Football fans will be treated to a spectacle when Africa’s two women representatives at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Banyana Banyana and Zimbabwe, face off in an international friendly match this coming Sunday at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
Football fans will be treated to a spectacle when Africa’s two women representatives at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Banyana Banyana and Zimbabwe, face off in an international friendly match this coming Sunday at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
The match kicks-off at 15h00.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for both us and Zimbabwe, Africa’s sole representatives at the Olympics, to showcase what we can potentially unleash at the Olympics.
“The two teams will use the occasion to launch final preparations towards Rio. We are grateful to them (Zimbabwe) agreeing to come here at such a short notice. I hope the fans will come in numbers to watch this encounter as this is something that might not happen more often,” said Banyana Banyana head coach Vera Pauw.
“The last time we played against Zimbabwe, it ended in a goalless draw so this will be good for our preparations. After a few weeks not being in camp, we are happy that we can resume with our training camps. The team must be together and train together, so this match comes at a very important time and that is why we are so happy. We are able to get back into the full swing of things for the last push towards Rio.”
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games run from 3 – 20 August.
The South Africans are in Group E alongside Brazil, Sweden and China, while Zimbabwe is in Group F against Canada, Australia and Germany.
Banyana Banyana open their account with a clash against Sweden at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, 3 August.
Next on the cards for the Sasol-sponsored women’s national team will be China at the same venue on Saturday, 6 August.
The third and last group stages match for Banyana Banyana is a date with the hosts on Tuesday, 9 August at the Amazon Arena in Manaus.
Banyana Banyana Olympic Games Fixtures:
Wednesday 03 August
Sweden vs South Africa
Olympic Stadium
13h00 (18h00 SA Time)
Saturday 06 August
South Africa vs China
Olympic Stadium
19h00 (12h00 midnight SA Time)
Tuesday 09 August
South Africa vs Brazil
Amazonia Arena (Manaus)
21h00 (02h00 Wednesday, 10 Aug SA Time)