OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges face rivals Nigeria in a highly anticipated Fourth Round CAF qualifier next month and the winner will compete at the Paris Games

By Sports Reporter

Banyana Banyana’s preparations for the CAF Women’s Olympic showdown against Nigeria are in full swing as the countdown to the blockbuster match continues.

Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges face rivals Nigeria in a highly anticipated Fourth Round CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier next month and the winner of this match will compete in Group C at the Paris Games.

The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s team travel to Abuja in the first leg to tackle Nigeria on 5 April before welcoming their traditional rivals at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 9 April 2024.

Banyana Banyana assembled for camp in Pretoria on Monday afternoon (25 March 2024) and their first official training session was on Tuesday at the Tuks High Performance Centre (HPC).

The day also served as a Media Day for journalists to interact with the coach and the players ahead of the big encounter against Nigeria. There are currently 23 players in the local-based camp and they are without goalkeeper Andile Dlamini,  who withdrew from the team due to medical reasons. Samkelisiwe Selana has also been withdrawn due to an injury .

Dlamini will be replaced by Regirl Ngobeni while Selana was replaced by Mmabatho Mogale of JVW FC. Ellis has made another addition and Mamokgaase Senyatsi of TUT FC has joined camp. She was not part of the preliminary list announced a few days ago.

Ellis was impressed by what she saw after the first official training session, and she further emphasized the importance of managing the load for the players.

“It really looks good, the enthusiasm and the intensity,” she said. “We spoke about how big this  game is in our welcome meeting and it shows that everyone is up for it. It was a good session and we had to manage the load since some players played on Thursday and on Sunday.”

Ellis said trimming the squad from the initial 30 players she announced in the preliminary list a few days ago to the final 23 will not be easy, but she added that the camp for the local contingent will give the Banyana Banyana technical team a bit of time to test out combinations.

“We still have a couple of days before the final squad announcement, so I have to make sure that I get the combinations right. I have to make absolutely sure because it won’t be an easy game against Nigeria. They have shown their quality over a period of time and they are still a quality team, so we have to be at our absolute best.

“We have to make sure that we get the combinations right as well as the mix of youth and experience right.”

Ellis will announce her final squad for the two-legged qualifier against Nigeria on Thursday, 28 March 2024.

MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP RESUMES

FIREWORKS: What can fans expect…

By Masoja Cele

The Motsepe Foundation Championship matches resume on Tuesday after a two week lay-off due to the Nedbank Cup and FIFA matches. Weekly SA Mirror reflects on what’s in store for football fans.

On Tuesday Championship table toppers Magesi FC will travel to Tshwane to engage with the resurgent Pretoria Callies at Tshwane University of Technology Stadium, Pretoria. Kick-off 15:00. Magesi who are dubbed ‘’Dikwena tsa Meetse’’ in football circles are perched at the summit of the log with 39 points with 9 rounds to complete the season.

Ever since December, the Limpopo gladiators have accumulated an emphatic record pocketing 17 points from seven outings.

Dikwena tsa Meetse mentored by former Manning Rangers and Orlando Pirates legend Clinton Larsen will hope to display the same performance they exhibited in a 1-0 away win at neighbours Black Leopards before the break. Magesi will pin their on the brilliance of rejuvenated former Baroka goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze and the experience Vuyisile Wana.

Against Callies, Dikwena tsa Meetse will be facing a side that is so desperate for points. The Romans are sitting 10 places behind Magesi and are eager to improve on their unsavoury position. The Tshwane coach Bushy Moloi will expect a sterner performance from his charges. The Atteridgeville charges will definitely want to end the campaign in a respectable position. Callies will rely mainly on old campaigners such as Siphelele Mthembu, Steven Tau and Kagiso Shezi to unlock the unyielding Magesi defence.                                         

In another Championship title chasing episode second place University of Pretoria will host Milford FC on Tuesday at Tuks Stadium, Pretoria. Kick-off 15:00.

AmaTuks are hot on the heels of Magesi with only a point separating the two with nine rounds to play before the curtain closes down. The Hartfield based side are sitting on 38 points with Dikwena tsa Meetse on 39 points. Just like Magesi FC, Tukkies have been consistent in the field of play.  Their past performances could be descried as ‘’workmanlike’’. That’s what Coach Tlisane Motaung and his technical team might expect from their charges for the remainder of the 2024 fixtures.

With the impressive trio of Thabang Sibanyoni, Samuel Jules and Promise Mkhuma fire ring on all cylinders, Tuks are favourites to smash and grab the three points against the KZN outfit.

Meanwhile, Milford FC who are struggling at bottom of the table will have to dig down from their football reservoirs to cause an upset at the blazing-hot Tukkies. The Stallions as Milford FC are dubbed if football circles should put up a gutsy display against Tukkies if they nurse any hope of a win.

Third place Orbirt College will travel to Global Stadium, Lebowakgomo to face Baroka FC on Wednesday with the intent of reclaiming the top spot from Magesi. The North West based side were always the leaders of the championship until recently toppled by University of Pretoria before Magesi came to the fray.

However, if they win against the not so impressive Bakgakga Ba Mphahlele they could retain the number one spot depending on the other results elsewhere.

Baroka are blowing hot and cold. They might find the going tough against Orbit. The Limpopo boyz started playing attractive football after the arrival of the shrewd Dan’’Dance’’ Malesela. But, they are currently experiencing a deep slump that saw the team drop from second position to fifth. Coach Malesela would expect his charges mainly Lefa Hlongwane , Ananias Gebhardt and Matome Mathiane to rise to the occasion. The trio are long serving servants of the game having tested the Premier League football before.

Other fixtures to take place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are as follows:

1st April:  NB La Masia vs Platinum City at TUT Stadium, Pretoria.

2nd April: Marumo Gallants FC vs Casric Stars at Isak Steyl Stadium, Vanderbijlpark.

2nd April: Venda Football Club vs Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium Thohoyandou.

3rd April: Hungry Lions vs JDR Stars at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium, Upington. All the above matches will kick-off at 15:00.

3rd April: Maritzburg United vs Upington City at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Clermont. Kick-off 19:30.