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TOUGH DRAW: Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini, left, fights for the ball with Ethopia's Eden Negeri during the 2012 London Olympic Games qualifier match at Orlando Stadium recently. Photo: Gallo Images

 We're going to live the dream we made a possibility 

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Banyana are the lowest ranked women's team (65th) in the 12-team tournament and are in a group that is already being billed as the toughest of the draw.

Canada, who are placed seventh by Fifa, complete South Africa's daunting fixture list for the London Games, which kick off on July 25. Following their 2011 Women's World Cup triumph in Germany, Japan have climbed to third spot on the rankings, while semifinalists Sweden are fifth.

Being in the "group of death" did little to throw off Banyana skipper Amanda Dlamini, who took to social network Twitter before and after the draw yesterday.

She tweeted: "Very competitive group. I'm so nervous and excited and it's as if I'm playing tomorrow.

"We're going to live the dream we made a possibility."

The women's tournament is for full national teams. Japan are the gold medal favourites after winning the World Cup, where they beat the US in the final in Frankfurt last July.

Sweden were third at the last World Cup and won bronze at Athens in 2004. Canada finished behind the Americans at the recent CONCACAF qualifying tournament and in captain Christine Sinclair they have one of the top strikers in world football.

Japan's captain Homare Sawa was named Women's World Footballer of the Year last December while Sweden striker Lotta Schelin has scored 42 international goals in close to 100 caps .

Banyana will meet Sweden in their opening game on July 25 in Coventry. It is the day before the Olympics officially open and means the SA team will not be part of the opening ceremony in London.

Banyana Fixtures:

vs Sweden (July 25)

vs Canada (July 28)

vs Japan (July 31)

Comments

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Thu May 23 02:06:52 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 25, 2012

Pencil

Sowetan, I see you mentioned all the dates Banyana will be in London but you forgot the very important date.Depature from London back home: 02.August.2012.Please add that date as well.
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Apr 25, 2012

NevusAuvius

I have a huge crash ko Banyana's captain,hai this girl wa nketsa and o nketsa ga golo
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Apr 25, 2012

MommaC

You go girls. Make us proud

That Amanda Dlamini is really a beautiful young woman and sounds like she is a brainbox too.
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Apr 25, 2012

Sweetcandy1

we gotta be proud of our gals. their really r representing.
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Apr 25, 2012

NevusAuvius

Mommac stayaway from Amanda tuu!i saw her first
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Apr 25, 2012

Swagger101

Goodluck Girls...
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Apr 25, 2012

MommaC

NevusAuvius

LOL
I don't bat for the home team and, even if I did, she is a bit young for me :)
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Apr 25, 2012

NevusAuvius

Mommac there is no if here,i mean dont even think about it.
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Apr 25, 2012

Nestum

If Banyana coaches can spot our opponents' strength and weakness, we r going to group stages. Combination is also important, we also nid 2 players who can take on 1 or two opponents so dat we can create space and scoring opportunities. Let dem dribble 1 or 2 players and make doz killer passes, with the speedy Noku, banyana can do it
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