Last chance for Banyana players to make the WC squad

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says their match against the US is the final phase for the players to raise their hands in order to be in the squad that will be representing the nation at the World Cup in June.

Ellis has called up a total of 26 players for the clash, which will take on May 12, but the likes of Leandra Smeda who plays her football in Sweden as well as Thembi Kgatlana and Linda Motlhalo who are both in China are not part of the squad.

“It’s a huge moment for players when u get the opportunity to play the number one-ranked team who are also the World Champions. You cannot ask for a tougher match to test yourself. We have played a few matches this year and did not get the desired results but each and every game showed an improvement,” Ellis told the Safa website.

“It’s another opportunity to see where we at just about a month away from the start of the 2019 World Cup. Make no mistake this will be our most difficult game thus far. It’s also the final opportunity for players to once again fight for the spots in the World Cup squad which we will announce soon after this match.”

The new faces in squad are – goalkeeper Mapaseka Mpuru (TUKS Ladies) and defender Charmelle Wiltshire (Lamar University, USA) as well as midfielder Nomvula Kgoale (Louisiana Tech University, USA).

The 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup is set to take place in France from June 7 to July 7.

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