Banyana Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane is hoping that his side will manage to overcome the well-respected Netherlands women’s national team when the two teams lock horns in an international friendly match on Sunday at the Caledonian Stadium, in Tshwane. Kick-off is at 3pm.
The Banyana encounter against the Dutch side is a preparation for the CAF African Women’s Championship to be staged in Equatorial Guinea later this year.
Makalakalane admitted the game against The Netherlands is going to be a tough one considering the strength of The Netherlands side.
”We are very happy to play against such a tough side like The Netherlands. This will give our players a chance to showcase their talent in the world and it will also give them an opportunity to gain more experience.
”In this game I will give some of the new players a chance so that we won’t have a problem in selecting the team to play in the African Women’s Championships,” said Makalakalane, who once played for Bafana Bafana.
He added: ”I’m glad that we will go into this match armed with the likes of Portia Modise and Lena Mosebo, who both ply their trade overseas and I think their experience will help us a lot.
”I’m very optimistic that we will manage to overcome The Netherlands this time around.”
The last time that the two teams met was back in 2000 when the Dutch side beat SA 2-0. In the last African Women’s Championships, Banyana managed to attain third spot.
Makalakalane has urged soccer fans to come in large numbers to support Banyana.
Banyana will pin their hopes on captain Modise, Mosebo, Lucinda Bouwer, Memory Makhanya and Nompumelelo Nyandeni, among others. – Sapa