Soccer
Nogwanya and Co target WC spot─── 14:00 Thu, 02 Oct 2014
Bloemfontein - The South African national women soccer team’s striker, Shiwe Nogwanya said the team has the talent and quality required to clinch the African Women’s Championship (AWC) and subsequently a spot in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup next year.
Banyana's qualification to compete at the AWC came after a 13 - 0 win over Comoros in the first leg of the qualifying match earlier this year. Thereafter, Comoros withdrew from playing the second leg match in South Africa.
South Africa is amongst eight countries that will battle for the honours in Namibia from 11 to 25 October 2014. The championship will also be a qualification tournament for the World Cup in Canada. The final three teams will automatically qualify.
Nogwanya, the Bloemfontein Celtic Women's team striker told OFM Sport that to qualify for the world cup next year, is a motivation on its own. She added that the team is aiming to win the AWC or finish at least second.
Since qualifying, Vera Pauw and her troops had been preparing for the Namibia challenge. They are yet to lose a match in the international friendly matches they have played. They won against Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Tanzania, and shared the spoils with Zimbabwe after a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, Pauw has named a strong final 21-women squad to go to Namibia. Nogwanya reflected on her inclusion in the final squad and said that she is looking forward to banging more goals.
“It’s feels amazing to be part of the team. I’m honoured. Some of us haven’t been here, so it’s amazing to be here because you learn a lot. The team has amazing talent, and to be included alongside the experienced players like the ones in the team is amazing,” the forward said.
Banyana, who have been paired alongside Cameroon, Algeria and Ghana in group B, get their championship underway against Cameroon, the Indomitable Lionesses, on 12 October 2014 at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.
“For those teams, they might be tough, because people say so, but we’re confident in what we have and what we can do as a team. We don’t fear, but respect Cameroon. They’ll be playing their game, and we’ll have to do the same as well. The coach also tells us the same; to apply everything we‘ve prepared on the field of play and not underestimate ourselves,” she explained.
Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Zambia and Namibia have been placed in group A. The hosts get the tournament underway against Zambia on October 11.
Banyana will enter in their 10th edition of AWC and the tournament also marks the first participation of Namibia. For the first time, the defending champions, Equatorial Guinea, are not taking part after failing to win their last qualifying round match.
Banyana squad:
Goalkeepers: Andile Dlamini, Thokozile Mndaweni and Roxanne Barke. Defenders: Noko Matlou, Nothando Vilakazi, Janine Van Wyk, Nomathemba Ntsibande, Simphiwe Dludlu, Lebogang Ramalepe, Gloria Thato. Midfielders: Amanda Dlamini, Sanah Mollo, Leandra Smeda, Refiloe Jane, Mamello Makhabane, Mpumi Nyandeni. Strikers: Shiwe Nogwanya, Silindile Ngubane, Ode Fulutudilu, Thembi Kgatlana, Portia Modise.
Lee Khotlele / OFM News
