By Obaloluwa Joshua, LAGOS
Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has welcomed the timely return of experienced trio Bambanani Mbane, Refiloe Jane and Sibulele Holweni to the squad for the final two-legged round of the 2024 Olympic qualifiers against Nigeria.
Mbane, Holweni and Jane, who plies her trade Serie A club Sassuolo will play her first match for Banyana since the 2023 Women’s Fifa World Cup, are among a few players who have boosted Banyana for this crucial clash.
Speaking after she announced the squad on Saturday, Ellis said the big match temperament of Mbane, Jane and Holweni will boost the side’s confidence.
“There is one thing that you can never buy and that is experience,” he said, adding that the team also has a few talented young players.
“Experience helps a lot when it adds value to the team. They have been there in tough situations and when things were not OK where they stood up to be counted. We also have the enthusiasm of the youth and we needed to get that mix right.
“We have young players like Karabo Dhlamini, Nthabiseng Majiya, Fikile Magama, Sinoxolo and Noxolo Cesane, those players are coming through and for us it is important to get that mix of youth and experience right.
“You can have the experience but you also need youthful freshness of youth who are enthusiastic. You need that injection of freshness but at the same time the experience of Refiloe Jane, Mbane and Holweni is important.” READ ALSO:
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Banyana take on traditional rivals Nigeria in Abuja on April 5 and host the return leg at the Loftus Stadium on April 9.
The winner of this tie will join Brazil, Japan and Spain in Group C in the Olympic Games in Paris in July and August.
