8 November 2019 – Banyana Banyana held their first full training session in Fukuoka, Japan on Friday afternon ahead of their much-hyped international friendly match against their Far East counterparts and coach Desiree Ellis is excited about the prospects of meeting former world champions.

South Africa Women’s Senior Women National team play Japan in Fukuoka on Sunday (kick off 05h45) and the match will be shown on SABC at 15h00 on Sunday.

Despite a heavy travelling schedule which saw the team arriving in Japan’s most southern part on Thursday afternoon, Banyana Banyana never showed any discomfort and according to midfielder Nomvula Kgoale, it is all systems go.

“It has been a long journey but we are ready for this one. We have studied how Japan plays and I think it will be an interesting match, come Sunday. We played them at the London Olympics where we drew that game but that match is now history and Sunday’s game is a new chapter which every player relishes if selected,” she said.

Star striker, Thembi Kgatlana also looked in rich fertile and raring to go. Kgatlana was full of running during Friday’s training and if South Africa are to pull off a win, she will be the player to watch.

Banyana Banyana trained at the local football academy on Friday – a state of the art facility – and the visitors showed lots of firepower and oozing with confidence.

South Africa will have the last training session at the match venue on Saturday before Sunday’s clash.