Mkhonza Gears Banyana Up for Cyprus Cup

The South African Senior Women’s National team has settled down well as the squad prepares for the annual 12-Nation Cyprus Women’s Cup, at the Tasos Marajou Stadium in Paralimi, from Wednesday 6 – 13 March 2013 in Cyprus.

Head coach of the Sasol-sponsored senior Women’s National team, Joseph Mkhonza is impressed by the showing of all his players who have reported for camp, and is the first to admit selecting the final 22 players will not be an easy task.

Mkhonza will be without the services of all three international based players in Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie-Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker, for the coming assignment.

Nyandeni has pulled out of the Banyana squad due to club commitments as her Russian club, Rossiyanka, is preparing to take part in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Louw and Barker, who play their club football in the United States, will not be joining the national squad due to study commitments.

Banyana Banyana will continue with their preparations at the North West University High Performance Centre in Potchefstroom, before their departure for Cyprus on Monday 25 February 2013.

Banyana Banyana will open their Group C campaign at the Cyprus Women’s Cup against South Korea on Wednesday, 6 March, at the Tasos Marko Stadium, kick-off is at 14:30.

The next group-stage encounter will be against the Republic of Ireland on Friday 8 March at the same match venue, while the final group stage encounter against Northern Ireland will be played on Monday 11 February in Paralimi.

England, Italy, New Zealand and Scotland will play in the Group A while Group B will contested by Canada, Finland, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

“I want to use the Cyprus Women’s Cup to bring in new players and prepare the country for future tournaments. The 22 players I will select will form the core of Banyana Banyana squad that will take part in the World Cup, the Olympics as well as the African Women’s Championship next year.

“Those that will not form part of the trip to Cyprus must not lose hope as my bigger aim is to create a bigger pool of this Banyana squad. That will put the team in good steady in case of injuries and suspensions,” said the Banyana mentor, Joseph Mkhonza.