28 June 2022 – The youngest member in the Banyana Banyana squad currently doing duty in Morocco, 18-year-old Nthabiseng Majiya, has voiced her excitement ahead her first ever participation in a  major tournament.

The Richmond Ladies forward, who was awarded the Young Player of the Season accolade in the inaugural Hollywoodbets Super League, conceded the intensity she has already experienced in coach Desiree Ellis’s squad.  She says the national team intensity has been very high and completely different to what she is used at club level.

The teenager sensation said she is relishing the experience as Banyana Banyana continue preparations ahead of their Africa Woman’s Cup of Nations opening match against arch rivals, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, on 4 July 2022 at the Moulay Hassan FUS.

“It has been hard for me but I did push to reach a higher level, and I am learning from the senior players who are giving me advice and motivation as to how I should prepare myself,” the player told www.www.safa.net.

“I have to say the intensity is very high here, but I am getting there and I am pushing a lot. I am excited, but nervous because this is my first experience in the national team set up. I just want to win the tournament and make our country proud.”

The player said the Banyana Banyana technical team has helped her develop a lot.

“The coaches are hard on me and I expected it. I wanted them to be hard on me because this is the national team and the level is high.”

A football career demands a good support system and the Majiya says her family is also there providing this strong backing.

“Even during the times when I could not find a balance between my studies and football, they did not force me to drop one for the other and suggested I find a balance,” Majiya continued.

Majiya said he is extremely excited by the prospects of facing Nigeria’a Super Falcons in their opening AWCON encounter.

“In our group I am most looking forward to facing Nigeria. They have great players that I have always looked forward to meeting and I just want to do my best when that chance comes.”

The player has also encouraged South Africans to keep supporting Banyana Banyana as they aim to make the country proud in the continental tournament.

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