Former Banyana- Banyana players deserve recognition: Jijane

SEDIBENG. – Former Banyana Banyana defender Rose “Pona” Jijane is one of the most capped national women players that has never been rewarded for her achievements.
Jijane played during the days when women football was underrated in South Africa.
She made her debut for Banyana-Banyana against Cameroon in the 1998 African Women Cup of Nations where Banyana-Banyana suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cameroon.
This former Bophelong Ladies FC defender didn’t just play for Banyana-Banyana but she also had a short stint with an Iceland based club, IBV Vestmannaeyar FC.

Jijane told Sedibeng Ster Sport that she and other former Banyana-Banyana players deserve to be decorated and honoured like their former Bafana-Bafana counterparts.
Not many are aware of Jijane’s achievements as a woman football player from this region, in particular the younger generation.
Jijane played football during the era when there were no women football clubs.
She had to play with boys, and this built her character to become a house hold name in South African women football along the likes of well-known superstar Portia Modise.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Jijane said she was unfortunate to play football at the time when women football was not taken serious in this country.
“We are the first generation of Banyana-Banyana players but with no recognition.
“I have more than 100 caps for Banyana-Banyana but I don’t see my name being mentioned anywhere. For us it is like we were just playing for fun. I’m not saying SAFA must give me job. The only thing that I’m asking is acknowledgement and recognition for my part in women football. I was the first woman player from Sedibeng to play for Banyana-Banyana. I want to say thanks to Jabu Khoza who was the owner of Bophelong Ladies FC, who gave me the breakthrough to travel the world for football. I will remain grateful for what he has done for me when I was still playing for his team. We were playing Sanlam Women Soccer League and promoted to Vodacom Women Soccer League. This is where my talents were recognised,” said Jijane.
Jijane and other former professional players certainly deserve recognition for putting this region on the world map.