Banyana captain off to Glascow City

Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk has signed a move to Scottish champions, Glascow City.

She will join the club on a one year deal and has become the latest South African woman footballer to find a home abroad.

She joins a growing list of Banyana Banyana players who are plying their trade overseas, among others, Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe (both Portugal), Nothando Vilakazi and Amanda Mthandi (both Spain), Linda Motlhalo (Sweden), Bambanani Mbane (Belarus), Ode Fulutudilu (Finland), Refiloe Jane (Italy), Letago Madiba and Rachel Sebati (Turkey) as well as Andisiwe Mgcoyi and Zanele Nhlapo (Albania), while some are spread across the USA.

Van Wyk, who hails from Alberton, is most capped player of all time in South Africa, male and female, with 170 caps to her name.

She is a two-time Olympian after she was selected in the two squads that participated in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games, captaining the team in the latter tournament.

Van Wyk also led the side in Banyana Banyana’s maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup, which took place in France.

Welcoming her to the club, Glasgow City head coach, Scott Booth, said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring Janine van Wyk to our club. She has incredible experience and I feel this will be key for us this season. “Janine captained her nation at the 2019 World Cup and is their record cap holder. I know that she will 100 per cent lead by example and fit in to our already talented squad.”

City club manager Laura Montgomery said: ”If we are talking about players who are known across the world, Janine is in that category. Her record is incredible on and off the pitch in what she has done for girls and women’s sport in her own country as well as in her promotion of equality.

“Her jersey is on display at the FIFA Museum next to the other top female players in the world, which attest to the calibre of player and individual that she is. “At Glasgow City, we are all about championing women and girls and Janine very much fits into that mould. Her footballing CV is very impressive and we are delighted she has chosen to continue her journey with our club.”

Van Wyk’s signing comes after she had just recovered from a knee injury that cut short her career at Fortuna Hjorring in Denmark before it even started. She becomes the third recent signing for Glascow City, after Zaneta Wyne from Klepp in Norway and Krystina Freda from Cypriot giants Apollon Ladies.

Van Wyk could feature in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, with Glasgow facing German champions Wolfsburg in the quarterfinal scheduled for August 21 in Spain.

SAFA Media caught up with Janine shortly after the club announced her signing.

“I am extremely excited for this move to Glasgow City. I am looking forward to extend my knowledge and hoping to add value to the current Scottish champions,” she said.

“Honestly, it all happened so fast. It was not part of my future plans but I guess things change over time and I am one to believe that everything happens for a reason.” “I have always believed that South African female footballers were talented enough to sign contracts abroad but we weren’t as recognized as we are today, which I believe stems from Banyana Banyana competing at the World Cup.

“I do also think the Corona pandemic has given us no choice but to look elsewhere so we can continue being active as footballers and play the game we love, as we are currently uncertain when football will return in our beloved country.”