Overseas-based Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Kylie Ann Louw and Roxanne Barker will join the youth brigade of Andile Dlamini, Robyn Moodaly and Lebohang Mabatle, as part of the 24 players that will go into the Banyana Banyana training camp in Potchefstroom from 9 – 18 May 2012.
Of the players called to the camp, 18 members will make up the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana team that will travel to face Tanzania in an international friendly match in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, 20 May.
The same amount of players will make the trip to Lusaka for another match six days later (Saturday, 26 May) to face Zambia in an African Women Championship first leg qualifier.
Nyandeni, who plays for Russian club Rossiyank FC, missed out on action at the Cyprus Women’s Cup earlier this year due to a knee injury. But the midfielder, with 92 caps and 27 goals to her name, will be looking to show that she has mended well and is ready to challenge for a place among the 18 players to represent South Africa at the London Olympics.
Texas-based Kylie Ann Louw will also make the trip back to the Rainbow Nation for the national camp, along with another USA-based player in goalkeeper Roxanne Barker.
While Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza will be keen to analyse the form of his overseas-based players, he is equally as happy to have some of the younger players back in camp after they did duty for the South African Under 20 Women’s Team.
Defender Lebohang Mabatle (1 cap), midfielder Robyn Moodaly (10 caps and 1 goal) and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini (2 caps) will also be out to prove that they can add major value to the Banyana Banyana team.
Moodaly was a key member of the Banyana Banyana team that saw off Zambia, Tunisia and Ethiopia en route to Olympic qualification last year, while Dlamini would have done her chances a world of good by putting in a super performance for her Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies side in the Sasol League Gauteng Road Show held in Soweto almost two weeks ago.
“In order to send the best players to the Olympics, we have kept the selection process going for as long as possible to make sure we don’t overlook any talent. I am happy to welcome back our overseas-based players and the national under 20 side players so we can assess their form as we enter this crucial phase in the build-up to the Olympics,” said Mkhonza.
Banyana Banyana squad for the national training camp in Potchefstroom on May 9: Goalkeepers: Thoko Mndaweni (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng) Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine University, USA) Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng) Defenders: Lebohang Mabatle (Hallelujah Zebra Force, Gauteng) Amanda Sister (Liverpool Ladies, Eastern Cape) Janine van Wyk (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng) Gabisile Hlumbane (Kovsies, Free State) Refiloe Jane (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng) Zamandosi Cele (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal) Nothando Vilakazi (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng) Midfielders: Nompumelelo Nyandeni (Rossiyank FC, Russia) Kylie Ann Louw (Stephen Austin University, Texas, USA) Yola Jafta (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng) Mamello Makhabane (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng) Mary Ntsweng (TUT, Gauteng) Leah Sethunya (Maluti Ladies, Free State) Nondyebo Mgudu (Durban Ladies, KwaZulu Natal) Robyn Moodaly (HPC) Strikers: Portia Modise (Palace Super Falcons, Gauteng) Amanda Dlamini (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng) Noko Matlou (University of Johannesburg, Gauteng) Sanah Mollo (Bloemfontein Celtics, Free State) Andiswe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, Gauteng) Leandra Smeda (Cape Town Roses, Western Cape)