High Commissioner Inspires Banyana Banyana in Yaounde

Banyana Banyana wrapped up their 5-day training camp in Yaounde, Cameroon and will jet off to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, 25 October 2012, to put the finishing touches to their preparations for the eight-nation CAF African Women Championship 2012.

The African women's football showpiece event starts on October 28, with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana in Group A action against hosts Equatorial Guinea.

Banyana Banyana received further words of motivation from the South African High Commissioner to Cameroon, Ms Ntshadi M Tsheole, who paid a surprise visit to the national team's training session.

"As a commission, we are so excited to have Banyana Banyana training here in Cameroon and wish them the best of luck for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea," said Tsheole.

"We are politicians, but Banyana Banyana are ambassadors for South Africa in their own right. Everywhere they go, so do the media and these young football players are a real credit to our country."

Meanwhile, national head coach Joseph Mkhonza looked also a bit more relaxed as the team's technical staff joined the players in a small size field practice match.

"The spirit in the camp is high, particularly after the effort put in during the 1-all draw against Cameroon in an international friendly match played in Yaoundé on Monday," said Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza.

"Having a national training camp in the humid conditions here in Cameroon was crucial to our build up to the CAF African Women Championship 2012 as we are likely to find similar conditions in Equatorial Guinea. Safa and Sasol, our team sponsor, need to be commended for allowing our team the opportunity to prepare here in Cameroon.".

The national coaching staff has been impressed with the way in which Durban Ladies (KwaZulu Natal) striker Silindile Ngubane and club-mate and defender Charlotte Mshengu have fitted into the Banyana Banyana set up.

"I called Ngubane to the camp after having seen her score 11 goals for Durban Ladies at the Sasol League National Championships held in Durban in July and she has already netted for Banyana Banyana in the 1-all draw with Zimbabwe in Daveyton last week," said Mkhonza.

"Mshengu is a valuable player as she can play in any of the defensive positions and this could be of major value in a long tournament such as the CAF African Women Championship. The national coaches also spotted her potential when she played for Durban Ladies during the Sasol League National Championships held in Durban."

Mshengu made her Banyana Banyana debut in coming on as a second half substitute for her Durban Ladies club-mate Zamandosi Cele, in the international friendly encounter against Cameroon on Monday, 22 October 2012.

Apart from University of Johannesburg (Sasol League Gauteng) midfielder Yola Jafta (hamstring strain), all of the players are fit and ready for action, with Cape Town Roses (Sasol League Western Cape) midfielder Nocawe Skiti having returned to training after a trip to the dentist in Yaoundé on Tuesday, 23 October 2012, to have a tooth extracted.

Following the Group A match against Equatorial Guinea, Banyana Banyana will face Senegal in Malabo on October 31, and will travel to Bata for their encounter with DR Congo on November 3.

The semi-finals will take place in either Malabo or Bata on November 7, with the 3rd/4th place playoff and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on November 11.

Banyana Banyana wrapped up their 5-day training camp in Yaounde, Cameroon and will jet off to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Thursday, 25 October 2012, to put the finishing touches to their preparations for the eight-nation CAF African Women Championship 2012.

The African women's football showpiece event starts on October 28, with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana in Group A action against hosts Equatorial Guinea.

Banyana Banyana received further words of motivation from the South African High Commissioner to Cameroon, Ms Ntshadi M Tsheole, who paid a surprise visit to the national team's training session.

"As a commission, we are so excited to have Banyana Banyana training here in Cameroon and wish them the best of luck for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea," said Tsheole.

"We are politicians, but Banyana Banyana are ambassadors for South Africa in their own right. Everywhere they go, so do the media and these young football players are a real credit to our country."

Meanwhile, national head coach Joseph Mkhonza looked also a bit more relaxed as the team's technical staff joined the players in a small size field practice match.

"The spirit in the camp is high, particularly after the effort put in during the 1-all draw against Cameroon in an international friendly match played in Yaoundé on Monday," said Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza.

"Having a national training camp in the humid conditions here in Cameroon was crucial to our build up to the CAF African Women Championship 2012 as we are likely to find similar conditions in Equatorial Guinea. Safa and Sasol, our team sponsor, need to be commended for allowing our team the opportunity to prepare here in Cameroon."

The national coaching staff has been impressed with the way in which Durban Ladies (KwaZulu Natal) striker Silindile Ngubane and club-mate and defender Charlotte Mshengu have fitted into the Banyana Banyana set up.

"I called Ngubane to the camp after having seen her score 11 goals for Durban Ladies at the Sasol League National Championships held in Durban in July and she has already netted for Banyana Banyana in the 1-all draw with Zimbabwe in Daveyton last week," said Mkhonza.

"Mshengu is a valuable player as she can play in any of the defensive positions and this could be of major value in a long tournament such as the CAF African Women Championship. The national coaches also spotted her potential when she played for Durban Ladies during the Sasol League National Championships held in Durban."

Mshengu made her Banyana Banyana debut in coming on as a second half substitute for her Durban Ladies club-mate Zamandosi Cele, in the international friendly encounter against Cameroon on Monday, 22 October 2012.

Apart from University of Johannesburg (Sasol League Gauteng) midfielder Yola Jafta (hamstring strain), all of the players are fit and ready for action, with Cape Town Roses (Sasol League Western Cape) midfielder Nocawe Skiti having returned to training after a trip to the dentist in Yaoundé on Tuesday, 23 October 2012, to have a tooth extracted.

Following the Group A match against Equatorial Guinea, Banyana Banyana will face Senegal in Malabo on October 31, and will travel to Bata for their encounter with DR Congo on November 3.

The semi-finals will take place in either Malabo or Bata on November 7, with the 3rd/4th place playoff and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on November 11.