7 April 2019– Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have completed their preparations and are waiting for the sound of the whistle as they will take on the Reggae Girlz of Jamaica in a farewell match for the home side.
The historic clash takes place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this afternoon (Sunday, 7 April 2019).
Kickoff is at 15h00.
Both countries have a rich political connection and regard this game as fitting before they both head off to their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Jamaica was at the forefront of the international campaign against apartheid in South Africa, and they were the first country to declare a trade embargo as early as 1957.
Since the dawn of democracy, several South African leaders have visited Jamaica – the likes of former State Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Steve Tshwete, Dr Dlamini-Zuma.
So the football match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium will be a celebration of many years of relations.
For Banyana Banyana, this will be the final game on home soil before they jet off to the World Cup.
“How apt that we play our farewell match against a country we share so much in common with. This shows just how special this game and you could see at the start of the week that it is no ordinary fixture – especially when you hear the Jamaican delegation talking about ‘being back in the Motherland’, you already know that this also means a lot to them. We thank the Association and our proud sponsor for making this occasion possible,” said Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis.
“But on the other hand, we are here for a football match and we will have to suspend the relations between the two nations during the 90 minutes because we want to give a good impression to the hundreds of our homefans we expect to see at Moses Mabhida. We would like to show appreciation to everyone who has been supportive of us from way back when we were still new on the international scene – and the only way we can do that is by winning this match.”
This will be the first time the two nations clash, and also the first time the hosts play at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“It has always been a dream of our players to play at World Cup venues – this has happened in Cape Town, and now it is happening in Durban. We are really living our dream, and playing at this venue will help us when we get to the World Cup in France not to be overwhelmed by the occasion,” added Ellis.
Jamaica is also here to continue with their preprations for the World Cup and know a lot about South Africa.
“First of all, my greatest gratitude goes to the South African FA for inviting us to play this match here. The two countries share a rich history and it was only appropriate to pass by South Africa in our preparations for our first World Cup,” said Jue Menzies, head coach of the Reggae Girlz.
“Just like Banyana Banyana, we come here on a mission to finalise our preparations and to face a team like South Africa that has shown a lot of improvements over the past few months will help us a great deal. Durban has been good to us all week, despite the drizzle we experienced, but everything has just been great, what remains now is for us to end our visit with a good win because this is a also a chance for the players to impress as we going to announce our final squad soon. I have no doubt it will be a great game of football.”
This will be Banyana Banyana’s sevent match of preparations for the World Cup.
They have already face the Netherlands and Sweden in Cape Town earlier this year, and followed that up with four matches at the Cyprus Cup in March – taking on Korea DPR, the Czech Republic and Finland twice.
They are yet to win a game, which makes the Jamaica clash all the more important.
“Looking at the results one might think that we have failed in our preparations, but we have gathered valuable information about ourselves and that is very key for our preparations. Playing such high profile opposition was just what we needed, now going forward we will be leaning more on the World Cup squad because we have to finalise the next when we return from the USA,” said Ellis.
This will also be a special match for midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni, who is currently on 149 caps – and should she run our against Jamaica, she will reach the magical 150 caps, joining her captain Janine van Wyk (164) and Noko Matlou (150) in the elite group of a century and a half of appearances for their country.
The last time time Banyana Banyana played in Durban was in 2011 against Tunisia in a 2012 Olympic Games qualifier at the King Zwelithini Stadium (SA won 3-0).
