’s team at whatever capacity,” he added.
