The Netherlands has selected a strong squad of 25 players for their two international friendly matches against Banyana Banyana.
The Netherlands has selected a strong squad of 25 players for their two international friendly matches against Banyana Banyana.
The clashes will take place on Saturday, 4 June with the second scheduled for Tuesday, 7 May.
Both encounters will be played at Mandemakers Stadium in Waalwijk in Netherlands with 15h00 and 19h00 kickoffs respectively.
The Orange Lionesses are ranked 13th in the world, while South Africa is in position 54.
In their squad, The Netherlands has named 11 players who ply their trade outside the country, while another four are uncapped.
They have some experienced players like midfielder Sherida Spitse (Norway) who has made 118 appearances, goalkeeper Loes Geurts (Sweden) with 108 caps and defender Mandy van den Berg (England) on 71 matches. They also have a lethal striker — Vivianne Miedema of Bayern Munich who has scored 24 goals in 36 appearances.
However, Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk said her charges would not be intimidated by their more illustrious opponents.
“Preparations are going well, everyone is looking sharp and we can’t wait to get on that plane to go face Netherlands. We are using this match to challenge ourselves as a team and to see how we can do going forward. We would like to thank SAFA and our sponsors Sasol for arranging this top class opposition, which will be a very good test for us. While we would love to go and win, the aim for us is to put the final touches to our preparations ahead of the Olympic Games,” said Van Wyk.
“They have good players, some of whom play outside the country and coming up against them will help us in a great way to achieve what we want out of this match and get us ready for the Games. After the two friendlies we will be in a position to know at which level we are and what we need to do going forward.”
The Netherlands are using this match to prepare for 2017 UEFA Women’s Euro Championship, which they are hosting. The tournament runs from 16 July to 7 August.
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana has also named 25 players for the two matches.
First International friendly match
DATE: Saturday, 4 June 2016
KICK-OFF: 15h00
VENUE: Mandemakers Stadium, RKC Waalwijk, Waalwijk, The Netherlands
International friendly match – with spectators
DATE: Tuesday, 7 June 2016
KICK-OFF: 19h00
VENUE: Mandemakers Stadium, RKC Waalwijk, Waalwijk, The Netherlands
NETHERLANDS SQUAD TO FACE BANYANA BANYANA
| Name | Club | Caps | Goals | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Eshly Bakker | Ajax | 10 | 3 | Forward |
| 2. Lineth Beerensteyn | ADO Den Haag | Forward/MF | ||
| 3. Mandy van den Berg | Liverpool (ENG) | 71 | 4 | DF |
| 4. Sheila van den Bulk | Djurgardens IF (SWE) | DF/MF | ||
| 5. Angela Christ | PSV | 14 | 0 | GK |
| 6. Merel van Dongen | Ajax | 10 | 1 | DF/MF |
| 7. Daniëlle van de Donk | Arsenal (ENG) | 50 | 9 | MF |
| 8. Kika van Es | PSV | 22 | 0 | DF |
| 9. Loes Geurts | Kop./Göteborg (SWE) | 108 | 0 | GK |
| 10. Stefanie van der Gragt | FC Twente | 30 | 2 | DF |
| 11. Jackie Groenen | FFC Frankfurt (GER) | 5 | 0 | MF |
| 12. Ellen Jansen | FC Twente | 3 | 0 | Forward |
| 13. Renate Jansen | FC Twente | 4 | 2 | Forward/MF |
| 14. Dominique Janssen | Arsenal (ENG) | 16 | 0 | DF |
| 15. Inessa Kaagman | Ajax | DF/MF | ||
| 16. Danique Kerkdijk | FC Twente | 6 | 0 | DF |
| 17. Jeslynn Kuijpers | PSV | 1 | 0 | Forward |
| 18. Lieke Martens | FC Rosengård (SWE) | 61 | 25 | Forward |
| 19. Tessel Middag | Ajax | 33 | 3 | MF |
| 20. Vivianne Miedema | Bay. München (GER) | 36 | 24 | Forward |
| 21. Myrthe Moorrees | PSV | DF/MF | ||
| 22. Shanice v.d Sanden | Liverpool (ENG) | 26 | 7 | Forward |
| 23. Sherida Spitse | LSK Kvinner FK (NOR) | 118 | 17 | MF |
| 24. Sari van Veenendaal | Arsenal (ENG) | 23 | 0 | GK |
| 25. Kelly Zeeman | Ajax | 8 | 0 | DF |
BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD TRAVELLING TO THE NETHERLANDS
| GOALKEEPERS | ||
| 1. Roxanne Barker | Unattached | Cape Town |
| 2. Andile Dlamini | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Johannesburg |
| 3. Mapaseka Mpuru | HPC | Pretoria |
| 4. Kaylin Swart | Des Moines Menace University | USA |
| DEFENDERS | ||
| 5. Lebohang Ramalepe | Maindis FC | Polokwane |
| 6. Nothando Vilakazi | Palace Super Falcons FC | Johannesburg |
| 7. Janine Van Wyk | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 8. Noko Matlou | Maindis FC | Polokwane |
| 9. Lerato Kgasago | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Johannesburg |
| 10. Nomathemba Ntsibande | Springs Home Sweepers | Johannesburg |
| 11. Bambanani Mbane | Bloemfontein Celtic | Bloemfontein |
| 12. Lebogang Mabatle | TUKS | Pretoria |
| MIDFIELDERS | ||
| 13. Mamello Makhabane | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 14. Amanda Dlamini | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 15. Refiloe Jane | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Johannesburg |
| 16. Leandra Smeda | UWC Ladies | Cape Town |
| 17. Nompumelelo Nyandeni | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 18. Bongiwe Thusi | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Johannesburg |
| 19. Linda Motlhalo | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 20. Stephanie Malherbe | Texas A & M University | USA |
| FORWARDS/ STRIKERS | ||
| 21. Sanah Mollo | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies | Johannesburg |
| 22. Shiwe Nogwanya | Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies | Bloemfontein |
| 23. Thembi Kgatlana | UWC Ladies | Cape Town |
| 24. Chantelle Essau | Palace Super Falcons FC | Johannesburg |
| 25. Jermaine Seoposenwe | Samford University | USA |
** NB Amanda Dlamini and Linda Motlhalo now play for JVW FC, while Refiloe Jane is with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies **