BANYANA Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane said the Sasol League national championships in Seshego will offer him an opportunity to select new players to beef up the squad.

BANYANA Banyana coach Augustine Makalakalane said the Sasol League national championships in Seshego will offer him an opportunity to select new players to beef up the squad.

The tournament will start today with the final scheduled for Sunday.

All the clubs are said to be ready for the battle ahead.

Makalakalane says they need to recruit more players from the championships in order to increase his pool for the African Women's Championships in South Africa in September.

"We were left stranded in a tournament in Cyprus early this year after one of our defenders was injured and there was no suitable replacement," Makalakalane said yesterday.

"Fortunately six of our regular players will be participating in the championships and they will motivate others.

"We have already started with preparations for the September championships. At the same time we will be preparing for 2011 World Cup qualifiers in October."

Safa women's committee convenor Nomsa Mahlangu said they would support all their women's teams to ensure they qualified for global championships.

Teams participating in the national championships are: Hallelujah Zebra Force (North West), Ma-Indies (Limpopo), Crusaders (Northern Cape), Cape Town Roses (Western Cape), City Lads (Eastern Cape), Durban Ladies (KwaZulu-Natal), Detroit Ladies (Mpumalanga), Bloemfontein Celtic (Free State) and Palace Super Falcons (Gauteng).