The Banyana Banyana team trains during the 2024 Cosafa Women’s Championship training session for South Africa at the Westbourne Oval in Gqeberha on 20 October 2024, under the watchful eye of Maude Khumalo. Picture: Deryck Foster, BackpagePix
Banyana Banyana's interim coach Maude Khumalo is confident that her team will rise to the occasion, despite facing the challenge of limited preparation time ahead of the Cosafa Championship.
The squad gathered in Gqeberha on Sunday, preparing for their opener against Namibia onTuesday night at Nelson Mandela Bay at 5pm.
Stepping in for head coach Desiree Ellis, who is currently on international duty with the first team competing against Denmark and England, Khumalo has assembled a relatively robust makeshift squad. Of the 20 players selected, 19 are active participants in the Hollywoodbets Super League, with only Jessica Williams absent from the league.
However, given that the Super League has only just concluded, Khumalo acknowledges the tight timeframe for her team to gel ahead of the week-long tournament. Despite these constraints, she remains optimistic about their chances and emphasises that the recent competitiveness of the players will significantly enhance their performance.
“To be honest with you, we do not have enough time, but there is nothing we can do about it,” Khumalo stated in a recent interview.
“Remember that most of the players that are here were very active in the league. I think maybe that’s another reason they felt they’re still active in the league and they’re still in season.”
She added, “The only thing that is left for us as a technical team is to make sure we find the right combinations, and for the players to understand the mandate. I think the players that are here are eager to give their best and also show the fans what they are capable of.”
In contrast to Banyana Banyana's readiness, Namibia had yet to announce their squad, rendering them somewhat unpredictable. Nevertheless, Khumalo intends to utilise available footage of Namibian matches to formulate a strategy.
“We have seen some clips of Namibia,” she remarked.
“I remember we played against them last year in the Under-20s to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers at Sturrock Park. The challenge is that they have not finalised their squad yet and they just sent a preliminary squad.”
As Banyana prepares for their opening match, the team's commitment and adaptability will undoubtedly be crucial factors as they seek to build on their recent successes and show their prowess on the regional stage.
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