The match against the Reggae Girlz coincides with the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy tour, which will be on display during the match
| NAME AND SURNAME | POSITION | CLUB | LOCATION | PROVINCE | |||
| 1. Andile DLAMINI | GK | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | Pretoria | GAUTENG | |||
| 2. Kaylin SWART | GK | Awaiting Transfer | Port Elizabeth | EASTERN CAPE | |||
| 3. Jessica WILLIAMS | GK | Spurs WFC | Cape Town | CAPE TOWN | |||
| 4. Lebogang RAMALEPE | DF | Ma-Indies FC | Polokwane | LIMPOPO | |||
| 5. Nothando VILAKAZI | DF | Palace Super Falcons FC | Johannesburg | GAUTENG | |||
| 6. Janine VAN WYK | DF | Awaiting Transfer | Johannesburg | GAUTENG | |||
| 7. Noko MATLOU | DF | Ma-Indies FC | Polokwane | LIMPOPO | |||
| 8. Bambanani MBANE | DF | Bloemfontein Celtic FC | Bloemfontein | FREE STATE | |||
| 9. Tiisetso MAKHUBELA | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | Pretoria | GAUTENG | |||
| 10. Bongeka GAMEDE | DF | TUT-PTA | Pretoria | GAUTENG | |||
| 11. Karabo DHLAMINI | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | Pretoria | GAUTENG | |||
| 12. Yonela KETO | DF | Thunderbirds FC | Port Elizabeth | EASTERN CAPE | |||
| 13.Mamello MAKHABANE | MF | JVW FC | Johannesburg | GAUTENG | |||
| 14. Leandra SMEDA | MF | Vittsjo GIK | SWEDEN | ||||
| 15. Nompumelelo NYANDENI | MF | JVW FC | Johannesburg | GAUTENG | |||
| 16. Linda MOTLHALO | MF | Beijing BG Phoenix FC | Beijing | CHINA | |||
| 17. Busisiwe NDIMENI | MF | TUT-PTA | Pretoria | GAUTENG | |||
| 18. Refiloe JANE | MF | Canberra United | Canberra | AUSTRALIA | |||
| 19. Ongeziwer Ndlangisa | MF | DUT | Durban | KWAZULU NATAL | |||
| 20. Kholosa BIYANA | MF | UKZN | Durban | KWA ZULU NATAL | |||
| 21. Sibulele HOLWENI | MF | Sophakama/HPC | Port Elizabeth | EASTERN CAPE | |||
| 22. Jermaine SEOPOSENWE | FW | JVW FC | Johannesburg | GAUTENG | |||
| 23. Thembi KGATLANA | FW | Beijing BG Phoenix FC | Beijing | CHINA | |||
| 24. Amanda MTHANDI | FW | University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg | GAUTENG | |||
| 25. Rhoda MULAUDZI | FW | Canberra united | Canberra | AUSTRALIA | |||
| 26. Ode FULUTUDILU | FW | Malaga FC | SPAIN | ||||
REGGAE GIRLZ vs BANYANA BANYANA
NAME |
PLAYER’S NAME |
CLUB |
| 1. LAURA | JACKSON | UNATTACHED |
| 2. ASHLEIGH | SHIM | UNATTACHED |
| 3. SYDNEY | SCHEINER | UNC WILMINTONGTON, USA |
| 4. CHANEL | HUDSON | MARKS UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, USA |
| 5. KONYA | PLUMMER | UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA |
| 6. DENIESHA | BLACKWOOD | WEST FLORIDA UNIVERSITY, USA |
| 7. CHANTELLE | SWABY | RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, USA |
| 8. BRITTANY | SIMPSON | YALE UNIVERSITY, USA |
| 9. KHADIJA | SHAW | UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, USA |
| 10. JODYN | MATTHEWS | CORNELL UNIVERSITY, USA |
| 11. NICOLE | MCCLURE | SION SWIFTS LFC, IRELAND |
| 12. MARLO | SWEATMAN | ST. MIHALY, HUNGARY |
| 13. CHINYELU | ASHER | STABAEK FC, NORWAY |
| 14. TORIANA | PATTERSON | ASD PINK SPORT TIME, ITALY |
| 15. ALLYSON | SWABY | AS ROMA, ITALY |
| 16. DOMINIQUE | BOND-FLASZA | PSV EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS |
| 17. SASHANA | CAMPBELL | MACCABI KRISHRONOT HADERA, ISRAEL |
| 18. CHRISTINA | CHANG | FC SURGE, USA |
| 19. OLUFOLASADE | ADMOLEKUN | UNITED SOCCER ALLIANCE, USA |
| 20. SHAKIRA | DUNCAN | MACCABI HOLON, ISRAEL |